Sapper John GAFFNEY born ABT 1876 Manchester

[Martin Briscoe]

There is the war grave of Sapper John GAFFNEY in a local churchyard.

It interests me because he was in the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks Unit which suggests he was working on the nearby Caledonian Canal.

He died by drowning 9th October 1918 though the death is not recorded until 26th November 1918 suggesting that the body was not found immediately. 

His Death Certificate shows he was a widower aged 42 so born ABT 1876. He was billeted at Banavie Pier Railway Station which would fit with working on the canal which is very near to there.

His medal card shows no medals and an address of Mrs Conalty, 19 St Patrick Road, Dalkey.

He is not listed in Ancestry Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1918

Soldiers who died in the Great War shows him as being born in Manchester, residence Rathmines, County Dublin and enlisted in Dublin.

I have had a quick look in the censuses but there are couple of John GAFFNEY born Manchester that could match.  I will have another look to see if I can work out any more and have a look in the local archive.

Martin Briscoe
Fort William

[aghadowey]

See that your post hasn't gotten any replies on IRELAND-GENERAL board- probably because you just posted information and didn't really ask for any specific help- so I'm going to move it to WORLD WAR I board (under ARMED FORCES). If you've found any more details or could let us know what you need help with please post on this thread.

[KGarrad]

What about this from 1881 census?

Reference RG11, Piece 3899, Folio 58, Page 12
17 Meadow Street, Ardwick, Manchester

Gaffney, Edward  Head  M  28  Brewers Labourer  b West Meath, Ireland
Gaffney, Ann  Wife  F  26  b Queens County, Ireland
Gaffney, John  Son  M  3  b Manchester
Gaffney, James  Son  M  1  b Manchester
Keenan, Elizabeth  Sister-in-Law  F  15  Domestic Servant  b Queens County


And, just to confuse the issue, there's this from 1891!
RG12, 3237, 80, 21
Whitworth's Place, Manchester

Gaffney, Peter  Head  M  26  Finishers Porter  b Ireland
Gaffney, Mary  Wife  F  36  b Manchester
Gaffney, John  Son  M  13  Print Warehouseman  b Manchester
Gaffney, Mary E  Daughter  F  11  b Scholar  b Manchester
Gaffney, Henry  Son  M  8  Scholar  b Manchester
Gaffney, Frederick  Son  M  6  Scholar  b Manchester
Gaffney, Sara A  Daughter  F  3  b Manchester
Gaffney, Elizabeth  Daughter  F  3 months  b Manchester
Tootell, Elizabeth  Mother-in-Law  Widow  F  59  Housekeeper  b Carlisle, Cumberland

[KGarrad]

Potential births?

March qtr 1874
Chorlton district    vol 8c, page 841
Gaffney, John Arthur

March qtr 1875
Rochdale district    vol 8e, page 63
Gaffney, John

December qtr 1877
Manchester district    vol 8d, page 244
Gaffney, John

Plus another 4 in 1878!

[Martin Briscoe]

See that your post hasn't gotten any replies on IRELAND-GENERAL board- probably because you just posted information and didn't really ask for any specific help- so I'm going to move it to WORLD WAR I board (under ARMED FORCES). If you've found any more details or could let us know what you need help with please post on this thread.

Thanks, I was hoping someone might have recognised the name as a relative.  I have seen there are several people in censuses but there is nothing that I have seen to prove that any one of them was him.

MB

[Martin Briscoe]

I originally posted this in the Ireland (General) section but it was moved here, really an Irish question but will post a bit information here.

Soldier's Effects has several useful bits of information.



I have found a bir more in the Pension Ledger and Indexes on FOLD3

The Wt7920-B1429 shows Guardian Mary Dodson , the actions down the left hand side go up to 30/10/25 from 10/1/24

The MPW2 Widow's Pension form has more

It shows Guardian
Miss Mary Dobson (presume same as Dodson)
6 Castlewood terrace
Rathmines
Co. Dublin

Then to the right of that , dated (I think) 21/1/24
Catherine McConvill
13 St Mary St
Kingstown
Co. Dublin

I am presuming this is his daughter Catherine with her married name

[Annette7]

Castlewood Terrace, Rathmines is Co. Dublin (not Co. Durham).

Annette

[Martin Briscoe]

Castlewood Terrace, Rathmines is Co. Dublin (not Co. Durham).

Annette

Thanos, just a typo.

Probably because of all the talk of County Durham on the news!

[gaffy]

There are several children born in Co. Dublin to a Christopher Dodson and Mary Gaffney, the 1911 census shows them at 6 Castlewood Lane:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Rathmines___Rathgar_East/Castlewood_Lane/49935/

The last birth I can see online for them shows an address of 6 Castlewood Avenue:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1915/01388/1570827.pdf

Edited to add: Here's the marriage:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1897/10443/5803107.pdf