Sunday, April 28, 2019

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 17 - At Worship - Michael O'Brien

This year I am taking part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts.

The theme for Week 17 (April 22-28): At Worship.

For this week's theme, I have chosen to write about my 2 x great grandfather Michael O'Brien.

Michael O'Brien's name appears as the donor underneath one of the Stations of the Cross in St Joseph's Catholic Church, Rochester, Victoria. Whenever I attend Mass at that Church, I like to sit in the pew nearest to that particular Station and remember Michael O'Brien, his family and his descendants in my prayers.

The Eleventh Station - XI - Jesus Is Nailed To The Cross.
The plaque states "Gift of Mr M O'Brien"
St Joseph's Catholic Church, Rochester, Victoria, Australia.

Michael O'Brien was born about 1833 at Drumintee, County Armagh, Ireland. Michael was the son of Owen O'Brien/Breen and Bridget (Finegan) O'Brien/Breen.1

In 1851, Michael, with his parents, Owen and Bridget, and siblings Thomas, Bridget, John and Hugh resided in the townland of Aghadavoyle, Killevy Civil Parish, Armagh, Ireland. 2

Michael emigrated from Ireland to Australia sometime in the 1850s.

On 29 January 1865, Michael O'Brien, a labourer aged 31 years, married Eliza Carew, aged 21, at St Francis' Catholic Church, Melbourne.1

Michael and Eliza had the following children:
In 1872, Michael O'Brien lost his sight in a blasting accident. On 16 August 1872, the Geelong Advertiser reported on the accident:
"A serious blasting accident occurred at Mount Gellibrand, on Wednesday afternoon, to a laborer named Michael O'Brien, while at work with some others on a contract let by the Colac Shire Council, for the formation of a road between some paddocks belonging to the Hon. Mr Strachan. They were cutting through some barriers of rock, and having made a bore about twenty inches deep, O'Brien was engaged tamping, when the blast suddenly exploded in his face. The injuries resulting were of a painful, as well as serious character, the whole of his face being closely perforated with the powder, his eyes swollen to such an extent that since the occurrence he has been completely blind; two of the fingers of his right hand smashed, and the palm of the left badly hurt. He was at once conveyed to Geelong, and yesterday (Thursday) morning admitted to the hospital. Hopes are indulged that the unfortunate man will be able to regain his sight, but as yet, owing to the inflammation that has supervened, the extent of the injuries to his eyes cannot be definitely ascertained. O'Brien can only attribute the explosion to the friction of powder, for although he used an iron rod, there was fully ten inches of the tamping material, composed of the outside crust of the rock, above the charge at the time it ignited. Fifteen years ago, while digging a well on a farm, he met with a similar accident, and on that occasion narrowly escaped being deprived of his sight."3
A follow-up article in the Geelong Advertiser on 2 November 1872 detailed how fellow contractors donated money to help Michael and his family:
"A very praiseworthy act was done on Friday by a contractor, named Dixon, who applied to the Winchelsea Shire Council to allow him payment for ten yards of surplus metal, and promising, if they did so, to give the amount, £2, to his unfortunate fellow contractor, Michael O'Brien, who about six weeks ago lost his eye-sight through a blasting accident. This is indeed brotherly feeling, Dixon being only a poor man, and as the unfortunate man, O'Brien, has a large family, whom, owing to the accident, he can in no way assist, a hope has been expressed that more wealthy men, who have not yet done so, will forward contributions to the surveyors of the Winchelsea or of the Colac Shire Council. We understand that Mr G. F. Belcher will be happy to receive subscriptions in Geelong." 4
At that time Michael and his family lived at Karngun, near Winchelsea, Victoria, on land adjoining that held by good friend James Watson. In 1873, both Michael O'Brien and James Watson selected adjoining blocks of land in the parish of Pannoobamawm and moved their families north in 1874. Michael and Eliza spent the rest of their lives in that area of northern Victoria. 5

