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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: davidkennedy on Tuesday 08 April 25 15:45 BST (UK)
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As per the header, for my grandfather Thomas J (Joseph?) Kennedy. Tom was born or registered (I doubt he would have remembered) as far as we can tell in Knock, County Mayo on the 14th of August 1884. Many fruitless searches have produced no results to date.
We have no information about his siblings or parents and the main points of reference we have for him is that he joined the Army (some say he served in India, others South Africa) and ended up a miner in South Wales by the time of the 1911 census there.
I realise that it was a troubled time and some records were lost/destroyed but would appreciate any information or pointers.
I'm probably going to have to do some legwork and make a visit but, nothing ventured.
Anyway, thanks for reading this and good luck with your own research.
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There is a Thomas Kennedy in Knock on the 1901 census
Residents of a house 25 in Meeltran (Knock North, Mayo)
Cannon Julia 45 Female Head of Family Roman Catholice Dressmaker
Kenny Thomas 48 Male Brother Roman Catholice Mason
Kennedy Thomas 19 Male Nephew Roman Catholice Farm Labourer
Kenny Lizzie 10 Female Niece Roman Catholice Scholar
Thomas senior is a widower.
May be a red herring, of course.
Bev
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What information is on his 1914 marriage certificate?
It should contain his father's name and occupation.
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There is a Thomas Kennedy in Knock on the 1901 census
Residents of a house 25 in Meeltran (Knock North, Mayo)
Cannon Julia 45 Female Head of Family Roman Catholice Dressmaker
Kenny Thomas 48 Male Brother Roman Catholice Mason
Kennedy Thomas 19 Male Nephew Roman Catholice Farm Labourer
Kenny Lizzie 10 Female Niece Roman Catholice Scholar
Thomas senior is a widower.
May be a red herring, of course.
Bev
Is your 1911 census the one boarding with a Kenny family in Aberdare?
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What information is on his 1914 marriage certificate?
It should contain his father's name and occupation.
Dec 1914 Merthyr Tydfil 11a 1649
Kennedy, Thomas - spouse Lewis
Lewis, Dorothy M. - spouse Kennedy
In Hawarden, Flintshire in 1939
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According to the age given in the 1921 census Thomas was born in August 1883, Knock, Co Mayo.
Birth date of 1884 comes from 1939 register.
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Thanks for all the relies, been away for a few days so not been able to reply any earlier.
Starting in order with bevj, yes, I had seen that but without further information I've been unable to confirm. Also, if he (Tom) was involved with the British Army, either in India or South Africa then it would seem unlikely that he was still in Knock.
My father had his service medals but a cousin borrowed them and we never got them back. He has since removed himself to New Zealand and all attempts at communication have to date failed. His army records would probably have helped me.
jonwarrn, yes, that's the right one. I ordered the certificate but not much help there, his father is J Kennedy, farm worker...
Neale1961, true: but, the image of the 1921 census shows his age at that time as 37 (57?) years and 10 months, so yes that would put it as 1883. He's also recorded as being a "boarder" so there's obviously something going on...
His grave records his birth as 14/08/1884 though - Hawarden Cemetery No1 ref C2 47 from the grave stone and, as you said, so does the 1939 register.
There are a couple of other people doing research for their own trees, which cross over with Tom Kennedy. They keep coming up with Dublin and other places which I am forever having to ignore.
However, I am making progress in other areas so it's not all bad and I did want to thank you all for taking the time and trouble that you did to try to help.
Many thanks people.
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My cousin tells me that Tom Kennedy's father was also Thomas. So, maybe I can start to make some progress now...
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Who were the witnesses at the marriage? Any clues there?
Was the marriage in a Catholic Church?
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There is another family at that 1921 address - maybe that is why he is a ‘Boarder’ and not necessarily ‘something going on’.
Do you have the birth certificate of the son born in 1921 to compare addresses?
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The witnesses were Gertrude Daisy Waters - my grandmothers sister - and her husband John. The marriage took place in the registry office so no joy there I'm afraid. My grandmother, Dorothy May Lewis had 3 sisters. Violet married and moved to Coulsdon and her great grand-daughter is also researching the family tree but has likewise come up against the same barrier.
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Although, I've also discovered that he left Ireland when he was 14. It's unlikely that he has a great deal of cash to finance his departure and I know also that he was in the army at the time of the Boer war so it seems likely to me that he lied about his age and joined up to get out of Ireland as 1897 was another bad year for the west of Ireland and he (apparently) left sometime the following year.