Frawley-Limerick

[johneowens]

I am trying to find my wife's mother's parents. Her mother's maiden name was Bridget Frawley (b. about 1927 in Limerick). The only other information we have is that she has/had an older brother, Brendan (b. about 1922, also in Limerick. Both of them were living in Surrey in the late 1940s through to the 1960s a least. We think one or both still have family in the Weybridge and/or Woking areas. We think Bridget migrated to England from Limerick in 1946 or 1947.

I realise there are lots of Frawley's in the Limerick area. So, this is a long shot. But, if anyone can help, we would greatly appreciate.

Many thanks and best wishes

John Owens

[shanew147]

I think a good place to start the search would be with Bridget's marriage cert. That should have her father's name to help verify, or rule out, any possible births for her that you locate. Do you know if the marriage took place in England or Ireland ?

Do you believe Bridget was born in Limerick city or county ?

[johneowens]

Thanks, Shane.

We believe the marriage was in England. We are waiting to receive the marriage certificate from the Uk GRO. Meanwhile, I was trying to open a new line of enquiry in Ireland by identifying Bridget's older sibling, Brendan.

Unfortunately, we have no idea whether Bridget was born in the city or the county.

Many thanks. I will repost when I receive the certificate.

Best

John

[shanew147]

The online BMD index only started to include mothers maiden name in the late 1920s... if Brendan and Bridget were born slightly later that might have helped locate possible siblings. Without that clue you would have to order birth certs to see parent names.

I'm not seeing any Brendan Frawley birth matches in Ireland on the BMD Index between 1920 and 1924, but it's possible he's was registered before a name was finalized and so appears as just 'male', or his calculated year of birth is slightly inaccurate, which is quite common. There are two possibilities just outside this timeframe and close matches geographically - a Brendan born 1919 in Ennis district Co. Clare, next to Co. Limerick, and a Brendan born 1925 in Limerick district.

If you were able to figure out which part of Co. Limerick your Frawley family lived you could narrow down the search a bit. The registration districts which cover Co. Limerick, or parts of, are :  Clogheen*, Croom, Glin*, Kanturk*, Killmallock*, Limerick (city), Mitchelstown*, Newcastle, Rathkeale, Tipperary*

p.s. There are not that many possible matches for Bridget's birth around that year on the Index - none that I see exactly in 1926. Most are in the city district or nearby in Co. Clare. :

  Bridget - 1929, Limerick district
  Bridget A. - 1930, Limerick
  possibly a little early a Bridget Teresa - 1923, Limerick,
  and a Mary Bridget - 1925, Limerick district
  plus a few in nearby Co. Clare

might be worth order research birth certs for the better matches, so you will have father's details to compare to the marriage cert.

[johneowens]

Many thanks, again, Shane.

Family search is giving me a Brendan b. 1925 in Limerick (same as yours) and a marriage in 1951 - both of which sound right. However, I'll wait to receive Bridget's marriage certificate first. But, as you say, subsequently linking any UK information with the Irish info might be a problem.

I've also found 2 of Bridget's other children in the UK. So, will now try to contact them for first hand info.

I'll surely be back on the Irish trail sooner or later.

Best

John

[johneowens]

Dear Shane

Now received Bridget's marriage certificate. Turns out she was 30 in 1952, a spinster, and her father was John Frawley (deceased in 1952), a farmer. As I mentioned, Bridget came from Limerick and had/has a brother Brendan

Does any of this help with any of the records you can access?

Once again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes

John

[shanew147]

....
Now received Bridget's marriage certificate. Turns out she was 30 in 1952, a spinster, and her father was John Frawley (deceased in 1952), a farmer.
....

all depends on how accurate the age Bridget gave at the marriage was - but there is match in 1922 plus a few others between  1920 and 1924, most in Co.Limerick, a couple as before in neighbouring Co. Clare :

 Bridget Frawley / Apr-Jun 1922/Rathkeale/ Vol 5 / pg 406
 Bridget Teresa Frawley / Apr-Jun 1923/Limerick/ Vol 5 / pg 263
 Bridget Frawley / Jan-Mar 1920/Rathkeale/ Vol 5 / pg 448
 Mary Bridget Frawley / Jul - Sep 1920/ Limerick / Vol 5 / pg 273
 (Name/Year-quarter/registration district/volume/page)

  see : Bridget Frawley birth - 1920 to 1924

  Rathkeale district is in West Co. Limerick

A few certs should sort out which of these was your Bridget - hopefully just one has father's name John, occupation farmer. I'd try the one in 1922 first if that age at marriage sounds about right..

There's a birth listed on the BMD Index in Limerick district for a Brendan Frawley in 1925, but you would need to order a cert to see what his parents names were.

[johneowens]

Thanks, again, Shane. I'm on the trail.

Best

John

[johneowens]

... Now received Bridget's birth certificate (b. May 1922): father John Frawley (farmer) and mother Margaret (farmer's daughter) nee Conway. Now, waiting for their cert of marriage, which I believe was in 1898 and trying to track down the family. Have the 1901 and 1911 censuses for Rathkeale (Blossom Hill/The Commons), which of course lists some family members.

Unfortunately, precious few hints from Ancestry on this branch of the Frawleys.

Best

John