William Michael Connelly

[Rosinish]

Just wondering how you know he is William Michael as he seems to have dropped the 'William' in all the English census' 

Annie

[Mercel]

Thank you all for your continued help. Well marriage cert arrived. Father is shown as Gregory Connelly. Unfortunately I have searched high and low for Gregory in Scotland's census but haven't found anything yet. So I feel like I am back to square one. I have tried variations of possibly using William Gregory or Michael Gregory, still nothing.  very frustrating. Any suggestions would be really appreciated x
Gregory was also a name of one if his sons but not his eldest. Eldest son was Michael born 1896.

[Mercel]

Roisinish, I have been told by my mother in law that he married Margaret Turley, I have marriage cert now which confirms that. I find it strange he dropped William too but there are anomalies on the census re spellings of surname and also his age. In 1901 he is shown as being 50 yet he died in 1912 at age of 48??

[loobylooayr]

Hi Mercel,

There is a death in Hillhead in Glasgow in 1912 of a Gregory Connelly aged 62
- there is a male of this name and age on the 1911 Census at Possilpark
he is listed aged 50 at Blythswood on 1901 Census
he is listed aged 42 at Blythswood on 1891 and aged 34 at Blythswood on 1881

There is a Gregory Connolly age 26 on 1871 Census recorded in High Church parish.

Have you eliminated these entries?
Ages are varying slightly but then that is not unusual. Areas are fairly consistent. There is a child Gregory aged 6 on the 1891 Census at Blythswood ( could be a son )

Looby

[Mercel]

Hiya, I think this is the Gregory I found last night, his marriage to Bridget Mealy in 1871. Going on this marriage it would be later than the birth of my William Michael. Not that thus means a lot as Gregory could have remarried. But looked at census for 1871 when William would have been around 8/9  yrs and he doesn't appear
I did find a death for a Gregory in South Shields around a similar time, wondered if he could have moved to the north east.

[loobylooayr]

Hi again Mercel,

It's strange that we can't find William Michael's birth in Scotland or locate him on 1871 Census (if he is Scottish).
I wonder if he was actually born a Connelly/ Connolly 
There is a chance he was born illegitimate and his father's name was Connelly. He may have been registered in his Mother's surname but at a later date "took" his natural father's surname. Equally Connelly could be a step-father's name 

The hunt goes on 

Looby

[MonicaL]

Mercel, what occupation was showing for father Gregory on the marriage cert? Did he show as alive or deceased (not always given)?

Retracing Looby's census steps, there are two Gregory Connellys in the censuses.

In 1861

In 1871, there are two entries:

Gregory Connolly 50 Lab In Ship Building Yard, lodger b. Ireland. Can't tell from the entry what his marital status is. There are no other Connollys in the household in Dumbarton.

Second entry:

Gregory Connolly 26 Labourer Is Bottler Store b. Ireland
Margret Connolly 24 b. Ireland

Address: 29 New Vennel Lep Baland (spelling) High Church/Glasgow College

In 1881:

Gregory Connelly 34 labourer b. Ireland
Bridget Connelly 32 b. Ireland
Michael Connelly 8... age is wrong....but 
Mary Connelly 7
Anthony Connelly 2

Address: 31 New Wynd, Glasgow/Blythswood

Monica

[MonicaL]

Sadly, discounting this family as their son Michael is still showing as born in 1873 and more importantly, living at home in 1901:

Gregory Connelly 50 gen lab. b. Ireland
Bridget Connelly 48
Michael Connelly 28 Car Conductor
Gregory Connelly 16
Ann Connelly 13

Address: 163 Cowcaddens St, Glasgow/Blythswood

Monica

[loobylooayr]

Hi Mercel,

Just trying to clarify - was he definitely William Michael ? I know we have a William Connelly on the 1881 a 21 year old ship riveter. Did he use William at any other time?
I have also been looking at the Michael Conley with parents Peter and Margaret that I think you refer to in an earlier post. He is in Partick on 1871 and 1881 Census. I've not been able to find him on 1891 (so far). Of course this does not agree with father's name of Gregory on William Michael's marriage cert - however that info could be wrong. And the name Peter is not used for William Michael's sons 

Just trying to look at all options 

Looby