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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Tephra on Tuesday 09 March 10 09:48 GMT (UK)
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Welcome to this weeks Scavenger Hunt.....a little bit complicated but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Good Luck and Good Hunting
Barbara
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The lady I am searching for is Bridget Eileen Macdonald (nee Fitzgerald). Most of the information listed below is based on what Bridget herself told family and have mostly found nothing to verify any of it. If anything is actually proved it’s noted by the side.
- Born abt 1885 in Dublin
- Approx. 1912 – sent to Holloway prison after breaking windows in London’s West End as part of the suffragette movement
- Married Alexander Macdonald, a medical practitioner, a couple of years before WW1. Have not found cert. Name & occupation from daughter’s marriage cert.
- 19 Dec 1913 – daughter Joan Sheila Mary Temple Blackwood Macdonald born. Later known as Sheila Mary. Have not found cert, info from marriage & death cert.
- August 1914 – Alexander Macdonald left to serve in WW1
- 1914/1915 – Bridget left for France to work as a nurse – Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing - leaving Sheila with her husband’s parents
- On returning from the war had a struggle to get Sheila back who was settled with her grandparents
- 1917-1920 – Alexander Macdonald died. Has returned from the war to deal with the flu epidemic. Have not found cert.
- 1931 – Adopted my grandmother in Wales. Have info from cert.
- 1963 – died in Gipping – have cert although very little information on it
I have researched her extensively and always come up with a blank. A couple of other points are that she never mentioned her parents, although the impression was that they had money. Apparently had three brothers, Patrick, Michael and ? two of whom died in the War and the third was disabled in it. Again no trace of them, have gone through every CWGC record trying to match up info. She said she was a Catholic but throughout her life stood up every time the English national anthem was played.
I have attempted to search for a birth in Dublin for Bridget. However, as I know so little about her it's impossible to know if I am heading in the right direction. So really I need to fill in the gaps in her life, particularly her own marriage and Sheila's birth in order to go backwards.
There are a couple of threads on here relating to her or to Sheila.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,382276.msg2548031.html#msg2548031
Thanks in advance!
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Wow this will be fun!
Can you tell us who the daughter Sheila married, and where and when.
Annie
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Also tell us full details of your grandmother if she is not living ie: what is on the cert.
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First thoughts. Which countries have you looked for a marriage, England, Scotland, Ireland?
Second thought have you any documentary evidence that Alexander did exist?
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Couldn't find a marriage for an Alexander MacDonald with a Bridget or a Fitzgerald on ScotlandsPeople and searching for an Alexander marrying a Bridget (no surnames) between 1911-16 the nearest was SeptQ 1911 Leigh 8c p497 which included William Chivers
Annie Lomas
Alexander MacDonald
Bridget Monaghan
:-\
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Second thought have you any documentary evidence that Alexander did exist?
I'm beginning to wonder ;).
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The daughter married in Wales
1937 East Glamorgan
Hugh Leonard W SIXSMITH
Joan SMTB MacDonald
Hugh born 1911 Cardiff
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There's an Alexander MacDonald living in Leigh on the 1911 but he's not a doctor so I think we can scrub that although it was pretty much a non-starter anyway.
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' leaving Sheila with husband's parents'
What evidence is there of that?
My thoughts are that virtually the whole story was make believe.
Bridget gave birth in London to an illigitimate child.
The child was in some kind of care, children's home etc.
She did later get her back, with some difficulty, but how did she support her? Where did they live? How come she went to Wales?
It just doesn't add up.
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I think you're right Jaywit, I think the best thing is to ignore everything anecdotal and concentrate on what can be proven with documentary evidence.
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I agree ;)
Not much is making sense so far
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The Women's Library in London have an extensive collection of suffergette material. If she was sent to prison I'm sure she should be mentioned somewhere in their archives.
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/
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The Queen Alexandra nurses site www.qaranc.co.uk/findqas.php directs you to GenesReunited to look for records.
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From N A website.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/womeninuniform/army_nurses_sources.htm
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Hello everyone,
Thanks for you replies so far. I'll try to answer everything but am on my lunch break so time is a bit short!
Firstly, here are a couple of links to previous threads that I forgot to include in my message to Tephra:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,382276.msg2548031.html#msg2548031
There is a second relating mostly to Sheila and Hugh Sixsmith - although I can't seem to find it at the moment!
OK.
I have no proof that Alexander Macdonald ever existed. On Sheila's marriage certificate from 1937 her residence is Fairleigh, Llandough and father listed as Alexander Macdonald a medical practitioner. Her husband's address is Welling St, Stockport and his father Charles Frederick Gilborne Sixsmith was also a medical practitioner. Witnesses Melvyn Alban Jones and Marion Sixsmith.
