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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: gralorn on Friday 06 September 24 19:11 BST (UK)

Title: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: gralorn on Friday 06 September 24 19:11 BST (UK)
Interested in finding out if anyone has any information about a Mary KNIGHT who was born in 1925. Her father was Cecil Knight and mother Bridget Hanrahan. She supposedly married an American GI and went to the USA. No idea where, what his name was, if they had children, etc. Any information would be most welcomed. Thank You
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 06 September 24 21:00 BST (UK)
There is no Mary Knight birth 1923-1928 with a mmn Hanrahan - did you check freebmd?

There is no marriage for a Cecil Knight to a Bridget Hanrahan in England so where did you get those details?

Have you checked freebmd for a marriage as the wording of your post suggests the marriage was in England "supposedly married an American GI & went to the USA"

Any marriage was probably in the 1940's so any children may still be alive.  Rootschat has a strict no living persons policy to protect their privacy so those details cannot be published here

Where does she fit into your FH?
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Little Nell on Friday 06 September 24 23:06 BST (UK)
I think I have identified the family.

Cecil married Bridget in 1925, but she was the widow of John J Hynes, who died in 1922.  Bridget had three children with John and all three of them are listed in Cecil's obituary in 1942, along with a daughter Mary Knight.

Bridget was older than Cecil.  She was apparently born born 1891/93 in County Tipperary. 

I'm having difficulty in finding a birth registration for Mary.  And I can't find out when or where Bridget died.

Nell
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Little Nell on Friday 06 September 24 23:34 BST (UK)
Bridget died in 1980 and was buried with her husband at Ship Lane Cemetery, Farnborough.

Photo of the headstone is here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156549675/cecil-donald_ernest-knight#view-photo=133805846

FreeBMD lists her birthdate as 29 November 1888. 

So some scope there!

Nell

Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: CaroleW on Saturday 07 September 24 00:01 BST (UK)
Bridget had 5 children with John Hynes

Julia 1915
John J 1916
Robert D 1917
Kathleen M 1920
Francis M 1923 b March qtr 1923 - John Hynes died Dec qtr 1922

Where did you get Mary's name from as there is no birth under Knight?  Where did the info come from re her being a war bride?
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: gralorn on Saturday 07 September 24 00:22 BST (UK)
Yes that is the family Little Nell, I think Mary Knight may well have been illegitimate, hence why the marriage as Cecil was a lodger and Bridget had lost John Hynes, say no more as they say.
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: CaroleW on Saturday 07 September 24 00:54 BST (UK)
What actual proof do you have that she existed? 
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Saturday 07 September 24 00:56 BST (UK)
The only one I can see

Births Mar Q 1926   
Knight    Madeline M M     Andrhan    Hartley W.    2c   321

KNIGHT, MADELINE  MARGARITA MARY       
GRO Reference: 1926  M Quarter in HARTLEY WINTNEY  Volume 02C  Page 321

Which could mean born late 1925 registered first qtr 1926

1939 register there are 3 redacted entries with family.

Cas
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Daisypetal on Saturday 07 September 24 00:57 BST (UK)

Hi,

Could this be Mary?

Birth
Madeline Margarita Mary KINGHT    Mar Q 1926    Hartley Witney    2C  321

Freembd and original page show mmn as ANDRHAN.

She could have been born late in 1925.

Regards,
Daisy


Snap,  I've typed it so I'll post it  :)
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Daisypetal on Saturday 07 September 24 01:00 BST (UK)


Marriage

Madeline M M KNIGHT    Mar Q 1945    Aldershot    2c  570
Harold W LEGATZKE


Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Daisypetal on Saturday 07 September 24 01:06 BST (UK)

She went to the USA in 1946,

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24GQ-VK4

The address is the same as the family's in 1939.
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: Cas (stallc) on Saturday 07 September 24 01:17 BST (UK)

She went to the USA in 1946,

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24GQ-VK4

The address is the same as the family's in 1939.

Looks good..well done Daisypetal  :)

Cas
Title: Re: Mary Knight War Bride from Farnborough
Post by: gralorn on Saturday 07 September 24 09:50 BST (UK)
I can only say ‘Thank you Very Much’ all most interesting and puts meat on the bone in the family tree as they say.

Just as a footnote, she died before her mother and her husband sent to her ‘mother’ her jewellery and rings, my mother and an aunt visited the ‘mother’ in an old folks home and she showed them the jewellery.

Thanks again.