Ellen Nevin (nee QUIN) Prospect, Nenagh and Mary Meara (married name NEVIN)

[dickydoremouse]

[b]Ellen or Ellie Nevin [/b]

was my grandmother possibly born 1891 or 1892. She married Private Martin Nevin sometime between August and November 1916 and he died of injuries caused in the Great War in early November 1916. Yes, it is a sad story but it gets worse. She was pregnant when he died and my mother was born in 1917. We, as a family don't know for sure what happened to Ellen after this but we believe she may have had an accident - something to do with being kicked by a cow and gangrene setting in leading to her death in approx 1918. My mother was later sent to an orphanage in Dublin, name unknown by me. My mother died in 1980. I am presently awaiting news of a marriage certificate for Ellen and Martin which I have requested from Civil Reg. Service, Nenagh and if this is forthcoming I might try them for Ellen's death. There is a record of a death under that name in 1918 but if it is the wrong Ellen I will have wasted my 11 euros!
I'd welcome any information on the Quin family name. It appears always to have been spelled with one "n". I know Ellen had a brother William who emigrated to USA but don't know when. Sadly, Census 1901 and 1911 give me nothing to go on - or maybe I'm just missing something that's staring me in the face.   Also welcome any info on family of MEARA, don't know which township.   
Thanks for anything.

[shanew147]

here are the BMD Index references for that Nevin/Quinn marriage - certainly looks possible, as they are on the same register page :

  name:   Martin Nevin
  registration district:   Nenagh
  event type: Marriage
  quarter and year: Oct - Dec 1916
  Volume : 3 / page: 375

  name:   Ellen Quinn
  [same references as Martin]

Research certs from GRO Head office cost €4, once you provide the references - as above.

Where did you see that possible death ?
The closest match during 1918 I see on the BMD Index is an Ellen McNevin age 24 in Dublin South...

Spelling of names was not fixed, so I wouldn't worry about the exact spelling of names - Quinn vs Quin etc. The marriage record should help locate Ellen on the 1911 and 1901 census as it should show her father's name and occupation, and her place of residence at the time of marriage may also help.

see : Ordering Certs from GRO Roscommon

        Details included on a Birth Cert
        Details included on a Marriage Cert
        Details included on a Death Cert


Shane

[dickydoremouse]

Shane, Many thanks for your info. It's going to be very useful when I receive the marriage cert. because I haven't been able to find any of Ellen's relations in the 1911 Census, working on the assumption of her birth in 1892/3. Of course I could be totally wrong assuming that kind of date.
The date of 1918 was thrown my way by a family member who had a vague idea that our mother had mentioned something about the end of the Great War in connection with Ellen's death.  To be honest, we don't know when (at what age) my mother was sent to the orphange and I'm not sure she remembered exactly herself. It was she who told us the story about Ellen suffering an injury and dying. Whether the incident was something she'd lived through or something she'd been told by others is impossible to say.
Thank you once again for your help.

[NNR]

Good God! I never thought I'd find a link to this family!

Martin Nevin was the brother of Michael Nevin, my Great Grandfather. His daughter, my grandmother, is still living and, although she was born after Martin's death, she did meet with his daughter. And Martin's father!

There are some discrepencies with what I've been told and with what you appear to have been told, however.  Would you like to contact me away from a public message board...?

PS the Nevins were originally from Galway, and the Mearas are from, predictably, Toomevara. Needles in haystacks there, though.

Re: your other query, I presume you've found Martin Nevin's grave by now - it's a war services grave that was erected a few years back. Never heard of his wife being in there with him, though. Certainly a brother and sister in law are, though. Said brother has a son who - I think - is still alive also. He was named after Martin.

Really hope to make contact with you.

Regards,

   Stephen

[NNR]

I note also that you think you've found a photo of Martin. What's the link to it? I should be able to confirm one way or another. I've also got his service records.

Regards - again!

