clara

[P J Neylon (nee Collins)]

Hi there
does anyone know whether the name Clara was short for anything (apart from the obvious Clare/Claire) or used instead of a given name
(for example Peggy used for Margaret, Nellie used for Ellen)
My great grandmother Bridget O'donnell is shown on 1871 census with Clara O'donnell as her mother  however this seems to be the only time Clara features in the records. She is not shown on any other census and there apprears to be no record of a birth, marriage or death.
I'm stuck!!!!
any ideas welcome
thanks

[aghadowey]

Other than something like Clarabel I can't think of Clara being used as a nickname for anything. Perhaps 'Clara' is listed under a middle name (or Clara was the middle name and she used her first name?) is other records? Or could it be a poor transcription/enumerator's mistake in the census?

Do you have a birth certificate for Bridget? (should list her mother's first and maiden name which may help find a marriage record, etc.)

If you post more details here we might be able to help.

[P J Neylon (nee Collins)]

No I'm groping around really.
I have my grandfather's birth cert (Daniel Collins born 1884) which shows his mothers name as Bridget collins nee O'donnell.
I then went to the Liverpool records office and found the transcription of the marriage of Bridget O'Donnell to John Collins 1878
bridget is in the 1871 census as a chid liveing with father Patrick (father was Patrick on marriage record, no mention of mothers name) and mother Clara. (there is a big difference in age between patrick and clara on census record)
this is the one and only record I can see of clara at all.
there is a Patrick O'donnell married to Eliza (prev Eliza Moore) with the same birth year (1821) but i can't see how they fit together!!!!
nightmare......I've left this family tree alone for 18 months hoping to pick it up with fresh eyes but i'm still stuck.
grateful for any ideas 

[davidft]

This link may help it gives several variants for Clara

http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Clara

[cath151]

Hi,
There is this family in 1861, aspects of which match, although ages a bit out.

RG09/2667  27/47
47 Johnson Street. Liverpool

Partrick A Donnell head mar  36  Cart owner   Ireland
Ellen            "       wife  mar  30                            "
Bridget         "       dau   5                                   Liverpool
Sarah           "       dau   9mos                              "
Michael         "      father wid  60                         Ireland

Looking at the image it could be Patrick  O'Donnell and I think he was a carter in 1871.
Cathy

[P J Neylon (nee Collins)]

hi
I think this could be right.......why haven't i seen this? any way i'm going to investigate because you're right he was a carter in 1871 but how do we get from ellen to clara?

[cath151]

Not sure really, might not be your family at all. Perhaps as aghadowey suggests she may have used a second name as a first at some time (as several of mine have at some stage, just to confuse me I think )
Possibly Patrick may have been married before but no records to suggest a second marriage although the Ireland connection could confuse matters.

Regards
Cathy