I have searched England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and have looked in detail into Alexander Macdonald's who were doctors - mostly by going through the sources and trying to find those who were not registered as practicing after 1920 and looking back on each of them to find their families. No joy.
My grandmother's adoption certificate states that she was born at a mother and baby home in Cardiff, and that the lady adopting her was Bridget Eileen Macdonald nee Fitzgerald.
I think finding Bridget anywhere between 1900 and 1930 is the key. She lived with Sheila and her husband in later years.
I do wonder about the whole thing... disproving any of this info is just as important for me.
Sorry this is a bit rushed, I will try and log on when I'm back in the office to answer any more queries.
Thanks again,
Rachel
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Hi All,
Is this the right man Rachel?
1901....RG13 /4993 / 91 / 51
Charles F G Sixsmith, head, single, age 39, occ surgeon, b Ireland
E Maud Sixsmith, sister, single, age 31, b Ireland
Plevna R Wilkins, servant, single age 22, occ Cook Domestic, b Frampton in Severn, Gloucs
Alice Burge, servant, single age 16, occ Housemaid Domestic, b New Passage, Glouc
Address....188 Holton Road, Barry, Cardiff
Sue
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Yep that's him. He married Muriel Marion Dudley in 1901. I haven't found any link between the Sixsmiths and Macdonalds other than living in Wales!
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charles frederick gilbourne sixsmith registred as surgeon in 1892 ...trained at Royal College of surgeons in Edinburgh.
still in Holton Road in 1931 but no. 1 this time
in 1895 he was in Barry Dock Glamorganshire
Dj
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I see the Sixsmiths have 2 sons by the 1911 census.
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Looking at Ireland Casualties of WW1 for Fitzgerald born Dublin there is William, John Edward, Thomas, John, Joseph, Edward and John. None of your christian names.
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hugh leonard william sixsmith in 1936 ...medical register 1939 living at Coldbrook rd Barry Glamorgan
registered since 1936, trained in London
still at same address in 1943
in 1955 he lived in Lynton , East lane ,West Horsley, Leatherhead ,Surrey....still there in 1959
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i found 3 patrick Fitzgeralds in WW1 ireland casualities but which one could it be ???
3 died in 1917 and all 3 in france
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There just isn't one fact we can latch on to at the moment. We don't even know if Fitzgerald is the correct name. Bridget would have been in her late 20s by 1913 so it's possible she was married and left home, we just don't know
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The closest I can find in 1911 living in London ( OK we know she was in London in 1912 if the story is true) is living in Lambeth district, there is a Edward Fitzgerald of a similar age and a Mary in her 50s ( mother?)
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Looking at possible marriages for Alexander and Bridget - could it have been in Wales?
Theres an Alexander MacDonald marrying in Newport Q2 1910 but there is a missing spouse on this registration on freebmd - 11a 263.
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looked in the marriage index and there is not a fitzgerald marrying in 1910 q2 at all
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sorry !!!
there are fitzgeralds but not marrying in Newport !!
and not called Bridget
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It was just a suggestion :-\
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I looked for Sheila's birth in Dec Q1913/Jan Q 1914 - various combinations of surnames and first names and found one Sheila M McDonald reg in Orsett Dec Q 1913, mother's maiden name BOUD. Then I found a second child born to same couple, same reg dist in Jan Q 1915 named Alexander L McDonald.
Just a coincidence? or more significant? :-\
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There was the marriage of Alexander MacDonald/McDonald (both names on Freebmd) in Orsett in 1903, but not to a lady with the surname Boud.
Brides were Gertrude Aslett and Euphemia Small. Wonder if Alexander was widowed or left his wife and took up with Ms Boud without marrying her :-\
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How sure are we that Bridget's maiden name was Fitzgerald - and, was she married previously and so married Alexander under another name?
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There's no reason why Bridget couldn't gave been married before! I do already gave the BOUD birth cert at home, the parents names do not match up. I think the whole key will come with finding Sheila's birth but that's proving near impossible, even with the unusual middle names. :-S
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Hi all
One thing that jumps out at me looking at this puzzle is all the middle names given to the daughter, I did some googleing on various combinations and I am wondering if this is connected - Temple-Blackwood is part of the surname of the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava - which is an Irish title - are we looking at an off shoot possibly illegitimate of this family?
DebbieG
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Have we found out where the daughter was born?
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Hello All,
Just reading thru... ;)
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Its a tricky one les ;)
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Have we found out where the daughter was born?
Nope, not yet anyway. ;)
It's one of the points I should be able to prove - I KNOW she existed so somewhere there must be something about her birth!
Debbie - it's an idea! I was thinking Temple Blackwood could have been surnames for Sheilas grandparents prehaps?
Now I have a bit more time will look back at previous replies and respond to bits I've missed.
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Ive got visitors due anytime so I will see where you are up to in the morning.
