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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: Peter Spering on Sunday 29 March 20 20:50 BST (UK)

Title: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Sunday 29 March 20 20:50 BST (UK)
Hi, I've been interested in tracing back the Irish roots on my mother's side, but it's proving to be an uphill struggle so I'm going to ask for help. At the heart of this is:

James O'Neill (though his name is John on Josephine's marriage record)

- Born abt 1845 in Ireland, son of Patrick O'Neill. (Liverpool census, Liverpool Catholic Marriage record)
- Married Mary Currid (b. 1848) on 7 May 1866 at St Augustine Church, Liverpool. Being a Catholic marriage, their names are recorded as Jacobum and Mariam (Liverpool Catholic Marriage record)

I think there may be some crossed wires because his daughter has a CoE marriage but there's a Catholic burial record. I'm so confused and lost. The starting point is Ernest G Bramwell (1891 - 1948) who married Ann Fellowes. I'm trying to trace back from his mother who was some kind of Josephine (I think... the more I search, the more my head spins) and definitely an O'Neill.

Anecdotally, my mother did a DNA test and one of three big matches was an Irish one. I decided to contact him and throw in the O'Neill surname for good measure. His response is attached.

History has taught me that there are true pros on here with far better genealogical skills than me, so I'm reaching out for a little help to put me back on track. Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: hallmark on Sunday 29 March 20 21:18 BST (UK)


There are about 1058 R.C parishes in Ireland, with no location all you can do is check each one, one by one,  but do you know parents names to identify which one is yours?

Map to give you an idea of parishes in a few Counties



Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Sunday 29 March 20 21:42 BST (UK)
Do you have Josephine’s birth certificate?

I see that in 1911, she is Julia Josephine Bramwell - is that her?

There is a birth for Julia Josephine O’Neill December quarter 1870, West Derby but she has mother’s name of McNamee.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Sunday 29 March 20 22:06 BST (UK)
What is John’s occupation on her marriage record?
Who are the witnesses?
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Sunday 29 March 20 23:05 BST (UK)
@hallmark

Presuming I'm on the right track, James' father is called Patrick.

@heywood

RE: Josephine's birth certificate.

Her DoB relied on the 1911 census and the 1871 census. Now then, I've gone back to the 1871 census and it shows this:


James O'neill   Head   -   Male   26   1845   -   Ireland
Mary   O'neill   Wife   -   Female   23   1848   -   Ireland
Bridget O'neill   Daughter   -   Female   4   1867   -   Ireland
Julia   O'neill   Daughter   -   Female   0   1871   -   Lancashire, England
Edward McEvoy   Boarder   -   Male   28   1843   -   Ireland

This must have been where James came in. I'm pretty sure Currid, surname for Mary, must have come from either a FindMyPast suggestion, if not their marriage records. It may be nothing, but when I searched the Catholic baptism record for Julia, Mary was listed as Mary McEvoy:

Father:   Jacobi Oneill
Mother:   Maria Mcevoy

RE: Occupation

On the marriage record from 1891, he's named John and a police officer. In 1871, he's James and his occupation is a seaman. I feel like I've made an error somewhere, somehow. It's frustrating because one woman or the other has the same name(s), both are the same age and both are from the same place.

The witnesses on the marriage are Henrietta Petrali (John's sister) and a Thomas Evans.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Sunday 29 March 20 23:57 BST (UK)
I don’t think you can be sure with the evidence you have but I can’t see much either  :-\

Just for information

Baptism
Joanna O’Neill daughter of John and Julia (McNemee) baptised September 1870
St Patrick’s Liverpool.

The record is in Latin  but - Juliae for mother but not for child  :-\ I spent a long time looking for my husband’s grandmother Julia and eventually found her as Joanna so it does happen.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 00:14 BST (UK)
I don’t think you can be sure with the evidence you have but I can’t see much either  :-\

Just for information

Baptism
Joanna O’Neill daughter of John and Julia (McNemee) baptised September 1870
St Patrick’s Liverpool.

The record is in Latin  but - Juliae for mother but not for child  :-\ I spent a long time looking for my husband’s grandmother Julia and eventually found her as Joanna so it does happen.

Thank you, I'm going to bear this in mind. I just wish frickin' Julia Josephine or whatever she called herself could stick to one name instead of acting like a nominal jack in the box.

