completed - Irish Immigrants to Swansea S.Wales

[Welsh Jen]

Dear Rootschatters!

If anyone is researching the Swansea S.Wales region with regards to Irish immigrants drop me a post. I may be able to help you

[janham]

Hi Jen,

I don't know if you can help me, I have a Charles Hamilton in my tree, he was born in Waterford City, Ireland about 1884, he was still in Waterford on the 1901 Census.
He married, I don't know if it was in Ireland or elsewhere, I know his wife's name was Cissy or Cecelia.  I have always been told he settled in Wales and the only clue I have is a photo taken of him with his wife and children, it was taken in Swansea in a studio and the name on the bottom of the photo is H. A. Chapman.  They had at least 3 children, Stewart, Josie and Nellie or at least that is what has been passed down to me by elder family members who have now passed away. 

Thanks again for your offer of help.

Jan

[Welsh Jen]

Hello again. Thank you for your post
After re - reading your posting I noted that he is still in Ireland in 1901. Then any census details I have won't be relevant in your search. The only thing of help and freely available to you would be the Free BMD's http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl  within that I only found one entry relating to a Charles Hamilton (perhaps a child of his?):

Births Jun 1903
Hamilton  Charles Donald    Swansea  11a 1121

These are all the other entries for Swansea:
Deaths Dec 1901
Hamilton  Maria  67  Swansea  11a 564   

Births Dec 1904
Hamilton  Vera     Swansea  11a 1118   

Births Sep 1907
Hamilton  Trevor John     Swansea  11a 1107   

No mention of a Stewart, Josie or a Nellie.
I have also searched the Mormon site with no match to your particular names and dates given for Charles Hamilton

With regards to his move to Swansea. He would have quite likely have moved to an area called "Greenhill" this was known locally as "Little Ireland" and most of the Irish settled in these parts ~ this area is now Dyfatty Traffic Lights. I myself have Irish ancestors in this area. It was a poor part of Swansea were a lot of disease troubled them as living conditions were atrocious! especially going back to the 1840 / 50's. It was also a very lively part of town, you find this when reading stories (petty sessions etc) in the old newspaper 'The Cambrian'

Do you know which religion he pertained to? The majority of the Irish that settled in Swansea were Roman Catholic and many worshipped at St David's Roman Catholic Church Rutland Place, Swansea. The records for this Church are held in the Swansea University Archives, and the point of contact is Archivist Elisabeth Bennett.

Incidentally now there are 67 individuals listed on the most recent electoral roll living in Swansea, that is quite a few more than the 4 listed on the free bmd!

I am aware that there used to be a Photography Studio in Swansea by the name of:

H.A. Chapman Photographic Studio, 235 High St, Swansea (it does not exist now) H, stood for Henry.

[janham]

Hi Jen,

Thanks so much for taking the time to try and help, I have searched everywhere I can online for any record of Charles and his family.
The only thing that I have found in the BDM is an entry in Flintshire for the birth of a Josephine Hamilton born 1907, Volume 8a page 402, this could be his daughter, the dates would fit.  I guess the only way is to order the certificate and see, even though it's a long shot. 
I have never been into a records office, although I do visit the FHS and know how to use a film reader.  I am going into the Records office in Liverpool very shortly, I believe they have records for the whole of England and Wales, if I look at the records for Flintshire, will I be able to see who actually registered the birth of the above Josephine,  or will I just have to pay the £7 and take a chance that it may be who I am looking for.
Charles was a devout Roman Catholic so I may contact the Archivist at the University, thank's once again for all your help.

Jan

[Welsh Jen]

Hello again, Thanks for your posting.
If Charles was a R.Catholic then it is highly likely that he attended St Davids Roman Catholic Church, however if you wish to know more about the parish records I know you have to write to St David's Priory to ask for permission.
Here is Elisabeth Bennett's contact details:
http://www.swan.ac.uk/lis/historical_collections/archives.asp#uni

With regards to the Birth entries pre 1900 you will only see the entry for the individual and the quarter of the year in which they were born (Jan - March, Apr - June, July - Sept, Oct - Dec) after 1900 the mothers maiden name will also be listed.

You will have to purchase the certificate to find out who registered an individual and for parentage etc.

[Welsh Jen]

Thought of you when I recently viewed this photograph in a local history publication. It is of H.A.Chapman Photographers in High St Swansea c. 1905..

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
 

[jax]

Hi

I think this is a long shot, so if you unable to help please dont worry.

I have an ancestor who was born in Cork Ireland in 1833 who came to the UK (dont know when) and ended up in Kent settling and marrying there.

His name was Michael Kenealy. I have been told that the people who came from Cork to UK normally ended up in Wales and then sometimes onto London (or in my case just up the road in Kent)

hence the long shot in whether you can find him?

