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Survivors!
When I started researching my Mother's family I fully expected to find that they had left Ireland during the potato famine. After my initial disappointment when I learned about the destruction of Irish BMD records, I decided to start again with the piece of advice the experts always give to would-be genealogists - "Start with what you know and who you know. Talk to your older relatives."
I contacted a cousin who is the eldest grandchild and she was a mine of information.
Through her I discovered a sad story of love, disinheritance and tragic early death.
It turned out that my great grandfather was the eldest son and heir of a Kildare farmer who fell in love with the dairymaid and eloped with her rather than marry the woman that his parents wanted him to.
They came to England where he found work as a dock labourer (There weren't many jobs available for disinherited heirs!) They had 4 sons, my grandfather being the youngest. While my grandfather was a small tot, my great grandfather was involved in an accident on the docks which cost him his life. My cousin said he was brought home from the docks on a handcart.
My great grandmother accompanied his body home to be buried in the family plot and is reputed to have been turned away by her in-laws, who also refused to recognise the boys as their grandchildren.
My great grandmother returned to England where she took in washing and acted as midwife to her neighbours to make ends meet. She raised 4 good, loving, respectful men whilst enduring a life of poverty and hardship.
I have since made contact with my distant Irish relatives who confirmed that they also had heard the same story. They helped me tremendously with my research and gave me information dating back to the 1700's.
My advice to all who are experiencing "brick walls" in the family research is "Don't give up! It's worth it in the long run."
I contacted a cousin who is the eldest grandchild and she was a mine of information.
Through her I discovered a sad story of love, disinheritance and tragic early death.
It turned out that my great grandfather was the eldest son and heir of a Kildare farmer who fell in love with the dairymaid and eloped with her rather than marry the woman that his parents wanted him to.
They came to England where he found work as a dock labourer (There weren't many jobs available for disinherited heirs!) They had 4 sons, my grandfather being the youngest. While my grandfather was a small tot, my great grandfather was involved in an accident on the docks which cost him his life. My cousin said he was brought home from the docks on a handcart.
My great grandmother accompanied his body home to be buried in the family plot and is reputed to have been turned away by her in-laws, who also refused to recognise the boys as their grandchildren.
My great grandmother returned to England where she took in washing and acted as midwife to her neighbours to make ends meet. She raised 4 good, loving, respectful men whilst enduring a life of poverty and hardship.
I have since made contact with my distant Irish relatives who confirmed that they also had heard the same story. They helped me tremendously with my research and gave me information dating back to the 1700's.
My advice to all who are experiencing "brick walls" in the family research is "Don't give up! It's worth it in the long run."
Comment
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Comment by liliana doyle on July 17, 2009 at 9:45pm - It´s a very romantic but sad story. Greetings from Lilian Doyle, Argentina.
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Comment by Kevin Patrick Joyce on June 3, 2009 at 12:57am
- My ancestors were also famine Irish fro Galway. They came to the anthracite mines in N.E. Penn where they worked in miserable conditions like slaves. The Welsh and English owned the mines which helped generate the Industrial Revolution. The got the smame religious bigtry here as they had at home. Finally, the miners rebelled by means of violence and destruction. The Molly Maguires were born. Right or wrong they ended their oppression. Some scholars believe that this was the birth of unions in this country. Kevin Joyce
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Comment by Trish Giles on May 22, 2009 at 4:56pm -
Hi Bridget,
Thanks for your kind comments. Tracing my ancestors is a labour of love for me. As my last surviving grandparent passed when I was only 5, I always felt robbed of the chance to get to know them as people. Now however, I feel I've "filled in the blanks." I haven't been able trace my great grandmother's family yet unfortunately, but don't intend to give up. Yes, she must have been quite a woman. Like I said she took great granddad back to Ireland to be buried, but she had to travel there and back by cattle boat. My granddad was only 3 at the time. He refused to talk about the family, understandably, because of the way they treated his mother, but due to my research I've been able to contact that side of the family and heal the rift. Indeed, 3 of my cousins have since been on holiday to meet that branch of the family!
The Canary Wharf museum sounds interesting. It makes one wonder how our ancestors ever survived! I'm still trying to find a record of my great granddad's accident but was shocked to discover that dock accidents were really common in those days. I couldn't find any mention of it in the local newpaper, it seems it didn't even warrant a mention. How cheap life was then - and how hard.
Anyway, I'm immensely proud of my ancestors and my Irish bloodline. Like I said "Survivors!"
Regards,
Trish
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Comment by Bridget Whelan on May 22, 2009 at 12:32am
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HI Trish
Thank you so much for sharing your family's story. I teach creative writing and one of the courses I run is writing your family history - turning a list of dates into a living,breathing story that generatiosn to come will want to read..I've heard many fascinating tales but this has everything. One thing that strikes me is the emotional and financial cost of taking your great grandfather's body back to Ireland...syour great grandmother was quite a woman, loyal and couragerous. Have you been able to trace her side of the family?
By the way, there is a docklands museum in Canary Wharf that woukld give an insight into living conditions. Just one example - outside the museum is a path traditionally called blood alley. It didn't get its name from gory murder but because taht was where the sugar cane was unlaoded...and the men's backs bled when they hauled in ashore.
You'll see from my profile why I am so interested in stories!
Best
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Comment by Trish Giles on May 21, 2009 at 1:59pm
- Hi Karl, yes, the family are reconciled. It's all in the past and we're not interested in lost inheritances etc. If great granddad hadn't sacrificed his inheritance for love we wouldn't even be here so love is our inheritance!
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Comment by Karl Schweppe on May 21, 2009 at 11:52am - Hi Trish, that's a wonderful, if sad, story. Thanks for sharing it. I am sure it will encourage many other people to press on with the genealogical hunt. Although it is quite a time ago now, has the family reconciled from the split?
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