Dr Mark O'Brien (1913-2010) (son of John O'Brien, grandson of Michael O'Brien) wrote of Michael's later years in an O'Brien family history in 1987:
"The Seiersen girls spent much time with the old people and Josephine Renfrey (O'Brien) as a young girl did accompany them in this task. Josephine told me that Michael remained a very upright Irish Catholic - he loved his mother, had disagreements with his father who may have been a 'north' man and was hostile to his sister Bridget for marrying in the Presbyterian Church. During his last years his routine was: early morning Mass if somebody could take him, light the fires at home, gather the eggs, have breakfast and then walk around his surrounding verandah saying the Rosary - probably 15 decades."5
In his Will, dated 8 October 1924, Michael gave
"to the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church Rochester, a sum of twenty pounds for masses for the repose of my soul...To the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church, Rochester, a sum of twenty pounds for masses for the repose of the soul of my said wife"6
A Codicil to the Will dated 26 November 1924 changed this bequest slightly,
"I direct that the two legacies of twenty pounds each left to the Parish Priest of St Joseph's Church Rochester shall be reduced to fifteen pounds each and I bequeath ten pounds to the Mother Superior Brigidine Convent Rochester."6
Other bequests show a charitable nature and a concern that Masses be offered for the repose of the souls of others in his family:
"To the Parish Priest of Werribee a sum of ten pounds for masses for the repose of the soul of my brother Thomas O'Brien and my sister Mary O'Brien late of Werribee To the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Order of Crusaders of the Holy Land Commissariat, The Friary, Waverley, Sydney, a sum of nine pounds being one pound each for masses for the repose of the souls of the following persons - my father Owen O'Brien my mother Bridget O'Brien, my brother Hugh O'Brien, my brother John O'Brien and his wife Margaret both late of Bendigo, my sister Bridget Shaw late of Bunbury Western Australia, my wife Eliza O'Brien, and myself Michael O'Brien - and my son Michael late of Pine Grove. To the Treasurer of the Broadmeadows Orphanage a sum of six pounds ten shillings To Charles Gleeson of the Presbytery Rochester Student a sum of five pounds."6
Eliza (Carew) O'Brien died on 10 November 1924 at Rochester. 7
Michael O'Brien died on 21 December 1925 at Rochester. 8
Both Michael and Eliza are buried at the Pine Grove (Pannoobamawm) Cemetery. 9

Grave of Michael O'Brien and Eliza (Carew) O'Brien. Pine Grove (Pannoobamawm) Cemetery, Pine Grove, Victoria, Australia. Photograph by A. O'Brien, 4 July 2017.

References

  1. Victoria, Australia, marriage certificate 572(1865), Michael O'Brien and Eliza Carew, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne.
  2. National Archives of Ireland, "1841 / 1851 Census Search Forms," database, National Archives of Ireland.
    (http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/details.jsp?id=18612 : accessed 28 April 2019), entry for Mary Breen or O'Brien, 1851, Aghadavoyle, Armagh.
  3. "Town Talk," Geelong Advertiser, 16 August 1872, p. 2, cols. 5-6; image copy, National Library of Australia, Trove (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147371869 : accessed 27 April 2019), Newspapers.
  4. "Town Talk," Geelong Advertiser, 2 November 1872, p. 2, col. 6; image copy, National Library of Australia, Trove (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150400113: accessed 27 April 2019), Newspapers.
  5. O'Brien, Dr M. Mark, Early O'Brien History, 1987, p.5. Photocopy held by A. O'Brien, 2019.
  6. Will of Michael O'Brien, late of Rochester, retired farmer; PROV, VPRS 7591/P2, Unit 733, File 208/145.
  7. Victoria, Australia, death certificate 15979(1924), Eliza O'Brien, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne.
  8. Victoria, Australia, death certificate 15263(1925), Michael O'Brien, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Melbourne.
  9. Eliza O'Brien | Died: 10 Nov 1924 | Grave Site | BillionGraves (https://billiongraves.com/grave/Eliza-OBrien/23805286 : accessed 20 August 2018)
    Michael O'Brien | Died: 21 Dec 1925 | Grave Site | BillionGraves (https://billiongraves.com/grave/Michael-OBrien/23805285 : accessed 20 August 2018)

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at
https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/04/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-17-at.html
52 Ancestors in 52 weeks © Amy Johnson Crow
Posted by A O'Brien Posted at 10:33 PM 2 comments
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Saturday, April 20, 2019

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 16 - Out of Place - Catherine Helen (Pickis) Atkinson

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts.

The theme for Week 14 (April 15-21): Out of Place.

