Received a copy of Eliza SOMERS nee FRAZER death certificate today. Eliza died 12 May 1882. We had originally recorded FRAZER as FRASER. A few more bits of information and am hoping they generate some new leads.
The death certificate copy notes:
- Eliza's sister Anne FRAZER was the Informant
- Eliza was a widow aged 65 years [thus a birth around 1817]
- Eliza was a farmer
- Anne her sister was unable to write her name
- Both Eliza and Anne lived at Donaghmore and Eliza died at Donaghmore
Given that the death informant was Eliza's sister we are wondering if that potentially means all Eliza's children had migrated? We know that Eliza's son Robert Fraser SOMERS [aka Robert Frazer SOMERS] migrated to Australia and arrived with his wife and daughter in 1885 at Melbourne on board the Cuzco. Perhaps other of Eliza's children also migrated but unfortunately this is as yet an unknown.
Where would Eliza be buried given she was living at Donaghmore? Is her sister Anne also interred in the same cemetery?
Was there a notice in the local paper of Eliza's passing? Her sister Anne's passing?
As Eliza was listed as a farmer would there still be any records that could be used as a lead?
Nothing is known about what became of Eliza's husband Mortimer SOMERS or Mortimer Brownrigg SOMERS other than he had passed before Eliza.
Any ideas?
Marie
Marie MARCHESE
Friday 5th Oct 2018, 11:07AMMessage Board Replies
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Marie:
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!
The 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Donaghmore civil parish shows a Mrs. Eliza Summers, Fair Green Donaghmore so likely Mortimer was deceased by 1850. There are also listings for a Robert Fraser and a Christopher Fraser in the parish likely relatives of Eliza and Anne. https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/laois/donaghmore.htm
I also located Anne's 1886 death record (third record on the page).
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
I assume your ancestors were Church of Ireland. I would contact the Anglican church in Rathdowney which includes the church in Donaghmore and see if they can assist with the burial location.
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Friday 5th Oct 2018, 03:52PM -
Hello Roger,
Thank you so much. That is really wonderful assistance you have provided to Eliza's Australian descendants one of whom is 96.
I went looking for deaths for Robert Fraser and a Christopher Fraser without success unfortunately. The 96 year old descendant's father carried the middle namee of Robert so it may well be a family name.
Will also try the Anglican church in Rathdowney.
Much appreciated.
Marie
Marie MARCHESE
Saturday 6th Oct 2018, 12:23PM -
Dear Marie:
Thank you for your post. You might also note that many of the graveyards in that area of Laois are online through the Historic Graves website. The link below will give you further information as to access:
http://laois.ie/departments/heritage/cultural-heritage/graveyards/
As your ancestors were Church of Ireland, you may be interested in contacting the RCB Library which holds many of the Church of Ireland (COI) records. These records include parish registers (baptisms, marriages and deaths, as well as burals). Their email address is:
http://library@ireland.anglican.org
They are very helpful and will reply as to whether or not they have the information. They also have a very useful Parish Registers Table which you can view (or download) which gives updated information as to whether or not the Church registers exist (many of them were destroyed), and if they do exist, where they are held outside of the Library.
If you need any further information, please let us know.
Please consider creating an Ancestor Profile for any one of your family under the XO Chronicles tab located at the top of the page. Our Ancestor profiles are a great way to discover if others are researching the same family, and they are widely read by all our members.
The very best of luck with your research.
Kind regards,
Jane
Jane Halloran Ryan
Monday 8th Oct 2018, 09:19AM