Thanks everyone who replied.
I did write a response earlier and then it disappeared, so here goes again.
I believe that John is the son of Peter Sullivan, a dock labourer, and his wife Catherine Carew/Carey, but I am trying to find John’s birth certificate and also baptism to confirm. I’ve been in touch with one cousin, a descendant of John’s brother, Patrick, born c 1863, who believes this to be true also.
Mary Ann is shown as Sullivan nee O’Brien on John Michael’s birth certificate. In the marriage certificate she is also recorded as being forty and the daughter of James O’Brien, a superannuated police constable. I agree that the 1897 death is probably her.
I know the age is off on the 1901 census but at present, this does seem likely to be them. But making no assumptions.
It’s possible that JM is then with John Caton in 1911 but I haven’t established the link yet, although it states nephew.
I’ll apply speculatively for a couple of certificates but wonder where the RC parish records are. John and Mary Ann married at the church of Our Lady and St Fredrick in 1896 but I think that church was fairly recent then and may not have John’s baptism in the 1850s.
Two of John Michael’s sons are alive and in their nineties. I might have to try and persuade them to do a dna test.
Again thanks for all help so far.