 That said, looking back at the 1901 and 1911 censuses, which I'm 100% sure about because they feature the names of all the right kids, there's a few Murphys living with them and they're listed as nephews. The Bramwells were all Welsh and we know 100% that great gran Jojo as I'll call her for now was an O'Neill, it might be that the Murphy boys are maternal nephews.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 00:14 BST (UK)
"..The starting point is Ernest G Bramwell (1891 - 1948) who married Ann Fellowes. I'm trying to trace back from his mother who was some kind of Josephine (I think... the more I search, the more my head spins) and definitely an O'Neill."

A lot of uncertainty here. Start with the BRAMWELL - FELLOWES marriage record. Can you please list the information on the certificate.

Do you see Ernest G BRAMWELL on the 1901 and 1911 census.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 00:17 BST (UK)
Yes, I wondered if you had checked those Murphy men.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 00:29 BST (UK)
They seem to have mother’s name O’Neill

1891 2992/11

Shows several children with father Terence Murphy. The children show mmn O’Neill.

There is a marriage in Liverpool 1873 Terence Murphy and Mary Ann O’Neill are on the same sheet.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 00:32 BST (UK)

FreeBDM   MarQ 1891 Vol8B  Page 178   Liverpool
O'NEILL Josephine    marr.  BRANWELL John

Can you please list all the information on this marriage certificate.

On 1911 census name is Julia Josephine BRAMWELL........and there are MURPHY nephews.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 00:33 BST (UK)
Catholic marriage from Latin

23 February 1873
Terence Murphy 126 Upper Essex Street - Father James
Mary Anne O’ Neil 18 Sefton Square - Father John
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 00:58 BST (UK)
@wivenhoe

First name(s)   ERNEST G
Last name   BRAMWELL
Marriage quarter   3
Marriage year   1919
Registration month   -
MarriageFinder ™

ERNEST G BRAMWELL married one of these people

Ann Fellowes

Spouse's last name   Fellowes
District   West Derby
District number   -
County   Lancashire
Country   England

I know this to be correct from first-hand information.

and

Name:   Josephine Onell
Gender:   Female
Marriage Age:   20
Event Type:   Marriage
Birth Year:   abt 1871
Marriage Date:   4 Jan 1891
Marriage Place:   Liverpool, St Nicholas, Lancashire, England
Parish as it Appears:   Liverpool
Search Photos:   Search for 'Liverpool, St Nicholas' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Father:   John O'neill (police officer)
Spouse:   John Bramwell (porter)

Witnesses: Henrietta Petrali (John's married sister) and Thomas Evans

@heywood

My brain is turning to scrambled egg. I've had a look at those records and it's certainly them, a connected record shows Jacob Francis' baptism.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 02:05 BST (UK)
James Francis' mother has the maiden name Lynch, and one of FindMyPast's marriage match options for John O'Neill is a Laurence Lynch. I'm going to investigate further.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 03:56 BST (UK)
Edited to include marriage.....

FreeBDM MarQ 1873  W.Derby
O'NEILL Mary Ann     marr.     MURPHY Terence


FreeBDM MarQ 1873  W.Derby
O'NEILL Mary Ann     marr.     MURPHY Terence


Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 23 Feb 1873
MURPHY Terence...126 Upper Essex St  father Jacobis

O'NEIL Maria Anna....16 Sefton Sq   father Joannis O'NEIL

Witnesses George MILLEN   163 Mill St      Margaret HAGGARTY  of Girell(?)
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 05:39 BST (UK)


FreeBDM birth  DecQ 1870  W.Derby  Vol 8B  page 248
O'NEILL Julia Josephine   

GRO   birth
MarQ 1859 Vol 8B page 275
West Derby and Toxteth Park 
O'NEILL Joseph              mms. McNERMEE

SepQ 1863  Vol 8B page 270
West Derby and Toxteth Park
O'NEILL Joseph Patrick   Mmms. McNAMEE

DecQ  1870 Vol 8B page 248
O'NEILL Julia Josephine  mms. McNAMEE
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 07:43 BST (UK)
James Francis' mother has the maiden name Lynch, and one of FindMyPast's marriage match options for John O'Neill is a Laurence Lynch. I'm going to investigate further.

I am not sure who you mean here so I am posting the 1891 census for the Murphy family.
1891 2992/11

Terence Murphy   44 yrs b Co Armagh
James F Murphy   17 yrs
John Murphy 15 yrs
Joseph Murphy 14 yrs
Teresa A Murphy 13 yrs
Bernard Murphy   11 yrs
Thomas Murphy   6 yrs

This James F is likely to be James Francis with mmn O’Neill b 1873 West Derby
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 09:10 BST (UK)
Ancestry Lancashire Catholic BDM
O'NIELL Julia  53y 18 Sefton Sq Toxteth Park  buried 27 Dec 1876 Ford Cemetery.

