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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: GemmaL on Wednesday 25 April 18 15:27 BST (UK)
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I'm currently trying to decipher the Kennedy side of my family.
My 2x great grandfather was William Joseph (sometimes Stewart) Kennedy born 1878 (unknown location), for a long time now we thought his father was named Stewart Kennedy but after receiving W.J Kennedy's marriage certificate it seems his father is named as Joseph David Kennedy (deceased).
I'm having trouble finding either on an census thanks to the Kennedy name, I wonder if anyone can help me figure out a way to narrow down the results as it's starting to drive me mad ???
The Marriage between W.J Kennedy and Kate Annie Pickering took place in Tynemouth 1916, both father and son were engineers.
Thanks in advance!
Edited to add Certificate Details:
Marriage: 19th April 1916
William Joseph Kennedy | 38 | Bachelor | Engineer | 10 Church Way | Joseph David Kennedy (deceased) | Engineer
Kate Annie Pickering | 22 | Spinster | N/A | 10 Church Way | Thomas Pickering (deceased) | Plater
In the Presence of: James G Henderson and Linda Henderson
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To give some idea of dates
Marriage June qtr 1916
Kennedy William J
Pickering Kate A
Tynemouth 10b 435
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Hi
You need to be sure which person you are following. William Stewart Kennedy was born 31 MAy 1875 and Christened 2 July 1875, parents Stewart and Charlotte. Somerset Regiment of Miliitia.
Birth Jul/Aug/Sep 1875 Bath
Death Oct/Nov/Dec 1954 Northumberland
So that appears to be a different person to a William Joseph with a father Joseph David ?
HAve you flund the birth of the child of William Kennedy who is your ancestor? Does that confirm mmn as Pickering? Better still have yuo got their birth cert confirmiimg parents as William Joseph and Kate Annie?
Where does the 1878 birth year come from? Where HAVE you found 'your' William ?
Thanks Rosie - I had just looked that up too and meant to add it to my post to save everyone looking it up!
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Do you have the couple on the 1939 register which would give some idea of birth dates
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Hi
You need to be sure which person you are following. William Stewart Kennedy was born 31 MAy 1875 and Christened 2 July 1875, parents Stewart and Charlotte. Somerset Regiment of Miliitia.
So that is a different person to a William Joseph with a father ?
HAve you flund the birth of the child of William Kennedy who is your ancestor? Does that confirm mmn as Pickering? Better still have yuo got their birth cert confirmiimg parents as William Joseph and Kate Annie?
Where does the 1878 birth year come from? Where HAVE you found 'your' William ?
Thanks Rosie - I had just looked that up too and meant to add it to my post to save everyone looking it up!
The info you found is what I was originally searching but now that I have the marriage certificate (which I know is correct thanks to the witnesses, they were Kate's sister and brother in law) I'm totally lost.
I'm not sure of the rules on here but I could share the marriage certificate if that helps?
As for birth certificates I have my great grans which is Kathleen Kennedy her father is William Joseph BUT on her younger siblings he is William Stewart Kennedy.
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Do you have the couple on the 1939 register which would give some idea of birth dates
Nope, I just assumed his DOB because of the marriage certificate.
Kate has been incredibly easy to deal with because my grandma remembers her and thankfully a distant cousin contacted me and confirmed everything I had was correct. William is just a mystery now, if I've been wrong all along that is! Apparently he was a very tough man too, my great gran had a very hard upbringing apparently and she was such a lovely woman.
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You can't post the marriage image on here but you are allowed to transcribe all of the details.
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Have you got the death cert of the 1954 Northumberland death for William Stewart Kennedy?
Just thinking if the informant was his widow or daughter, it would confirm that this William Stewart was the same person as the William Joseph in the marriage. Then we just have the task to work out why the different father! But on the other hand if we can confirm they are two different people, then we can move on with that.
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You can't post the marriage image on here but you are allowed to transcribe all of the details.
Marriage: 19th April 1916
William Joseph Kennedy | 38 | Bachelor | Engineer | 10 Church Way | Joseph David Kennedy (deceased) | Engineer
Kate Annie Pickering | 22 | Spinster | N/A | 10 Church Way | Thomas Pickering (deceased) | Plater
In the Presence of: James G Henderson and Linda Henderson
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Have you got the death cert of the 1954 Northumberland death for William Stewart Kennedy?
Just thinking if the informant was his widow or daughter, it would confirm that this William Stewart was the same person as the William Joseph in the marriage. Then we just have the task to work out why the different father! But on the other hand if we can confirm they are two different people, then we can move on with that.
Sadly no I don't, the date has came from my grandma if I remember rightly
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Is this Kate's death?
Jan/Fe/Mar 1962
Northumberland
Ref 1b 411
Kate A L Kennedy age 68
SO, in the same way, would be interesting to see who registered her death - William Joseph, William Stewart, or a n other?
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Is this Kate's death?
Jan/Fe/Mar 1962
Northumberland
Ref 1b 411
Kate A L Kennedy age 68
SO, in the same way, would be interesting to see who registered her death - William Joseph, William Stewart, or a n other?
I know Kate died after him because my grandma remembers her and they didn't divorce but not sure when =/
This photo is 4 generations: Frances Alison (my GGG Grandmother) Kathleen Kennedy (G Gran) Kate Pickering (GG Grandmother) and the baby is my Grandma Frances Isabell Sparke
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Silly me! Of course, her death (1962) was after his (1954) so no way could he have registered it Whatever his name!
