Detective work - Harry Bedford Celbridge, Dublin 1882

[Littlebn20]

I am trying to track down records for a Harry Bedford born in Celbridge in 1882. I believe that he was my Grandmother's biological father. She was born in 1921 to Katherine Emily Bayliss (Transcription mistakenly says Kathleen) in Heywood Lancashire and she was given away as a child to be raised by a nice family, but was never formally adopted. No father named on the birth certificate. My main problem is either placing Harry in the North West of England or Katherine in Ireland. I can't even find an obvious death record for him either. I thought that the 1921 census might help me but can't see anything obvious?

Thank you.

[Kiltaglassan]

For starters, here's the link to his birth-

12 June 1882 at Straffan - father Frederick a gardener - MMN Taylor
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1882/02771/2018028.pdf

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4479585#map=12/53.3163/-6.6110

The Bedfords in the 1901 Irish census.
House 3 in Straffan Demesne (Straffan, Kildare).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Kildare/Straffan/Straffan_Demesne/1436884/

[Littlebn20]

Thank you very much!

[Littlebn20]

I don't know enough about the time to know whether or not it would have been likely for a single Irish man to travel to England for work etc. It will likely always remain a mystery!

[Girl Guide]

I wonder if this is Harry in the 1911?

Living at Emmet Road, Dublin, Ireland with the Thompson family.

Listed as a visitor, born 1882, Co. Kildare and single.

There is no image to view so can't check that for any further information.  There was a link to the Irish transcription.  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/New_Kilmainham/Emmet_Road/56340

Did Henry have a brother?  There is a Stanley Bedford born 1884 born same place as Harry.

There is also a death for a Harry Bedford, Age 46, June Quarter 1929, Registration District Dublin South.  Could this be your Harry?

[Girl Guide]

A link to the 1929 death certificate.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1929/04937/4341883.pdf

No idea if this is your Harry, he just fits the residence as he was living at somewhere I can't read, Co Kildare.

[Littlebn20]

Yes, that is him and what is really interesting on this, is that we have some rather high DNA matches to descendants of this Thompson family (who also match the Bedford descendant), so the plot absolutely thickens with it all. Its a real boggle.

I believe that one of these Bedford boys is the biological father to my Nan.  My Mum has a first-ish cousin match to Stanley Bedford's granddaughter, so I initially thought that he was the father but he was married and doesn't appear to have ever left Ireland so thought that it was more likely to be a brother of his. There are some clear questions regarding this Thompson relationship and have managed to rule out my DNA matches other grandfather because of this Thompson link the evidence is quite strong.

[Girl Guide]

I can see what you mean about the 1921 not being helpful.  Kathleen and child are listed with the Aspinall family.

It could be that Harry was in the UK in between the 1911 and 1921 census, probably nearer to 1921 but no way of verifying that.

I can't see any of the male Thompsons on the 1911 being old enough to father a child other than William who is married.  Except possibly Robert who would have been 19 in 1921.

Kathleen is 25 in 1921 so quite a few years older, not that that necessarily rules Robert out.  Plenty of marriages where the woman is older than the man.

[Kiltaglassan]

Did Henry have a brother?  There is a Stanley Bedford born 1884 born same place as Harry.

Yes, he's on the 1901 census in reply #1

Here's his birth record-
Born 1 July 1884 at Straffan.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01s68/  (no image is available)

No idea if this is your Harry, he just fits the residence as he was living at somewhere I can't read, Co Kildare.

Living in Leixlip, Co Kildare.
Died at the Incurable Hospital, Donnybrook, Dublin.