My Missing Grandmother

[Palmira]

I have previously used RootsChat with much success. My grandmother Kathleen REILLY later HELMAN had a very tempestuous relationship with grandfather James Henry HELMAN. I have never been able to find her birth. She married g'father in London in 1891. She died in Dublin in 1931. She was a convicted criminal with a long history of jail, and Magdalen Laundry sentences for drunkenness and cruelty to her children. IU have documents on most of these. Including the one which shows my mother Rachel HELMAN in jail as a three weeks old baby with Kate in 1903.

During the lockdown in Australia I was at last able to get a clue to her birth place as in one jail record it stated her next of kin as one Mary FULLAM her sister.  This rang a HUGE bell for me as I had my DNA analysis done and had three FULLAM people contact me as closely related individuals.

While not knowing Kate's birth place and residence I was able to find Mary FULLAM(nee REILLY)
parents and grandparents all living in Ringsend, Co Dublin. I have been in close contact with two of the FULLAM families and we have established positive connections.  BUT!!!!! I still cannot find any record of Kate's birth

Suggestions on how o proceed to obtain this date would be greatly appreciated.

PALMIRA

[dublin1850]

If she was from Ringsend she may well have been born in Holles Street hospital and she may have been registered without a first name. Find Mary Reilly Fullam's marriage, her father's first name and then search for Kathleen's birth. Search the unknown Reilly/Riley births for the right father.

[dublin1850]

This (top of the page) could be Mary's birth so see if there is an unknown Reilly/Riley with a mother Farley.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1865/03564/2312777.pdf

[dublin1850]

That Mary (above) was baptised in Haddington Road July 9th, parents John Reilly/Mary Farrelly. Sponsor Mary Anne Mullen.

[Palmira]

Thanks Dublin ??,Yes I have done all that unknown REILLY bit previously; l just checked all again from 1868 to 1873/ I also knew about Haddington Road church.  Really appreciate your input. One of my new FULLAM cousins lives near the church and is going to investigate here; hopefully sooner than later,. It is 10-35 p.m. here n Australia and I am very weary (aged 90).

Palmira   Ken

[heywood]

In your searches, who do you have as parents and siblings?

Mary Reilly’s marriage to John Fullam shows father as John. A witness is Esther Reilly.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1885/10859/5965075.pdf

1891 93/111
St Marylebone, London  (both servants)
Esther Reilly 28 yrs b Ireland
Kate Reilly 20 yrs b Ireland
This fits with Kate’s marriage soon after.

[heywood]

Apologies if you have all this and I haven’t yet found Kate’s birth.

Mary’s residence on her marriage was 36, Bridge Street, Ringsend.

The informant on John Helman’s birth in 1900 was Jane Whittington, 24, Bridge Street
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1900/01997/1768286.pdf

There is a baptism (but I can’t find a civil birth or marriage here) John Whittington 1880 - parents Patrick Whittington and Jane Reilly, 26 Bridge Street, Ringsend. A Godparent - Ann/a Reilly.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01r1p/

I can’t spot these in the censuses but there is a death in 1924 for Jane Whittington, 71 yrs -address Caroline Row which features in your other records.

To summarise, there seems to be a link between Jane Reilly Whittington and Kate Reilly.

[Palmira]

Thank you heywood; appreciate your input.
As far as I can ascertain Kate's siblings are Michael (1859); Esther (1864);Mary (1865); John (1868) and Kate (1870).
Kate's offspring were James Henry (1892-1967); William (1898-98); John (1900-06) and my mother Rachel (1903-1986).
Love to know connection with Jane Whittington (nee REILLY)!

One interesting thing (not relevant to the the research) is Grandfather James Henry HELMAN was born at the Heywood Estate in Ballinakill.

Thanks again for you assistance.  RootsChat is a very valuable tool for research.

Regards


PALMIRA   (Ken ELDRIDGE)

[Kiltaglassan]

Here's Haywood Demesne townland just to the north of Ballinakill.

https://www.townlands.ie/laois/cullenagh/dysartgallen/ballinakill/haywood-demesne/