Lawrence and Elizabeth DURKIN

[sdurx]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out anything about my great great grandparents Lawrence and Elizabeth Durkin. He was born in Ireland in ~1862 and she in either the West Indies or India (depending on which census you look at) in ~1862. A relative has told me that Lawrence was in the "Indian Army" so it seems likely that he met Elizabeth through that.

They were in Darwen, Lancashire in 1883 when my great grandfather Henry Durkin was born, and then moved to Burnley and had Bridget, Patrick and Mary Ann. I have tried for months to find birth records for any of their four children with a view to establishing Elizabeth's maiden name, but with no success.

The few details I have gleaned from censuses suggest that Lawrence worked in iron foundries and Elizabeth was a pedlar.

The Irish-(West) Indian connection is the most fascinating thing I have uncovered during my short time researching my family history, so if anyone could give me any advice or help to find out anything else at all, I would be extremely grateful!

Regards,

Sean Durkin.

[Radcliff]

I will have to start here and work back,
and you can tell me if this is the correct couple,

Burial,12 Th April 1913,Burnley cemetery
Lawrence Durkin,
age 50 years
abode Burnley Infirmary,
buried in a public grave
number A17705

3rd of November 1906
Ann Elizabeth Durkin,
age 47 years,
abode ,Victoria Hospital,
buried in a public grave,
grave number A15768,

[sdurx]

Yes, that's the guy! I have a copy of his death certificate if that would help but can't find any information about his birth (other than it being somewhere in Ireland) or parentage anywhere.

I don't think the Ann Elizabeth is mine though, as she appears on the 1911 census aged 50 (where she lists herself as "Lizzie").

Thanks for your reply!

[Radcliff]

Sorry just realised that when I was looking at census 1901 as there is another Durkin family in Burnley,

have you looked at Lawrence who is born in Liverpool,Irish parents,

I am posting the 1901 census for reference,

Thorn Street ,Padiham,Clay Bank,
RG13/3877
Lawrence Derkin,age 39 born Ireland,Iron foundry worker
Elizabeth Derkin aged 39 born West Indies,pedlar ,own account,
Henry,age 17, Blackburn,Cuppa Hands ,calico printer
Bridget,age 15,born Burnley
Paddy,age 12,born Burnley

[sdurx]

I think that the info you posted there from the 1901 census is definitely him and his family. On his death certificate his occupation is listed as "iron dresser" which agrees with his occupation in the census. I have also found the family on the 1891 census (they lived at 4 River Street, Habergham Eaves, Burnley), but can't find anything before that, which leads me to suspect that they moved to Lancashire between 1881 and 1883 (when their eldest child was born). If there were some information about this period of their life it would be a jackpot!

[Radcliff]

On the 1891 census he says he is born Liverpool,

Laurentius Durkin
son of Michaelis and Juliai Mara
born 23 rd of May,1867
baptised 9 th of September 1867
Our Lady of Reconciliation de la Salette,

[Radcliff]

Patrick in his war records for the Lancashire Fusiliers of which he joined in 1908,age 19 a cotton worker gives his father as L Durkin next of Kin ,P,,,, Street Burnley

Patricks birth was registered J/F/M 1889 Lancashire,

[mosiefish]

I quite like the Lawerence Dirkin, Bricksetters Labourer aged 19 born Blackburn with a mother Bridget living in Harwood Court, Blackburn on the 1881 census.  This Lawrence gets a few mentions in the local press of the time as Lawrence Durkin.  Once in 1879 for breaking into a warehouse for which he got 4 months and twice for being drunk and disorderly.  The last one being in April, 1887 stating he was of Harwood`s Yard aged 25 and an Iron Turner.   

Mo

[mosiefish]

Hi,

He was transcribed as Lawrance Durken aged 12     on the 1871 census born Ireland.  Living at Harwood Court.  RG10/4174 folio 26 page 46.

So, he seems to be born Ireland, Blackburn, Blackburn, Ireland, and Ireland Sligo.   

It looks like the same chap to me - what do you think?

Mo