My 3 x great grandmother, Catherine Helen Pickis, was born on 3 February 1824 in London. She was the daughter of Robert Paul Pickis, a carpenter, and Elizabeth (Bond) Pickis. 1 Robert Pickis and Elizabeth Bond were married on 14 January 1822 at All Hallows Barking, London, England. 2
Robert and Elizabeth had the following children:
  • Elizabeth Pickis (1822-?), born 12 June 1822, baptised 26 September 1824, All Hallows the Great, London. Abode: 32 Great Bush Lane. 3
  • Catherine Helen Pickis (1824-1861), born 3 February 1824, baptised 26 September 1824, All Hallows the Great, London. Abode: 32 Great Bush Lane. 1
  • Robert Paul Pickis (1826-1867), born 28 April 1826, baptised 25 June 1826, All Hallows the Great, London. Abode: 32 Great Bush Lane Upper Thames Street. 4
  • Mary Ann Pickis (1827-1827), born Sep 1827, baptised 26 September 1827, St Thomas the Apostle, London. Abode: No. 9. Tower Royal. Died of convulsions, aged 13 days. Buried 1 October 1827, St Thomas the Apostle. 5

A Bush Lane, off Cannon Street, still exists in London today and can be seen on Google Maps.

Elizabeth (Bond) Pickis, died on 27 October 1839 and was buried on 4 November 1839 in the parish of St Thomas the Apostle. At that time the Pickis' abode was described as No. 2 Bell Yard, Gracechurch Street. 6 Robert, Elizabeth jnr., Catherine and Robert jnr. were still living at No. 2 Bell Yard at the time of the 1841 census.7

It is believed that Robert Paul Pickis was probably the 45-year-old porter Robert Pickis who died on 25 September 1844 at the Marlborough Poor House, Peckham, Surrey. He was buried on 30 September 1844 in the parish of St Giles, Camberwell.8

Catherine Helen Pickis married James Atkinson (my 3 x great grandfather) on 22 July 1854 in the parish Church at Tynemouth, Northumberland, England.9 How did Catherine come to be so far away from her home in London, at almost the opposite end of England?

I did not find out the answer to this question until I discovered where Catherine was living at the time of the 1851 Census. I discovered 'Catharine H Picks' (as indexed in the 1851 Census available on Ancestry.com), an unmarried, 25-year-old, living at 16 Blumers Building, Westoe, South Shields, Durham. Catherine was described as 'Niece' of James Purvis (a Sea Pilot, aged 54, born South Shields) and his wife Dorothy Purvis (age 60, born North Shields, Northumberland).10 At this stage in my research, I had not discovered the maiden surname of Catherine's mother Elizabeth, as I had not yet located her and Robert's 1822 marriage record.

I first checked James Purvis' family and found that other people were researching this family of sea pilots and had public trees available on Ancestry. It appeared that James, the son of William Purvis and Isabella (Skipsey) Purvis, did not have a sister named Elizabeth.

Armed only with the information that Dorothy was born about 1791 in North Shields I searched the records available on FamilySearch.org where I discovered a possible Dorothy who had a sister Elizabeth of the about the right age. Dorothy Bond, baptised 16 November 1786, Tynemouth, Northumberland, daughter of John and Mary Bond, and Elizabeth Bond, baptised 13 January 1795, Tynemouth, Northumberland, daughter of John and Mary Bond. 11 When I later discovered the marriage record of Elizabeth Bond and Robert Paul Pickis, this helped to confirm that I had found the correct family. Interestingly, it turns out that Dorothy and Elizabeth were actually only half sisters. Dorothy was the daughter of John Bond's first(?) wife, Mary Hall, while Elizabeth was the daughter of his second(?) wife Mary Hoar (nee Patterson).

My next out of place person is Elizabeth Bond, how did she come to be in London in 1822 to marry Robert Paul Pickis? I still don't really know the answer to this question, but I suspect the fact that her father John Bond was a Master Mariner and Ship Owner could be a clue.