An online Ancestry tree .....Carey Campbell......has Mary Ann O'NEILL marr. Michael HALLIGAN, 1870.

Given the Sefton Sq address, I think the O'NEILL - MURPHY marriage we have found is correct.

Census 1861 at 36 Sun Street Toxteth Park
O'NEILL John        40y  Police Constable       b. Ireland
O'NEILL Julia         37y                               b. Ireland
O'NEILL James      15y      clerk                   b. Ireland
O'NEILL Ellen         14y                               b. Liverpool Lancs.
O'NEILL Thomas    12y                                b. Liverpool Lancs
O'NEILL John          9y                                b. Liverpool Lancs
O'NEILL Mary A       7y                                b. Liverpool Lancs
LYONS Eliza           50y   single lodger          b. Liverpool Lancs
DERBY Edward       50y   m.   lodger           b. Scotland
DERBY Margaret     50y   m    lodger            b. Scotland     

See CAREY/NEWTON/CAMPBELL/BARNETT tree             
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 10:43 BST (UK)
That looks really good, wivenhoe  :)
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 11:11 BST (UK)
Of course if the Halligan marriage is that Mary Anne O’Neill it is a spanner in the works.

17th November 1870
Michael Halligan and Mary Anne O’Neill - her address Leeds Street and father John  :-\
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 11:41 BST (UK)
Sorry if I am repeating anything
Baptism St Patrick’s
Thomas O'Neil
Age:   0
Birth 1st  February 1849
Baptism 11th February  1849
Father: John Oneil
Mother: Julia Mcnamee
** ancestry transcribes mother as John McNamee but it is Julia

Mary Ann baptised 1853 - same parents

Susanna baptism 1855 - same parents

Joseph 1859 - already mentioned
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 17:13 BST (UK)
Thank you everyone!
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 17:17 BST (UK)
Whilst some things seem to correlate, it still isn’t clear.
Whilst Julia, who we think might be the mother, died in 1876, the family are difficult to find in 1871 which would be a real help.

Still looking.  :)
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 17:33 BST (UK)
I've found a 60 year old John O'Neill, police constable and widower, on the 1881 census:

James   Mc Brearty   Head   Married   Male   46   1835   Police Constable   Ireland
Catherine   Mc Brearty   Wife   Married   Female   40   1841   Police Constable Wife   Ireland
Catherine   Mc Brearty   Daughter   Single   Female   15   1866   Dressmaker   Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Francis   Mc Brearty   Son   Single   Male   4   1877   -   Liverpool, Lancashire, England
John   O Neill   Boarder   Widower   Male   60   1821   Police Constable   Ireland

4, Gwendoline Street, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, England
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Monday 30 March 20 18:49 BST (UK)
Head   John Neill   29
Wife   Julia Neill   26
Son   James Neill   5
Son   Thomas Neill   2
Visitor   James Smith   25
Visitor   Margret Smith   22

1851 census. Checking the image, it definitely is O'Neill. I've checked the ages and they're bang on too. John was a shoemaker and his birthplace is Armagh, the same birthplace is given for Julia and James. Thomas is Liverpool born.

If this is the correct line, then that significantly narrows the gap of their immigration.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Monday 30 March 20 19:13 BST (UK)
Both those look great. I was looking for them in 1851 as they should be there because of Thomas.  :)

I posted Thomas’ baptism a couple of posts ago.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Monday 30 March 20 23:03 BST (UK)
I am amending this to include all children -

Godparents names are useful as they are often close family members.

Ancestry Lancashire Catholic BDM

At Patricks Liverpool  Baptism

O'NEILL Helen    ps John / Julia McNAMEY  15 Mar / 21 Mar 1847
Godparents Joseph WRIGHT (?) Bridget WRIGHT (?)

O'NEILL Thomas ps John / Julia McNAMEE  1 Feb / 11 Feb 1849
Godparents Francis BYRNE / Ann O'NEILL

O'NEILL John     ps John / Julia McNAMER 22 May / 3 Jun 1851
Godparents Margaret SMITH

O'NEILL Mary Ann   ps John / Julia McNAMEE    3 Mar / 14 Mar 1853
Godparent  Mary O'KEEFE

O'NEILL Susanna    ps John / Julia McNAMEE  3 Feb / 17 Feb 1855
Godparents Julia McDERMOT

O'NEILL Joseph ps John / Julia McNAMEE       17 Jan / 20 Jan 1859
Godparent Maria Josepha DUNLEVY

O'NEILL Susanna  ps John / Julia McNAMER   24 Jul / 4 Aug 1861
Godparents  Denis CASH, Margaret CAMPBELL

O'NEILL Cornelius ps John / Julia McNAMER   8 Jul / 9 Jul 1865
Godparents George ENNIS , Mary ENNIS

O'NEILL Joanna    ps John / Julia McNEMEE  22 Sep / 23 Sep 1870
Godparents George ENNIS, Mary ENNIS
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Tuesday 31 March 20 01:35 BST (UK)
Thank you wivenhoe.