Ive looked at freebmd for all variations of Sheila's name that I can think of, taking Sheila, Joan and Mary all as first names plus using Temple, Blackwood, Fitzgerald, MacDonald and McDonald as surnames but nothing stands out.
Another possibility of course is that it wasn't her given name - we've all come across the ones who are known as one thing and registered as something totally different! :-\
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Yes could be Jen! Although it seems quite a complicated name to take if it's not the registered one, if you see what I mean?
I also found the link to the Sixsmiths that looks at some of this that may be of help or interest to people.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,369546.0.html
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:D Probably completely off track but Bout-Budd-Rudd.. :P :P
Marriages Sep 1901
Edwards John Goodwin
Fitzgerald Bridget
Newton Teresa Maud
Rudd Thomas Walter
Mutford 4a 2074
Norfolk/Suffolk
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Another that is probably completely of track but there was a Sheila Joan Fitzgerald b. Eastbourne district Jun 1904 2b_85.
It is too early but there can't be many Sheila's around.
Edited to say there is also a
Sheila Mary I TEMPLE b 1909 Eton 3a_922 - What hapens if that I was supposed to be a J
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Going back to Sheila, did she ever say how old she was when she went to Wales? Could she ever remember anything or anywhere before Wales?
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Ammonites reply 40
this birth cert could be worth a look.... Windsor/Eton has plenty of army happening around that time...
Who's wedding was Bridget a witness. A friend -a relative. Have you got the details?
Why adopt? and from a mother/baby refuge.... was she in this situation herself?
1891 Bridget Fitzgerald - 8 - bShadwell - St Marys Orphanage Walthamstow.
1901 Bridget Fitzgerald - 19- b Ireland - Bartestree Hereford - Convent of sisters of charity refuge.
(Is this same person? + Hereford not many miles from Wales)
Over to you ;D Lesanne..
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not helpful .....but just looked at the Sisters of refuge /Bartestree pages....6 pages of really young women in need...
:( very sad...
ref to Temple Blackwood, there has to be a link, you don't just dream up those names........
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Looking at Wiki there is a tenuous link here.
Lady Hermione Catherine Helen Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood (1869–19 October 1960) trained as a nurse and qualified in 1901, serving in France during the First World War. She was awarded the Medaille de Reconnaissance Française for her services. She died unmarried.
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hermoine was living in Chelsea in 1901 with her Mother and sister and several servants , unmarried .
not really helpful but not sure where else to look !!
have looked at Q4 1913 and Q1 1914 indexes for birth of Joan Sheila but no joy , did find a "female " Blackwood and maiden name Blackwood but that's very vague .
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Do you know when Bridget came to England? Checked 1911 Irish census - a couple of Bridget Fitzgeralds in Dublin right age but no brothers living with her.
What about the Bridget Fitzgerald born 6 December 1885 in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire? - thinking of the Welsh connection.
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Ok I'm back. :)
Lesanne: I'm confused about the marriage to Thomas Rudd, how do you think it's connected?
Ammonite & jaywit - so the suggestion being that Sheila's birth date isn't actually her birth date? I don't know what she remembered about her childhood but 4 years seems a pretty big jump... what do you think? Can always order the cert to check!
Lesanne again: with the Bartestree Convent I have noticed that before, had completely forgotten. A big coincidence is that my grandmother's birth mother (who ironically I know more about) came from Ledbury which is not far from that convent. Even though my grandmother was actually born in Wales. I seem to remember reading that Bartestree was a place for 'fallen women'. Again I don't know how to prove or disprove it being my Bridget!
DJ French & jaywit - you're right im sure there has to be a connection. There is a death reg in 1960 for a Hermione Blackwood though? Bridget had told people that she was awarded medals for her work as a nurse.
Ebch: Where did you get that info from? It may be worth looking into!
I'm very haphazard in my research so I'm sorry if this is confusing to people!
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Welsh Bridget on A*.cm - going to have another look now :)
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Well as usual I wandered around a bit :)
Might as well throw this one in
A Bridget Fitzgerald gave birth 15 Feb 1867 Poplar Union Workhouse to a Alice Christine Fitzgerald - illegitimate. Ok wrong name but who knows ;D
EDIT - What I was thinking was this child the mother of Bridget b 1885?
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It's time for this weeks Scavenger Hunt and there's something for everyone in it!!
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,444237.0.html
Good Luck and Good Hunting.
Barbara
As usual, this Hunt will remain open for any further information which may come in.
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Thanks to everyone for their help - got a few new things to look into.
One day I WILL get to the bottom of this! :)
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Sorry to bring up an old thread like this but I wondered if this was ever resolved? It's really interesting and it's a shame if it's still a mystery.
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There is a bapt for Joan Sheila MTB Macdonald.