References

  1. "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, All Hallows the Great, 1813-1855, image 14 of 51; citing All Hallows the Great and Less Parishes (London, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, 1813-1885, P69/ALH7/A/A/01/Ms 5164/1, p. 27, no. 212, Catherine Pickis baptism (1824); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  2. "London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, All Hallows, Barking By the Tower, 1813-1828, image 106 of 200; citing All Hallows, Barking By the Tower Parish (London, England). Parish Registers, Marriages, 1813-1828, P69/ALH1/A/03/004, p. 106, no. 318, Pickis-Bond marriage (1822); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  3. "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, All Hallows the Great, 1813-1855, image 14 of 51; citing All Hallows the Great and Less Parishes (London, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, 1813-1885, P69/ALH7/A/A/01/Ms 5164/1, p. 27, no. 211, Elizabeth Pickis baptism (1824); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  4. "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, All Hallows the Great, 1813-1855, image 16 of 51; citing All Hallows the Great and Less Parishes (London, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, 1813-1885, P69/ALH7/A/A/01/Ms 5164/1, p. 30, no. 237, Robert Pickis baptism (1826); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  5. "London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, St Thomas the Apostle, 1813-1851, image 10 of 27; citing St Thomas the Apostle Parish (London, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, 1813-1873, P69/TMS1/A/01/Ms 9011, p. 19, no. 152, Mary Ann Pickis baptism (1827); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.

    "London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, St Thomas the Apostle, 1813-1849, image 10 of 26; citing St Thomas the Apostle Parish (London, England). Parish Registers, Burials, 1813-1849, P69/TMS1/A/014/MS09014, p. 18, no. 141, Mary Ann Pickis burial (1827); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.

    "London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, St Mary Aldermary, 1813-1838, image 56 of 101; citing St Mary Aldermary Parish (London, England). Parish Registers, Burial Fees Account Book, 1813-1838, P69/MRY3/A/013/MS04866, Mary Ann Pickis burial (1 Oct 1827); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  6. Middlesex, England, death certificate 1839, Elizabeth Pickis. General Register Office. London, England. GRO Reference: 1839, D Quarter in THE CITY OF LONDON UNION, Volume 02, Page 135.

    "London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); City of London, St Thomas the Apostle, 1813-1849, image 19 of 26; citing St Thomas the Apostle Parish (London, England). Parish Registers, Burials, 1813-1849, P69/TMS1/A/014/MS09014, p. 37, no. 294, Elizabeth Pickis burial (1839); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  7. "1841 England Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019), entry for Robert Pickis (age 40), Bell Yard, Allhallows, London; citing The National Archives, HO107, piece 719, folio 10, p. 15, line 2; London registration district, London South subdistrict, ED 1.
  8. Surrey, England, death certificate 1844, Robert Pickis. General Register Office. London, England.  GRO reference: 1844, Jul-Aug-Sep Quarter, Camberwell. Volume: 4. Page: 50.

    "London, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2003", database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019); Southwark, St Giles Camberwell, 1829-1855, image 510 of 899; citing St Giles Camberwell Parish (Surrey, England). Parish Records, Burials, May 1844-Mar 1849, p73/gis/054, p. 22, no. 171, Robert Pickis burial (1844); London Metropolitan Archives, London, England.
  9. Northumberland, England, marriage certificate 1854, James Atkinson and Catherine Helen Pickis. General Register Office, London, England. GRO reference: 1854, Jul-Aug-Sep Quarter, Tynemouth, Volume 10b. Page 236.

    "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N6P8-G2G : 10 December 2014), James Atkinson and Catherine Helen Pickis, 1854; citing Tynemouth, Christ Church, Northumberland, England, reference 2:3V5TH5G, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,068,930.
  10. "1851 England Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com.au: accessed 20 April 2019), entry for Catherine Pickis (age 25), Blumers Building, Westoe, South Shields, Durham; citing The National Archives, H0107, piece 2399, folio 313, p. 47; South Shields registration district, Westoe subdistrict, ED 4f, household 205.
  11. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NDJ3-R8N : 30 December 2014), Elizabeth Bond, 13 Jan 1795; citing Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, reference item 4; FHL microfilm 1,068,907.

    "Baptisms January 1795 13 Elizth. D. of John & Mary Bond of No. Sh. Mar'r." "England, Durham Diocese Bishop's Transcripts, 1639-1919," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZ7S-CDZ?cc=1309819&wc=9K53-SP8%3A13617901%2C30809801%2C30809802 : 12 June 2014), Northumberland > Tynemouth > image 186 of 835; Record Office, Matlock. Notes: Baptisms January 1795 13 Elizth. D. of John & Mary Bond of No. Sh. Mar'r.
© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/04/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-16-out-of.html
52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow


Posted by A O'Brien Posted at 7:50 PM 0 comments
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Sunday, April 14, 2019

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 15 - DNA - Timothy Hehir

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts.

