Hi Fieldstar
First of all I would like to say I’m delighted you are taking the time to correspond with me regarding possible connections between our ancestors. I will hopefully be able to confirm your research and clarify some of the mysteries surrounding our respective families.
Likewise, you might be able to shed light on my own research and I hope we have an open and frank exchange of information, whilst confident that we will both keep anything we share private and for immediate family only.
My grandfather, Patrick Lawson born in 1891 In North Dublin Inner City to a Samuel and Catherine Kane. Patrick grew up as an only child, became a slater (like his father) and got heavily involved in the Citizen Arm, IRA, IRB and Free-State Army during the War of Independence and Civil War (He took a limited role in the 1916 Rising building barricades).
His army pension records state that he was married to a Margaret Moore in 1914 and they had one son, * Lawson (still alive and living in Drimanagh - his grand-daughter contacted me last year from Canada to confirm the family connection. Patrick and Margaret separated in the early-20s, because each took opposing sides in the Civil War (she the Republican and he the Pro-Treaty). Margaret Lawson died in 1945 and this was confirmed by my distance cousin in Canada.
Now I’ll step forward a bit to my family connection to Patrick Lawson before I get to Frances.
In 1945, Patrick Lawson married my grandmother, * Byrne (still alive), then 16. He was in his mid-50s. They lived in Mourne Road, Drimanagh (still there) and they had three children, my mother and my two uncles.
Patrick Lawson died in 1973 and all I remember of him was of an old man sitting in a chair, smoking. He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery with his parents.
Patrick and Frances
Now the family folklore (that is my mother’s and uncles recollections) state that Patrick was married to a Frances Quirney (Quarney) and that she died, naturally before he married my grandmother. My mother recalls that they had four children (Patrick, Pansey, Ann (Queenie) and Frank). Now I think I found a Charles Samuel born before Patrick, but died as an infant and Queenie who died in 1944 (I have the death notice). They lived in 35 Suir Road, Kilmainham (the Dublin City electoral register confirms a Patrick and Frances Lawson lived there from the late-30s to 1945).
Reference Frances’ own parents, they lived in Santry Demense (found them in the 1901/1911 census).
Growing up in Mourne Road, my mother recalls her father’s children to Frances (*, * and *) calling to the house on a few occasions during the 50s, 60s and Pansey was to only surviving child to attend her father’s funeral in 1973.
Regarding their own lives, * I was told joined the RAF in 1945 or so and married the daughter of the Belfast Post Master of the Royal Mail. Now I found a * Lawson mentioned a number of times from the early-60s to the early-70s in the London Gazette. He received the Air Force Medal and promotion to officer rank, before retiring in the early-70s. He was born in 1925, so could still be alive, though I have yet to confirm his RAF record. My mother told me that he couldn’t attend his father’s funeral because of the nature of his work in the RAF . She remembers * calling on his father in Mourne Road in the early-60s with his two children and wife and bringing his father out for tea in Dublin City.
* I was told moved to England and married a doctor of either Indian or Pakistani origin and they had children. Again, I have no contact with her.
* was the youngest of Patrick and Frances’ children. The story goes that he moved to the US, married and had children. The story goes that Frank’s family died in a plane that crashed into the Hudson River, New York State. Again, I have not confirmed this.
Most of the information above I have gathered (and continued too) over the past few years. When starting the research, I was hoping to contact a member of Frances’ extended family. So when I was contacted last year by Joseph Lawson’s grand-daughter, I was surprised and apprehensive at first. But, I did confirm her connections through my grandfather’s army records.
So really what I am looking for are details (folklore or fact) on Patrick’s relationship with Frances. Where they lived, married, when she died and her extended family, if any?
Anyway, I know it’s a lot to take in, but if we have a shared past, then together we might put some ghosts to rest.
Personally, I am very proud of my grandfather, especially his record in the revolution. I am also very aware that some of the material I’ve unearthed already is upsetting to members of my family. I am doing this not for profit or personal gain, but to let my own children know where they come from.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Striker69
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