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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Armagh => Topic started by: tilly56 on Monday 18 October 10 15:48 BST (UK)

Title: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Monday 18 October 10 15:48 BST (UK)
Help please : I have a book, which I  bought many years ago in a jumble sale, probably somewhere in London. The book is called "The Young Huguenots or the Soldiers of the Cross" and was written by Edith S Floyer.  The book was first published in 1879, but there is not date or edition number in the book that I have to tell me the date my copy was published.

In the front of the book is a sticker - the book was given to Mary Fleming of Model School, Lurgan by the "Temperance Education Board (Ireland)".  It also has the words "Fifth Standard" on the sticker.  I suppose it was a prize of some sort.

I have contacted the Model School who are interested in the book - but do not have records going back to the early years of the school which was founded in 1863.

As I have no idea of the date of my copy - how could I go about finding Mary Fleming?  I know it's a longshot - but does this name mean anything to anyone in Lurgan reading this post?  I would like to give the book back to Mary or her descendants, or - if I cannot find anyone - I will send it to the school!

Any help gratefully received!!

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: kingskerswell on Monday 18 October 10 16:33 BST (UK)
Hi,
    Another long shot but a Mary Jane Fleming was born in Lurgan on 15 Dec 1870 to John Fleming and Mary McCann. In my day fifth standard would have been when a child was about 11 years old.

Regards
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Monday 18 October 10 17:11 BST (UK)
Hello Kingskerswell

thank you very much for your reply - it is a possibility, she would have been in fifth standard then in about 1881, which would fit with the date of the book!

I will write back to the school and see if there is a Mary Fleming at the school at about that time...... if they have the records.

I wonder if she stayed in Lurgan and married there, or went somewhere else.....................

Regards

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: kingskerswell on Monday 18 October 10 18:34 BST (UK)
Tilly,
      Proni, Public record office Northern Ireland, hold many school records but unfortunately they are closed until about next April/May.

Regards
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: Elwyn Soutter on Monday 18 October 10 20:02 BST (UK)
I looked in the 1901 & 1911 censuses for the Fleming family. I only found one family that might fit. Mary's age is not quite right for a birth in 1870 so I have some reservations. But if it is the correct family, then she was away from home in 1901 but has returned by 1911. She didn't marry and she became a teacher, in a National school.

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Lurgan_Urban/Union_Street/1026492/

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Lurgan_Urban/Union_Street/296918/

Elwyn
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Tuesday 19 October 10 12:06 BST (UK)
Hello Elwyn and King

Thank you very much for the extra information.

I found this yesterday "In 1906 the Board of Education in Ireland made "Hygiene and Temperance " a compulsory subject in the public schools ."

So Mary could have been a pupil at the school around that date.

I have had a look at the censuses - the Mary (William John's wife) who is aged 60 in the 1901 census - I agree, I don't think she fits as she is too old.

 The 1911 census - This Mary (William's sister) might fit - but she would have been born in 1865, so if she was at the school until she was 11, she would have left in 1876, and the book hadn't been written by then.

I am not sure whether the school was Church of Ireland or Catholic - I shall contact them again and ask, as this would help (I think ???) in finding the right family.  I must also ask them what age was 5th standard!

Thank you VERY much again for your help

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: doylers94 on Tuesday 19 October 10 21:16 BST (UK)
I lived beside the school for most of life and it only became non denominational in the last 20 years. Prior to that it was a "non Catholic" school with all protestant denominations attending.
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: aljepeka on Wednesday 20 October 10 02:41 BST (UK)
Hi ,
I lived beside a Miss Fleming (originally from Union Street in Lurgan) in Portadown( a neighbouring town).

She never married.  Unsure of her christian name though as I was young at the time. I will check with my Mum and Dad to see if she had any relatives. She passed away after I was married in the early 1990's.

Regards,
Aljepeka
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Wednesday 20 October 10 10:08 BST (UK)
Hello Doylers and Aljepeka

Thank you very much for your messages.

If our Mary is the one who was your neighbour, Aljepeka, then she cannot be either of the Mary's in the censuses.... but maybe a relation of some sort?  Was she very old when she died?

What a puzzle!!  But I would like to think that we are going to find a member of her family, who would be interested in the book.

