Help with a very common name

[denzillacey]

Hi there,

Happy New Year

Was wondering if anyone had advice on tracking down someone’s birth who had a very common name.

I have both his death cert and burial records and the 1911 census, however the burial and death cert state different ages (70 and 73) and have been confirmed to be correct based on address.

His marriage cert says ‘full’ so I cannot work out the correct date of birth.

Unfortunately John Farrell is such a common name and I am unsure of his mother’s name.

Name: John Farrell
Father: John Farrell
Marriage: 31st May 1903
Death: 10th Sep 1946
Burial: Glasnevin Cemetery
1911 Census: Phibsboro Road

Any help is gratefully appreciated

[denzillacey]

To further state, I’ve looked through irishgenelogy to scan through various years but there are just so many of the same name

[aghadowey]

Which John Farrell is he in 1911 census?

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsborough_Road/49196/ (age 32 so born c1879)
or
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsborough_Road/49124/ (age 46 born c1865)

If 70/73 in 1946 then born c1876/1873

There's also a John Farrell in that street in 1911 but age 50-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsboro_Road/47078/

[denzillacey]

It is confirmed to be this one:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsborough_Road/49196/

However, all the dates don’t match up on any, even though all are confirmed.

Could it be perhaps he never had his birth certificate and the date was made up?

Age based on census: 1878
Age based on death certificate: 1873
Age based on burial: 1876

[aghadowey]

Have you found him in 1901 census yet?

Since you say he married in 1903-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsborough_Road/49196/ (age 32 so born c1879)

Birth of daughter Ellen gives mother's maiden name as Devine-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1904/01807/1707874.pdf
Which eventually finds the marriage of John & Brigid- 3 May 1903- not 31 May as in your original post-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1903/10237/5725492.pdf
additional bit of information is that his father John is deceased

If you go to Family search and put in John Farrell & Dublin & father John Farrell then use buttons at top to narrow down the search (collection- Irish births & baptisms, birth- 1870s) you'll be able to check birth certificate of any possible matches.
There are also many Dublin R.C. baptisms, etc. here-
https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/

[heywood]

Marriage - residence 3 Phibsboro
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1903/10237/5725492.pdf

1901 3.1 Phibsborough
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Dublin/Arran_Quay/Phibsborough/1335545/

Could Ellen be his mother?

[aghadowey]

People didn't worry about exact dates of birth/ages until probably after WWI. Many people didn't know their birth details. My father-in-law, born pre-WWI, never remembered his own date of birth or year but knew it was 'not long after Hogmanay.'

[denzillacey]

Thanks for all the help.

I have his wife (Bridget/Brigid Devine) side all sorted back multiple generations.

All his children have been accounted for.
Joseph, Ellen, Margaret, Mary Elizabeth, John, William, Brendan C, Kathleen and James.

Unfortunately I can’t find him in the 1903 census - there seemed to a lot of John Farrell’s who also have the same father ‘John Farrell’.

[denzillacey]

People didn't worry about exact dates of birth/ages until probably after WWI. Many people didn't know their birth details. My father-in-law, born pre-WWI, never remembered his own date of birth or year but knew it was 'not long after Hogmanay.'

This makes a lot of sense! Would add up in this case too.