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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Limerick => Topic started by: GRAHAM100 on Saturday 26 March 16 21:07 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Would be very grateful for some help. I have checked all the usual sites, but now at a loss to find our Grandfather. He was born 18th July 1899 James Gerald Graham mother was Margaret and father James. He enlisted into the Royal tank Corp in cork, and shows that he was born city Limerick county Limerick. His mother listed in 1921 as living St. John ave Limerick and it says nat Irish. I just cannot find his birth or census records. His father James is listed deceased by 1926 and says he worked as Forman in a bacon factory. I believe the dates are correct as it appears on the 1939 census, his marriage certificate and his army records. Any help in finding this family I would be so happy.
Thank you
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There doesn't appear to be a James Graham born in Limerick in 1899, he could have lied about his age but there isn't one even close to 1899.
I don't see his parents in the electoral register of 1923
There doesn't appear to be any Graham's working in the bacon factory in 1901 or 1911
Why enlist in Cork?
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I can't see that he would have lied about his age, as his military records, marriage cert, death cert, and 1939 census all tie up. If he had lied then I am guessing he would put his real date on the census and also his death cert. Are there any records of who lived at an address in 1921 ? Is St. John's avenue still there?
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I can't see that he would have lied about his age, as his military records, marriage cert, death cert, and 1939 census all tie up. If he had lied then I am guessing he would put his real date on the census and also his death cert. Are there any records of who lived at an address in 1921 ? Is St. John's avenue still there?
If he had lied then I am guessing he would put his real date on the census and also his death cert.
He wouldn't have provided the information for his death certificate or the 1901 and 1911 census returns. Many people weren't sure of their exact date or place of birth.
As Sinann has already mentioned, there is no birth for a James Graham which fits that date & place.
St. John's Avenue is still there- Google searches easily find references, including this one-
http://www.myhome.ie/residential/brochure/12-st-johns-avenue-mulgrave-street-limerick-city-limerick/3327607
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His birthday on his military records matches his age on his marriage certificate, and have found him on the 1939 census in bath uk and his birthday is correct to that. Also matches his age to his death certificate. That's why I just can't see that being wrong. That's why I am so puzzled in not being able to find him.
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If he is that consistent with his age, it is possibly correct, or he believed it to be correct but it's possible he wasn't born Graham, his mother could have married after he was born and he took the name of her husband and that man may not have worked in Limerick until after the 1911 Census.
I had a look on some of the links here http://limerickslife.com/limerick-family-history/ but it got too late last night to continue.
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Thank you will have a look through.
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Check to make sure he's not under Grimes, I m James Graham from Limerick and all my ancestors prior to 1920 are Grimes and some after 1920 kept the Grimes name. The Grimes/Graham thing is very common.
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Thank you very much- this is really interesting, it may be why I cannot find his birth anywhere. Do you know why the change?
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The change is a long story !! Originally the Grahams were a Scottish border clan who were ran out of England by the King for being troublemakers !!!! They fled to Northern Ireland and so as not to be traced changed their name to Grimes and other similar surnames so the story goes. They spread throughout Ireland as Grimes's. In our particular instance we were all Grimes's until my grandparents married in 1920 and the priest at the time insisted there was no such name as Grimes and the real name was Graham and thus the marriage was registered in the name of Graham as were all the children of this marriage. To make matters more confusing my father was the only one of these children that was known as Graham as were all of us kids while all my Aunts and Uncles stayed as Grimes's unofficially though all their official documentation seems to be Graham. Confused ?? ....you should try living it LOL !!
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Thank you- when I have searched on ancestry the name often appears, and I have ignored it. Will go back and check again.
Have you ever come across any Graham's/Grimes living is St. John's avenue Limerick? They seem to have been there in 1921 .
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No I m sorry they re not members of our clan that i know of anyhow ?
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James Graham born 1899 limerick service no. 7873777, enlistment year 11.9.1921
http://www.findmypast.co.uk
he might have got a pension from the army.
was Margaret his mums first name?
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Thank you- yes I have found those records, have found him in the UK from 1922 onwards, where he married, and died in 1954. Never been able to find a pension. Only know his mum was Margaret from the military records, she lived St. John ave Limerick 1921. His father was James and a Forman in a bacon factory. My problem is cannot find him from 18 July 1899 the day he was born, I have his birthday but cannot find his birth or his parents. Up to the point he enlisted in Cork.
Any ideas would be very grateful.
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Worth a gamble ?
http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/47bd5c6892519
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It's possible - have noted the name thank you. My only worry is is two years after his birth.
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it say on find my past that he was a Traveller, who was Alice May?
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Yes, but think that is his profession. Like a salesman. Alice may was his wife.