sommerville

[francesca]

I am trying to trace James Somerville (or Sommerville) and his wife (?) Mary Wilson who had a son, John Charles 5th Oct 1870, civil registation at Bryansford, Down.
I have no connections with Ireland, but I believe that John Charles was my Gt Grandfather. There may also have been another son named James Wilson Somerville b. 1873
My Grandfather (also John Charles) was born in London and brought up in orphanages having been abandoned as a small child, and his parents do not appear on any census lists etc from what I can discover.

I would love to know what happened to them and why my Grandad was abandoned.
Any info no matter how vague might put me on their track.
Thanks 

[saz1401]

Hi Francesca

I have searched BIVRI for your names and found these two:-

SOMERVILLE, John Charles   Bir   1870   Irel   Down
Fa:   James SOMERVILLE
Mo:   Mary WILSON
SOMERVILLE, Mary Cathrine   Bir   1870   Irel   Down
Fa:   James SOMERVILLE
Mo:   Mary WILSON

Looks like twins both born 5.10.1870

Dont know if this helps - guess it might cause more confusion!

saz


No trace of a marriage for them tho

[saz1401]

Also found this one same address as above for twins birth - at a guess he was born before she married and took on Sommerville as added last name after marriage - I'll keep looking

saz

WILSON, James   Birth
   Gender:   Male
   Birth Date:   5 Sep 1868   Birthplace:   209, Banbridge, Down, Ire
         Recorded in:    Down, Ireland
         Collection:   Civil Registration
   Mother:   Mary Jane WILSON
Source:   FHL Film 101170   Dates:   1868 - 1869

[saz1401]

Sorry - I lied  twins were born 592 Banbridge, Down - bit of a coincidence tho!
I'm still lookin!

saz

[saz1401]

I believe you can look at 1901 census in Belfast and 1911 in Dublin and both can be seen at LDS Centres (Latter Day Saints).
saz

[francesca]

Hi
Just found this which you sent last night!! (23.52)
Thanks!!

A (hope you got my previous message?)

[bobed]

Hi francesca,

Sommerville wouldn't be a traditional name around Bryansford, but there was a 'Big House' there owned by the Roden family, perhaps your family was employed there.

I think the papers for this estate are in PRONI.

[francesca]

Thanks Bobed
I am not sure now of the Irish connection - having obtained my Gt Grandfather's marriage cert. I found that his father was called George, rather than James, so it seems that I have been unintentionally going off on a tangent because of name similarities! Shows how easy it is to jump to conclusions.
Scotland has been mooted now, but the scent has gone cold!
Anyway, thanks again
Fran