I'm just been perusing Ancestry trees and I've found multiple trees about the same John O'Neill. Apparently he was born to Joanna Flaherty and William O'Neill in Tralee and remarried after Julia's death. Most interestingly he seemed to spend parts of his life bobbing between Ireland, Australia and England. There's some stuff about William and that whole Australian emigration imprisonment schtick, but I can't work out if he was an inmate or some kind of employee.

I'm going to take a letter I found to the decipher corps on here and see if they can make something of it, since I can only make out every other word.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Dundee on Tuesday 31 March 20 02:45 BST (UK)
I'm just been perusing Ancestry trees and I've found multiple trees about the same John O'Neill. Apparently he was born to Joanna Flaherty and William O'Neill in Tralee and remarried after Julia's death. Most interestingly he seemed to spend parts of his life bobbing between Ireland, Australia and England.

That is just silly.  You would be a lot less confused if you stop looking at Ancestry trees.

Debra  :)
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Tuesday 31 March 20 07:19 BST (UK)
Ancestry Catholic BDM Liverpool

burial  St Oswalds   Ford Cemetery
O'NEILL Susana  36 Star St Toxteth Park  10 Dec 1856

burial Ford Cemetery
O'NEILL Cornelius 2 Oct 1865  3m   8 St James Terrace  ***

burial Ford Cemetery 
O'NEILL Ellen   26 Mar 1881  40y 20Ct  5Ho Collingwood St


Census 1871 at  Ho6 Court 16 Collingwood St Liverpool
HUGHES Thos.      39y      head     labourer    b. Ireland
HUGHES Hannah   33y      wife                      b. Liverpool  Lancashire
HALIGAN Michael   22y     lodger                   b. Liverpool  Lancashire
HALIGAN Mary A   21y     wife                       b. Liverpool  Lancashire

Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 31 March 20 08:12 BST (UK)
There is confusion there wivenhoe as we have noted before.
i won’t post it all as it has been posted earlier.

You mention the Halligan family but there is also

23rd February 1873
Terence Murphy and Mary Ann O’Neill - Father John and address 18 Sefton Square

The Murphys are with the Bramwells in later censuses.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: hallmark on Tuesday 31 March 20 08:39 BST (UK)
I'm just been perusing Ancestry trees and I've found multiple trees about the same John O'Neill. Apparently he was born to Joanna Flaherty and William O'Neill in Tralee and remarried after Julia's death. Most interestingly he seemed to spend parts of his life bobbing between Ireland, Australia and England.

That is just silly.  You would be a lot less confused if you stop looking at Ancestry trees.

Debra  :)


So would we!


Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Tuesday 31 March 20 21:05 BST (UK)
I'm just been perusing Ancestry trees and I've found multiple trees about the same John O'Neill. Apparently he was born to Joanna Flaherty and William O'Neill in Tralee and remarried after Julia's death. Most interestingly he seemed to spend parts of his life bobbing between Ireland, Australia and England.

That is just silly.  You would be a lot less confused if you stop looking at Ancestry trees.

Debra  :)

I was obviously cautious about it, so did try and track down the original person who compiled this, since it's an infection that's spread to many trees. One person I messaged said they didn't even know about any O'Neills and that they must have just blanket copied all the information. With that level of cautiousness, no wonder they've managed to rack up over 63000 people on their tree. Anyway, at least I was right to hold out from changing any established information on my tree and my Wikitree.

It's just frustrating that people can be so careless. In my view, genealogy should be treated as sacred. Here I am spending a week or more just to establish one generation as best I can, and there are some spending thirty seconds on it.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: wivenhoe on Wednesday 01 April 20 03:30 BST (UK)

In researching the origins of Julia Joesphine O'NEILL, father Police Constable, married John BRAAMWELL, 1890, Liverpool Lancashire -

* the 1911 Census, with Joseph Patrick MURPHY 34y single b. Liverpool.....and.....James Francis MURPHY 37Y, married, b. Liverpool....recorded as nephews...leads to ....

