Trying to trace my Grandmother Sarah Harris

[Jillray]

Hello, i'm trying to trace my grandmother Sarah Harris, all I know is she came over to England from Cork with her sister Kate, I haven't got a date. She was born around 1870.
If anyone could help me to trace her family, I would be very greatful.

[AMBLY]

Hi Jillray

Did she marry in England and have a father's name and occupation on the marriage Cert?

What was Kate's full name (Katherine, Kathleen?) and how old was she - if she married in England, do the father's details on her marriage certificate match those on Sarah's?

These details may help locate her roots in Ireland.

Cheers
AMBLY

[Jillray]

Yes, she married in England, but I haven't got any details of where or when, her sister Kate never married as far as I know, I don't know if Kate was short for Katherine or Kathleen. I don't know what their parents names were.
In fact I don't know very much about her at all apart from she was a district nurse/midwife in and around East London, and her sister Kate had a dress shop.

[AMBLY]

Hi Jillray

It's well accepted that research in Ireland can be very difficult at the best of times, unless you have a distinguished, or otherwise noted family, a unique name, or  know the townland, or names/occupations  of relatives, have some more precise dates, some death or burial details  and so on-  but Sarah HARRIS b Cork abt 1870 with a sister named "Kate" is unfortunately - not in that category. You are fortunate at least to have "Cork" as a pob. and not just Ireland (as many of us have, me included  )

I would suggest that you find out more about Sarah - and Kate - after they came to England  as it may be your best chance of locating them in Ireland.

I suppose there is also the possibility she was born to English parents, where the father was in the Army and stationed in Ireland for a time.

Were the sisters in England in time for any of the Census 1871 to 1911?

Since she is your grandmother, I presume you know who she married, at least? You can search for a marriage on FreeBMD:

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

Cheers
AMBLY

[Jillray]

I've tried to find the marriage on freebmd but can't find any trace of them, any other suggestions please

[scatty]

If indeed she was a midwife/district nurse I presume she would have had to be registered by the appropriate authority. Perhaps you may be able to find additional information via her employment records, only a suggestion ............


Scatty

[Neptune]

Hi Jillray

Irish civil registration began in 1864(except marriages other than catholic which started in 1845).Before these dates you have to rely on parish records for baptisms,marriages and burials.
If Sarah was born after 1864 it should hopefully be possible to find her birth registration.
Have a look at this site - it's now possible to search for Irish civil registration.If you find an entry that could be  correct- it should give you the reference number to apply(page and line I think?).

http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start

There's only one Sarah Harris registered in Cork around that time -in 1867 - so it's a possibility. Just put Cork in the search -I didn't put a date in either.

I think the cost of a certificate is 10 euros - here's the link for the GRO in Ireland. It's ususally quicker to apply to the local office who accept cash - click on 'Fees' to see how to apply.

http://www.groireland.ie/


It would be a good idea to try to find out the name of Sarah's father first though which you should find on her marriage certificate - his occupation should also be given. This would help to verify if you had the correct Sarah Harris if you applied for a copy of her birth certificate- as it could be the wrong one.
If her father was a soldier and stationed in Cork then I'm not sure whether her birth would be registered locally or in Dublin - it might be worth e-mailing the GRO if it turns out that he was a soldier.

I'm sure someone here will try to help you search for Sarah's marriage if you would like some help.

You might like to look at the 1911 census for Cork - there are quite a few entries for the surname Harris. Also 'Griffiths Valuation'which was a valuation of landowners and tenants.


http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php


Hope this helps and Good Luck


Neptune