Author Topic: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right  (Read 1312 times)

Offline watermansearcher

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Hello, can anyone  help?  From 1861 census i think my ancestor is Michael Towey  b 1847 (brother John b1842) there may be a militia connectione Or maybe Towhy b 18 48( f. Michael, wife mary son michael age 13) or Toughey b 1845 (f. Thomas, wife mary, son Michael age 16). Whichever,  Michael Towey b 1849or 52 d 1935 married in 1884 to Sarah Ann Revill b 1854 d 1896 and this is the line we are related to, all from Sheffield.
In the family it is known that we originate in Ireland but that seems to be based on the nature of the surname and it was thought Towey was anglicised Touhy. However, I have found the 3 gentlemen above so am very confused and don't know how to check the right name. Any help gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance.

Offline lizdb

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #1 on: Monday 24 November 14 17:19 GMT (UK) »
Hi

Start with what you know for definite - that seems to be a Michael that died in 1935 and married in 1884 to Sarah Ann Revill.

- Have you found him in 1891/1901/1911 censuses after his marriage - to see when and where he says he was born?
- Have you got his marriage cert to find name and occupation of his father?

I wouldnt look any further till you have done both of these! Otherwise you may end up following the wrong line. Just go one step at a time.
Edmonds/Edmunds - mainly Sussex
DeBoo - London
Green - Suffolk
Parker - Sussex
Kemp - Essex
Farrington - Essex
Boniface - West Sussex

census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline watermansearcher

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #2 on: Monday 24 November 14 17:36 GMT (UK) »
Thanks good advice !

Offline BumbleB

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #3 on: Monday 24 November 14 17:38 GMT (UK) »
I whole-heartedly agree with lizdb.  You have to start with known facts.  Plus you then have to remember that spelling was not quite as rigid in earlier times.  If you had an "accent" and were living in an area where that surname was not "local", and perhaps you didn't know exactly how it was spelt either, then the person recording the information had to rely on HIS interpretation  :-\

Transcriptions and NBI are merely finding aids.  They are NOT a substitute for original record entries.
Remember - "They'll be found when they want to be found" !!!
If you don't ask the question, you won't get an answer.
He/she who never made a mistake, never made anything.
Archbell - anywhere, any date
Kendall - WRY
Milner - WRY
Appleyard - WRY


Offline lizdb

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #4 on: Monday 24 November 14 17:45 GMT (UK) »
Is this the right family in 1891?

(Presumably you are descended from one of their children, eitherAustin or Kate, or one born after 1891)

1891
Back of No 52 Compton Street, Nether Hallam, Yorkshire
Michael Towey 42 Joiners tool maker
Sarah Ann 37
Austin 5
Kate 6mths

all bn Sheffield
Edmonds/Edmunds - mainly Sussex
DeBoo - London
Green - Suffolk
Parker - Sussex
Kemp - Essex
Farrington - Essex
Boniface - West Sussex

census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline lizdb

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #5 on: Monday 24 November 14 17:49 GMT (UK) »
In 1901 Austin , Kate and a 8 yr old Harry, are all with widoewd Revill grandmother (Sarahs mother one presumes)

She has some other Revill grandchildren there too - maybe she was just having all her grandchildren over to stay and it happened to be over census night. Or maybe there is more to it and it was a more permanent arrangement.
Edmonds/Edmunds - mainly Sussex
DeBoo - London
Green - Suffolk
Parker - Sussex
Kemp - Essex
Farrington - Essex
Boniface - West Sussex

census information is Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Offline watermansearcher

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #6 on: Monday 24 November 14 18:15 GMT (UK) »
Thanks, yes, I have all that, it's going back earlier I got stuck on.  I was just using the free sites so didn't have certificates etc for more info. Can't afford to do more at present but you have both helped me focus so I don't get waylayed with the excitement when I do pick it up again. Many thanks, what a great site !

Offline Westmoreland

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #7 on: Monday 24 November 14 18:33 GMT (UK) »
greatings
Michael Toweny weds Sarah Ann Revell 1884 4th Quarter Vol 9c Page 484
Could not find him 1881 yet
regards
Westmoreland

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: help needed please, how to know if ancestor from Ireland and what spelling right
« Reply #8 on: Monday 24 November 14 19:30 GMT (UK) »
Marriage 1 November 1884 at St Silas, Broomhall St, Sheffield.

Michael Towey, 33  and Sarah Ann Revill, 31

Groom's father Michael Towey (deceased)

This is from a partial transcription - no information on occupations or witnesses
UK Census info. Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk