What can you tell me about my great grandfather?
QI’m looking for details of my great grandfather, Patrick McDonald, born in Cavan, Ireland, in about 1867. In 1891 and 1901 Patrick was in Sunderland. In 1911 my grandfather (Patrick’s son), Joseph Henry McDonald (born 1895), was living with his stepbrother and stepsister. Joseph’s parents are listed as Catherine and Patrick McDonald, but I can find no record of their marriage. Catherine was previously married to a Mr Fischer.
Julie Dewart
ASearches in the Marriage Index for England & Wales suggest that Catherine and Patrick never legally married. The 1901 census appears to confirm this, because it notes
Patrick as single, born c1867 in Ireland, residing with Catherine Fisher, born c1867 in Liverpool, a widow. Oddly, Joseph Henry was not with them.
In 1891 Patrick was single, born c1869, with his widowed mother Ann, born c1831, and his married sister, Bridget Corcarane, born c1863; all born in County Cavan. There was no obvious return for the family in the 1871 or 1881 censuses.
You need to identify Patrick’s father to further your research in Ireland. I searched for a marriage record for Bridget McDonald (sic) to a Mr Corcarane (sic), which would provide Bridget’s father’s name, without luck. Nor could I find Bridget in 1901 or 1911.
I searched Bishopwearmouth 1891 returns for anyone born in County Cavan. This brought up a Mary McDonald, a patient in the Bishopwearmouth Infirmary, born about 1867 in Mount Nugent, County Cavan. It might be worth following her up.
I couldn’t find Ann McDonald in the 1901 census and, assuming she was dead by then, I identified a possible death for her (as Annie) in Sunderland, December quarter 1898, aged 65. This might lead you to her husband via her grave plot. Steven Smyrl