John Sweeney

[Snudge21]

I am trying to find a John Sweeney who was living with the family of my 3x great-grandmother Esther Sweeney (maiden name Cowan) at Earl Street Belfast in 1911 aged 72. He was stated as being an Uncle to the head of the family, his marital status was single, his birthplace was Belfast and his occupation was a machinist in a factory. Esther's husband Joseph had died in 1904 so I am assuming that John was Joseph's uncle. I have conducted several searches of the 1901 Irish Census in an attempt to find him, even with using spelling variations of the surname, but so far I have come to no avail. I did find a Belfast burial record for 19th Feburary 1917 with a last place of residence being 51 Lisburn Road.

[Milliepede]

Have you checked all the people with him in 1911 to see if he is with any of them in 1901?

[Milliepede]

I wonder if he was in England in 1901    Not sure how likely this one is

John Sweeney 63 single born Ireland bootmaker
pauper inmate in Chelsea workhouse.

[Snudge21]

I did think about whether he had gone abroad. In 1901 all of the family are living together in Earl Street but with the exception that Joseph Sweeney is the head of the family and John Sweeney is not living with them

[Milliepede]

Have you found him before 1901? 

As a single man he could have moved around for work and be lodging with other families. 

[Snudge21]

I have tried finding a possible birth record but couldn't find anything. Joseph Sweeney, who was the head of the family in 1901, had a father called Edward Sweeney (from the marriage record) and, assuming that John was Edward's brother I thought if I could find Edward then maybe I could find John as well but so far I have not found anything.

[gaffy]

51 Lisburn Road was the workhouse (now Belfast City Hospital), the death record does confirm he was from 16 Earl Street though:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1917/05225/4446303

Just posting, for those reading your topic, the relevant 1901 and 1911 census records and the burial record showing John buried with Joseph and Joseph's son William:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Dock_Ward/Earl_Street/1003182/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Dock_Ward__Belfast_Clifton_/Earl_Street/131575/

https://ssl.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialSearch.aspx?GraveSection=F&GraveNumber=87&CemeteryName=City%20Cemetery

[Snudge21]

Thank you for this information, I never knew 51 Lisburn Road was the workhouse

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

I wonder if John had been in the workhouse before? In 1901 using the surname S, forename J and street Lisburn I found this person,


Surname:  S
Forename:  J
Street:  Lisburn Road
DED:  St. George's Ward Belfast
County:  Antrim
Age:  63
Sex:  Male
Birthplace:  Belfast
Occupation:  Labourer
Religion:  Methodist
Literacy:  Both
Marital Status:  Not married


There are other entries for S, Js but this one seems the closest because of his age and that he is not married, but his religion is different so maybe not him It might be worth searching for just initials just in case.

Regards,
Daisy