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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 09:17 BST (UK)

Title: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 09:17 BST (UK)
Hi everyone.

I posted a photo over the weekend and everyone was so helpful. It was suggested I came here for some help in finding my  great great great Grandma. I'm new to this and perhaps Im looking in all the wrong places, but it seems I've hit a brick wall.

Elizabeth Toohey was a British Subject born in America around 1841. I have records of her in the 1881 census. At this time she was living in Bollington, Cheshire.

She had at least 6 children that I know of, born in Bermuda, India, Ireland and England. Her husband Bernard Toohey (sometimes with the spelling Tuohy) was a sergeant with the 39th regiment and so was travelling all over.

Bernard Toohey born around 1836 in Galway, Ireland.
Elizabeth Toohey Born around 1841 - I dont know her maiden name. British subject in America.

I can't find a marriage certificate for them and I'm struggling to find a birth certificate for their son too - John Henry Toohey who was born in Bermuda in 1861. I have found some birth certificates of their other children born in India. I'm guessing  the marriage was in Bermuda as Bernard was based there between 1859 and 1864.

Would it have been normal for wives to have traveled on ships with their husbands? It seems that was the case for Elizabeth as she had her children in the places where Bernard was based.

Elizabeth is such a mystery as I cant find any record of her death, birth or marriage. So I'd be so grateful for all your help. As I say I'm new to this so I'm probably not searching as good as I could be.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: jim1 on Tuesday 06 June 17 10:20 BST (UK)
To start you off as an NCO he was entitled to take his family. Other Ranks drew lots.
Have you looked in overseas births on FindMyPast.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 10:23 BST (UK)
Hello

She sounds an interesting lady. 

Which child was born in England and when? ** It's possible to search for his or her birth and find out the mothers maiden name.

** From the 1881 census Mary Jane is born Manchester 1866 so could be this birth

Mary Jane Toohey Mar 1866 Salford mothers maiden name Flannagan
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: PaulineJ on Tuesday 06 June 17 10:26 BST (UK)
1881 census.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q272-CXF3

Mary jane  aged 15.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 10:33 BST (UK)
There is a baptism 1 Apr 1866

Maria Joanna Toohey filia Bernardi Toohey and Elizabethae (formerly Flanagan)

Born 25 Feb 1866
Barracks

Godparents
Joannes Jefcott
Ellena Bayley
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 11:08 BST (UK)
Do you know where or when her husband died?
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 11:20 BST (UK)
Thanks everyone for your help!

Milliepede, her husband died in 1879 in Bollington, cheshire.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 11:49 BST (UK)
Thank you so Elizabeth could have remarried and be under a different name after 1881.

I believe son Bernard remained in Lancashire, do you know what happened to the other children?
Just to see if it leads us to Elizabeth later on.

Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 12:00 BST (UK)
Her son, John Henry Toohey was living in Manchester from around 1900. The other children I am unsure of.
I actually think her remarrying is a big possibility.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 12:12 BST (UK)
Possible death for Anna Maria in 1896 Lancashire

Death for Bernard in 1933 Lancashire

These two are on a family tree but no deaths given for Elizabeth or any of the others
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: jorose on Tuesday 06 June 17 20:24 BST (UK)
Daughter Elizabeth I believe married Charles H Barnes in 1899, here she is in 1901:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9JV-K27

And I think this is Elizabeth remarried in 1891 with her three India-born children indexed as "Tooley"
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7CRP-53Z

Her remarriage is also on freebmd as Tooley - married William Henry Darbyshire in 1885.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Jomot on Tuesday 06 June 17 20:46 BST (UK)
This fits with the marriage / census found by Jorose, but the name of Elizabeth's father isn't Flanagan  :-\

Marriage: 5 Jan 1885 St Bartholomew, Salford, Lancashire, England
 William Henry Darbyshire - 31, Labourer, Bachelor, 3 John Wood Street
 Elizabeth Tooley - (X), 43, Widow, 3 John Wood Street
     Groom's Father: James William Darbyshire, Clerk
     Bride's Father: Francis Thomas, (deceased), Book Keeper
     Witness: James Kearney; Sarah Kearney
     Married by Banns by: R.A. Wood Curate
     Register: Marriages 1882 - 1885, Page 220, Entry 439
     Source: LDS Film 1786464
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 21:41 BST (UK)
Oh good find with the marriage but I wonder why the fathers name doesn't fit  ???
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 21:44 BST (UK)
Thank you so much for your help, I really do appreciate you all spending your time on this!

Elizabeth seems such a mystery! Its such a break through these new details.

The details on the census really do match up with the ages and places of birth, but as you say the father is not Flanagan, I'll have a look at the details I have found already and try to figure this out. The marriage is such a good step forward too.

Thanks so much everyone!
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 21:47 BST (UK)
The 1891 has birthplace for Elizabeth "Fuebee Canada" but looking at it I would suggest "Quebec"
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 21:56 BST (UK)
Do you think William Henry Darbyshire born West Indies is married to someone else by 1911 or is that someone else with the same name.

