McGRATH and DARKE Stroud/Rodborough area

[tflake]

Moderator comment: topic split from Baptisms topic

Can anyone help me find McGraths in Rodborough, please?

Louisa Darke was baptised Rodborough 1809.

She married Alexander McGrath in Gloucester 1835.

Maria Dark McGrath was born Rodborough 1838 daughter of John and Louisa McGrath.

I am looking for the baptism of Elizabeth McGrath about 1836.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Trevor

[AngelaR]

Hello Trevor

Welcome to Rootschat 

If no-one gets to the record office before me (I'm planning to go next week, all being well), I'll happily look up your Elizabeth for you. Am just a bit puzzled though - did you mean to say that Maria was born to John and Louisa, or should it have been Alexander?    Just trying to get the relationships straight in my own mind before I get stuck in!

Bet wishes

Angela

[tflake]

Hi Angela,

Thanks for your offer of help. Absolutely no hurry, I’ve been trying to resolve this mystery for ages.

There is no doubt on the entry of marriage for Louisa Darke at St Nicholas Church, Gloucester 22 June 1835 that her husband was named as ALEXANDER McGrath (McGreth on IGI).

There is also no doubt on the birth certificate of Maria Dark McGrath 27 July 1837 at Rodborough that her father was named as JOHN McGrath and her mother Louisa McGrath formerly Darke.

I also have Louisa’s baptism in Rodborough 1809 (spelt Drake).

My interest is in Elizabeth McGrath. She was shown on the 1841 census with Louisa and Maria as age 5. There is no sign of Alexander or John with the family on any other census. In 1861 Elizabeth is shown as born ‘Shode’, which I translate as Stroud, but in 1881 she is shown as born Cheltenham. She is definitely the right Elizabeth as she had a daughter who she named ‘Bessie Dark’.

Were John and Alexander the same person, or were they brothers? Did Alexander die before Elizabeth was born and did Louisa re-marry John? I can find no evidence of the death of Alexander or John but, curiously, a John McGrath was married in Cheltenham December 1837 qtr (FreeBMD), but not to Louisa. Louisa, shown as McGroff, re-married William Elston at Stroud June 1842. Again, I know I have the right family because on Elizabeth’s marriage certificate she shows her name as McGrath but her father as William Elston.

Confused? I am.

I have a theory that John McGrath might be the John McGrath of County Cork in prison in 1835 (Gloucestershire Gaol register ref: Q/Qc5/5) who changed his name on release to Alexander, before reverting back to John later. But it is a theory I might never be able to prove.

Any help really appreciated

Thanks

Trevor

[AngelaR]

WOW - that sounds interesting!

I shall enjoy having a ferret about to see what I can find. I'm hoping to get to the record office tomorrow if I can get this particular piece of work done by the end of today. I've promised it to myself as a reward for a particularly stressful few weeks....

Would you like any more information about the John McGrath in Gloucester prison while I'm there? I could see what details they have on that reference.

Best wishes

Angela

PS Sorry to take so long replying - my ISP is playing up and I'm not getting a lot of my emails!

[tflake]

I would like anything you can get, but am mindful this is your time abd you may have your own research to do.

I am particularly interested to see if the John McGrath on the gaol register might be the same person as he is described as from County Cork. This is my wife's family and I have so far discovered ancestors in England, Scotland and Wales but not Ireland. I also have ancestors from Ireland.

No hurry if you don't get there tomorrow.

Thanks for your help.

Trevor

[AngelaR]

Hi Trevor

It's looking promising for tomorrow - I'll keep you posted!

Best wishes

Angela

[AngelaR]

Hi Trevor

Well I got to the record office today - some success, but not all I'd hoped 

The only McGrath baptism in Rodborough at all between 1832 and 1840 was what I presume must be your Elizabeth -

1836 June 5th Hester Elizabeth dau of John and Louisa McGrath of Rodborough. John's occupation is given as weaver.

There was no baptism for Maria during that period at either Rodborough, or St Lawrence Stroud (which they might possibly have used if they moved further into Stroud). I also looked for a burial for John between about 1838 and 1842 but no sign (no McGraths at all) at either Rodborough or Stroud. I did think that, if John had died of an accident, it might make the newspapers but the Stroud ones only started up about 1850, so that's no good!

Since I've come back I looked up Louisa and the children in 1841 and notice that they were living in Wallbridge, which is about half way between Rodborough and Stroud centre, so either church would have been an option.

I must admit that I'm puzzled - I looked for Louisa' remarriage in both those churches as well but couldn't find it. If we can fin that, it's just possible that Maria's baptism and John's burial may be there as well.

As for Alexander, I'd be tempted to believe that he was Alexander John McGrath, in the way Elizabeth is Hester Elizabeth, but anything's possible!

I looked up the John McGrath from Cork in the Gloucester assizes records and don't think it can be your chap because his occupation was given as Tailor. However, since I got the details, you may as well have them!

Date brought in - 11 Aug 1835
Name - John McGrath
Age - 32
Parish - Coumty of Cork, Ireland
By whom committed - RB Cooper, JE Viner, J Newell esquires
Crimes - Charged on the oath of George Harris and others with having on the thirtieth day of June at Cheltenham feloniously stolen a Drab Great Coat, a Blue Cloth Coat, a pair of velveteen breeches, two shirts and other articles the property of the said George Harris.
Marks, Stature etc - Black hair, Hazel eyes, round visage marked with the small Pox. Can read and write. tailor. 5ft 4inches
When tried and event of trial - Summer assizes 15 Aug 1835. Not guilty
When discharged - August 19th 1835
How behaved - Orderly

If we can come up with any more ideas about what church might have been used by the family, I'm happy to have another go!

While I was going through the registers, I found quite a few Dark baptisms between 1832 and 1840, so if you'd like those, I made a note....

Best wishes

Angela

[tflake]

Angela,

That's perfect. Thank you very much. Louisa's mother was Hester so another match. I have what I was looking for, Elizabeth's baptism, anything else would have been a bonus, although I'd love to know where John McGrath came from, it doesn't seem a Glos name.

I agree the John in gaol is probably not the same one, more likely the one married in Cheltenham 1837.

Thanks agsin.

Best wishes

Trevor