Lovely photo.
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Silly me! Of course, her death (1962) was after his (1954) so no way could he have registered it Whatever his name!
Lovely photo.
I'm sorry I passed on the crazy with this lol!
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Do you have the couple on the 1939 register which would give some idea of birth dates
Nope, I just assumed his DOB because of the marriage certificate.
I am sorry but we cannot help with a look up on this register due to copyright.
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Do you have the couple on the 1939 register which would give some idea of birth dates
Nope, I just assumed his DOB because of the marriage certificate.
I am sorry but we cannot help with a look up on this register due to copyright.
I just had a quick look his birth is 1879 on the 39 register and he's back to William S Kennedy!
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This may be a red herring ..... but
Here is the William Stewart Kennedy from Bath on 1881:
Kilmerston Somerswt
Stewart Kennedy 47 Pensioner from 49 Reg on foot bn Ireland
Charlotte 34 wife bn Ireland
Charlotte 7 bn Bath
William 5 bn Bath
But, meanwhile in Northumberland there is ...
1881
Longbenton, Northumberland
Robert W Jenkins 25 Engine fitter bn Walker Northumberland
Mary Jenkins wife 20?or 40? bn Manchester
John Jenkins 6 son bn Walker
William J Kennedy 6 visitor bn Gateshead
JUst seen your reply - it is actually looking more as if it is all the same person isnt it?
So - why did he use Joseph for his marriage and a different father? Ive not found what happened to Stewart and Charlotte. It occurred to me maybe Stew died and Charlotte remarried ot another Kennedy and he used his step dads name ..... or something!!
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As well as the Bath one, (where mmn is Walsh) there is also this birth
William Stewart Kennedy
Jul/Aug/Sep 1876
West Derby
8b 322
mmn Stewart
I wonder if that is the one with father Joseph who marries Kate?
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I wonder if this is him in 1881
3 Back Compton Street, Liverpool
Emily Marion Kennedy 26 married dressmaker bn Limerick Ireland
Mary something 8 dtr bn Dublin
William squiggle Kennedy (undexed as Re... but I reckon it says Stewart) son 4 bn Liverpool
Dad not at home!
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A William S Kennedy age 25 and born Somersetshire is showing in the 1901 Ireland census at The Curragh. He is in the army, a fitter ... and showing as married.
(Think Stewart and Charlotte Kennedy can also be identified in the 1901 Ireland census).
William
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There is actually a service record for William Stewart Kennedy - states he was born in Bath and was in the Imperial Yeomanry.He married Hannah Henderson in Belfast 29 March 1898 - witnesses Stewart Kennedy and Samuel Henderson.He was discharged in 1902,address given as 52 Jocelyn Avenue, Belfast. I note that on the discharge doc. his trade is given as engineer. It might be worth looking at this service record and, for example,compare with other signatures you have if only to rule him out as being your man.
(He is showing in the index as William Kennedy b 1876 Bath, Somerset, England).
William
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If the Bath William Stewart (parents Stewart and Charlotte) married Hannah Henderson in Ireland in 1898 - then either:
1) it is a different William Stewart/Joseph who marries Kate Pickering - possibly the one I found bn Liverpool
OR
2) He was actually widowed and not a bachelor when marrying Kate, plus gave ficticious fathers name
OR
3) Marriage to Kate was bigamous, maybe thats why he gave false info.
(1) is probably the most likely. Just how to prove it! I guess could get that birth cert and see fathers name - that would confirm or rule out the West Derby birth?
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I totally see your reasoning, Lizdb. It was the reference in the discharge documents to his trade being "engineer" that made me wonder!
The Bath William Stewart Kennedy appears to have had a sister, recorded as Charlotte in the 1881 census but seemingly born and baptized as Mary Elizabeth Charlotte Stewart Kennedy.
There is a marriage of Charlotte Maude Stewart Kennedy 8 Oct 1896 in Belfast - father Stewart Kennedy- to David Brisby. The address is given as 52 Jocelyn Street, the same address as given on the marriage of William Stewart Kennedy to Hannah Henderson and where Stewart and Charlotte Kennedy are recorded in the 1901 Ireland census.
David and Charlotte Brisby can be seen in the 1901 Ireland census transcribed as Brisley. In 1911 they are transcribed as Brisby, although they seem to have "lost" a number of years agewise. In 1901 Charlotte is recorded as born Somersetshire and in 1911 as born Bath. The Brisby's emigrated to the USA (New York) in 1913/4.
I mention all of the above as it would appear that Charlotte's name and age has been somewhat changeable, the only Kennedy birth showing in Bath which seems to fit being the one for Mary Elizabeth Charlotte Stewart
There are also a number of articles in January 1908 regarding the death of Charlotte Kennedy. I do not have access to Irish newspapers and so can only report from the index. They indicate that she died as a result of taking laudanum, her husband having having died the previous November. One article shows that there was an inquest and refers to her daughter Mrs Brisby.
William
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I'm glad you guys found the same Bath family as me I was starting to think I had lost the plot.
The name change may make sense as W.J/S may have been ashamed of how his mother died?
Thank you all so much for your help, I'll get back to you all if I manage to order some more certificates