  Stephen

[patlorrha]

Hello,

I have just read the contacts regarding Ellie Nevin and Martin Nevin. Several years ago I researched Martin Nevin  on behalf of a member of the Nevin family - in fact I was responsible for the Commonwealth War Graves Headstone that now Identifies this poor man's last resting place in Cloughprior cemetery close to Carney. I also negotiated with the MOD to re-issue 2 of Martin's war medals which I passed on to the Nevin family. I also have the picture of Private Martin Nevin in his Royal Irish Regiment Uniform - and details from the regimental war diary where Private Nevin is mentioned. I also visited the area of St Julian just outside Ypres in Belgium where Private Nevin received his wound that was to result in his untimely death at the family home in Prospect.

I have a huge amount of documentation including the newspaper report from the Nenagh Guardian after the CMWGC headstone had been erected.

I believe the Nevin's were related by marriage to an O'Meara family and this family gave me my Maternal Grandmother, Margaret O'Meara - by the way, if I'm correct this family lived near Nenagh and not that far from the Nevin's!

I trust you find this interesting enough to make contact.

PATLORRHA

[NNR]

Pat,

  Interesting stuff. Both myself and Dickydoremouse have copies of the Guardian article, and I actually had the pleasure (like yourself?) of meeting Martin's nephew Martin (who is picture at the graveside in said article).

  Your info on the O'Mearas is interesting. Martin (Sr!)'s mother was Mary Meara, born c1869 in, we believe, Toomevara. Her mother was also a Mary, but I know little else about them. I don't suppose you know of an actual connection between your Mearas and ours...?

  Btw - Lorrha. Lovely place. One of Martin Sr's nephews still lives out that way!

  Thanks for getting in touch, you've done some wonderful work!

    Stephen

[patlorrha]

Hello Stephen,

Great to hear from you. At the time I presented the medals to Martin Nevin I was unaware that there had been any children from the Ellie Quin/Martin Nevin marriage and to be honest I think there was a reluctance to discuss it. As far as I remember it was Martin Nevin's father and mother that was in the grave which butts up against the wall. I was able to prove to the MOD that two of the medal's were never issued but the 14/15 star was so, I just supplied a replacement to make up the trio 'Pip, Squeek and Wilfred' In fact I think I also presented a replacement Silver War Badge (issued to any wounded combatant) At the time I could not identify if it had been awarded? what is uncanny Stephen is that I was doing some random research today and I have in front of me documentation that may prove Martin Nevin was officially issued with the war badge - a real coincidence!

Martin was mentioned in the Regiment's war diary for acting with other named soldiers bringing in wounded soldiers under direct enemy fire and in front of the German's trenches - I think from what I read that would have become an official mention in despatches; however, their commanding office, Col Forbes was killed before he could complete the documentation.

I believe Martin's photograph was taken from a badly damaged picture that was stored in an out - building at Paddy Nevin's home.

I'll be happy to continue this correspondence outside this medium - if you are interested, my I can provide my email address.

PAT LORRHA

[NNR]

Pat,

  And yourself too!

  I think Martin must have been aware that there were children of Martin and Ellie. Perhaps he knew not how to contact them? He certainly was proud of his Uncle, though. I remember seeing Martin's war certificate on his wall...

  I've seen Martin's war grave on, I think, two occasions. Patrick and his wife aren't the only other family in there - the next grave (or two) along is one of Martin and Patrick's sisters. It was marked by a wooden cross, but this was a few years back.

  We have now two photos of Martin. but no medals can be seen in either of them. I have a copy of the still damaged photo - it was included in the book 'Portrait of a Parish: Monsea and Killodiernan' but it appears to have been improved significantly by the time it appeared in the Guardian.

  And it's taken some digging, but I've just pulled the article out of my 'files' (cupboard). I'm presuming given your username that you're the chap in the photo with Martin etc? Out of interest, did the tale of Ellie Quinn's 'mental health problems' come from the family?

  And yes, do feel free to contact me outside of this - you can get me at stephenbray at gmail dot com. I imagine that Dickydoremouse will have something to contribute, too!

  Btw - hearty congratulations on the research and medal finding that you accomplished. I've compiled a military biography of one of my own ancestors and know what a chore it can be at times!

  Regards,

    Stephen