Mary Jane Bissett - Dublin - abt 1867

[Emma08]

Ok. Well that makes her the right age to be Henry's mother. And it explains why I could still find William married to a Catherine in 1911.

I found a Catherine Bermingham with father Walter born in Durham.... Found her on the 1851 and 1861 census but don't know if it's the right Catherine.

Henry Stewart lists his father as being "Walter Stewart" on his marriage certificate in India in 1894. But there is no occupation listed for Walter.

I also can't find a marriage record for Catherine and a Stewart.

But because Mary Jane listed Edith Menelly as her sister.... There must be a family link somewhere.

Henry Stewart died in 1900 and the document with Edith's signiture as the sister was signed 2 months after his death....

I also can't find Edith Menelly in the 1911 census. Or her husband.

[ShaunJ]

In the 1871 census there's a young widow named Catherine Stewart aged 29 (? the second digit is obscured by a census mark) who is a nurse in the household of Lady Ann Beckett at 11 Stratford Place, which is a short walk from Hanover Square. Her birthplace is stated to be New York.

[Emma08]

Thanks Shaun. I can see her on that census..... and there is definitely a Catherine Birmingham born in New York about 1847 with a father Walter.......

[John1462]

Hi Emma, I've only just come across this thread. I have extensive records on Irish Bissetts and might be able to help. I have a no of Marys born 1868/69 incl a Mary Jane born in Dublin in 1869 (but father William). I see the 1885 marriage and I have a copy of the cert but don't have much more on this family. Let me know how much further you got and I'll review what I have and see if we can piece anything further together.

John Bissett
Dublin, Ireland

[Emma08]

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply.
In the end I did find Mary, she was actually born in Balbriggan in 1862... There is a baptism record for her (Maria Joanna on the Catholic record).

She had a younger sister Eleanor/Ella and brothers Michael, Philip and John.
Michael emigrated to America, Philip also went to America and died as a young man over there, Ella also went to America and had a family over there.
John Bissett (eldest brother) I found on a census in 1901 living in Castlereagh with his wife and children.

Mary Jane's parents were John Bissett (carpenter) and Catherine Byrne.
Both confirmed on the US marriage certificates of Mary's siblings and on baptism records.

I still don't know where the "Pauline" comes from in Mary's name or why she suddenly started to use it.
I also don't know a lot about her life after she returned from India to the UK in the early 1900s, nor have I been able to find a will for her.

I also don't know anything about her life from childhood to her first marriage...

Any information you have would be gratefully received.
Not just about Mary but any of her siblings or parents.
And especially her husbands. They are a big mystery/brick wall for me.

Thank you!

[John1462]

OK Emma, I have some info on this family, I grew up not far from Balbriggan.

1. There were 7 Siblings in Mary Janes family
2. John Bissett was Catherine Byrnes 2nd husband
3. Johns father was also John Bissett and his mother Mary Clarke (or Cleary)
4. John had 5 siblings
5.  If there is a connection with Castlereagh, that opens up a possible connection to a very large family tree I have so I'd be interested in knowing how you made the connection?

I'm happy to share everything I have if you'd like to contact me on ^(*)

John



(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.

New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page:  http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php

[Emma08]

Fantastic! Thank you so much. Will email you now

[Emma08]

I have sent you an email now. Thanks 😊

[Emerald1618]

Hi, I just wanted to add a further note to back up the Balbriggan connection. My great grandfather was from Balbriggan too (Buchanan) born 1860s and I have just found a piece of an old envelope in my grandmother papers this evening from Michael Bissett who was Mary Janes brother. The return address was Michael Bissett 5th street Canton Ohio. The letter was post marked Feb 4th 1937. I was just trying to figure out the connection between the two men to see if he was a relation when I came across this old thread. I looked into it and I don't see any connection between the two families so it looks like they may have grown up together in the town and kept in touch. Hope this is of interest