Where's Catherine?

[Luzzu]

Hi

 

At long last I am dismantling my Grant brickwall piece by piece but my 3 x gt grandmother, Catherine Grant, disappears after 1873 and I can find no trace.

Can I appeal for help please?

The surname does vary but to summarise:-

Patrick and Catherine Grant were born in Ireland.  They married in Manchester in 1848 (Gralton/Cox).

In 1861 they were living at 7 Larton Street, Chorlton on Medlock with their two sons, John and Michael. Recorded in the name of Grant.

In 1864 they were living at 23 York Street when their son, Thomas, was born. Registered in the name of Gralton.

In 1871, a widowed Catherine with sons, John, Michael and Thomas, were living at 25 York Street.  Recorded in the name of Grant.

Husband Patrick died as a result of an accident in October 1870 and his death is registered in the name of Patrick Grantham.  Youngest son, Thomas, died, aged 10, of typhoid fever in Chorlton Union Workhouse in 1873.  Registered in the name of Thomas Grantham with his mother Catherine present at the death.

Oldest son John is missing from 1881 census but reappears in 1883 at his marriage to Mary Cannon and thereafter on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census.

2nd son Michael also marries in 1883 to Margaret but appears on the 1881 census  with his "wife" and babies lodging with the Maitland family and afterwards at Bradshaw Street and Gay street on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census.

But where is Catherine?  I cannot find her at all after the death of Thomas in 1873.  I have trawled the BMD looking for a remarriage or a death without success.

My latest theory that she remarried in 1879 to Thomas Larkin and was living at Meadow Street in 1881, and then as a widow in Chorlton Union Workhouse in 1891 with her death in 1894 has just been blown out of the water with the arrival of a marriage certificate this morning that doesn't fit at all.

Any ideas would be more than welcome.

Luzzu

[CatOne]

You say John is missing in 1881? Have you seen the John Grant age 30 born Manchester Sargeant (80 Regiment) at Whittington Barracks, Staffordshire? RG11/2776 Folio 96 Page 7

Doesn't help with finding his mum unfortunately 

[Luzzu]

Hi,

Thanks for your interest.  Unfortunately John Grant at Whittington Barracks isn't mine.  He married Fanny Locker in 1876 and died in Lichfield, Staffs in 1896.

Luzzu

[Barbara.H]

Luzzu, about John the son (sorry! I was looking for Catherine but then saw this) - now that Ancestry have criminal registers, there's this, could it be him?

1877 convicted 27 February at Lancaster Assizes, held in Manchester:
John Grantham, for "uttering counterfeit silver coin knowing it to be counterfeit..." sentenced to 7 years in prison

Census 1881, John Grantham, born c. 1855 Manchester, Dyer, resident at Her Majestys Convict Prison Portland Dorset  [RG11/2108 Folio 45 Page 36]

Slight problem in that 7 years takes him to 1884, so he would need early release to marry in '83...  was that possible in those days

Barbara

[Luzzu]

Wow Barbara, that is interesting and it is something I haven't come across before.

Not sure how I can take it further and prove he is mine though.

Just had a look at his occupations and they vary from engraver, steel turner, general labourer and copper turner - dyer sounds like someone working in a textile mill  .

And the early release  .  Well my John definitely got married 1 Sep 1883 in Manchester  and something else I have just realised, he would have to have been around in 1881 as his first son, Thomas, was born 1st qtr 1882  .

Late last night, I did find a possible re-marriage on the Lancs BMD for Catherine and it is one I must have missed as I haven't noticed it before:-

Catherine Grant/David Webster
1874 Manchester Cathedral
CATH/201/63

and on Free BMD it is Sep 1874 Manchester 8d 356.

So I think I will try and find this couple on the census or death registrations for them to see if it is a goer before I order the certificate.  Tonight's project  .

The real mystery to me is the name variations - I can understand how Gralton can  become Grantham with Irish and Manchester dialects and lack of literacy but why does it become Grant.  I found John and Michael's births registered under Gratten and Grattan which I think I could be Gralton misheard.  There were also 7 other babies (all of whom died in infancy) some of whom were Gralton/Granthams but others were just registered as Grant.  John and Michael both married as Grants and after that the Gralton/Grantham name disappeared forever.

Luzzu

[alpinecottage]

Late last night, I did find a possible re-marriage on the Lancs BMD for Catherine and it is one I must have missed as I haven't noticed it before:-

Catherine Grant/David Webster
1874 Manchester Cathedral
CATH/201/63

and on Free BMD it is Sep 1874 Manchester 8d 356.

Luzzu

That marriage is on IGI and according to them, it took place on 6 Aug 1874.  Someone may be prepared to look that up for you as there is a specific date.

[Luzzu]

Hi Alpinecottage,

Thanks for that.  I think I know someone who might do that for me.

Luzzu

[Cancan]

Hi,

Would love too!!!!

                              Fingers crossed

[Barbara.H]

John definitely got married 1 Sep 1883 in Manchester  and something else I have just realised, he would have to have been around in 1881 as his first son, Thomas, was born 1st qtr 1882  .

Ha, that would be a tricky one to explain if he was in Dorset prison!

Hope something turns up on the marriage for you

  Barbara