The elusive Mary Mennin

[Square_Eyes1]

Hi,

I’ve come to a grinding holt in my investigations into my great grandmother, Mary Mennin (Abt1883-1917) and am hoping someone will be able to help

This is what I know about her:

• She was American
  She married Michael Gillespie (1868-1942) in Killybegs, Co. Donegal on 9th June 1908.
  She and Michael moved to Greenock at some point
  According to her death certificate, her parents were John Meenan (soundex variation?) and Bridget McGill.
  She had some very expensive clothes and jewellery considering they lived in a poor house and Michael was a lamplighter – we think she may have ran away and eloped!

I can't seem to find a record of her birth, their marriage or her entry to the uk/ireland.

Any help would be greatly appreciated 
Thanks,
Gill

[aghadowey]

When you say 'moved to Greenock at some point' any idea when? did they have any children born in Ireland?
Is the marriage date taken from a child's Scottish birth certificate? Irish civil index is online (free) and searching under 'Michael Gillespie' marriage 'Co.Donegal' for period '1900-1909' brings up only 4 results- none fitting the date or place you've listed.

[Square_Eyes1]

Thanks for your help - the marriage info is from the scottish birth certificates of her two daughters (same info on each certificate).

Unfortunately I don't know exactly when they moved to Greenock - before 1912 I guess as that is when the first daughter was born.

I don't believe they had any other children.

[aghadowey]

1911 Irish census is online (free) but 1911 Scottish census isn't released yet.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search

[derrylass]

Do you know who the parents of Michael Gillespie were? Mary may have lived near him.

[Square_Eyes1]

Yes, his parents were Patrick Gillespie ansd Catherine McMonigle.  Is there any of the 1901 census that can be checked?

I've checked the 1911 census for Michael and Mary (thanks for the link aghadowey), but there is no sign of them - I guess they had moved to Scotland by then.

I've had a thought though, they were married in 1908, but didn't have their 1st daughter until 1913 - do you think that it's plausable they had other children that may have died in intfancy?

[aghadowey]

1901 Irish census is supposed to be added to National Archives website soon.

[BarrettR]

I believe she was my great grandmother also!

[Square_Eyes1]

Hi.

Thanks for your message. Looking at your username, are you related to my mum's Aunty Bett and Uncle Tommy Barrett?

Have you been researching Mary Mennin for long? Am happy to share what info I have.

Gill