Marriage Jun 1900 Chorlton to Susannah Taylor

If him it would narrow down a time for when Elizabeth died.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Tuesday 06 June 17 22:07 BST (UK)
I think William Henry Darbyshire is married to the Elizabeth we are looking for.
The children's ages match perfectly, as do the birth locations.

Only difference is, in the 1881 census Elizabeth was down as being born in America, not Canada.

The surnames are spelt slightly different, and it seems Fredrick has been mistaken for Frank. Its down as "Frank W" His name was "Fredrick William" so that suggests its the same person to me, just with the mistake in the name.

The daughter Elizabeth would later live in Gorton too, the same place Elizabeth (mother) was living with her new husband. It all seems promising that its the right family.

The baptism you found from 1866 fits perfectly too, I just cant understand why her maiden name is coming up different. Flanagan and Thomas.

Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 06 June 17 22:18 BST (UK)
There is a death in Dec 1899 Chorlton for an Elizabeth Darbyshire age 59 which would leave husband free to remarry in 1900 (if indeed that is he, all speculation at this point) 
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Jomot on Tuesday 06 June 17 23:53 BST (UK)
I see from Bernard Tuohy's service record that prior to serving in Bermuda he was in Canada, and I've found their marriage on 8 June 1858 in Quebec, Saint Patrick.

Unfortunately I lost my reading glasses last week so I'm struggling to read it but I think I can make out Bernard Toohey of the 39th Regiment son of John Toohey & Bridget Flanigan (?), and Elizabeth Flanagan a resident of Quebec and daughter of deceased Francis Flanagan and the late Bridget Methermoth (??).  Married in the presence of Bartholomew Kerrigan and Jane Flanagan.  All parties signed their names, although the Flanagan girls signed as Flanigan.

For anyone with better eyesight than me (or still in possession of their reading glasses!) its on Anc* in the Drouin Collection.

ADDED: its indexed as Bernard Toohy & Elisabeth Flanagan
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Jomot on Wednesday 07 June 17 00:25 BST (UK)
Also found a burial for Francis Flanagan in Notre-Dame, Quebec in 1847.  Its written in French but his wife - Elizabeth's mother- appears to be Bridget McDermot.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Annette7 on Wednesday 07 June 17 03:17 BST (UK)
All I would add is that his surname is shown as Toohy and that his parents are 'of the County Galway' and that hers are 'of the County Roscommon'.

So at least you know which parts of Ireland both Bernard and Elizabeth families originated.

Annette
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Wednesday 07 June 17 13:34 BST (UK)
Wow, I honestly can't thank you all enough! What a big help!!! This really is a massive breakthrough. I thought I'd never find anything on Elizabeth Toohey.

So much more information I have now thanks to everyone here.

So much to take in, and lots of new leads.

This means so much :)
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Barbara Carey on Friday 28 September 18 21:59 BST (UK)
Hi, I have been compiling my family tree and saw your post on Roots Chat, my great Grandfather was John Toohey born in Bermuda 1861, and my great Grandmother was Marie Ann Jean born in Portsea, my Nan was also born in Portsea along with her twin Frances Florence.  Bernard was my Nans younger brother.

Barbara from Manchester
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Saturday 29 September 18 18:34 BST (UK)
Hi Barbara,

Lovely to hear from you! I have just sent you a message.

Thanks so much for getting in touch.

Catherine.
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Barbara Carey on Sunday 30 September 18 16:00 BST (UK)
Hi Catherine, so lovely to hear from you!  I have only been working on my ancestry for two weeks now and used the Chat site for the first time when I messaged you, I am really struggling with the site trying to send private messages so please forgive me being slow to respond to you.

I have got quite a bit of information on both families but nowhere as much as you.

I love the photo of Eileen Florence, she looks very dark, is it just the photo? my mother is so much like her!  I have some old photos but only as far back as my Nan and her family, you can have copies but my daughter Chantelle will have to help me out to post them.

I am so happy I found you on Roots, I will keep in touch and if possible send you any information I get.

Barbara



Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: hallmark on Sunday 30 September 18 17:40 BST (UK)
you must make a couple of posts before you can send someone a private message!!
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Catherine86 on Monday 01 October 18 19:30 BST (UK)
you must make a couple of posts before you can send someone a private message!!

Ah that explains it, thank you.

Hi Catherine, so lovely to hear from you!  I have only been working on my ancestry for two weeks now and used the Chat site for the first time when I messaged you, I am really struggling with the site trying to send private messages so please forgive me being slow to respond to you.

I have got quite a bit of information on both families but nowhere as much as you.

I love the photo of Eileen Florence, she looks very dark, is it just the photo? my mother is so much like her!  I have some old photos but only as far back as my Nan and her family, you can have copies but my daughter Chantelle will have to help me out to post them.

I am so happy I found you on Roots, I will keep in touch and if possible send you any information I get.

Barbara





Hi Barbara ,

I have sent you a message with my email address.

It's amazing that you have been in touch. This forum has been a big help to me :)

Catherine
Title: Re: Elizabeth Toohey - British Subject born in America.
Post by: Blue70 on Thursday 04 October 18 08:25 BST (UK)
I've seen 'America' on census records that turned out to be parts of North of America or the West Indies other than the USA. Canada was sometimes referred to as British America.


Blue