Going back One More Generation

With a little help from friends at the “IRISH - SPECIALITY RESEARCH” Facebook group, in particular Kelly Ocallaghan, I’ve been able to go back another generation this time in Ireland for the Williamson side of the family.

Population_density_of_Ireland_map2002.svg: *Ireland_complete.svg: Future Perfect at Sunrisederivative work: The Illusional Ministry (talk)derivative work: Sswonk / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ireland_trad_counties_named.svg]

Thomas was baptised on 12 December 1800 the son of George and Frances Williamson residing in Clones, Monaghan, Ireland.[i]

Thomas born in Monaghan has travelled to Dublin for work, likely becoming a dock worker, an occupation he continued after moving to England.

In Dublin he gets married to Maria Murphy on 20 March 1821 in St. Nicholas' Catholic Church, Dublin, Ireland.[ii] [While living in Dublin it appears that Thomas has used the name Williams and dropped the ‘son’ and used the shorter surname Williams]

Children with Maria

1.          Jane Williams baptised after the 26^th  May 1823, St. Mary's (Pro-Cathedral), Dublin City, the daughter of Thos & M Ann Williams, residing in Britton St sponsored by Hariot Dyars[iii]

Maria dies in May 1828 and is buried on 13 May 1828 in St Mary parish, Dublin, Ireland (unfortunately no age is given at the time of her burial).[iv]

 It appears he's gone back to his home town more than likely for family support with his Jane. Four years later he is marrying Jane Robinson his second wife Jane Robinson in 1832 in Armagh, Ireland.[v]

The newly married couple have the following children

1.          John Williamson born 23^rd January 1832, Ireland.[vi]
2.          James Williamson born circa 1836 in Ireland.

By 1851 the family have moved to England and can be found in the 1851-1871 Census. His eldest daughter Jane re-joins the family in 1861 with her illegitimate son, James.

1851 Census[vii]
Wood Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK

1.          Thomas Williamson, aged 54, Dock labourer
2.          Jane Williamson, aged 50,
3.          John Williamson, aged 19, Tailor apprentice
4.         James Williamson, aged 15, ship carpenter apprentice

1861 Census[viii]
Nelson Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK

1. Thomas Williamson, aged 60 Labourer
2. Jane Williamson, wife aged 58
3. Jane Williamson, daughter aged 40 unmarried
4. James Williamson, son, aged 23, Ship carpenter
5. James Williamson, grandson, aged 8, scholar

1871 Census[ix]
8 L Court, Nelson Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK

1.          Thomas Williamson, aged 70, labourer
2.          Jane Williamson, aged 69

The “Irish – Speciality Research” Facebook group is an “Australian based Irish Ancestral Speciality Research Group that offers Global Irish Only Research.”

More work to be done but we're off to a flying start.

---

[i] Findmypast, Clones, Baptisms & marriages, 1682-1845 (images of typed transcriptions); Baptism of Thomas Williamson baptised in 12 December 1800 in the parish of Clones, Monaghan, Ireland, the son of George & Frances residing in Clones. Citing ffolliott Parish Registers transcriptions of the Clones Registers, 8th entry, page 82

[ii] National Library collection of Catholic parish register microfilms website, St. Nicholas', Dublin city; County of Dublin; Archdiocese of Dublin. Marriages, Mar. 1821 to Nov. 1821 (image database https://registers.nli.ie/ : Accessed 12 June 2020); Marriage of Thomas William & Maria Murphpy, married 20 March 1821 in Parish register St. Nicholas' (Without), Dublin City last entry for March in 1821 on page 73; citing Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages [ https://registers.nli.ie/pages/vtls000633619_073 ]

[iii] National Library collection of Catholic parish register microfilms website, St. Mary's, Dublin city; County of Dublin; Archdiocese of Dublin.  (image database https://registers.nli.ie/ : Accessed 12 June 2020); Baptism of Jane Williams baptised after the 26th  May 1823, the daughter of Thos & M Ann Williams, residing in Britton St sponsored by Hariot Dyars 10^th entry on page 95; citing Ireland Roman Catholic Parish Marriages citing Microfilm 09150 / 02 [ https://registers.nli.ie/pages/vtls000633771_095]

[iv] Irish Genealogy.ie, Church Records search (database with images, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/), Burial for Maria Williams died while residing in Coles and buried 13 May 1828, St Mary Dublin parish register entry 247, page 31, year 1828; [https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/display-pdf.jsp?pdfName=d-277-4-3-031 accessed 12 June 2020]

[v] Findmypast, Ireland Diocesan And Prerogative Marriage Licence Bonds Indexes 1623-1866 (data with Index images); Marriage index entry for Thomas Williamson and Jane Robinson, married 1832 in the Diocese of Armagh, Ireland, 5th entry on unnumbered page beginning with the first entry on the page being Williamson Susan.

