Ellen and James O'Brien 1915

[aghadowey]

Ellen born 6 Dec.1893 Waterford-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02269/1852762.pdf

During WWI Ireland was part of the U.K. so not uncommon to have Irish regiments in England. The Bootle address from CWGC might have been Ellen's address at the time husband James O'Brien died or even a bit after he died.

[CaroleW]

The 1921 entry would be a good clue.  The address on the 1915 death is the same as the 1923 application for his medals.  Assumption being she was there in 1921

See Ellen’s mothers maiden name was O’Brien

[Maiden Stone]

Reply #27 aghadowey. That's my thinking as well. James may not have actually lived at the Bootle address.
 
A relative of mine, born & lived in England, mother from County Carlow, father also Irish, joined Irish Guards in England in 1915. Went to France & Flanders. Invalided back to a hospital in Scotland.

[Maiden Stone]

A thought about Ellen's age. As she was born in December 1893 she would have been eligible to vote when she was 30, from December 1923, if her husband was a householder. She might have been on electoral registers from 1923 or 1924. 

[heywood]

1n 1921, Ernest and Ellen are living at 74, St John’s Road, Bootle

It all looks very positive.

[CaroleW]

Whoopy Doo - same address as on the cwgc entry & the 1923 medal application so definitely the right widow of the James O’Brien who was KIA in 1915

BUT - is this Carolyn’s Ellen or does she have the wrong James O’Brien death in 1915??

The Ellen O’Brien who married Ernest Purcell in 1916 is unquestionably the widow of the 1915 James

However - her birthdate on the 1939 register does not fit nor does mmn on births of the Purcell children which is Furlong - not Long

Carolyn - what documentary evidence do you have that led you to the 1915 WW1 death of James O’Brien?

[CaroleW]

Wrong info - removed

[heywood]

There are two Long births though, although as most births were Furlong, they might have been errors.

On their marriage, James was a soldier and Carolyn wrote that they knew Ellen went to Bootle but not what happened to her.

Are there any military records for James, other than his death and the medal information?

I can’t see any Ellen Furlong births in Waterford.

I think the Purcell/O’Brien marriage is needed.

[heywood]

From a different viewpoint:

CWGC - ‘Son of James and Mary O'Brien of Waterford; husband of Ellen O'Brien, of 74, St. John's Rd., Bootle, Liverpool.’

Marriage of James and Ellen - James’ father - James, deceased, Blacksmith
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1915/09814/5563806.pdf

Possible birth - James Brien - parents James, a Smith and Mary Sullivan
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1890/02406/1897450.pdf

Census 1901? I haven’t found daughter Bridget’s birth though to check.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Waterford/Waterford_Urban_No__2/Trinity_Lane/1761752/