The theme for Week 14 (April 8-14): DNA.

I have chosen my 3 x great grandfather Timothy Hehir (c1800-?) to write about for this week's theme of DNA. I haven't had much time to write this week. I will expand on this topic at a later date.

Timothy Hehir and Ann (McMahon) Hehir were the parents of my great-great-grandmother Susan (Hehir) Ellis (c1835-1921). It is believed that Ann died during the famine, c1845. The family lived in the townland of Killow, in the civil parish of Clareabbey, Clare, Ireland.

Timothy and Ann had the following children:
  • Bridget (Hehir) Farrell (c1833-1886)
  • Susan (Hehir) Ellis (c1835-1921)
  • Elizabeth Hehir (c1835-?)
  • John Hehir (c1837-1890)
  • Michael Hehir (c1839-?)
  • Honora Hehir (c1841-?)
  • Thomas Hehir (c1844-?)
  • Annie Maria (Hehir) Kinsella (c1844-1920)
Four Hehir's are listed in Griffith's Valuations for the townland of Killow.
  • Jane Hehir
  • Patrick Hehir
  • Andrew Hehir
  • Thaddeus Hehir
Thaddeus and Timothy are both variants used to Anglicize the Gaelic name Tadhg.
So Thaddeus is likely my ancestor Timothy Hehir. We have always believed the other Hehirs listed in the townland of Killow are likely close relatives of Timothy's - probably siblings. My great-great-grandmother Susan's photograph collection included photographs of some of Patrick Hehir's children, adding credence to the belief that they were cousins.

DNA evidence has provided further proof that Patrick was likely Timothy's brother. My mother and I have both been DNA tested. We both have DNA matches to descendants of Patrick Hehir. Additionally, with Ancestry DNA's recent release of ThruLines, it also appears that we have a DNA match with a descendant of Andrew Hehir.


The screenshot above shows AncestryDNA ThruLines for my mother, as of 9 April 2019. Someone has Patrick Michael Hehir as the father on their Ancestry public tree so ThruLines has included him here. I am uncertain that Margaret Hehir belongs as a sibling, however, as she lives in a neighbouring parish in Clare. My mother's matches to her descendants are only small (7 cM), so she could potentially be a more distant Hehir cousin.

Since taking this screenshot on 9 April 2019, this particular ThruLine seems to have disappeared. However, this does show that my mother potentially has 6 DNA matches with descendants of Patrick Hehir and 1 DNA match with a descendant of Andrew Hehir, in addition to 13 DNA matches with descendants of Timothy Hehir.

DNA matches with descendants of Patrick Hehir have also been found on Family Tree DNA, MyHeritage and Gedmatch.

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/04/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-15-dna.html
52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow

Posted by A O'Brien Posted at 12:05 PM 0 comments
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Monday, April 1, 2019

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 14 - Brick Wall - John Smith

This year I have decided to take part in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks blogging prompts.

The theme for Week 14 (April 1-7): Brick Wall.

I have chosen my 4 x great grandfather John Smith (c1756-C1846?) as a Brick Wall ancestor to write about for this week's theme.

John Smith married Mary Croot on 12 January 1786 in St John the Baptist Church of England, Bishopsteignton, Devon, England.
The marriage banns notice referred to John as a "sojourner" in the parish of Bishopsteignton, but the marriage entry said he was "of this parish". 1 Wikipedia defines a sojourner as "a person who resides temporarily in a place." 2 John was likely an agricultural labourer.

John and Mary had the following children:
  • William Smith born c1786, baptised 27 March 1786 Bishopsteignton parish. 3
  • John Smith born 10 November 1787, baptised 14 November 1787 Ashcombe parish. Died in infancy, buried 2 December 1787 Ashcombe. 4
  • Susanna Croot Smith born 9 November 1788, baptised 10 November 1788 Ashcombe parish. 5
  • Richard Smith born 10 January 1791, baptised 17 January 1791 Ashcombe parish. 6
  • Mary Smith born 15 August 1793, baptised 18 August 1793 Ashcombe parish. 7
  • John Smith born 15 October 1795, baptised 5 November 1795 Ashcombe parish. 8
  • Elizabeth Smith born c1798, baptised 30 January 1798 Bishopsteignton parish. 9
  • Ann Smith born c1801, baptised 25 January 1801 Ideford parish. 10
  • Thomas Smith born c1807, baptised 7 June 1807 Bishopsteignton parish. 11
The parish register entries from Bishopsteignton refer to John's and Mary's abode as a Luton, a hamlet in the parish of Bishopsteignton.

