Clara Barker & Thomas Grogan of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

[CGPennington54]

I researched Thomas' parents Elijah Wiggins and his wife Margaret and it turns out that Margaret's maiden name was Grogan, as per their marriage index record for Apr-Jun 1882 in Leeds. Thomas was born before his parents married and obviously chose to take his mother's maiden name, possibly because it seems Margaret had been deserted by Elijah (according to a reformatory school report for Thomas in 1894). Margaret also served short prison sentences in 1893/94 for being drunk and disorderly.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[Ladyhawk]

Clara Barker(b. A-J 1883) married Thomas Grogan(b. About 1881) on 28 Sep 1901 at St. Peter’s, Birstall.

The last certain record I have of either was the 1911 Census where Clara and her only surviving son Harold Grogan was living at 54 Westgate in Cleckheaton with her widowed father, John William Barker. Thomas Grogan was absent from the Census.

However, a Thomas Grogan born in Ireland in 1881 was an inmate at Armley Jail in Leeds, about 9 miles from Cleckheaton, and he was described as being married and a general labourer. Could this be him?

After 1911 they’ve just disappeared. Son Harold remained local to Cleck/Dewsbury.

Can anyone shed any light on what became of Clara and Thomas?

John is living at the same address in 1921 from  West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962

John William Barker
Residence Date   1921
Residence Place   Spen Valley, West Yorkshire
Street Address   54 Westgate

Clara is not listed with her father John on the 1921 ER although her son Harold Grogan is listed with his grandfather years 1923/24 and year 1930.

Not seeing an obvious death entry for Clara Grogan after 1911. Could Clara have remarried?

Edit to add

Don't think it's the 1915 Wakefield Foody/Grogan marriage as the children have mmn Grogan nor the 1915 Preston Hodson/Grogan marriage

[Ladyhawk]

Interestingly, there is a baptism for a Thomas Wiggins aged 5 in 1886 in Leeds.  His father is shown as Elijah Wiggins and mother is Margaret (they were married in 1882 and Margaret's maiden name was Grogan).

There is an earlier baptism for a Thomas Grogan, mother Margaret, no father given at St Marks, Woodhouse, Leeds also in 1882.

For info. I've added a snippet of the two baptisms records mentioned by Ermy

1886 shows PB = Private Baptism dob 16 July 1881
1882 dob 16 Nov 1881

[Ladyhawk]

I researched Thomas' parents Elijah Wiggins and his wife Margaret and it turns out that Margaret's maiden name was Grogan, as per their marriage index record for Apr-Jun 1882 in Leeds.

Yorkshire BMD
WIGGINS   Elijah   
GROGAN   Margaret   
1882   St Mark, Woodhouse Leeds