Michael Kenealy born 1833 Corke Ireland  - ? when he came to UK

thanks for any help 

jax

[Welsh Jen]

Hi Jax.
It was common for the Irish to arrive in places such as Newport or Swansea in Wales before moving onto other regions in the U.K But you should also consider places such as Liverpool whose port was extensively used by the Irish during the the mass exodus. Between 1840 - 1860 thousand of Irish migrated but from the 1850's+ there were higher numbers arriving than in the 1840's, the numbers decline by the 1880's

It is known that the Irish from south western counties of Ireland Cork, Waterford and Limerick moved into South Wales and Bristol and from there many then moved on to London at a later date. Many irish did not settle in these places for long due to discrimination.

You may find this link of interest: http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/histories/irish/settling/settling.htm

A lot of Irish were sent back to Ireland unless they had the right of settlement, you may find this link informative:
http://www.deedee46.fsnet.co.uk/settle.htm

I am not up on the Kent area, but I know that Irish did settle in places such as Wolverhampton.  See links: http://www.wolverhamptonarchives.dial.pipex.com/local_migration_19th.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/england/black_country/article_1.shtml

The problem with the Irish is that they usually did not leave much of a paper trail and their lives were  not documented very well unless they were receiving in-door, or out-door relief or commited a crime of sorts.

I hope i have given you a little more insight.
Kindest Regards Jen

[Welsh Jen]

His name was Michael Kenealy. I have been told that the people who came from Cork to UK normally ended up in Wales and then sometimes onto London (or in my case just up the road in Kent)

I have taken a look at the surname (and the variants, as it will not be spelt correctly!) here are all in Glamorgan in 1861
You will see the problem of the birthplace only listed as Ireland which does not help with pinpointing possible ancestors:
Glamorgan 1861 Census
4035 1861 CENSUS OF CARDIFF ST.MARY. REF.R.G.9/4035, E.D.13.                                                                         
Piece: 4035      Folio: 004     Schedule: 059
Address: PENDOYLAN STREET 21   

KENNELY PATRICK            HD M  30   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1831)
KENNELY MARGARET           WI M  30   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1831)
KENNELY MARY               DA U   6   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1855)
KENNELY MICHAEL            SO U   3   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1858)
KENNELY CATHERINE          DA U   1   -                         
                                      GLA CARDIFF                      (c1860)
Glamorgan 1861
4035 1861 CENSUS OF CARDIFF ST.MARY. REF.R.G.9/4035, E.D.13.                                                                         
Piece: 4035      Folio: 003     Schedule: 052
Address: PENDOYLAN STREET 19   

MADIGAN MICHAEL            HD M  25   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1836)
MADIGAN ELION              WI M  24   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1837)
MADIGAN BRIDGET            -  U   3   - [DA]                   
                                      IRL -                            (c1858)
MADIGAN CATHERINE          -  U    3M - [DA]                   
                                      GLA CARDIFF                      (c1861)
KENNELY CATHERINE          ML W  55   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1806)
Glamorgan 1861 Census
4059 1861 CENSUS OF PENYDARREN DISTRICT. REF.R.G.9/4059, E.D.19.                                                                     
Piece: 4059      Folio: 061     Schedule: 072
Address: PENYDARRAN ROAD 107   

BOYLE JOHN                 HD M  44   PUBLICAN                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1817)
BOYLE CATHERINE            WI M  47   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1814)
BOYLE ALICE                DA -  12   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1849)
HORRIGAN JULIA             NC U  20   SERVANT                   
                                      IRL -                            (c1841)
CHEEKLY WILLIAM            BO U  30   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1831)
KENNEALEY THOMAS           BO W  25   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1836)
KENNEALEY JOHN             BO U  23   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1838)
SWEENEY JAMES              BO U  21   LABOURER                 
                                      IRL -                            (c1840)
Glamorgan 1861 Census
4105 1861 CENSUS OF SWANSEA UPPER. REF.R.G.9/4105, E.D.17.                                                                           
Piece: 4105      Folio: 045     Schedule: 189
Address: COOMB ST.3             

DONOVAN JOHN               HD M  32   FARMER 30A               
                                      IRL -                            (c1829)
DONOVAN JOHANNAH           WI M  29   -                         
                                      IRL -                            (c1832)
DONOVAN JULIA              DA U   6   -                         
                                      GLA MERTHYR                      (c1855)
DONOVAN JAMES              SO U   3   -                         
                                      GLA MAESTEG                      (c1858)
MURPHY JERRY               LG U  24   LAB.                     
                                      IRL -                            (c1837)
KENALY PATRICK             LG U  20   LAB.                     
                                      IRL -                            (c1841)

Kindest Regards Jen