Manchester birth/baptism 1844

[jane_macara]

Hi all,

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me! I'm having an absolute nightmare trying to find any reference to my Great Great Grandfather ever being born!

All I think I know for sure is that he was born in Manchester. His father apparently came to Manchester from Ireland and I'm certain that he was a Roman Catholic. My Great Great Grandfather's name was Thomas McEwen - but this name changed somewhat over the years before it ended up as McEwen! Thomas' father was called Garrett Mckeown - or McKeon and I have checked every name I can think of in the births register to try and find a possible incorrect spelling - McOwen, Kewin, McKone, McQuen etc etc and I can find no reference at all to what might possibly be Thomas' birth. I know that his birth date was 13th April. It's said he was born in 1844 - in Manchester - but he was a circus performer and they were renowned for losing years off there age as time went on! (His wife Emma knocked 8 years off her age over the years). Perhaps his birth wasn't registered - but I do think that he would have been baptised.

I wondered if anyone might have an idea of how I might be able to find him!!!
(I think I've found his father Garrett's marriage in March 1841 to Betsy Deignan in Manchester Cathedral in the IGI - but there are sadly no details of any children linked to the marriage. I've also found Thomas' grave in Burnley Cemetery).

So . . . . does anyone know if there are there any records online of Baptisms in Manchester around that time, that might be able to help me? If I can check for his father's name being Garrett - I think I will have cracked it!

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Jane

[JeannieR]

Hi Jane......

I have found the death registration of a Garrett McKeon

Registered Burnley / September qtr 1884 / vol 8e page 132 / age 75

I cannot however find him on any census , like you I have tried every version of the name , and sometimes on Ancestry , if you just put in the christian name if it is unusual , we can find someone who is difficult to find.....but not here , I am afraid....

perhaps the death certificate may help ..

Kind Regards

JeannieR

[jane_macara]

Hi JeannieR,

Many thanks for taking the trouble to see what you could find - I really do appreciate it. It's good to know that it isn't just me being daft and missing something!   I did know Garrett's death date but it simply hadn't occurred to me to get the death certificate to see if there might be a clue on that!!  Thank you so much for suggesting it - I will order a copy and see if it does help in any way.

Thanks again,
Best wishes
Jane

[bursy]

Jane
Is this them ?

1851 Manchester, Chorlton on Medlock Unfilmed

5 Medlock St. ( Cellar )
Garrett McCoan           Head     M    34     Labourer            Ireland
Elizabeth McCoan        Wife      M    33     Housekeeper     Ireland
Michael McCoan           Son               9      At home             Manchester
Thomas McCoan           Son              7      At home             Manchester
Catherine McCoan       Dau               3      At home            Manchester
James McCoan              Son             6M    At home             Manchester
Catherine Gallagher     Lodger  W   26     Frame Tenter     Ireland
Thomas Gallagher        Lodger          3      At home             Manchester

Hope this helps
Regards, Dave

[jane_macara]

Hi Dave,

I'm jumping up and down!! I just cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for this - eighteen months of searching - and you found them for me!

I'm certain that is has to be them. The date of Thomas' birth is exactly correct - I am just grinning from ear to ear at the moment! I had no idea if Thomas even had brothers or sisters. Garrett is a bit younger than I had thought - but when he and Elizabeth married in 1841 they were both over 21 - which would work out fine.  His death was in 1884 - and it says he was 75 - but this could just be that over the years people forgot the real ages and took a guess at it.

This new information will keep me occupied for quite some time now which is wonderful.

You are a star - thank you so much.

Jane

[JeannieR]

Hi again Jane......

This is the family in 1861 ....Spelt McRorie...but definetly McKeon on the image..........

40 Albion Street , Ancoats

Garratt / head / age 49 / Coal Heaver/ born Ireland
Elizabeth / wife / age 48 / born Ireland
THOMAS / son / age 16 / Cart Sheet maker / born Manchester
Catherine / daughter / age 13 / Cotton doubler / born Manchester
James / son / age 9 / sweeper in cotton mill / born Manchester
Elizabeth / daughter / age 5 / born Manchester
Jane / daughter / age 2 / born Manchester
Catherine Dewire ? / lodger / age 38 / cotton weaver / Ireland

The lodger , could be Elizabeths sister , and her surname could be Deignan . This poor lady , was deaf and dumb , from birth .

This really will keep you busy , there are two more children ......

Isn't it exciting !!

Best wishes

JeannieR

[JeannieR]

Jane .....

Not sure if you have the details from the 1871 census , but here goes............

Windmill Lane , Eyres Gardens , Snenton , Nottinghamshire

Thomas McEwen / head / age 27 / Gymnastic Artist / M'chester
Ellen / wife / age 27 / born East Stockhurth ? Lincolnshire
Jane / sister / age 13 / scholar / born Manchester

Hope this helps

Jeannie

[jane_macara]

Thank you both so much!! I had the 1871 entry for Thomas but nothing positive before that - so at last I have all the links to prove it!  I'm sure you know how good that feels!!

I am currently sitting here trying to track down birth references for the children - not an easy task with all the odd spellings to contend with of course!

It's a shame that Garrett and Elizabeth were born in Ireland, as there isn't much hope of going back further with them - but never mind - I have discovered more about the family today than I dreamed was possible. I do know Elizabeth and Garrett's father's names from the marriage certificate but nothing more, so I think that I am at the end of the trail.

Many thanks again to both of you.

Best wishes,

Jane