Kathleen Rennick - Belfast

[LynRennick]

Hi,

I couldnt find a board for Belfast so have placed my post here.

Im searching for my father-in-law's sister, Kathleen Rennick. She was born in 1900 in Sligo, Eire. In 1910 she and her brothers and sisters were put into orphanages. They were split up and some didnt see each other again.

Our Rennick family seem to have a few mysteries surrounding them and its hard to find out a lot of info. What I do know is that Kathleen Rennick went to Belfast to live. I dont know if this was to an orphanage when she was young or whether when older. She may even have married in Sligo and gone to live in Belfast with her husband. What I do know is that my father-in-law never saw her again after he was placed in an orphanage in 1910.

Her parents were Alfred Rennick and Caroline Murphy. Her siblings were:

John Joseph Born 1907 (My father-in-law)
Agnes Christine 1895 (Known as Cissie)
Caroline 1906 (Known as Carrie)
Elizabeth 1898 (Known as Lizzie)
Florence 1897 (Known as Florrie)
William Thomas 1894
Evelyn 1909
George Edward 1905
Alfred Stephen 1903

Does anynoe recognise this lady?

Thanks.

Lyn Rennick

[aghadowey]

There's not a separate board for any cities here. Belfast is split between counties Antrim and Down but we keep the Belfast queries on Antrim board so I'm going to move this thread there.
However, I see that you've also posted the same query on Scotland-General board in July 2008 saying "All we know of Kathleen is that she went to Scotland to live at some point in her life. We don't know if she married before she went, or after, or if in fact she stayed single...but Rennick was her birth name."
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,318626.msg1994573.html#msg1994573

[aghadowey]

In the 1911 census there's a Lizzie Rennick (age 7), Florence Rennick (age 5) and Kathleen Rennick (age - all born in Sligo-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Sligo/Sligo_East/Abbeyquarter_South/757221

Added- institution is St. Lawrences Industrial School.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003264096

[aghadowey]

1911 is the latest available 1911 census and online civil registration index for Northern Ireland counties stops at 1921 so if Kathleen married or died in Belfast after 1921 you won't find the details online.
There are a number of Kathleen Rennick's listed in civil registration index (up to 1958 for Republic of Ireland) but without more information I can't see how you would be able to find the correct one in any online resources.

[Elwyn Soutter]

This looks to be the family in the 1901 census:

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Sligo/Sligo_West_Urban/John_Street/1685383/

In 1911 Caroline is head of the family, 10 children of whom 3 are with her. She married 17 years previously:

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Sligo/Sligo_West_Urban/Charles_Street/770213/

This is John Joseph Rennick in 1911, evidently in an orphanage

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ormeau/Ballynafeigh/209892/



This might be Kathleen in 1911, again possibly in an orphanage or poorhouse. (I am relying on place of birth and age, plus Kathleen’ absence anywhere else in Ireland in the census).

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Roscommon/Boyle_Urban/Termon_part_of/778853/


No sign of Alfred or Caroline in the 1911 census.

[aghadowey]

I think the Kathleen Rennick I found in Sligo in 1911 with Lizzie and Florence is more apt to be the correct one.

Interestingly, according to the 1911 census mother Caroline is 31 years old and married 17 years which makes her about 14 when she got married- however, she's listed as 28 in 1901 which is probably more accurate. Possible death for Caroline Rennick in index- July/Sept.1927 Sligo registration district volume 2 page 118- age 54.

There's a possible death for Alfred Rennick- July/Sept.1923 Sligo Registration district volume 2 page 101 (age 54).
Looks like Alfred in 1911 census (same occupation as 1901)- here
Reqason he's in gaol since Aug.1910 is 'neglect children.'
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003264055
 

[LynRennick]

Hi,

Thank you for all your help.

All the information here except for one part, we already knew. All the people you have found in the orphanages are my father-in-law and his siblings including Kathleen, who I already knew about being with her sisters Lizzie & Florrie. We had the births and deaths of Alfred and Caroline too.

At the moment Kathleen's later whereabouts are far from my mind. The one piece of information which none of us could find is why my husband's dad and most of the siblings were put in orphanages. We knew Alfred hadnt died because I found his death record for 1923. We found that the Sisters of Nazareth had gone to Sligo looking for kids for their new orphanages in a couple of places and the parish priest felt Caroline couldnt look after them all herself and so all but the baby, Evelyn and the two eldest were taken from her and given to the nuns.  Its been a real mystery for as few years now as to what happened to Alfred, he seemed to have disappered and then reappeared later on. Now we know why, he was in prision.

I'm really upset at this and it was hard telling my husband just now. Although he never met his grandfather, he was named after him and felt a special link to him. Its upsetting but at least we now know what did actually happen.  Im so glad I decided to try and find Kathleen today otherwise I wouldnt have found out about Alfred.

Caroline was like her mother-in-law...lol I dont know whether it was done on purpose, but her mother-in-law, Anne also is down as being a lot younger than she was sometimes. lol Maybe it was just a mistake..maybe vanity. lol

Anyway, thank you so much for finding the answer to the great mystery as to why Alfred disappeared and the family were split up.

Lyn

[aghadowey]

If you get a chance it might be worth checking local newspaper for details- have traced another family (although it was the mother sent to gaol for neglect of children) and i was reported in great detail in out local paper.
It wasn't uncommon for children to be sent to orphanages or industrial schools if they were not being cared for at home, parents not well or unable to cope, etc.

[LynRennick]

My father-in-law was in one of the worst places, Artane in Dublin. He would never speak about his life in the orphanages. It wasnt until I started doing the tree, a long time after he died, that I found out exactly what Artane was like with all the physical and sexual abuse there. No wonder he wouldnt speak about it. :-(

Im going to contact the local paper in Sligo and see if they can help.

Thanx.

Lyn