McGrath's Whitehaven

[Linda.G]

Dear All

I am trying to find some information about the parents of Hugh McGrath (McGraa) who was born in Whitehaven in 1817 Hugh's father is James McGrath, this appears on his marriage to Mary Curwen on 5 January 1839.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Kind regards
Linda

[zebelix]

Hi
I have recently been looking at the McGraa family from Cumbria and have found three Mcgraa familes in the area producing children around 1815.
They are: Hugh and Esther Mcgraa(nee Horne); John and Mary Mcgraa(nee Self); and James and Jane McGraa (nee Birkit). My family line has links by marriage to Hugh and Esther's line.
Unfortunately I have been unable to find any more information any further back than this.
Best wishes
Felix

[Linda.G]

Hi Felix

Many thanks for getting back to me.
I am sure your Hugh and mine will be related somehow, the name carried on through the family for a couple of generations.
I wonder if the connection is James McGraa and Jane (nee Birkit) as I have Hugh's marriage record and his father was James also a coal miner of New Houses in Whitehaven.
Thanks again for the information I will see if I can find this connection.
Kind regards
Linda

[stevejb]

Hi Linda,
Just came across your note while looking for something else in Whitehaven. Did you know that Colin McCourt wrote a book about New Houses and life in the 1800s for the miners. Google "Newhouses A Celebration Colin McCourt".
He has written a second book but I don't have it yet. The McCourts are also in my line and I have been trying to see their tree from Whitehaven to Durham and have quite a bit of information.
Sorry but no McGraths. Just O'Neill, McGee, Wear, Ross, Graham, Hully, Fitzimmons, Blakey, Burney, Carruthers, Gill, Hawkins, Hutchinson, McClarney (sp?), Unthank, Wilkinson
Regards
Steve

[Linda.G]

Hi Steve
Many thanks for your email.
I will look out for the book, I have read some articles on the internet about New Houses and Preston Quarter and am surprised our relatives lived at all!
I have a link to the Graham's, Mary McGrath 1880 (daughter of Hugh) married Septimus Graham in 1907. Septimus' father was William Graham (1832).
Let me know if you have Septimus in your tree.
Kind regards
Linda

[stevejb]

Linda,
Sorry. I start with Joseph Graham 1878 who married Margaret McCourt and they had 6 kids. Margaret Ann, Joseph, Albert, Mary Elsie and John. By 1911 they had moved to Barrow, where I grew up.
Margaret McCourt was my grandmother's (Bridget aka Annie) older older sister. I just scanned Colin McCourt's book and I didn't see a McGrath mentioned. I agree about conditions that existed there. Colin dwells on some of the mine safety issues of the time. The books is a paperback with 108 pages.
Regards Steve

[Linda.G]

Hi Steve

I thought I had a link with another part of the family; Sarah's sisters family, but they are living with a family called McCurry. I have not as yet found to where they fit in, they are normally cousins or half uncles or some other relation...
Strangely McCourt rings a bell somewhere, I will check around and get back to you.
Kind regards
Linda

[alphapak]

I have been trying to find information about Catherine (Kate) McGrath who lived in Strand Street, Whitehaven.  Any connection?

Janet

[Linda.G]

Hi Janet
I have a Catherine McGrath (1847) daughter of Hugh McGrath. Catherine married Thomas Harrison in 1868 and had four children William (1873), Phoebe (1875), Mary (1877) and James (1880).
Let me know if this fits in with your tree?
Best regards
Linda