Trying to trace my grandmother's family from Colby- 'McFee'

[KirstyCait]

I am trying to learn my family history and whilst I have plenty from my grandfather's side, I have nothing on my Grandmother as she was put into children's homes and foster care before she was 2 years old. Her name was Jean McFee and she was born in Colby in 1929 and eventually married Fred Shimmin. I believe other children were born into the family but not all were put into care. Does anyone have any information about McFee's in Colby? thanks!

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat 

Does her marriage certificate list father's name and occupation (or mother?). Her birth certificate should give her mother's name (and her father is they were married or he attended the registrar with the mother)

[KGarrad]

Take a look at www.ManxBMD.com for starters.

11 McFee births in Arbory parish between 1901 and 1948.
But no Jean?

Colby village is in the parish of Arbory.

Another good site is www.imuseum.im


Do you know when, and where, she married?

[aghadowey]

Here's a link to the Manx site- there's a Jenny in 1929 
http://www.manxbmd.com/cgi-bin/db.cgi?do=search_form;db=births

Do remember that we aren't allowed to post details of living, or possibly living, people.

[KGarrad]

I saw that one Aghadowey, but the birth is registered in Douglas, rather than a parish in the south of the island?

[aghadowey]

Children weren't always born near home and since the OP seems to have only limited information it's worth mentioning.

[KirstyCait]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies! Her marriage certificate to my Granddad didnt show any parents details as she never knew them and was only ever with foster families. She only had her/their family name. I have registered to Ancestry.co.uk and am finding some great information dating further back (pre 1920's) for my Grandfather's side but because I know so little about her side, it's harder to sort of determine for sure if there is a link with the names I have come across.
If there was a census done during the time she was still with the family, then I might be able to find a hit but because they gave her up before she was 2, I'm not holding much hope.

Appreciate the comments and suggestions anyway, I will look into each one when I have a bit more time.

thanks 

[KGarrad]

There's some info here on Adoption Records from the Isle of Man:
https://www.gov.im/categories/births-deaths-and-marriages/adoption/

Original birth records may be released at the discretion of the Chief Registrar.

[Frances_mnb]

were you in Manx Museum a week or so ago ? - as someone was researching McFees then - the most likely place for a birth given possibly difficult home circumstances would be the Jane Crookall  which is in Douglas - if she was placed in an on-Island home then you could try IoM Social Services (much easier if you are Island based) - it may be worthwhile looking at newspapers of the period to see if a McFee family has any court appearances.

Cecil Cannell McFee (now deceased was a noted local historian of the Colby Methodist Chapel) came from a local family and possibly the family is still around the Colby area