Margaret McGuinness/ Cunningham/ Kelly (Dungiven)

[Johnbhoy16]

A few mysteries surrounding one of my ancestors from Dungiven.

A few details:

My 2x great grandmother Margaret Cunningham was born in Dungiven around 1860 to father Robert Cunningham. She married William McGuinness in 1880. William died in 1891 aged 35 in Dungiven. In 1894 Margaret gave birth to an illegitimate son Robert. in the 1901 and 1911 census Margaret and her children are living with a Joseph Kelly. The two census records state that Margaret is the sister of Joseph Kelly but this can't be as Margaret's maiden name was Cunningham. would it be it likely that Joseph Kelly was her common law husband and possibly the father of Robert?

Also, I can't seem to find any death record for Margaret anywhere in the area in the years after 1911 in the Dungiven/ wider areas of Derry.

grateful for any advice.

[Sinann]

Perhaps Joseph is a half brother.
Ellen the mother could have been widowed and remarried after Margaret’s birth.

Links
1901 http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Dungiven/Dungiven/1524269/
1911
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Dungiven/Main_Street/595193/

[aghadowey]

It helps us if you post links to information to save us from searching for the same information.

She married William McGuinness in 1880.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1880/11048/8041161.pdf (groom's name is William McGinniss)
William died in 1891 aged 35 in Dungiven.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1891/06081/4734488.pdf
William McGuinness of Dungiven died in the County Infirmary in Derry.
In 1894 Margaret gave birth to an illegitimate son Robert.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02254/1847909.pdf (McGinniss)

Also, I can't seem to find any death record for Margaret anywhere in the area in the years after 1911 in the Dungiven/ wider areas of Derry.
 Vital records for N.I. counties only go up to 1921 on Irish Genealogy site. For more recent dates you need to check GRONI's index.

[aghadowey]

Possible death of Ellen Kelly of Dungiven gives informant as Annie McGinniss, niece.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1915/05284/4468175.pdf

[Johnbhoy16]

Thanks Sinann and Aghadowey for the replies and info. Yes that is the correct death for Ellen Kelly.

I somehow think that Ellen Kelly is not the mother of Margaret though. Annie McGuinness who was the informant of Ellen's death was the daughter of Margaret and that would make her Ellen Kelly's grandaughter if she was the mother of Margaret. However, on her death record the relationship is recorded as Annie being her niece which makes no sense.

[Sinann]

I have several instances of grandchildren being call  nephew in my tree to such an extent I googled the original meaning of nephew and if I recall correctly it was used for any male relation other than father or son.

In both these census the nephew is grandson to the head of household
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Kildare/Oldconnell/Barretstown/1443438/
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Westmeath/Fore_East/Cummerstown/1777777/

[Dundee]

in the 1901 and 1911 census Margaret and her children are living with a Joseph Kelly. The two census records state that Margaret is the sister of Joseph Kelly but this can't be as Margaret's maiden name was Cunningham.

Are you sure that is your Margaret? Margaret KELLY married James McGUINNESS.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10819/5945661.pdf

Birth of daughter Margaret

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02453/1911758.pdf

Debra 

[Johnbhoy16]

Yes definitely for the right Margaret. She married William McGuinness not James. My great grandmother Isabella was William and Margaret's daughter and on all bmd records for her  the mum and dad are recorded as William and Margaret.

[aghadowey]

Are you sure that is your Margaret? Margaret KELLY married James McGUINNESS.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10819/5945661.pdf
Birth of daughter Margaret
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02453/1911758.pdf

That James McGuinness and Margaret Kelly were from Derry, married there and had family there.

Margaret Cunningham m.(1880) William McGuinness (c1856-1891 Derry)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1880/11048/8041161.pdf (groom's name is William McGinniss)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1891/06081/4734488.pdf
William McGuinness of Dungiven died in the County Infirmary in Derry.
1. Catherine McGuinness (19 Dec.1880 Dungiven)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1881/02845/2042684.pdf
2. Bella McGuinness (1 Mar.1883 Dungiven)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1883/02753/2011434.pdf (Bella)
3. Mary Ellen McGuinness (4 Nov.1885 Dungiven)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1885/02629/1969870.pdf
4. Margaret McGuinness (14 Apr.1888 Dungiven)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1888/02520/1933919.pdf
5. Annie McGuinness (12 Dec.1890 Dungiven)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02403/1896191.pdf
6. ? Robert McGuinness (1894)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02254/1847909.pdf (McGinniss)