Who is my McDermott grandfather??

[Surrey Genie]

I assume she had her mother's support, but why then was Thomas born in the workhouse?  I know workhouses sometimes doubled as hospitals  (in England anyway) but for childbirth??? 

There is some conceptual gap at work here. There were lots of births in workhouses - as you say, they had medical facilities. There was previously a birth register specifically for Wexford Workhouse on the web (can now only be located using wayback machine). Most of the births were illegitimate, but some were not.

SG - did you ever the address the point that in a previous thread you stated that William Gallagher and Margaret Keegan were married in 1901 in Carrick-on-Shannon. What was the basis for that statement? Perhaps you just meant to say that they were married by 1901 as shown on the census, while many of us read it as saying that they are actually married in 1901?

Sorry, yes, I meant they were married by 1901.  Apparently circa 1881 but marriage hasnt been found

[Surrey Genie]

SG - did you ever specifically check for surviving workhouse records, presumably with the county council?In some cases admissions registers, and birth registers survive.

Yes, the workhouse minutes were checked. There was no additional information on the birth.

Hallmark - thanks for the link - it still looks a forbidding sort of building.

[Surrey Genie]

[/quote]



but your Aunt wasn't looking for a Keegan.
This doesn't add up, is there anyone you could ask about what she found and where.
[/quote]

Sadly not.  All my Irish aunts and uncles have now died.   I don't know any relatives still living in Ireland, though there must be some.

[Wexflyer]

Yes, the workhouse minutes were checked. There was no additional information on the birth.

Hallmark - thanks for the link - it still looks a forbidding sort of building.

They all look alike! There were over a hundred, all to the same design, though type of stone and finish could vary.
As for minutes - these were often kept, but I was thinking more of a dedicated admissions register or hospital register? (which often don't survive, while the board minutes may).

[Wexflyer]

Just to further muddy the waters, Familysearch, confirmed by Irishgenealogy show that a
William Gallagher and Margaret McDermott had at least two children in the Letterkenny Union area in Co. Donegal in 1868 and 1871. Attached is link for birth of Patrick Gallagher in January 1871
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1871/03310/2213175.pdf

Probably not connected to the OP in my opinion, but thought I should mention it...

[aghadowey]

Nothing showing for Carrick on Shannon Workhouse as far as admission books so it's possible they don't survive-
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/CarrickOnShannon/

Mentioned in Leitrim Resources at the top of this board

[Surrey Genie]

Just to further muddy the waters, Familysearch, confirmed by Irishgenealogy show that a
William Gallagher and Margaret McDermott had at least two children in the Letterkenny Union area in Co. Donegal in 1868 and 1871. Attached is link for birth of Patrick Gallagher in January 1871
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1871/03310/2213175.pdf

Probably not connected to the OP in my opinion, but thought I should mention it...

I don't think it can get much muddier!   

Everything is of interest.   Every McDermott is of interest.  I went through all the Gallagher births in Leitrim - just in case, but there was none with William as father.  If they married c 1880 then Margaret would have been 40-odd, probably past child-bearing.   Chances are, William wasn't living there with his first wife, assuming there was a first wife.

[gaffy]

Surrey Genie, probably clutching at straws here, but since boarders are sometimes related, is there any mileage in the Thomas Hanley who was living with the Gallaghers in 1911? For example, a William Keegan married an Anne Hannelly in the Castlerea area of Co. Roscommon in 1866 and had several children including a Bridget in 1875:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1875/03097/2135713.pdf

While this doesn't fit with Bridget's stated birthplace in the 1901 and 1911 census returns, the father's name does fit (according to Bridget's 1893 marriage).  I'm just wondering if Margaret Gallagher might have been a 'Hanley' aunt of Bridget, the descriptor 'step daughter' was sometimes quite liberal in its application (especially if William and Margaret Gallagher weren't married, which is a possibility).

[Surrey Genie]

Surrey Genie, probably clutching at straws here, but since boarders are sometimes related, is there any mileage in the Thomas Hanley who was living with the Gallaghers in 1911? For example, a William Keegan married an Anne Hannelly in the Castlerea area of Co. Roscommon in 1866 and had several children including a Bridget in 1875:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1875/03097/2135713.pdf

While this doesn't fit with Bridget's stated birthplace in the 1901 and 1911 census returns, the father's name does fit (according to Bridget's 1893 marriage).  I'm just wondering if Margaret Gallagher might have been a 'Hanley' aunt of Bridget, the descriptor 'step daughter' was sometimes quite liberal in its application (especially if William and Margaret Gallagher weren't married, which is a possibility).

That is a really good thought, thank you!    Birth places on Irish censuses aren't reliable anyway.   ..................   And straws are all I have.