Circumstantial evidence.
Knock Mills.
There are some mills associated with O'Keefe.
Rathronan - here a Richard Keeffe died about 1850. I believe his wife was called Ellen although I don't remember why. This family is connected to the Yelverton mob and were having a bit of a do over this Will. I kind of discount this mill now.
Rathangan Kildare - this was pre 1800 and the family were petitioning the Duke of Wellington after soldiers stationed at the mill took all the stock or something. But I can't find any descendants although there are Keefe's around. Daniel I think.
Barllyartella. This was a Patrick I think - around about 1850 he was having an angry match with someone in the press, then immigrated. I think he was in debt. Etc. Loss of wife and children in a shipwreck on the way to Australia.
Ballyquane - Sherlock and Helen Keeffe marriage. I have googled around it. It ends up in the Landed Estate Courts. It does not seem to get anywhere.
St Dominic's Mill in Cork City. A distillery . It is Keeffe O'Keeffe and John O'Keeffe and I think it ends badly.
Also another down in the south somewhere I forget the details.
Oh and David Keeffe in Youghal making earthenware and dealing in coal and ships.
Rathmolyon Richard Keefe
Kill Mill somewhere like that. This and the above are in Meath.
Knock Mills Iffernock Clearly connected with Richard Keeffes. I have been researching this family. I want to know all about them. Particularly because Nock Mills or whatever it is called, is in Trim. Also Trim (and Dublin) we have Michael and Christopher O'Keeffe with their plant nursery in Trim. And I've mislaid all the notes I made.
Recently I took a look at Matthias O'Keeffe. He's interesting. See below. But I digress. We should adopt Matthias though. If we could choose then that it what we should do.
So was Richard Keeffe miller baptised at St Finbarr's ? We hope so. I want this one Richard Keeffe 1804 parents John Keeffe and Ansty Barry/Berry. John and Anstace live near and around Gill Abbey Street which is near the river in Cork. They had a few other children too. Mainly Mary, Daniel and Johanna. Jolly good. I want the Richard Keeffe of about that birth date to get married at St. Finbarr's. I am choosing this one. Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley of St Brongs. I am choosing this marriage for a reason. I want the random birth of a John O'Keeffe around about 1834 ish in Cork to a father Richard - and I like this one best. John Keeffe 1838 to Richard and Norry Keeffe Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge. Just cos. Because Buckley is the kind of name you get with Milling families. That and Sherlock (posh) Sullivan, Barry and so on.
So back to facts. Now I need a Honoria Keeffe death. Sadly. So I looked at Wills first. There are not many in Cork so I widened it. I found one in Trim. A Will. Death of Richard Keeffe. That might be one of the three Richard Keeffe's that are connected with various Meath mills but it is a bit of a co incidence.
The Nock Mills ROK has a good background for me. He is politically active around 1840s with Irish rights problems. Gives money to this and that cause. We can have him.
Of course it does not work quite right. This is because of funeral monuments in Trim that give more detail about a Richard Keeffe who indeed had a father John but his mother was called Mary. Anyway. I still want to adopt them. I like too the next generation where a Richard Keeffe married Alicia Maria Synnott in Dublin. She died in 1885 in Summerhill Wexford. Ferns. And also there are a little nest of O'Keeffe's back in Waterford, O'Keeffe and Co. William Joseph who is the son of Richard Keeffe of Nock Mills. So a big connection with this family to Wexford and William Joseph thinks he was born there and not in Meath.
So is there an Ansty Keeffe death in Waterford or Wexford? Astace Barry was born in 1777 - there is a maybe death in Dungarvan in 1872. Hmm.
What there is from all this is a picture of mobility and connection between the O'Keeffe's of Trim and Wexford maybe also Waterford. It would be nice if our ancestors in Cork had had some land and not been millers. Farmers are so much easier to find. I am sticking for the moment to this Honoria O'Keeffe. She'll do for now.
Engineer and architect, of Cork and London. Mathias O'Keeffe, who was born in Cork circa 1830,(1) was articled in 1850 to PETER JOSEPH KLASEN , a district engineer in the Board of Works. He then worked on various engineering projects in England, Ireland and Scotland, before settling in Cork in about 1859.(2) He remained in Cork until at least 1880, when he held the position of city engineer and surveyor,(3) but by 1887 had moved to Brixton in London.(4) The English census of 1891 shows him as a sixty-one year old civil engineer and architect living at 13 Villa Road, Brixton, with his thirty-three year old Cork-born wife, Margaret, and two-year-old daughter, Mary.
A survey drawing by O'Keeffe, signed, addressed and dated 23 November 1876, showing the plan and section of the route for a proposed viaduct from Cobh cathedral over Middleton Street and West Street to the Crescent is among the Ashlin and Coleman drawings in the Irish Architectural Archive.(5)
What is interesting too is that his only child Mary O'Keeffe seems to have joined the Notre Dame order in Wandsworth and is a teacher there.
Tuesday, 14 January 2020
Friday, 10 January 2020
Well I am vexed. I have just endeavored to re do old research to try to find our Richard Keeffe.
