Finding where my great-gran came from in Queens County

Daisy,

Marlboro (Malborough) is the old name for the town of Portlaise.

I check online records to see if she is recorded there.

Regards,

Daisy,

I have checked the subscription sites  www.rootsireland.ie and www.findmypast.ie, but did not find any record of a Sarah Kelly with the father recorded as Michael Kelly in Portlaoise (Maryborough).

As you can see from the attached baptism record the surname Kelly was very common in that County. It is possible that her parents were from an outline area where records are not available.

The Witnesses to her marriage may give some clue?

Regards,

A small village south of Portlaoise (formerly Marlborough) in Co. Laois (formerly Queens Co.) is Raheen.  I found the following 1857 baptism in the parish of Raheen for a Sarah Kelly, father Michael, on rootsireland:

Sarah Kelly
bap. 01-Apr-1857
RC Parish: RAHEEN Co. Laois

Parents: Michael Kelly , Essy White

The above Sarah had at least two siblings, Mary and John , born 1854 and 1855. Mother's full name was Esther.

Thank you so much McCoy and Patricia for this information.  I have in fact looked at this family before but couldn't make my mind up that it was Sarah.  The problem I had with this was that I have her marriage certificate, she got married in Manchester in 1873 and her age was 21.  Could the dates be that far wrong?

If she married in 1873 and was born in 1857, then she was 16 when she married.  It's possible she was born earlie than '57 but only baptized then.  But Catholics usually baptized their children right away.

It is  possible Sarah gave her age as 21 when she married. Perhaps she would have not been allowed to marry if she was known to be 16.  Did you look at the censuses in which she appears to see what ages are given?  

Hi Patricia - I've had a recap - Sarah was born in 1852 or 53.  The 1857 came from McCoy with the suggestion that Sarah Kelly bap. 01-Apr-1857 RC Parish: RAHEEN Co. Laois but I don't believe this is the person I'm looking for.  My Sarah would have been 20 or 21 when she married in Manchester.

 Marie

Marie,

People lied about their ages. Or people were not sure of their age.  People at that time were not asked to show ID or to prove their age like we are.  Birthdays were not celbrated in Ireland.  I know an Irish man who grew up in the mid-1900s who does not know his father's birthday. It was never remarked on, never celebrated.  I would not count the '57 Sarah out, at least not yet.

What was Sarah's married name? What were her children's names? Any chance she had a daughter Esther?

Thanks.

Hi Patricia - My middle name is Patricia (I think that's the Irish connection)!!  I won't rule out the '57 Sarah but still hoping I can track down the right one.

Yes, Sarah was married to William Mather 6/6/1873 in Manchester, England.  I know most of her life from that date on.  She had 9 children, one died.  The family moved around a lot mostly because of  William's work.  They were in Yorkshire for a while and at the end of her life she was in Reddish, Cheshire and died in Northenden, Lancs.  The children's names were William Henry, Henry Edward, Robert William, Sarah Jane (my grandmother), Elizabeth Anna, Julia (the one that died 1 year old) Maria and Frederick.  No she didn't have a daughter Esther.  

On the 1891 Census she is shown as 37 and on the 1911 Census she is shown as 57 estimated birth year 1853.  On the 1901 Census she is 47 estimated birth 1854.

Hope this can be some help.

Marie

Hi Patricia - My middle name is Patricia (I think that's the Irish connection)!!  I won't rule out the '57 Sarah but still hoping I can track down the right one.

Yes, Sarah was married to William Mather 6/6/1873 in Manchester, England.  I know most of her life from that date on.  She had 9 children, one died.  The family moved around a lot mostly because of  William's work.  They were in Yorkshire for a while and at the end of her life she was in Reddish, Cheshire and died in Northenden, Lancs.  The children's names were William Henry, Henry Edward, Robert William, Sarah Jane (my grandmother), Elizabeth Anna, Julia (the one that died 1 year old) Maria and Frederick.  No she didn't have a daughter Esther.  

On the 1891 Census she is shown as 37 and on the 1911 Census she is shown as 57 estimated birth year 1853.  On the 1901 Census she is 47 estimated birth 1854.

Hope this can be some help.

Marie

Hi Patricia - My middle name is Patricia (I think that's the Irish connection)!!  I won't rule out the '57 Sarah but still hoping I can track down the right one.

Yes, Sarah was married to William Mather 6/6/1873 in Manchester, England.  I know most of her life from that date on.  She had 9 children, one died.  The family moved around a lot mostly because of  William's work.  They were in Yorkshire for a while and at the end of her life she was in Reddish, Cheshire and died in Northenden, Lancs.  The children's names were William Henry, Henry Edward, Robert William, Sarah Jane (my grandmother), Elizabeth Anna, Julia (the one that died 1 year old) Maria and Frederick.  No she didn't have a daughter Esther.  

On the 1891 Census she is shown as 37 and on the 1911 Census she is shown as 57 estimated birth year 1853.  On the 1901 Census she is 47 estimated birth 1854.

Hope this can be some help.

Marie

Hi Patricia - My middle name is Patricia (I think that's the Irish connection)!!  I won't rule out the '57 Sarah but still hoping I can track down the right one.

Yes, Sarah was married to William Mather 6/6/1873 in Manchester, England.  I know most of her life from that date on.  She had 9 children, one died.  The family moved around a lot mostly because of  William's work.  They were in Yorkshire for a while and at the end of her life she was in Reddish, Cheshire and died in Northenden, Lancs.  The children's names were William Henry, Henry Edward, Robert William, Sarah Jane (my grandmother), Elizabeth Anna, Julia (the one that died 1 year old) Maria and Frederick.  No she didn't have a daughter Esther.  

On the 1891 Census she is shown as 37 and on the 1911 Census she is shown as 57 estimated birth year 1853.  On the 1901 Census she is 47 estimated birth 1854.

Hope this can be some help.

Marie

Hmm...it's surprising that Michael and Esther were not among the names of Sarah's children.  Usually the second son would have been named after the maternal grandfather.  But as Mather was not Irish, perhaps the naming patterns were not followed.