Author Topic: What happened to my great, great grandfather?  (Read 5496 times)

Offline jamiequarton

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What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« on: Thursday 15 October 09 21:38 BST (UK) »
Hi everyone

Trying to solve a family mystery. Apparently my great, great grandfather went out to work one day and didn't return home.

His name was John Connelly born in Ireland in 1848. He married Margaret Stewart in 1873 at St Patrick's Church Glasgow. His occupation was coachman.

From what I can deduce, he went missing after 1878. In census for 1881 in Ardnamurchan it shows Margaret Connelly living with her 2 sons, along with her parents and another of their grandsons. My thinking on this is that John Connelly must've disappeared in Glasgow and Margaret was forced to move back to her parents.

So what happened? Did he have a terrible accident, was he abducted, did he jump on a ship bound for New York or Canada? If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, I would be very grateful!

Offline Nick29

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #1 on: Friday 16 October 09 09:56 BST (UK) »
Well, ruling out the obvious would be the best start, I think.  If he did die of a terrible accident, then his death would be recorded, but as a coachman, it may not have been local.  Unfortunately, death records are not indexed yet, and trawling through the records by hand is going to be long and arduous, and even more so with a fairly common name.  You might be better off looking at the emigration records first, because at least they are indexed  :)
RIP 1949-10th January 2013

Best Wishes,  Nick.

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Offline jamiequarton

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #2 on: Friday 16 October 09 18:29 BST (UK) »
Thanks Nick! Yes, with no death certificate it seems logical that he moved on. Perhaps he went back to Ireland? Will definately check out emigration records, fingers crossed!

Offline jorose

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #3 on: Monday 19 October 09 15:44 BST (UK) »
When was the last child born, 1878?
Might be worth checking the birth certificate as that is the last sure point.

Do you know his parents? Often death records in the US/Canada/Australia will give parents' names, so that might help locate him.
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Offline MonicaL

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #4 on: Monday 19 October 09 15:54 BST (UK) »
Another question from me  ::)

What was Margaret's marital status showing in the 1881 entry and later censuses?

Monica
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Offline jamiequarton

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 21 October 09 14:29 BST (UK) »
Hi Jorose and Monica...thanks for your response to this posting!

Charles Connelly was the last child born in 1878 listing John Connelly as the father. Checked out John and Margarets marriage registery and John's parents were Martin Connelly and Catherine Connelly (Burke).

In the 1881 census, Margaret and her 2 sons, John and Charles, are listed as married and living with her parents in Ardnamurchan. So far, I have been unable to trace any further information regarding Margaret. All I have is the date she died 20.11.1922 in Mull. This has yet to be confirmed as I have not traced a death certificate.

I had a look at emigrant records for Ellis Island. There was a John Connelly with the same year of birth as my great great grandfather, listed as having arrived in August 1899. He was aboard the Teutonic and had his last place of residence as Colbur Ireland. Is it possible he went back to Ireland and then emigrated aged 51?

Offline MonicaL

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 21 October 09 15:49 BST (UK) »
This looks like Margaret and the boys 1891 entry:

Margaret Connolly 46, head, domestic servant
John Connolly 15, son
Charles Connolly 13, son

Address: Kilmory, Ardnamurchan

For 1901, Margaret shows as living alone:

Margaret Connelly, 57, washerwoman b. Ardnamurchan

Address: 3 Kilmory, Ardnamurchan

Monica
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Offline jamiequarton

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 21 October 09 21:19 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much Monica!  ;D

What advice can you give to help trace what happened to John. On the face of it, it looks like he has just abandoned Margaret and the boys.

Charles was my grandfather's dad and I have a good profile of his life. However, John Jnr is also proving difficult to track down. According to family knowledge, he died in 1918. I wonder if he ended up in France WW1?

Offline MonicaL

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Re: What happened to my great, great grandfather?
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 21 October 09 21:51 BST (UK) »
Hard to know what happened to John Connolly Snr. isn't it. He could have left Scotland or remained there. Have you managed to figure out where he was born? Might help with any census searches in the UK.

Regarding John Jnr, can't easily see him as yet in 1901. There is the entry for Charles working away from home in 1901 but John Jnr. is proving more elusive like his father  ::)

Monica
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