Something somewhere has to be wrong.
Irish records are not that bad. Especially for Cork City.
I have looked at all Richard Keeffe marriages at St Finbarrs. All children born to Richard Keeffes.
At all John Keeffe's births.
Somewhere somehow there has to be connection.
I traced Matthew/Matthias Keeffe of Cork. There were two. One was a doctor and one was a noted Engineer, who apparently travelled in the UK and then settled back in Cork. He was also a teacher.
The engineer came to England and is the Census for 1891 I think. He came and he was married then to a much younger woman. They had one child born in Lambeth and this child went to be a nun of Notre Dame.
Hmm.
But I cannot find his birth etc.
I have contacted Irish groups for the parish of Ballymacoda and Ladybridge where there was a John Keeffe born to a Richard and Norry Keeffe in 1838. There was a corn mill in Ballymacoda. A marriage for a Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley in Cork City in 1821. But the researcher there suggested John Keeffe born in Cork City in 1822. That seems too early for our ancestor.
Anyway. Vexed here.
One record for a Richard Keeffe, marriage or parent must be our ancestor. But which?
Hi Clare, yes it is most frustrating. I have collected lots of info on Richard O'keefe's (& variant surnames), built trees on Ancestry for various O'keefe families, had our O'Keefe YDNA tested, searched for autosomal DNA links in ireland, but still nothing that we can say is our Richard or John in Ireland. As you know I thought the Richard O'keefe and Mary Callaghan couple having children in Cork was them, though their John was baptised 1828, but found that the 1828 John was recorded in other records. These are the families I have explored via creating trees:
Something somewhere has to be wrong.
Irish records are not that bad. Especially for Cork City.
I have looked at all Richard Keeffe marriages at St Finbarrs. All children born to Richard Keeffes.
At all John Keeffe's births.
Somewhere somehow there has to be connection.
I traced Matthew/Matthias Keeffe of Cork. There were two. One was a doctor and one was a noted Engineer, who apparently travelled in the UK and then settled back in Cork. He was also a teacher.
The engineer came to England and is the Census for 1891 I think. He came and he was married then to a much younger woman. They had one child born in Lambeth and this child went to be a nun of Notre Dame.
Hmm.
But I cannot find his birth etc.
I have contacted Irish groups for the parish of Ballymacoda and Ladybridge where there was a John Keeffe born to a Richard and Norry Keeffe in 1838. There was a corn mill in Ballymacoda. A marriage for a Richard Keeffe and Honora Buckley in Cork City in 1821. But the researcher there suggested John Keeffe born in Cork City in 1822. That seems too early for our ancestor.
Anyway. Vexed here.
One record for a Richard Keeffe, marriage or parent must be our ancestor. But which?
Hi Clare, yes it is most frustrating. I have collected lots of info on Richard O'keefe's (& variant surnames), built trees on Ancestry for various O'keefe families, had our O'Keefe YDNA tested, searched for autosomal DNA links in ireland, but still nothing that we can say is our Richard or John in Ireland. As you know I thought the Richard O'keefe and Mary Callaghan couple having children in Cork was them, though their John was baptised 1828, but found that the 1828 John was recorded in other records. These are the families I have explored via creating trees:
O'keefe Rathmines Family Tree
I have just created a tree to put on all the found Johns and Richards of about the right age who aren't in one of the other trees. This can gradually be built up and maybe used to eliminate various John's born in Ireland about the right time. Hardly anyone on this tree yet - but did find a John Keefe, shipwright born Cork on the vessel Encounter in Japan in 1861.
Just seen this - I have been so busy tonight with the Nurserymen of Dublin/Meath Michae
l and Christopher. Christopher is resident of Rathfarnham. And in Rathfarnham we find a Richard Keefe. Thinking on it. A shipwright is good. But our John was in Egton in 1861.
Just seen this - I have been so busy tonight with the Nurserymen of Dublin/Meath Michae
l and Christopher. Christopher is resident of Rathfarnham. And in Rathfarnham we find a Richard Keefe. Thinking on it. A shipwright is good. But our John was in Egton in 1861.
Thursday, 2 January 2020
Peter O'Keefe - Engine Fitter Waterford/Wexford
Karen has just raised this because of the search for the Peter O'Keefe who made the news in 1873 along with John Monaghan in Egton area of Yorkshire.
[KH info - One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette. Who is Peter Keefe? Was he a relative visiting John? A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker" Again a record which might be a clue to relative of \John's. There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887. All his sons are potters at some time growing up. His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at Cannock. ]
This Peter O'Keefe that Karen has been researching hails from Staffordshire via Waterford. So I have been padding him out a bit.
In 1851 Peter Keafe can be found in the High Street of Stoke Upon Trent and is an engine fitter (Millwright fitter). He has wife Bridget (Sullivan) with him and five children all born in Ireland. Youngest son Joseph was born in Fenton, Staffordshire. I'm not sure if this High Street is in Stoke or Fenton?
