Chatham - births/baptism Michael (b abt1853), Margaret (b abt1857) Sullivan

[genebrarian]

I'm struggling to find a birth or baptism for my 2x gr-grandmother Margaret Sullivan. Family info and census documents suggest she was born in Chatham, Kent in 1857, but to date I've found nothing.

Her elder brother Michael was also said to have been born in Sunderland in 1853. Not found anything for him either. So I've been trying to track them down in either Sunderland or Chatham.

Their parents are Daniel (approx b1831) and Julia (approx b1834) Sullivan, allegedly from Cork, Ireland.

They have two elder children Ellen (approx b1847) and Johanna (approx b1851) - I have my doubts about Ellen being their child, as Julia would have only been about 13 when born.

The family were Catholic. Either a civil registration birth or a baptism would be awesome.

I've found census documents for the family from 1861. Daniel is listed as a labourer and its highly probable he was a labourer in the dockyards in Sunderland and Chatham.

I'd assume they lived relatively close to the dockyards, so that might narrow the parishes down.

I want to confirm Margaret's birth details, and also try and find out Julia's maiden name, and track where the parents came from in Ireland.

I hope someone can help me. Second set of eyes and all that.

Thank so much for your assistance.

[CaroleW]

Failure to register a birth only became a fineable offence in 1874/5 so there are a lot of unregistered births prior to then.

[CaroleW]

 

Family info and census documents suggest she was born in Chatham, Kent in 1857,

She is 2yrs old in 1861 suggesting she was born 1858/59.  Freebmd has a March 1859 birth but RD is Dartford whereas Medway was the RD for Chatham

There is also an 1857 birth in Hoo

Where is she in 1871?

[Jebber]

Margaret was 2 in 1861 I would look for a birth about 1858. As Carole says the birth may not have been registered.

You can search the Chatham a Parish Registers on  cityark.medway.gov.UK

They are not indexed so you need to trawl through them, I would begin with St. Mary's.

[genebrarian]

Failure to register a birth only became a fineable offence in 1874/5 so there are a lot of unregistered births prior to then.

Yes, hence why I am looking for a baptism too. The family were pretty staunch Catholics, so should have a christening somewhere.

[CaroleW]

Where is she in 1871?

Any more children born after 1861?

[genebrarian]

Family info and census documents suggest she was born in Chatham, Kent in 1857,

She is 2yrs old in 1861 suggesting she was born 1858/59.  Freebmd has a March 1859 birth but RD is Dartford whereas Medway was the RD for Chatham

There is also an 1857 birth in Hoo

Where is she in 1871?

The Hoo birth is not her. Wrong parents.

She was still in Chatham in 1871, married George William Boother in 1874 and was in Chatham then too (he was a Royal Marine).

[CaroleW]

1871 for Kent  has Julia Sullivan aged 40 widowed and daughters Johanna 17 and Ellen 15 - all born Ireland  RG10 Piece 904 Folio 100 Page 5

Deaths - Daniel Sullivan aged 44 September qtr 1868 Medway 2a  326

Can't find Margaret

[genebrarian]

Where is she in 1871?

Any more children born after 1861?

No. Margaret was the youngest.