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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 13:27 BST (UK)

Title: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 13:27 BST (UK)
I am hoping to locate her birth record and some further details

Sheila Elliott won her first athletics title in 1928 and a foremost Northern Ireland sprinter.
Her Uncle was William Millar also a champion athlete.
She married fellow athlete Edward Boyce circa 1941.

A 1937 newspaper article stated she was 44 years old => bc 1893 however this is refuted by someone who claims she was alive and presenting a trophy in 1992. However she may have lived into her 90s in very good health!

Any help locating her birth/family would be appreciated - thank you
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: Christine53 on Sunday 09 August 20 13:51 BST (UK)

She married fellow athlete Edward Boyce circa 1941.
I Googled Eddie Boyce  - he was born in 1913 which may give an indication of her age

A 1937 newspaper article stated she was 44 years old

The 1937 article says " Sheila Elliott  ( 4 1/2 ) "  not 44. I think it's to do with it being a handicap race.

Any help locating her birth/family would be appreciated - thank you
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 13:56 BST (UK)
Thank you Christine - I appreciate your time

I feel myself that if she won her first 100 yards in Lurgan in 1928 she was probably quite young and if late teens or in her twenties, she would have been born sometime between 1900 and 1910.

I will reread the article which I may have picked up wrong as I did think she couldn't be that old
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 August 20 14:06 BST (UK)
A 1928 race meeting newspaper report has a Sheila Elliott running in a schoolgirls race.

The Northern Whig, 18 Aug 1936 has a wedding photo that includes an Edward Boyce, best man and Sheila Elliott, bridesmaid. I'm no judge of age but I don't think she looks 43!

They married early June 1941.
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 14:08 BST (UK)
Thank you hanes teulu - I appreciate your time

If a schoolgirl's race she would be younger than 18 in 1928 I would expect
A birth date of 1912-1916 would be more likely
Thank you for helping to narrow it down  :)
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: Christine53 on Sunday 09 August 20 14:30 BST (UK)
I looked at the marriage certificate on GRONI :

Married 7 Sep 1940 Dunmurry

Edward Boyce full age Clerk, of 96 Agnes Street Belfast , father Thomas Boyce decd.
Sarah Agnes Elliott full age , of Dunmurry , father Jas. Elliott,  Cutter or Cutler - not sure

96 Agnes Street is mentioned as the birthplace of Eddie Boyce here :

http://www.belfasthistory.org/remembering-olympian-eddie-boycenorth-belfast-harrier-competed-at-the-1936-games/
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 14:34 BST (UK)
Brilliant as I have a birth of a Sarah Agnes on Jan 14 1915 that matches
Father James ELLIOTT a cutter and mother Minnie MILLAR
at 33 Windsor Road LINK (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1915/01389/1571417.pdf)

I didn't have access to PRONI records

Sincere thanks for this - now to search further!

Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: hanes teulu on Sunday 09 August 20 14:47 BST (UK)
Sarah Agnes indeed - no wonder I couldn't find a Sheila Elliott on Irish genealogy!

Nice breakthrough!
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 14:49 BST (UK)
stealing an old quote "it's good to talk"!!
Thank you all
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: Kiltaglassan on Sunday 09 August 20 14:59 BST (UK)
Edward Boyce born on 2nd June 1913 at 14 Upper Charleville Street.   MMN IRVINE
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1913/01455/1594346.pdf
Title: Re: Sheila Elliott Athlete Sprinter
Post by: myluck! on Sunday 09 August 20 15:03 BST (UK)
Thank you Kiltaglassan - it was Sheila who had eluded me!
I will note the reference