What became of John?

The Devon Burials database at FindMyPast does not include any John Smith burial for Bishopsteignton, Ashcombe or Ideford parishes. A combined search for Smith burials in all three of these parishes gave only 15 results - revealing that Smith is perhaps a little less common as a surname in this region of England than in other regions. (see the 1881 frequency map for Smith in England on the Forebears web site for interest). Many of these 15 results were in the 1600s and early 1700s, so not currently relevant to my research.

Of the burials that were relevant, Mary (Croot) Smith is very likely the 76-year-old Mary Smith from Teignmouth buried in Bishopsteignton parish on 2 August 1837.12
John's and Mary's youngest son, Thomas Smith, my 3 x great grandfather, is the 55-year-old Thomas Smith from Teignmouth buried at Bishopsteignton on 26 August 1862. 13
I have yet to place the 31-year-old Rebecca Smith of Bishopsteignton who was buried in that parish in 1819. 14

A search of the Devon Burials database for Smith in West Teignmouth and East Teignmouth parishes gives 83 results. Two candidates to be my ancestor John Smith are among the results.

Possible John Smith (No. 1).
A 65-year-old John Smith from West Teignmouth was buried in the parish of West Teignmouth on 19 January 1823.15 This would make him born in c1758.

Possible John Smith (No. 2).
A 90-year-old John Smith from the Workhouse Newton was buried in the parish of West Teignmouth on 29 September 1846.16 This would make him born in c1756. I have the death certificate for this John, which states he was an 87-year-old labourer (note difference to 90 in the burial register) who died on 27 September 1846 at 'Union Workhouse Wolborough'. Unfortunately, no information helping to identify his family is given. The informant on the certificate is: "John Blackmore present at death Union Workhouse Wolborough."17

During my research for this post this past week I have come across a few interesting archival references to the name Smith, and particularly to the name John Smith, in relation to the parishes of Bishopsteignton and Ashcombe. Do they refer to the same John Smith? Only some thorough research and a bit of luck could help to break this brick wall.

References

  1. "Banns of Marriage between John Smith sojourner in & Mary Croot of this Parish were published Novr 27 & Decr 4 &; 11 1785. No. 172. John Smith of this Parish and Mary Croot of this Parish spinster were Married in this Church by Banns this twelfth Day of January in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Six by me H. Distin Vicar This Marriage was solemnized between Us { The mark x of John Smith { The mark of x Mary Croot In the Presence of [Thos?/Jas?] [Mager?] Richd Boone [Parish Clerk]" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Marriages and banns, 1754-1805, image 61 of 98; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Marriages and banns, 1754-1805, 2202A/PR/1/6, no. 173, Smith-Croot marriage (1786); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.

