The disappearance of Michael Green, 1872, Swansea

[plentyn coll]

My 2GGrandfather disappeared about 1871-1873. He moved from Waterford, Ireland to Swansea between 1864-1870 with his wife, Bridget Hartnett, and 2 children: Michael and Mary. Or possibly the children were born in Swansea, records disagree. The family of four appears on the 1871 census. His 3rd daughter, Catherine, was born Dec 1871. By 1873 his wife and children are in the work house and remain there through most of the 70s. 1880 Bridget and her daughters are homeless paupers. 1881 Bridget is a widow in the census, and young Michael is living with his aunt. 1888, Michael Jr lists his father as deceased, a former furnaceman in the copperworks. I've been unable to find an official death record or anything in the newspapers. The last record of Michael Sr is the 1871 Census. I'm looking for help in finding a record I may have overlooked or is unavailable to me in the States.

[mckha489]

For others looking I think this is the 1871 census

Household schedule number:   274
Piece:   5454
Folio:   100
Page number:   50

Michael Green 25 labourer born Ireland
Bridgett Green 27 Labourer’s wife born Ireland
Mich’l Green 6 b Swansea
Mary A. Green 4 b Swansea

[plentyn coll]

For others looking I think this is the 1871 census

Yes, thank you. And I apologize for not including that information.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V51X-L69

[Kloumann]

Mary Green, born, 5th Aug 1867, Carrick-on-Suir, to Michael Green & Bridget Harnington.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1867/03472/2275340.pdf

Catherine's birth reg'd M quarter, 1872, MMN Hartnett.

[Kloumann]

Could this be Michael in 1881, Bedwelty boarding with Donovan family. Listed as single.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27T-NJW5

[Talacharn]

Could this be Michael Jnr.? The age fits and Green is not a common name in Wales.

The Cambrian . 15th March 1878 . News . p.7
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3333569/3333576/47/
COUNTY BUSINESS . STEALING AN UMBRELLA
Michael Green, a boy about 12 years of age, was charged by P.C. Llewellyn. of the county constabulary, with stealing an umbrella, the property of David Jeremy, from his stall at Llangafalach Fair, on Wednesday.

Mr. Brines, solicitor, who appeared for the prisoner, produced a certificate from the master of the school which prisoner attended, giving him a very excellent character. Mr. Chiswick, C E deposed that he had known the mother of defendant for the last five or six years. She had been coming to his house weekly as charwoman during that period, and he had always found her honest and reliable.

The magistrates were of the opinion that the boy had no felonious intention, and therefore dismissed the case.

It is an interesting read. The newspaper is easier to read than the poor transcription.
Llangyfelach is a village and community located in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. Llangyfelach is situated about 4 miles north of the centre of Swansea, just west of Morriston.

[plentyn coll]

Could this be Michael in 1881, Bedwelty boarding with Donovan family. Listed as single.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27T-NJW5

I believe that Michael appears on previous and subsequent censuses.

[plentyn coll]

Mary Green, born, 5th Aug 1867, Carrick-on-Suir, to Michael Green & Bridget Harnington.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1867/03472/2275340.pdf

Catherine's birth reg'd M quarter, 1872, MMN Hartnett.

There is also a record, not indexed, of Mary Green born to Michael Green and Bridget Harney, 1867, in Waterford. Harney could be Hartnett, but it's also a proper surname. On the 1871 census, her place of birth is Swansea but on every other census and document it is Ireland or Waterford.

Michael Jr is always listed as born in Swansea, and on his police record he is listed as born at St Josephs in Swansea. I'm not sure what is going on with the births. In any case, I haven't been able to find a record of Michael Jr's birth.
Long ...  Kinda off topic but since it came up
I originally believed the wife was Bridget Harrington because of the birth record for Mary and some other circumstantial evidence. But, in 1881, Michael Jr is living with his aunt and uncle Lynch and I was never able to connect them to Harrington or Green. When the unindexed birth record for Mary was found, I realized that Harney and Hartnett were similar and researched that name. The aunt Mary Lynch was originally Mary Hartnett, Bridget's sister, so I am now confident Bridget was a Hartnett.

• I have never found a DNA connection to Catherine so maybe she is a half relationship, or no relationship.
• I have never found a DNA connection to the Lynch family.
• I have never found a DNA connection to any Green prior to Michael Sr.

The lack of a DNA connection doesn't prove anything.

Speculation ...  I have no evidence for any of these.
1) Michael was married twice, Harrington and Hartnett, but I doubt it because there is no record of either marriage.
2) Michael Green was an alias, and he was running from trouble.
3) Catherine is not Michael's child.
4) Michael ran away from his family and changed his name. Possibly going to America.
5) Michael moved to find better work, prepare a new place, and something happened to him.
6) Michael got waylaid, thrown into the river and disappeared. Or got drunk, fell into the river and drowned, and washed away.
7) Michael died in the copperworks and it wasn't reported.

Mary Lynch nee Hartnett
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GF9L-518

[plentyn coll]

Could this be Michael Jnr.? The age fits and Green is not a common name in Wales.

The Cambrian . 15th March 1878 . News . p.7
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3333569/3333576/47/
COUNTY BUSINESS . STEALING AN UMBRELLA
Michael Green, a boy about 12 years of age, was charged by P.C. Llewellyn. of the county constabulary, with stealing an umbrella, the property of David Jeremy, from his stall at Llangafalach Fair, on Wednesday.

Mr. Brines, solicitor, who appeared for the prisoner, produced a certificate from the master of the school which prisoner attended, giving him a very excellent character. Mr. Chiswick, C E deposed that he had known the mother of defendant for the last five or six years. She had been coming to his house weekly as charwoman during that period, and he had always found her honest and reliable.

The magistrates were of the opinion that the boy had no felonious intention, and therefore dismissed the case.

It is an interesting read. The newspaper is easier to read than the poor transcription.
Llangyfelach is a village and community located in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. Llangyfelach is situated about 4 miles north of the centre of Swansea, just west of Morriston.

Very possibly. I love old newspapers. The quality of writing was often phenomenal. This was right before Michael Jr went to live with his aunt and uncle Lynch, on Landeg St, probably to keep him out of trouble. It seems to have worked. Between 1875-78, Bridget was listed with the following addresses, but was also listed as living outdoors, so basically transient. In 1881 census her occupation is charwoman.
Brynmelyn St, Swansea
Cwm St, Glamorgan
Brook St, Swansea