Looking for my mother's-in law father John (or Jack) Hickisey, b. 1905 in London

[louisa maud]

Sounds right to me, if his birth was 1st June  he might have been registered late,  I agree with Ladyhawk.

LM

[mckha489]

It is there on GRO
Just enter HICKEY in surname box.
a whole list result.
look down to John Michael
click on the little circle on the left of his name, and an option to have a cert, a pdf, or a digital image appears.
Pick Digital image.
pay, then download the image

[jonwarrn]

There might be a brief snippet in the  Richmond Herald, 22 July 1905
Patrick Hickey, 22, of 4, Columbia-square

He was a bit drunk, that's all.

The indexes to the Richmond Union application and report books have multiple entries for Hickeys in 1892 and particularly 1893, parish Mortlake
Possible family unit from these?
13 Sep 1892
John Hickey, 48
Johanna Hickey, 48
Timothy Hickey, 14
Patrick Hickey, 10
Nellie Hickey, 8
Thomas Hickey, 6

But John does not appear in them in 1893.
Is it the same Patrick who married in Mortlake in 1904?
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/poor-law-records/richmond

[jonwarrn]

But John does not appear in them in 1893.

Here's why
Death, March 1893 Richmond, Surrey 2a 282
Hickey, John   
Age 48   

[Spelk]

I've been having a look for the McGRATH family and not had much luck. Thought if I could find them in 1911 and 1921 it might help.
This family in 1901 in Kensington might be them and if they are part of a circus it could explain why tracing them at any other time is hard. The children were born all over the place.
Frederik G McGRATH age 38 Circus Proprietor
Elizabeth wife age 37
Henry 17 Steam Driver
Kate 15
Alice 13
Lizzie 7

PS - of course Kate's father wa supposed to be Michael not Frederick G but nothing matches much with this family.
etc

PPS Maybe this is her -

Baptism Camberwell Sacred Heart 23 Feb 1890 born 17 January 1890 Catherina or Kate McGRATH
Father Michael McGRATH mother Catherinae COLLINS
Roman Catholic.

[Natalia Bruce]

Hi, thanks very much for the responses. A lot of it tallies with what the family believe, albeit a lot of new info here as well. The family have long suspected that the surname 'Hickisey' was made up as appears supported by the responses here. Does anyone know why the John 'Hickisey' appears likely to have changed his surname?

It is said within the family (although we don't have corroborating evidence) that John left the UK for New Zealand on a ship as a deckhand via Melbourne and perhaps jumped ship in Melbourne. It is thoguht that the the shipping company was looking for him and it is thought he may have changed his surname to 'Hickisey' at this point. Noting that one of the researchers has suggested that John's original name may well have been John Michael Hickey based on UK birth records born in Mortlake, London, is there any evidence of a John Hickey in shipping records on a ship to New Zealand via Melbourne prior to 20 September 1929 (eg in the years prior)?

(Prior to 20 September 1929 is referenced as one of the researchers has identified a John 'Hickesey' on a passenger list on the boat 'Ulimaro', which we have identified as travelling from Wellington to Sydney on that date - This tallies with family information that John was in Australia, then New Zealand, then went to Sydney (as there's a photo of John on the Sydney harbour bridge during construction) and after which he returned to New Zealand). Look forward to any further info, particularly regarding John's original surname and when, why and in what circumstances he changed it

[scotmum]

Have any of the family considered using DNA to aid with the search? Doing so might help, in addition to traditional, manual research methods.

[Spelk]

The 1905 birth certificate for John Michael HICKEY gives his place of birth as 4 Columbia Square and his father Patrick is a garden labourer. The birth was registered by Kate HICKEY on 11 July 1905 so just short of 6 weeks after the birth.

In 1911 that house has a William HICKS (age 57, Gardener) as head with his family. I thought the name was oddly similar to HICKEY but I cannot find any connection.

In 1901 the house has Farrell CONNORS as head (35 Gardeners Labourer) with his wife (maiden name DAVITT from the birth of one of the children), children, a brother and two Boarders. All from Ireland apart from the two young children.

The newspapers do not show whether Patrick and Kate were lodgers to the CONNORS or whether they had taken over renting the house.

The Herald 19 Dec 1903
Another Case at Mortlake
Police Court, Edward GALLIVAN, 21 labourer of 4 Columbia Square, charged with being drunk and disorderly, and with using bad language. Prisoner had only been in the neighbourhood a short time.

Richmond Herald 2 Jan 1904
Bartholomew HOWARD alias Thomas SULLIVAN of 4 Columbia Square Mortlake. Longer item about the Mary FRAZER case (see below.

Chiswick Times 15 Jan 1904
Charge of theft dismissed. Bartholomew HOWARD alias Thomas SULLIVAN a labourer of 4 Columbia Square, Mortlake charge with stealing £2 from Mary FRAZER to whom he had been engaged.

Kilburn Times Fri 12 Feb 1904
Ill-treating Horses
Patrick HICKEY 21, Honeysuckle cottages Wembley, stableman, discharged.

The Herald 30 July 1904
Death of an Infant
Death of Timothy CONNOR aged 10 months. Mother Kate CONNOR of 4 Columbia Square Mortlake.

The Herald 22 July 1905
Mortlake Police Court
Patrick Hickey, 22 of 4 Columbia Square, Mortlake charged with being drunk and disorderly. 

[Milliepede]

There’s a John Hickey age 18 travelling from England to Auckland 22 May 1924

Ships name Remuera