Martin Connor from Cashel and Straide, County Mayo, Ireland

[bren1974]

Hi there

My great grandfather Martin Connor was born in Cashel, Turlough, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland in 1860.  He married Bridget Lowe from nearby Straide in the 1880s and they are both living with their family in Straide in the censuses of 1901 and 1911.

We believe he died in England around 1925 - 1930 but have no idea where he is buried. He would have been aged 65 - 70 approximately. His wife Bridget died in the 1940s and is buried in Ireland.

I would be grateful if anyone had any information or ideas on where to find where Martin is buried.


Thank you


Brendan O'Connor

[genechaser]

Hi

Could this be your Martin.
It is the only one that fitted the years gap that you gave.
I checked the on line cemetery records, but there is no entry for him.

Name:   Martin Connor
Birth Date:   abt 1861
Date of Registration:   Dec 1930
Age at Death:   69
Registration District:   Wigan
Inferred County:   Lancashire
Volume:   8c
Page:   75

[heywood]

Hello,

There is also a death in Stockport September 1930 volume 8a pg 72
Martin Connor 70 yrs born abt 1860

There are also others if you broaden age or death date.

Did any other family members go to England?

Heywood

[bren1974]

Thanks for the replies. I know a lot of Irish men worked for farmers in Cheshire / Lancashire so both answers look probable. This is one of the missing links in our family history. My uncles and aunts were born in the late 1920s and 1930s and never knew him.

He had 6 brothers and sisters who all settled in Ireland so there was no family here that we know of at that time. I don't know why he would have even been in England when he was around retirement age.

It really is a mystery !

Do any of the records indicate his nationality ?


Thanks

[heywood]

No they wouldn't. You would have to purchase certificates and then the information would only be limited and give no indication of his origins.
Men from that area also worked in the mines around Wigan but as you say, Martin was already middle aged by 1911.
If I am looking at the right family there were several children to the couple. In 1911, they were from adults  down to young children. Did they never pass on their stories of what happened to him?

[bren1974]

By 1911, Martin and Bridget's children were aged between 8 and 23, Sabina was the youngest and Annie the eldest.

My grandfather John Connor took over the farm in the 1920s and his mother-in-law Bridget lived with them until she died in the 1940s. My father passed away 4 years ago and the rest of the family know nothing about him, except he used to work in England.

Does it say how many children there were as I have a full list ?

[heywood]

Hello again,

The census shows that there were 9 births and 7 children still living to the couple.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Mayo/Bellavary/Gurraunard/711642/

Perhaps Martin was one of the seasonal workers in England who would come from Mayo.

A death certificate would show residence at death, occupation, informant of death, age.

Martin looks to be 52 yrs in 1911, although his age is recorded as 62 yrs.  John Connor was 20 yrs in 1911 so it does seem odd that 10 or more years later, Martin could disappear. with no trace.

[bren1974]

Thanks Heywood.

You're right, Martin and Bridget's ages are innaccurate in 1911. He would have been about 51 as I have a copy of his baptism record from 1860. Its very likely he was a seasonal worker in England.

I have an uncle and aunt who I will speak to again as it seems more likely that he would have been buried in Ireland, but there is no record anywhere.


Brendan

[UNA]

Hi Brendan. 

Your Martin is also my great great grandfather.  His wife Bridget is buried in Straide grave yard here is a copy of the grave website  http://www.goldenlangan.com/graves-sc.html it is under Boland.  Bridgets daughter Delia was my great grand mother and Martin is my grandfather.  I have started looking into this and will let you know what I find.

I live in County Tyrone and have just spent the weekend down in Mayo visiting above grave as well.

Any thing else give me a shout.

Una