[vi] Headstone of Grave in St Kilda Cemtery, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia

[vii] 1851 English Census HO107 Piece: 2435; Folio: 561; Page: 11

[viii] 1861 English Census RG9, Piece: 3942; Folio: 17; Page: 27

[ix] 1871 English Census Series RG10, Piece: 5246; Folio: 77; Page: 35

Thomas & Jane Williamson born Ireland lived in England

Looking for my 2^nd great grand Parents

Little is known about my 2^nd great-grandparents other than what I have been able to glean from the English Census. I have not found any record of Thomas or his family in the 1841 census I am assuming that they left Ireland for England after 1841 and arrived before the 1851 census.

However it is possible that Thomas came out first, and because he came out alone we aren’t able to detect him in the 1841 English census.  He may have come out first to find work etc before the family followed. 

Or he may have followed his pregnant daughter/ daughter-in-law out for some reason, and/or he may have gone to stay with her while looking for work. The possibilities are endless ...

What we know from the census records

1851 (Series HO107 Piece: 2435; Folio: 561; Page: 11)
Wood Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK
1. Thomas Williamson, aged 54, Dock labourer
2. Jane Williamson, aged 50,
3. John Williamson, aged 19, Tailor apprentice
4. James Williamson, aged 15, ship carpenter apprentice

1861 (Series RG9, Piece: 3942; Folio: 17; Page: 27)
Nelson Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK
1. Thomas Williamson, aged 60 Labourer
2. Jane Williamson, wife aged 58
3. Jane Williamson, daughter aged 40 unmarried
4. James Williamson, son, aged 23, Ship carpenter
5. James Williamson, gson, aged 8, scholar

1871 (Series RG10, Piece: 5246; Folio: 77; Page: 35)
8 L Court, Nelson Street, Maryport, Cumberland, England, UK
1. Thomas Williamson, aged 70, labourer
2. Jane Williamson, aged 69

I have not been able to find either one of the ageing couple Thomas or Jane in the 1881 Census.

Known children

1. Jane Williamson (born in Belfast Cir 1821 – death date unknown)

2. John Williamson (born in Belfast Cir 1832-died 1874)

3. James Williamson (born in Belfast Cir 1836-Aft 1891)

Their son John Williamson married Louisa Walker in the Holy Trinity Church, Hoxton, Middlesex, England on the 10 Oct 1853.  Soon after the couple migrated to Australia and John eventually set up a tailor shop in St. Kilda, Victoria. I am descended from John Williamson and Louisa Walker.

Summary of Information from the Censuses 

Thomas was born in Belfast, Ireland between 1797 and 1801 based on the various ages he gave in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 English Census. Thomas’s wife, Jane also was born in Belfast, Ireland.  Their known children were from Belfast Ireland; I have always assumed that the couple were also married in Ireland.

Based on the above information I applied for two death certificates as transcribed below:-

Transcription of Thomas Williamson’s death certificate (1872 June Qtr, Vol 10B page 352)

Registration District         Whitehaven

1872 Death in the Sub-district of Harrington in the County of Cumberland

No. 171

When and where died Fifteenth April 1872 Harrington

Name and Surname Thomas Williamson

Sex Male

Age 72 yrs

Yeoman

Cause of Death Paralyses Certified

Signature, description and residence of informant Henry Robison for attendance Harrington

When registered Sixteenth April 1872

Signature of registrar Edward Brydin Registrar

Transcription of Jane Williamson (1876 June Qtr Vol 10B page 372)

Registration District         Whitehaven

1876 Death in the Sub-district of Whitehaven in the County of Cumberland

No. 394

When and where died Twenty second May 1876 65 SAtrand Street

Name and Surname Jane Williamson

Sex Female

Age 77 years

Occupation Widow of John Williamson [--?--]

Cause of Death (Vascular disease of heart)

Signature, description and residence of informant – Jane Musgrave Daughter. Present at the Death 65 Strand Street, Whitehaven

When registered Twenty fourth  May 1876

Signature of registrar  William  [--?--] Hamilton Registrar

Conclusion

Thomas Williamson [death certificate (1872 June Qtr, Vol 10B page 352)] could be my ancestor but I have nothing to corroborate this at present.  Although the ages make a match the occupation does not.

Jane Williamson [death certificate (1876 June Qtr Vol 10B page 372)] is unlikely to be my ancestor as she was the widow of a John Williamson rather than a Thomas Williamson.  The information on the certificate is likely to be correct as her daughter Jane Musgrave provided the details.

So the challenge is where to next? Any ideas?