Sullivan - GRO search

[Oxtonite62]

Hi

The person I believe to be my great great grandmother, Mary Sullivan is shown on the 1871 Census for England & Wales living in Whitechapel in London.

She is a down as a widow - I have my gt gt grandfather, John Sullivan's death certificate and he died in March 1871.  Mary has 4 children, Daniel aged 12, Patrick aged 8, Eliza aged 2 (my great grandmother) and Mary aged 4 months - all shown as being born in Aldgate with Mary (the mother) being born in Ireland.

I also have Eliza's birth certificate, however the problem I'm having is that I cannot trace the other children's birth using the GRO search index.  I've tried searching most registration districts in the surrounding area and also used the +/- 2 years for DOBs to no avail. 

Also I've not been able to trace the family in any other Census return. 

I have found quite a bit of info on my great grandmother, Eliza following her marriage to Alfred Jones and their children as she spent a great deal of time in and out of the workhouse.

I'm not 100% sure I have the correct family on the 1871 Census but the evidence I do have suggests it could be this family. I have taken a DNA test & also manage a test for an elderly male relative - lots of matches with people that have Sullivan in their trees but nothing concrete.

I would be grateful if anyone has any ideas on tracing the children's birth or any other information on this family.

Many thanks

Linda

[lizdb]

What is Mary's maiden name from Eliza's birth cert?

[Jebber]

And what was John’s occupation on his death certificate.

[Oxtonite62]

What is Mary's maiden name from Eliza's birth cert?

Mary’s maiden name is Moore - Eliza’s birth cert states previously ‘Hazel’ formerly ‘Moore’.

[Oxtonite62]

And what was John’s occupation on his death certificate.

John was a dock Labourer.

[keyboard86]

OK to boot this up for you, this is the 1871 census you have:-

Mary Sullivan 30 Widow b Ireland
Daniel 12
Patrick 8
Eliza 2
Mary 4 months
All children b Aldgate
Residing at Crown Court, Aldgate
Census ref RG10/524/9/11
Was the John Sullivan death in March 1871 Whitechapel aged 38, if so what address did he die at, and at what address was Eliza born?
When/where did John/Mary marry?
Keyboard86

[Jebber]

Daniel and Mary's Births are possibly the ones registered in Whitechapel with no mother's maiden name, there is a Patrick with mmn Donovan, none of which fit with your information.

I can find no marriage between a Sullivan and Moore or Hazel in England, I have not looked in Ireland. It is possible Eliza's father was fictitious and the death you have for John is a red herring, unless Eliza was the informant.

They are certainly proving difficult to uncover.

[Oxtonite62]

OK to boot this up for you, this is the 1871 census you have:-

Mary Sullivan 30 Widow b Ireland
Daniel 12
Patrick 8
Eliza 2
Mary 4 months
All children b Aldgate
Residing at Crown Court, Aldgate
Census ref RG10/524/9/11
Was the John Sullivan death in March 1871 Whitechapel aged 38, if so what address did he die at, and at what address was Eliza born?
When/where did John/Mary marry?
Keyboard86

Hi Keyboard86

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, the death certificate I have for John Sullivan states he was 38 years old and died on 04/03/1871 at 27 Back Church Lane, Whitechapel.  Mary Sullivan was present at the death.

I’ve not been able to find a marriage for John & Mary.

Eliza was born at 37 Crown Court, Cartwright Street, Aldgate.

[Oxtonite62]

Daniel and Mary's Births are possibly the ones registered in Whitechapel with no mother's maiden name, there is a Patrick with mmn Donovan, none of which fit with your information.

I can find no marriage between a Sullivan and Moore or Hazel in England, I have not looked in Ireland. It is possible Eliza's father was fictitious and the death you have for John is a red herring, unless Eliza was the informant.

They are certainly proving difficult to uncover.

Hi Jebber

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, this has been a very frustrating search....nothing seems to add up!  I also found Daniel and Mary’s birth on GRO without a mmn so, I guess they could have been illegitimate.

A very complicated family....another twist in the tale is that Eliza gave birth to my grandmother Sarah Jones in 1892 then in 1898 gave birth to my great aunt Bridget whose birth cert states the father as William Barrett - mother Eliza Barrett formerly Sullivan! No mention of Jones.

Then in the 1901 Census Eliza and her children, Sarah and Bridget are in the Salvation Army Shelter with the surname as Jones.  Another son born later was registered as Jones!

Hopefully the DNA tests may highlight some connection at some point in the future.

Thanks to everyone for the interest and effort!

Linda