    "John Smith sojourner in this Parish Batchelor & Mary Croot of this Parish were married by Banns the 12th day of Jan'y." "England, Devon Bishop's Transcripts, 1558-1887," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-34111-3725-70?cc=2515875 : 16 February 2016), 004392273 > image 200 of 299; citing The Devon Record Office, Exeter.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Sojourner," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sojourner&oldid=874082319 (accessed March 31, 2019).
  3. "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, image 22 of 76; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, 2202A/PR/1/4, William Smith baptism (1786); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  4. "John Son of John and Mary Smith was Born November ye 10th and was Baptized November ye 14: 1787" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 40 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, John Smith baptism (1787); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter. "John, son of John, and Mary Smith was Buried December ye 2nd:1787" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 50 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, John Smith burial (1787); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  5. "Susanna Croot Daughter of John and Mary Smith was Born November ye 9th and was Baptized November ye 10th:1788" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 28 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, Susanna Croot Smith baptism (1788); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  6. "Christenings for the year 1791... Richard son of John and Mary Smith was Born January ye 10th and was Baptized January ye 17th" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 64 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, Richard Smith baptism (1791); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  7. "1793... Mary Daughter of John and Mary Smith was Born August ye 15th and was Baptized August ye 18th" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 65 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, Mary Smith baptism (1793); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  8. "1795... John son of John and Mary Smith was Born October ye 15th and was Baptized November ye 5th Henry Mugg Curate""Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ashcombe St Nectan, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, image 66 of 78; citing Ashcombe Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1732-1812, 462A/PR/1/3, John Smith baptism (1795); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  9. "Baptisms in the year 1798...Jany...30 Elizabeth dr of John & Mary Smith Luton" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, image 34 of 76; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, 2202A/PR/1/4, Elizabeth Smith baptism (1798); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  10. "Baptisms 1801...Jany 25th Ann, Daughr of John & Mary Smith" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Ideford St Mary, Baptisms and burials, 1765-1812, image 27 of 52; citing Ideford Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms and burials, 1765-1812, 2453A/PR/1/4, Ann Smith baptism (1801); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  11. "Baptisms for the year 1807...June 7 Smith Thomas son of John and Mary" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 1 April 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, image 40 of 76; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Baptisms and burials, 1758-1812, 2202A/PR/1/4, Thomas Smith baptism (1807); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  12. "Page 48. Burials in the Parish of Bishopsteignton in the County of Devon in the Year 1837 No. 377 Mary Smith [Name.] Teignmouth [Abode.] August the second [When buried] 76 [Age.] John Comyns [By whom the Ceremony was performed.]" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Burials, 1813-1863, image 50 of 102; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Burials, 1813-1863, 2202A/PR/1/18, p. 48, no. 377, Mary Smith burial (1837); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  13. "Page 99. Burials in the Parish of Bishopsteignton in the County of Devon in the Year 1862 No. 799. Thomas Smith [Name.] Teignmouth [Abode.] Aug 26 [When buried.] 55 [Age] W.R. Ogle Vicar [By whom the Ceremony was performed.]" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Burials, 1813-1863, image 101 of 102; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Burials, 1813-1863, 2202A/PR/1/18, p. 99, no. 799, Thomas Smith burial (1862); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  14. "Page 7. Burials in the Parish of Bishopsteignton in the County of Devon in the Year 1818+9... No. 53. Rebecca Smith [Name.] Bishopsteignton [Abode.] third of March [When buried.]
    31 [Age] John Comyns [By whom the Ceremony was performed.]" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); Bishopsteignton St John, Burials, 1813-1863, image 9 of 102; citing Bishopsteignton Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Burials, 1813-1863, 2202A/PR/1/18, p. 7, no. 53, Rebecca Smith burial (1819); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  15. "Page 39. Burials in the Parish of West Teignmouth in the County of Devon in the Year 1823 No. 307. John Smith [Name.] West Teignm. [Abode.] Jany 19th [When buried.]
    years 65 [Age] J. Salter [By whom the Ceremony was performed.]" "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); West Teignmouth St James the Less, Marriages and burials, 1813-1847, image 185 of 346; citing West Teignmouth Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Marriages and burials, 1813-1847, 4062A/PR/1/7, p. 39, no. 307, John Smith burial (1823); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  16. "Page 197. Burials in the Parish of West Teignmouth in the County of Devon in the Year 1846... No. 1572 John Smith [Name.] Work House Newton [Abode.] Septr 29th [When buried.] 90 yrs [Age.] F. Walker Curate [By whom the Ceremony was performed.] " "Devon, Parish Registers Browse", database with images, FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk: accessed 30 March 2019); West Teignmouth St James the Less. Marriages and burials, 1813-1847, image 343 of 346; citing West Teignmouth Parish (Devon, England). Parish Registers, Marriages and burials, 1813-1847, 4062A/PR/1/7, p. 197, no. 1572, John Smith burial (1846); Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter.
  17. Death certificate of John Smith, died 27 September 1846, Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, England. General Register Office, England. Registration Year:1846, Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep, Registration district: Newton Abbot, Volume: 11, Page: 102.

© 2019. Australian Genealogy Journeys. This post was originally published at https://ausgenjourneys.blogspot.com/2019/04/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-week-14-brick.html
52 Ancestors in 52 weeks is © Amy Johnson Crow

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