James Joseph McLynn - North Staffs Died 1918 - URGENT HELP!

[sarah_robbo]

Hi All,

I am personally doing my family research (hence being a member!) but I am also a BBC journalist working on a story to try and trace the relatives of JAMES JOSEPH MCLYNN, from Burslem in Staffordshire.

Here are the details:

James was the son of Mrs Agnes McLynn who at the time of his death lived in Waterloo Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. He also had a sister Mary who was living at home and was aged 25 when he died. James was a crate maker when he enlisted in the Army in Lichfield, Staffordshire in October 1915 aged 19.

I've found his service records on Ancestry/FindMyPast and also on Staffs BMD there is the entry for him, and others - who look to be illegitimate. 

MCLYNN   James   MCLYNN   Burslem   Stoke-On-Trent   BUR/118/080
Staffordshire Birth indexes for the years: 1898
Surname   Forename(s)   Mother's Maiden Name   Sub-District   Registers At   Reference
MCLYNN   Margaret   MCLYNN   Burslem   Stoke-On-Trent   BUR/124/019
Staffordshire Birth indexes for the years: 1900
Surname   Forename(s)   Mother's Maiden Name   Sub-District   Registers At   Reference
MCLYNN   Mary   MCLYNN   Burslem   Stoke-On-Trent   BUR/129/053

At the time on enlisting he was living 375 Waterloo Rd, Cobridge Stoke on Trent

His Regimental Number:   19453
Regiment Name: North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment

HELP!!!!

S.

[jim1]

The GRO. has them registered 1896;1898 & 1900 resp. & were illegitimate.(not 100% sure about this Mary as age is out 5 years. There was another to a Thomas & Bridget McLynn in 1900 Wolstanton.).
Are you looking for living descendants or something else ?
His sole legatee was mother Agnes & he was a Sgt. in the 4th. Batt.
1/10/1918 the 4th. were at Ten-Brielen (S.W. of Ypres) Belgium in recently captured German trenches. The pillboxes they were resting in were shelled, one taking a direct hit. 2 men killed & 5 wounded. He was one of the 2 killed.
NOK apart from mother Agnes is Mary McLynn aged 25.
There's a death registered in Wolstanton for Margaret 1899 (aged 1)
1901 Burslem Staffs:
Martin Gavin   64
Bridget McLynn   25 step-dau.
Mary McLynn   5 dau.
James McLynn   4 son.
Lodgers:
James Doherty   41
Margaret Doherty 17
Thomas Jones   30
Sarah Jones   27
Nellie K Jones   3
Can't see Agnes so maybe she's calling herself Bridget.
Martin Gavin married Margaret McLinn in Wolstanton Reg. Dist. 1878. Died 1910.

[Ellenmai]

On James Military Record there was a Statement of the names & Addresses of all the relatives of the deceased soldier that are now living. It states he wasn't married, no father, mother Agnes McLynn age 45 years, no full or half blood brothers, one full blood sister Mary McLynn age 25 years, no grandparents nieces, nephews, aunts or Uncles.This was dated 3 July 1920. The Census Jim found in 1901 looks a good match to the family you are looking for and I agree with him Bridget could have  changed her name to Agnes.
James was Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke Arrondissement Leper, West Flaunders, Belgium.

[Ellenmai]

On the 1891 Census The family are living at the same address as in the 1901 Census, Wellington Street.
Martin Gavin born 1837 Ireland
Margaret Gavin born 1841 Ireland
Bridget Gavin born 1874 Staffordshire, on this Census Bridget is stated as daughter, but on the 1901 she has gone back to surname McLynn and is Stepdaughter.

[jim1]

Bridget McLinn Reg. 1875 Wolstanton mmn. McDonald.
We need Sarah to tell us what's she's looking for.

[sarah_robbo]

Hello all! Thank you!
We've got a pro genealogist working on this for us too.
Basically our news desk was approached by the MOD to trace any possible living relatives of James Joseph so they can got to a rededicaion ceremony for his grave.
The story is something we'd usually just appeal on air for but with my interest in fanily history I am working manically to do all I can to trace anyone!!
As he and his sisters seem to be illegitimate i was keen to go back and sideways!

Does that help?

[Annette7]

Unable to give details from 1911 census due to copyright - however, can confirm family are at the address given by James when he enlisted BUT surname is MacLean!

Have found the right birth entry for Mary - Mary Maclynn - June qtr.1895 Wolstanton (GRO index confirms illegitimate).

So far haven't been able to spot a death entry for Bridget/Agnes McLynn but did see a Mary McGlynn married a James Shegog in Dec.qtr.1921 Wolstanton and wondered if this could have been sister Mary - however, they had a son Denis J. Shegog (mmn McGlynn) in Mar.qtr.1924 Stoke on Trent but his death is recorded in the same quarter.   Can find no further trace of James and Mary Shegog after 1924.   IF this is the right Mary I believe Shegog is an Irish surname and perhaps James and Mary moved to Ireland after the birth/death of their son in 1924 and took mother Bridget/Agnes with them which could explain why no death entry for her in UK?  (A Bridget McLynn died 1955 Dublin aged 80 - possibility?_

Annette

[Annette7]

Martin Gavin married Margaret McLin Sept.qtr.1878 Wolstanton - Margaret was the widow of a James McLin (both born Mayo, Ireland) and in 1871 they had 3 children: James McLin bc.1861 Menpel (?), Derbyshire, as was Mary McLin bc.1863 and Martin McLin bc.1866 Burslem, Staffordshire - followed by Bridget in 1875.

Cannot find any of Bridget's siblings after 1881.   

Everything seems to come a dead end unfortunately.

Annette

[Annette7]

Whilst I can't find what became of Bridget's 2 brothers it looks like her sister Mary married a James Doherty in Dec.qtr.1882 (he being the widowed lodger and daughter Margaret who are with Martin Gavin and the family in 1901).

James and Mary Doherty had 4 children:

Margaret Sept.qtr.1883 Wolstanton mmn McLynn (later married a Martin Burke).
Martin  Sept.qtr.1884 Wolstanton mmn McLinn (still single 1911 - don't think married, died 1921).
James  Mar.qtr.1886      ditto              ditto     - died Dec.1886
Mary    June qtr.1887     ditto              ditto     - died Jun.1898

Mary Doherty (nee McLinn) - her death recorded Dec.qtr.1892 Wolstanton.

Margaret Doherty (cousin of James Joseph McLynn) married a Martin Burke in 1907.  They had a son Martin Burke born 20/4/1915, d.2006 (can't see an obvious marriage for him) and a daughter Kathleen Mary Burke born 29/7/1920, d.1986 Stoke on Trent - she married a Hutchison in 1941 and had 2 daughters in Stoke - one in 1941 and the other in 1945 (can't name as probably still living).

So, these are the only relatives of James Joseph McLynn that I can trace forward.

Annette