Help/information on Martha Roney (Rooney).

[OliviaRed]

Hello! I am new to RootsChat and I am wondering if anybody on here has any information on my 4th Great Grandmother, Martha Roney (Rooney) as I seemed to have hit a brick wall.

The only information I have for Martha is that in 1871 she lived at Black Gate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. The census states that she was 28 years old, widowed and a fish curer from Ireland.

I know Martha had a son, John William Roney born in 1872, Newcastle Upon Tyne. I have the birth certificate for John and it says his Father is William Graham and his occupation is a cartman. I haven’t been able to locate William Graham.

In 1881, Martha is living at 7 Victoria Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland with her son, John. This census says Martha is 30, married, fish curer from Ireland. John is 8 years old. I’m unsure as to how she has only aged two years between censuses, possibly a transcription error?

Martha died in 1889, North Shields, Northumberland. Her death certificate says she was the widow of Matthew Roney.

I thought with the information I had, I would have been able to locate some records for her before 1871 but unfortunately not. If anybody knows any information on Martha or could help me find anything for her I would be most grateful.

Thank you,

Olivia.

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

She was 46 when she died so her birth year is more in keeping with the 1871 entry

[OliviaRed]

Hi Carole, thank you for replying.

Yes she was 46, it said her death date was 5th July 1889. By the looks of it a neighbour registered her death her name was Mary Ann McGee. Her son in the 1891 Census was boarding with the McGee Family on Church Street, North Shields, Northumberland.

[Dundee]

Hi and Welcome 

Can you confirm that her name on the birth cert is just Martha RONEY with no 'formerly' surname?

Debra 

[CaroleW]

Was there any maiden name for her on John's birth cert

Edit - snap Dundee.  Birth reg on freebmd but GRO online not recognising it

[OliviaRed]

Hi Debra!

John William's birth certificate has the information;

Name: John William Roney
Born: 11th December 1872, 7 Victoria Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Father: William Graham
Mother: Martha Roney
Occupation of Father: Cartman
Martha has signed the certificate with an X and listed her address as 7 Victoria Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The birth was registered 23.12.1872

Hope this helps!

[CaroleW]

There is no death of a Matthew Roney/Rooney in England pre-1871 apart from one in Durham in 1865 who was in his 70's.  Possibly Matthew was a mariner and died at sea??

Nothing online for a marriage either. 

[OliviaRed]

I was beginning to wonder that myself. John William Roney had three children, one was named Matthew. I wondered whether there could have been some truth in the information death certificate or wether it was coincidence. Unsure as to where the name William Graham has come from. I'm not sure whether Roney/Rooney was Martha's maiden or married name so I have struggled locating births/baptisms for her in Ireland.

[CaroleW]

I know John William Graham is shown as a cartman on the birth cert but have a think about this one

1871 - John  William Graham 30 - single - occ fish curer - living in the St Nicholas parish with mother & siblings.  Martha was a fish curer also living in the St Nicholas parish in 1871

I think it is probable she was a genuine widow as in 1871 she was not pregnant with John