First Irishman I have come across in our family tree and am unfamiliar with geography / Irish records etc
I discovered this week that Stephen ( or Stinson) McKelvey is my husband's 3x great grandfather.
Stephen's daughter Sarah Ann (born abt.1837)married William Chadwick in Bury.
22 Aug 1857
St. Mary, Bury, Lancashire
William CHADWICK, 27 years, of Bury, Bachelor, Rope maker, son of John CHADWICK, weaver,
married Sarah Ann McKELVY, 20 years, of Bury,daughter of Stephen McKELVY, shoemaker.
1861 census
Manchester Rd, 3 Fish Pool, Bury, Lancashire, England
William Chadwick,24,head,married,rope maker,born Rochdale,
Sarah Ann,24,wife,
Henry,2,son,
John,1,son,
Mary McKelsey,7,sister in law,schoolgirl.
Others born Bury
1851 census
Bury, Lancashire, England
Stephen McKelvey,54,head,married, shoemaker and Chelsea Pensioner, born Dublin,Ireland
Sarah,41,wife, housekeeper at home,born Navan,Ireland,
Henry,16,son, app timer? born Arklow,Ireland
Sarah Ann,14,daughter, cotton weaver,born Bury,
Richard,8,at home,born Bury
As Stephen is listed as a Chelsea Pensioner I went to the Chelsea pensioner records and found a record for a Stinson McKelvey ( this is interesting as on FreeBMD Stephen's death is recorded as Stinson not Stephen)
Stinson Mckelvey, Dec Qtr 1865
Bury,Lancashire, 8c, Page 2*8
The Chelsea Pensioner records gave the following info. ( I have put ?? where I am unable to read the writing)....
Wicklow Regt. of Militia whereof Ralph Howard is Colonel.
Drummer Stinson McKelvey born in the Parish of Termon in County Tyrone , by trade a shoemaker.
Attested for the Wicklow Regiment of Militia at Bandon in the County of Cork on the 20th August 1812 at the age of 15years.
Service listed after the age of 16.... served in Wicklow Militia as Drummer from 20th August 1813 to 10th October 1835, 22 years 52 days (one year under age deducted ... drummer from 12 Aug 1812).
Intended Residence.. Arklow, Co.Wicklow
Drummer Stinson McKelvey served in the Wicklow Militia a period of twenty two years and 52 days after the age of 16years without interruption.
Is discharged in consequence of a reduction in the Establishment of the Militia staff.
The Regimental Board is of opinion his character is good.
He has received all just Demands from his entry into the service up to the time of his discharge on 10th Oct 1835.
Certified Richard butler, Captain
In the opinion of the Principal Medical Officer at Arklow, Drummer Stinson McKelvey is ?? to attacks of ???
Description of Stinson McKelvey at the time of his discharge...
He is 38 years of age, 5 feet 5.5" in height, brown hair, grey eyes, sallow complexion. By trade a shoemaker.
The occupation of shoemaker, birth year of 1797, status as Chelsea Pensioner and intended residence as Arklow ( son Henry having been born in Arklow around 1835) all lead me to believe that this Stinson McKelvey is the same one as in Bury.
I have some questions.....
Many of the McKelveys appear to have buried in Brunswick United Methodist Churchyard, Bury .... so does that mean they were Methodists?
Why does he list his place of birth as Dublin on the census?
and not Termon, Co. Tyrone as on the army record? ( Note:- the Chelsea Pensioner records had transcribed place of birth as Tarman, Tyrone .... but I could only find Termon, which appears to be near Omagh)
Who were his family? ... I haven't been able to go any further back. .... does anyone have any info. on McKelveys in Termon? ... or can point me in the right direction?
When was his marriage to wife Sarah, born in Navan... assuming this would have been around 1834? ... possibly in Arklow? ... can't find anything on IGI
If anyone is able to add any info. it would be greatly appreciated.
Thankyou
Expat