January 28th 1914 St Lukes Chelsea.
Parents, Stewart Macdonald and Eileen Mary.
Fathers occ, desc Doctor.
Res: 39 Royal Ave Chelsea (seems to be Nursing Home)
Lesanne
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Looks as if the OP has not been on the board for some time.
FS
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Hello!
I am still around... thank you for the renewed interest.
I still haven't resolved this and have had subsequent tries many times over the years.
Having read back through the thread, I think the 'new' information I have now is:
- Sheila's baptism record from 17th January 1917 at St Lukes, Chelsea (as mentioned on the previous page). The record states that her father was Stewart Macdonald (deceased). Previously the name had been Alexander Macdonald, for example on Sheila's marriage cert. I have tried searching various different combinations of the names, however, as was suspected at the beginning it seems that he is not a real person. The story went that the father was a doctor in the war and returned to deal with the flu epidemic, and then died. If he supposedly died before January 1917 then that cannot be true.
- The address on the baptism certificate is 39 Royal Avenue. I have searched for that address on the 1911 census and it's '39 and 41 Royal Avenue, Belgrave Nursing Home, Chelsea S W' and the census is made up of nursing staff and patients.
- I wrote to the Red Cross, someone with records for QAIMS (I can't remember exactly who) and also somewhere with suffragette records asking for any information on Bridget, or Eileen, Macdonald of Fitzgerald and none of them had any records.
- Having researched the history further, it would have been very unlikely that a married woman went to the front in the War as a nurse - they were single.
- Bridget Fitzgerald/MacDonald definitely had had some medical training. The 1939 register lists her as a 'state registered nurse' although again I can't find her in any nursing records.
So really, I am no closer to finding out who Bridget and Sheila were than I was eleven years ago.
Thank you for reading :)
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I'm off down a rabbit hole now :)
I have found a Stuart Macdonald on the Medical Register for 1913 (there are two listed).
The one I am interested in is:
Name: Stuart Macdonald
Address: Army Medical Service
Date & Place of Registration: 1884, April 21 S
Qualifications: M.B. Mast. Surg. 1884, Univ. Aberd.
It seems he was born in 1861 in Elgin, Moray, Scotland to William Macdonald and Eliza Watson Stuart.
There is a paragraph on him in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal on 21st January 1916:
"Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. Colonel Stewart Macdonald R.A.M.C - Graduated M.B., C.M, at Aberdeen University in 1884. He is the son of Mr William Macdonald, Elgin. He joined the medical service in the army in 1887, and was appointed a major of the R.A.M.C in 1899. He has the medal with two clasps for the Tirah expedition in 1897-98"
However, it seems he died in 1939 as the Probate Death Index lists:.
MACDONALD C.B. C.M.G. A.M.S Stuart of Willowbank Moss-street Elgin died 19 May 1939 Confirmation of William Macdonald. Sealed London 26 August.
He appears on the 1871 census as a visitor, in Paddington, London. Occupation 'Surgeon Army Med Staff Army Off', born Elgin, single.
1911 census - aged 49, single, boarder. Major RAM Corps at the Royal Army Medical College, Grosvenor Road Westminster. This is 1.4 miles away from where Bridget is recorded as living for Sheila's baptism in 1917.
I realise London is a big and busy place, however, it puts someone of the correct name, with the occupation that I have been told, in the same area.
There would be an age gap of approx 20 years between Bridget and himself.
Another tenuous link, when Sheila Macdonal married Hugh Sixsmith she married into a family of high ranking army medical officers. Surely those circles were small in those days?
Anyway... off to give it some more thought.
He could, of course, still entirely be a work of fiction!! And it doesn't bring me any closer to finding Sheila's birth, or who Bridget was. It's a puzzle.
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https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/paddington.html
Dec q 1913 Blackwood Female Blackwood Paddington 1a 87
A possible birth record.
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Joan Sheila Mary Blackwood Temple MacDonald
this is wrongly transcribed... 28 Jan 1917
the original reads.. bapt 28 January 1914 born 19 Dec 1913
St Luke, Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea
Stewart,
Eileen Mary
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https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/paddington.html
Dec q 1913 Blackwood Female Blackwood Paddington 1a 87
A possible birth record.
Lesanne - Death was registered in same Quarter.
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Joan Sheila Mary Blackwood Temple MacDonald
this is wrongly transcribed... 28 Jan 1917
the original reads.. bapt 28 January 1914 born 19 Dec 1913
St Luke, Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea
Stewart,
Eileen Mary
Hi Lesanne!
Thank you for your input. Where abouts did you see this, as the copy I have definitely states baptisms listed in 1917?
Thanks :)
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If Mar 1914 Qtr registration, just putting this one in for info:
McCarthy Sheila M mmn McCarthy
Chelsea 1a 664