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Hi. I'm looking into my mother's side of the family after she sadly died just before Christmas. My grandfather was Arthur E Hebden (born Nov 1904 in Seaforth, Lancashire, England). He divorced my grandmother Nellie Nina Hebden (was Little) on 2nd November 1949 (registered in Ilford, Essex). He married Margaret Davis on 16th January 1957 at St Marys Chapel (RC), Mulberry Street, Manchester. He was 50, she was 52. They are both buried at Dean's Grange Cemetery, Dublin. Arthur died aged 78 on 14th June 1982 with his address listed as 67 Waterloo Road, Dublin. Margaret died on 26th May 1990 also at Waterloo Road, but strangely there's no age stated and I've searched for her birth record (which I presume is Irish) to match the age on the marriage certificate but can't see a trace in the UK or Ireland? As I understand it she had a brother(s) who were priests? I am just curious as to why there's no sign of a birth record and whether they had any children (before they were married as they were in their 50s). I only remember meeting them once, when I was around 8 or 9 (I'm now 54). My mum had quite a complicated family background and her biological father Arthur, didn't marry her mother until she was 10 and then divorced her seven years later. Being a merchant seaman he did live in various places such as Southampton and Liverpool but also had strong connections in Ilford, Essex. I'm just trying to piece things together to put everything in perspective and feel a sense of appreciation of knowing my roots and also closure. My mum didn't find out she had a half sister until her biological mum died in 1992 so it's all very complicated!
Thanks for reading :)

Thursday 23rd Feb 2023, 11:16AM

Message Board Replies

  • Do you have the actual (civil) marriage cert for Arthur and Margaret - what does it give for her father's name and occupation ?
    The names of the witnesses could be useful also.. as they might be family, e.g. siblings, cousins etc

    If  Margaret's age on that marriage is accurate the she would have been born c1905,  a quick search of the Births index for Ireland shows nearly 30 possible matches 1905 plus or minus two years, all over Ireland, so quite a few to work through... having her father's name and occupation could help. Given the timeframe it would also be useful checking the 1911 census ...

    Most births at that time would have been registered but the odd few slipped through.. I've seen evidence of children that were not registered up to the 1920s, they would almost certainly have been baptised, but you need a detailed location to start any search of these for the 1900s (most online baptism records cut-off well before that)

    Shane Wilson, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 23rd Feb 2023, 04:35PM
  • found a death Notice for Margaret in the Irish Independent of 28th May 1990 :

    "HEBDEN (neé Davis) Foxford, Co. Mayo and formerly of Waterloo Road, Dublin 4. - May 26 1990 at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, Margaret relict of Arthur Hebden, deeply regretted by her nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. R.I.P. Remains will be removed from Fanagan's Funeral Home Aungier St. Dublin this (Monday) evening at 5.30 o'clock to St. Mary;'s Church Haddington Rd.arriving at 5:45 o'clock. Funeral tomorrow (Tuesday) after 10 o'clock Mass to Dean's Grange cemetery."

     

     

     

     

    Shane Wilson, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 23rd Feb 2023, 05:00PM
  • Hi, Are you sure Davis was Margaret's maiden name? Someone who married at 52 may well have been married before. 

    Patricia

    Thursday 23rd Feb 2023, 09:47PM
  • Margot

    Thursday 2nd Mar 2023, 02:25PM

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