Catherine Connelly

[Greaves]

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help find the birthdate or baptism date of Catherine CONNELLY, who according to the census was born in Bristol c1849.

She was married according to the rites of the Catholic Church, so I am assuming that she was Catholic. At her marriage her father is named as James Connelly, who at that time (1868) was a coachman.

Her mother's name is not clear. At the time of the 1871 census it would appear that her father was married to Bridget, but I think she may be a second wife, judging by the stated place of birth, probably marrying him after he moved up from Bristol to London.

[rosie99]

Is this her in 1861 Cheltenham
 RG9/1800 f69 p35 
James Connelly age 40 occ Traveller bn Ireland
Mary Ann 32 bn Spain
Thomas 12 bn Rochester, Kent
Catherine 10 bn Bristol
James 8 bn York
Samuel 6 bn Leeds
Hannah 2 bn Cambridgeshire

[Treetotal]

I think he is with Bridget in 1861?..Was James born in Ireland?
Carol

[Greaves]

Not sure. I have seen the 1861 census report before and it could easily be the correct family, but difficult to be sure. James being born in Ireland wouldn't be a total surprise, but who is Mary Ann? Is she Catherine's mother?

Are they a traditional travelling family? Gypsy or Irish travellers?

I would really like to see a birth certificate or baptism record to be sure of Catherine's mother.

The 1871 census shows Katherine living with her husband George Daniels (wrongly spelt as Daniel) in Scholefield Road in Islington. The Connellys are living a few doors down. James 60 b Ireland is working in an iron works, his wife is Bridget 45 b Islington and the children are Eliza 7 and Francis 3, both born in Middx.

So I'm not sure the families from 1861 and 1871 are the same. James age is wrong and the children seem to be different.

[keyboard86]

Hi the 1871 for 2 sites give the first name "Head" for the 60 year old James am I correct?
Census ref RG10/300/56/11

Keyboard86

[Treetotal]

This is the only birth I can find in Bristol:

This looks to b RC

   Catharina Connel
Gender:   Female
Birth Date:   11 Dec 1852
Baptism Date:   26 Dec 1852
Baptism Place:   St Nicholas of Tolentino, Bristol, Gloucester, England
Father:    Edwardi Connel
Mother:    Maria Hallinan


Catherine Connelly

Birth Date:   17 Dec 1854
Birth Place:   Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
Father:    John Connelly
Mother:    Bridget Welsh
FHL Film Number:   1936955


Births Jun 1849 
CONNELLY    Catherine        Liverpool    20   317    
Births Sep 1849   (>99%)
CONNELLY    Catherine        St Geo East    2       
Connelly    Catherine        St Geo East



No match that I can find on family search.org

Carol

[Greaves]

Yes that's right. I assumed it was because he didn't give his first name and was thus enumerated as the HEAD of the family.

On Catherine's wedding certificate he is named as James.

He also seems to change occupation. 1868 coachman. 1871 labourer in iron works.

Not sure where they are in 1881. Catherine is dead by then, dying in 1872 in Homerton Fever Hospital of typhus.

[keyboard86]

Yes that's right. I assumed it was because he didn't give his first name and was thus enumerated as the HEAD of the family.

On Catherine's wedding certificate he is named as James.

He also seems to change occupation. 1868 coachman. 1871 labourer in iron works.

Not sure where they are in 1881. Catherine is dead by then, dying in 1872 in Homerton Fever Hospital of typhus.

So obvious question, what makes you think he is a James in 1871, possibly a coincidence a Connelly family living close by or a relative?

Keyboard86

[Greaves]

I don't know for sure, but it seems too great a coincidence given that they were living virtually next door to each other. On the other hand, at the time of her wedding Catherine was not living in Scholefield Street.

They had two children before Catherine's early death: Rosina and Alice. The former has Connelly on her birth certificate (Q2 1868 Islington 1b 370), the latter though her birth certificate still eludes discovery always appears as Daniels.

So presumably Rosina was born before their marriage. Perhaps Catherine had moved out to have her daughter.

Although George was not a catholic, the wedding was in the Catholic Church.

Lots of conjectures I know, which is why some hard facts would be nice, like a birth certificate or baptism record for Catherine and indeed one for Alice.