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Mary Sullivan and William Driscoll.

Thanks everyone who replied.

I did write a response earlier and then it disappeared, so here goes again.

I believe that John is the son of Peter Sullivan, a dock labourer, and his wife Catherine Carew/Carey, but I am trying to find John’s birth certificate and also baptism to confirm. I’ve been in touch with one cousin, a descendant of John’s brother, Patrick, born c 1863, who believes this to be true also.

Mary Ann is shown as Sullivan nee O’Brien on John Michael’s birth certificate. In the marriage certificate she is also recorded as being forty and the daughter of James O’Brien, a superannuated police constable. I agree that the 1897 death is probably her.

I know the age is off on the 1901 census but at present, this does seem likely to be them. But making no assumptions.

It’s possible that JM is then with John Caton in 1911 but I haven’t established the link yet, although it states nephew.

I’ll apply speculatively for a couple of certificates but wonder where the RC parish records are. John and Mary Ann married at the church of Our Lady and St Fredrick in 1896 but I think that church was fairly recent then and may not have John’s baptism in the 1850s.

Two of John Michael’s sons are alive and in their nineties. I might have to try and persuade them to do a dna test.

Again thanks for all help so far.

Can anyone help please on where best to look for Roman Catholic baptisms in Limehouse?

I am specifically looking for a John Sullivan, son of Peter and Catherine Sullivan nee Carey, around 1856.

John married Mary O'Brien (daughter of James O'Brien, a retired policeman) in the Church of Our Lady and St Frederick in 1896, although their son, John Michael, had been born in September 1894 and they had stated they were married on his birth certificate.

I'm trying to find John's baptism (c 1856), and likely death between 1901 and 1919. And Mary Ann's likely death at the end of 1897.

It is possible that John Michael was placed into care at some point, so also seeking likely organisations that would have admitted Catholic children?

Grateful for any help.

Thanks

Matt

Hi all,

Wonder if anyone is researching this family - there is a second marriage I can't pin down, and they seem to change their names and move around quite a bit. I'd be really interested to hear from anyone connected to the family or anyone who fancies checking that I'm not going mad!

William Kelly was born in 1848 in Berwick St John. He first appears in the 1851 census living on Church Street, with his parents, William, an agricultural labourer, and Emily. William has a younger brother, Charles, and a sister, Mary, who is just five months old.
 
By 1861, there have ben several additions to the family with William, Charles and Mary now having other younger siblings: Henry, Ann, Ruth, and Emily. William, aged thirteen, is shown as working as an agricultural labourer.
 
William married Mary Hilier on 28 July 1869.
In 1881 he is living with wife Mary in Bristol and working as a chocolate maker. The couple live at 10, Wells Street, which they share with four members of the Davis family.
 
Between 1881 and 1884, Mary died. William later married  and with his second wife had children William, Ruth, John, Jake, and Ambrose. His second wife is caled variously Amelia, Mary, and variations, with her place of birth varying from 'at sea' to not known.
 
The 1891 census shows the family back in Berwick St John, with Willian an agricultural labourer, wife Amelia, and Lilian, William, and Ruth.
The 1901 census reveals a significant change for the family who are now in London and living at 167, Stamford Street, Lambeth.
 
The census return shows William as a labourer. His wife, listed here as Amelia, is a sick nurse, and son John, a shop errand boy. The various birth places of the family matches their movements in the previous censuses, with son William born in Wiltshire, Ruth in Sutton, Surrey, and Ambrose in London.
By 1911 the family have moved again, and are now in Devizes.
 
William is a farm labourer; Amelia is still a nurse, and both sons, John and Ambrose, are at home.
 
In 1921, Ambrose is at home with his parents, who are still living in Devizes.

However, their son John's service records show the family at Mill House, Melksham, and William and his wife feature in a newspaper article in 1911 also at that address but she is now called Mary, but still noted as a nurse.