Genealogy Forum UK

Hi,
Help please, I"™ve hit a brick wall. I have been trying to find out information on my Great Great Grandfather John McGovern. What I know "“ he was born in Ireland, date unknown. He married a Catherine McDaniel, date and place unknown, and they had a son, also John Mcgovern. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 13 June 1850 and baptised 16 June 1850 at St Andrews RC church. On his birth certificate his father is shown as a deceased labourer. They were Catholics.
I cannot find him or his wife on a census before 1850. I cannot find any information on their marriage. It may be that they were married in Ireland and only came to England in 1849/1850, I just don"™t know. I have anecdotal evidence that Catherine McDaniel was born in Mayo, Ireland. I"™m pretty sure that I have found Catherine and two children, Mary and John, on the 1851 census although the surname is transcribed as McGoram, and this also gives her birthplace as Mayo.
I have one cousin living and she knows nothing about her family beyond our Grandfather.
I would be extremely grateful for any advice/suggestions/information, apart from banging my head as I"™ve already done that!

Hi
Can you post the 1851 details please?
Mary is older? Born where?

gardener,
Mary was born about 1841 in Mayo. I found a Catherine, Mary and John in the 1861 census living in Darlington, Co. Durham. By this time Mary has married a Peter Devitt and Catherine and John (Magowan and laterly Goveran and previously McGoverin) are living with them and are described as 'Mother in Law' and 'Brother in Law'. The problem is Mary's birth year is shown as abouth 1838. Johm McGovern Jnr did end up living in Darlington and raised a large family, seven children living and I think eight died.

gardener,
Sorry I missed out this info. 1851 census RG09 Piece 3679 Folio 51 Page 44

cravena wrote:gardener,
Mary was born about 1841 in Mayo. I found a Catherine, Mary and John in the 1861 census living in Darlington, Co. Durham. By this time Mary has married a Peter Devitt and Catherine and John (Magowan and laterly Goveran and previously McGoverin) are living with them and are described as 'Mother in Law' and 'Brother in Law'. The problem is Mary's birth year is shown as abouth 1838. Johm McGovern Jnr did end up living in Darlington and raised a large family, seven children living and I think eight died.

looks like the marriage ?


Marriages Sep 1860

Bartley Mary Darlington 10a 29
Devit Peter Darlington 10a 29


wonder if it could be stepbrother and step mother ?

Found them finally!

1851

Newcastle
Piece: 2407
Folio: 404
Page Number: 20

Cathrin Mc Goram 35
Mary Mc Goram 10
John Mc Goram 9 Mo

1861
Darlington
Piece: 3679
Folio: 51
Page Number: 44

Peter Dentt 28
Mary Dentt 23
Catherine Magonan 50
John Magonan 11


Maybe 1871
Darlington
Piece: 4881
Folio: 101
Page Number: 10

Peter Devitt 35
Mary Devitt 30
Catherine Devitt 9
John Devitt 7
James Devitt 5
Michael Devitt 3


1881
Middlesborough
Piece: 4854
Folio: 35
Page Number: 12

Peter Devitt 46
Mary Devitt 42
Kate Devitt 18
John Devitt 17
Michael Devitt 13
Joseph Devitt 9
William Devitt 3
Peter Devitt 1

If Mary was born in Ireland then I would think that her parents (if they are John and Catherine) were probably married there.
I'm oozing sympathy but not being much help!

Does Mary's marriage certificate confirm her father's name? Any interesting witnesses?

gardener. peterd,

Thanks for your replies. My brick wall is finding more info on John Snr and Catherine. I cannot get any further back than the birth of John jnr. I suppose my post was a last desparate attempt before I give up on them.

cravena wrote:
Thanks for your replies. My brick wall is finding more info on John Snr and Catherine.

Hi
I realise that but before anyone has much chance of a bright idea they need to know the basic stuff.
Peterd gave a marriage which has a different surname for Mary. Is that the right marriage or was Mary married before?
As you know Irish records are much harder than UK ones and UK ones are hard enough when it is a surname which is open to mis-spelling.
One approach is to cast a wide net and hope that there are other family members in the same area, that can increase your chance of going back.

There are some links for Mayo on this site http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/brow ... /index.htm
Was Catherine's surname McDaniel? That sounds pretty unusual to me so you might get somewhere with that. There don't seem to have been any in Mayo in the 1901/1911 census.

gardener,

The more I look at the Mary in the 1861 census the less I think its her. Back to the drawing board on that. John jnr's mother is shown as 'formerly McDaniel' on his birth certificate. I'll have a look at the site that you have linked. Thank you.

cravena wrote:gardener,

The more I look at the Mary in the 1861 census the less I think its her. Back to the drawing board on that. John jnr's mother is shown as 'formerly McDaniel' on his birth certificate. I'll have a look at the site that you have linked. Thank you.

Peter and Mary Devitt call the first two kids Catherine and John, that "fits" ok?

Is this still a Brickwall, or have you solved it?

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