I am attaching a picture of the "sticker" in the front of the book.  I think it was meant to be a very "uplifting" story - although the first sentence of the chapter I am just beginning made me chuckle : "Two or three days passed, and the natural cheerfulness of the French temperament reasserted itself"..... I live in France (my husband is French) and they are anything but cheerful at the moment!! ::)

I am keeping the school informed of all the information that is sent to me - and I know they are very grateful, too.

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: doylers94 on Wednesday 20 October 10 15:08 BST (UK)
I have some registers but not this one. Lurgan Model is in Brownlow Terrace in Lurgan and as far as I am aware has always been there. Your Mary Fleming was probably from that part of Lurgan. The local churches will place a notice about this free in their weekly bullitins  as will the local paper the Lurgan Mail on their family search section. I have checked the census for Lurgan and nearby Brownlows Derry the only likely suspects are Church of Ireland families in Union St (which probably would have gone to St Johns Sch) and Market St. Shankill Parish has a newsheet called "Focus" I am sure they would be happy to assist Otherwise you can email PRONI during their closure and ask if one of their staff might do you a favour and check theschool register. Good luck!
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Thursday 21 October 10 17:09 BST (UK)
Hello Doylers
That is a very good idea - I will wait and see whether Aljepeka's parents know anything about their neighbour and then I will contact the school with your suggestion and see what we can sort out.

I have been having a look at the Proni site and I will try and contact them.

Thank you again very much for all you help.

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: Peg12 on Saturday 11 June 11 10:31 BST (UK)
Hi Tilly

My gg grandfather, George Porter, was the headmaster at Lurgan Model in 1880.  So I've done some research into the school.  I also have many family, Porter & Livingston, who attended the school over the years.  They would have been at school with your Mary Fleming probably.

Anyway, Family Search (latter day saints church) has the school registers on microfilm, I've researched them many times. The films have come from PRONI.

Hope that helps!
Leanne  :) 

Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: rathmore on Saturday 11 June 11 11:59 BST (UK)
You could get in touch with the local paper in Lurgan.

Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Saturday 11 June 11 14:23 BST (UK)
Hello Leanne and Rathmore

Thank you very much for your messages.

I have now sent the book back to the school and they were going to put it on show with various other school memerobilia!

I haven't closed the thread, as you see, because we still don't know who Mary was.  The school was going to put something in the local paper - I will write to them and see if they have done so and if anything (or anyone) has turned up. 

I didn't know that the school registers were on Family Search.... how do I get onto the list ???

thank you for your help

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: aghadowey on Saturday 11 June 11 14:28 BST (UK)
The school registers are not online. The LDS have microfilmed them (from the details posted) and you can order the microfilm from your local LDS library for a small fee to be viewed there.
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Sunday 12 June 11 10:41 BST (UK)
Hello Aghadowey

Thank you for the information - I shall pass everything onto the school!

Tilly
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: Piba on Monday 24 July 17 08:24 BST (UK)
Hello Tilly56, I found your enquiry last evening while idly investigating my ancestors. It would appear to be seven years ago but you may be interested to know that Mary Fleming, daughter of John Fleming and Mary McCann of Lurgan, Co. Armagh was my great-grandmother. She was born in 1870/71. She married James Jordan, also of Lurgan, and her daughter Charity Margaret was my grandmother. Mary Fleming-Jordan died in the early 1940s in Donegal while visiting her daughter. She may be the schoolgirl you seek!
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: tilly56 on Monday 24 July 17 09:34 BST (UK)
Hello Piba,
That's very interesting!  I am still hoping that, one day, Mary Fleming will be found and her descendants can at least go and see the book at the school.  So maybe it is your Mary, that would be lovely. If you live anywhere near Lurgan - pop in and have a look.... maybe they have found out some more about Mary since I sent the book.
Tilly :)
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: Piba on Monday 24 July 17 13:35 BST (UK)
Hello again Tilly, I live in Luxembourg which is quite a trot from Lurgan but I visit Ireland very regularly and will certainly call in to the school in Lurgan if I am in the vicinity. One of Mary Fleming-Jordan's grandsons lives in Portadown and I will also let him know about this search. In the meantime, I will ask my uncle (son of Charity, daughter of Mary) whether he has any further information on his grandmother's schooling.
Title: Re: How can I find Mary Fleming - ex pupil of the Model School in Lurgan!!
Post by: dathai on Tuesday 25 July 17 09:24 BST (UK)
Wonder could it be much later than you think 1930s
i googled the printers name Richard J James
see very last paragraph here
http://www.adventisthistory.org.uk/messenger/1930/1930-10-17.pdf