SHEEHAN (Seaham) JOHNSTON (Whitehaven)

[Elz]

My Grandad Robert Johnston married my Grandma Eleanor Sheehan in Whitehaven, Cumberland. Eleanor Sheehan was born (spelling?) c.1903, Seaham? died 2/3/62 in Whitehaven,Cumberland. She moved to and lived in Egremont, Cumberland because I worked there once and Grandad said he used to walk there and back to see her! He thought her family were from the North East and I have reason to believe it may have been Seaham? I know absolutely nothing of this side. I know she was a Catholic and I am guessing its an Irish surname? They had two children together (John and Joan). One of the strangest things...I moved to the north east and we frequently go to Seaham for the coast!

George Johnston b. c.1869   9 Little Scotland.
Annie Murray wife b. c.1871                m. c.1890?
Robert Johnston b.14/9/08              d. 31/1/93

ELEANOR SHEEHAN c.1903     m.Robert in?       d.2/3/62

I would like to find any trace of the Sheehan family and find out what date she moved to Egremont.

Any help appreciated! Eleanor Johnston King, Durham UK

Cheers Elz x

[Preshous]

Hi Elz
Welcome to RootsChat.
Do you know where Robert & Eleanor were married and what date?

Gary

[Elz]

Sadly no. She was Catholic but I think this was kept quiet! So this may indicate a C of E church perhaps. I remember a church on the far side of Whitehaven town (as if you walk from town to Ginns) old and derelict and later demolished, United Reformed?, which I may have been christened in. May have been the family church? I think she was older than him and they married late in life in her early 40's perhaps?

[Preshous]

Elz
There are Sheehans in Sunderland & Hartlepool either side of Seaham. I can only find 2 Sheehan births with forename beginning E
Emily Sheehan 1907 Hartlepool
Ellen Sheehan 1910 Hartlepool
I think you need to track down her marriage certificate and get her fathers name.

Gary

[Ecneps]

Hello Eliz

The marriage was in 1933, June Quarter Whitehaven 10b 1447
Eleanor Sheehan to Robert Johnston

Kind regards
Barbara
 

[Ecneps]

The death registration gives her age as 59, but that's the date given by the informant and could be incorrect.  As Gary says, the marriage cert is the obvious next step

Barbara

[Michael Dixon]

Elz,

Looking at the info you have, it seems as if most of it is based on family "oral history" ?

I can see the death registration of Eleanor, in March qtr, 1962. aged 59.

But as yet I cannot see other records that should show up to match your other info !

Although Seaham had many Irish ( including workers from County Sligo encouraged to work in Lord Londonderry's coal mines) Whitehaven had a larger Irish element.  Like a smaller version of Liverpool, many Irish entered England in 1800s etc, via Whitehaven.

Is it possible that Eleanor was born in Ireland, not England ?

The name "Eleanor" is a variation of the name "Helen", but many Irish preferred the "Ellen" variation ?

You quote " George Johnston c. 1969 "   Is that his death year ?


Michael Dixon

[Ecneps]

There is this birth registration:

Mar 1903     Tynemouth  10b   203
Sheehan    Ellen        

[Elz]

The marriage was in 1933, June Quarter Whitehaven 10b 1447
Eleanor Sheehan to Robert Johnston

Thanks Barbara, that confirms her name spelling! How did you find this? Ta Elz x