« Reply #14 on: Monday 05 March 18 23:11 GMT (UK) »
I do not know what she died of but I think that I heard it was Tuberculosis. She and her family are a mystery but I can tell you that her life and the lives of her husband and children are one tragedy after another. He husband was a military man and naturally he was away for long periods of time. They were deeply devoted to each other but tragedy struck with the death of a son, then the wife dies, the husband and their daughter is cared for by a grandmother, then an aunt and she ends up with the Sisters of Nazareth. She eventually spends her final years with her loving Auntie. Poor Emily who we all believe was a Protestant marries a Catholic Irishman for love and had a difficult life until her death. We know nothing of her family and we've been told that she was disowned for marrying a Catholic Irishman. They moved from Ireland to England (where the two younger children were born) and were often separated from their children. It must have been devastating for the children. The two eldest sons emigrated to Canada and the eldest brother tried to bring Emily to Canada but due to illness the immigration officials wouldn't let her cross the oceans. She had been brought to the hospital with consumption. I feel such sadness when I think of all that they endured. I have a heartbreaking letter written by the daughter who dies before reaching adulthood and you can see how hard her poor life has been. How fortunate we are to be born in this era. Sorry for the long message but it clarifies the look on poor Emily's face. She did not have it easy like so many of our ancestors. Thanks for reading and understanding why these ancestors need a voice!
Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, Ireland: Johnson, Donnelly, Lenhan/Lennan/Lennon, Heydon/Hayden
Co. Cavan, Ireland: Kiernan
Co. Sligo, Ireland: McGowan
Co. Tyrone, Ireland: Brogan, Curran, McBride, McDade, McDaid, McFadden, McFaiden, Nolan
London, England: Smith/Smyth
Scotland: McGoun