* Mary Ann O'NEIL, married Terence MURPHY, 1873.

* Your Julia Josephine is possibly the daughter of the John O'NEILL - Julia McNAMEE family.

* Birth, Julia Josephine O'NEILL, 1870, West Derby......mms McNAMEE...is a good fit for your Julia.

* Mary Ann O'NEILL marr. Michael HALLIGAN, 1870...would seem to have a good claim to be the Mary Ann of the O'NEILL - McNAMEE family.

The two Mary Ann O'NEILLS become a problem.

*The Census describes people as relating to head of household....John BRAMWELL. The MURPHY nephews should be nephews of John BRAMWELL, but by the customs of the times, they could equally be nephews of Julia Josephine BRAMWELL nee O'NEILL, which is what we have pursued.

*Are the MURPHYs  BRAMWELL nephews, not O'NEILL nephews?

*If your Julia Josephine is daughter of O'NEILL - McNAMEE family, she is very young when Julia (McNAMEE) O'NEILL died, 1876.   Who raised her?. Where is your Julia in the 1881 Census?

The marriage certificate  BRAMWELL - O'NEILL, 1890.......can you list all the information on it please. There should be addresses....what are they?
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Wednesday 01 April 20 22:05 BST (UK)

In researching the origins of Julia Joesphine O'NEILL, father Police Constable, married John BRAAMWELL, 1890, Liverpool Lancashire -

* the 1911 Census, with Joseph Patrick MURPHY 34y single b. Liverpool.....and.....James Francis MURPHY 37Y, married, b. Liverpool....recorded as nephews...leads to ....

* Mary Ann O'NEIL, married Terence MURPHY, 1873.

* Your Julia Josephine is possibly the daughter of the John O'NEILL - Julia McNAMEE family.

* Birth, Julia Josephine O'NEILL, 1870, West Derby......mms McNAMEE...is a good fit for your Julia.

* Mary Ann O'NEILL marr. Michael HALLIGAN, 1870...would seem to have a good claim to be the Mary Ann of the O'NEILL - McNAMEE family.

The two Mary Ann O'NEILLS become a problem.

*The Census describes people as relating to head of household....John BRAMWELL. The MURPHY nephews should be nephews of John BRAMWELL, but by the customs of the times, they could equally be nephews of Julia Josephine BRAMWELL nee O'NEILL, which is what we have pursued.

*Are the MURPHYs  BRAMWELL nephews, not O'NEILL nephews?

*If your Julia Josephine is daughter of O'NEILL - McNAMEE family, she is very young when Julia (McNAMEE) O'NEILL died, 1876.   Who raised her?. Where is your Julia in the 1881 Census?

The marriage certificate  BRAMWELL - O'NEILL, 1890.......can you list all the information on it please. There should be addresses....what are they?

Hi, here's the marriage record:

(https://i.imgur.com/QYNPzGr.jpg)
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Wednesday 01 April 20 22:19 BST (UK)
My opinion is (from memory though but hopefully all is in this thread)

1901 and 1911 Murphy nephews link to Julia
1891 and birth records Murphys with mmn O’Neill

Mary Ann O’Neill (marriage) and mother Julia O’Neill (death) both have Sefton Square as an address.

John O’Neill, Police Officer found with family including Mary A in 1861.

The children have mmn McNamee in births and baptisms.

I think that this is good evidence for tying all this together.

To be absolutely sure that Mary Ann who married Michael Halligan is not the one from the above family, you would need to check her father John’s occupation from the marriage certificate.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: Peter Spering on Thursday 02 April 20 00:12 BST (UK)
My opinion is (from memory though but hopefully all is in this thread)

1901 and 1911 Murphy nephews link to Julia
1891 and birth records Murphys with mmn O’Neill

Mary Ann O’Neill (marriage) and mother Julia O’Neill (death) both have Sefton Square as an address.

John O’Neill, Police Officer found with family including Mary A in 1861.

The children have mmn McNamee in births and baptisms.

I think that this is good evidence for tying all this together.

To be absolutely sure that Mary Ann who married Michael Halligan is not the one from the above family, you would need to check her father John’s occupation from the marriage certificate.

I tracked down the marriage certificate, and it's a Catholic marriage. Took some bloody finding.
Title: Re: O'Neill
Post by: heywood on Thursday 02 April 20 06:35 BST (UK)
That is the one quoted earlier that we already have Peter.
It would be the civil marriage certificate that would show John O’ Neill’s occupation.
The published tree I have seen does not have those details either.