So I have traced the births of the children. They were born in Dublin Arran Quay or Haddington Road and baptized there. Another child Edward appears on the next census in 1861, born in 1855. Son Peter died in 1867 and this sad fact appeared in the newspaper.
Son William born around 1836 was first recorded as a potter, then by 1861, he was married to Hannah Rowley. He is probably the son of Peter as he consistently gives his birth place as Dublin. He can be found in the 1871 Census and now he is an Auctioneer and Valuer. His father Peter O'Keefe having been bankrupted as an Engine Fitter in 1868.
In 1861, William Junior, is described as a general engine fitter and his sister Bridge is living with him in Harding Street, Stoke. She gives her employment as dress maker.
He and Hannah have one son William Rowley O'Keefe. This son became a Catholic Priest and was Canon Rowley O'Keefe at his death. Parish priest in Stourbridge for 17 years. Etc.
Confusingly there is a Bridget O'Keefe and two sons William and Thomas in London in 1871 - all from Waterford which confused things for a while. Ah take that back, I have now found Peter and Bridget living in Stoke with sons Joseph and Edward.
A William O'Keefe married a Hannah Rowley in 1857 in Hanley Staffs. She died before 1891 I think. She was some ten years older than William. A sister in law, Martha Rowley was living with William and Hannah in 1881.
William went on to be a successful auctioneer and by the 1891 Census was living off his own means.
So back to Peter born around 1811. Of course I cannot find anyone to fit this birth date. There is just one lively suspect on FMP and it might need a search on the Eire paying site to check things out. I did find a Peter son of a Richard in Wexford, Ferns in 1817. The family that match up to this comprises just one son and several daughters. It's a bit annoying. I have not found the rest of this Peter O'Keefe's children and traced their lives yet. They have vanished.
I have now found that Joseph O'Keeffe (1851) married an Elizabeth and worked as a potter. In 1881 he was living in Milner Street, Stoke. In 1900, he and Elizabeth are in New Jersey. Trenton, Mercer. He is still working in the pottery trade. The Census has a column for their parents' origin, and Joseph's parents are listed as being from Ireland, while Joseph was born in England.
This is all something and nothing. Two similarities with the O'Keefe family in Egton Bridge. The connection to Mills and Milling being one and the interest in pottery. John O'Keefe (1832/6) was an agent for Eartheware products when he lived in Glaisdale. We wondered if this was a link to a Milling family in Waterford. But possibly it could be a link to this family in Stoke. There is also the same lack of consistency with the spelling of the family name and a deep commitment to Catholicism.
This Peter O'Keefe that Karen has been researching hails from Staffordshire via Waterford. So I have been padding him out a bit.
In 1851 Peter Keafe can be found in the High Street of Stoke Upon Trent and is an engine fitter (Millwright fitter). He has wife Bridget (Sullivan) with him and five children all born in Ireland. Youngest son Joseph was born in Fenton, Staffordshire. I'm not sure if this High Street is in Stoke or Fenton?
So I have traced the births of the children. They were born in Dublin Arran Quay or Haddington Road and baptized there. Another child Edward appears on the next census in 1861, born in 1855. Son Peter died in 1867 and this sad fact appeared in the newspaper.
Son William born around 1836 was first recorded as a potter, then by 1861, he was married to Hannah Rowley. He is probably the son of Peter as he consistently gives his birth place as Dublin. He can be found in the 1871 Census and now he is an Auctioneer and Valuer. His father Peter O'Keefe having been bankrupted as an Engine Fitter in 1868.
In 1861, William Junior, is described as a general engine fitter and his sister Bridge is living with him in Harding Street, Stoke. She gives her employment as dress maker.
He and Hannah have one son William Rowley O'Keefe. This son became a Catholic Priest and was Canon Rowley O'Keefe at his death. Parish priest in Stourbridge for 17 years. Etc.
Confusingly there is a Bridget O'Keefe and two sons William and Thomas in London in 1871 - all from Waterford which confused things for a while. Ah take that back, I have now found Peter and Bridget living in Stoke with sons Joseph and Edward.
A William O'Keefe married a Hannah Rowley in 1857 in Hanley Staffs. She died before 1891 I think. She was some ten years older than William. A sister in law, Martha Rowley was living with William and Hannah in 1881.
William went on to be a successful auctioneer and by the 1891 Census was living off his own means.
So back to Peter born around 1811. Of course I cannot find anyone to fit this birth date. There is just one lively suspect on FMP and it might need a search on the Eire paying site to check things out. I did find a Peter son of a Richard in Wexford, Ferns in 1817. The family that match up to this comprises just one son and several daughters. It's a bit annoying. I have not found the rest of this Peter O'Keefe's children and traced their lives yet. They have vanished.
I have now found that Joseph O'Keeffe (1851) married an Elizabeth and worked as a potter. In 1881 he was living in Milner Street, Stoke. In 1900, he and Elizabeth are in New Jersey. Trenton, Mercer. He is still working in the pottery trade. The Census has a column for their parents' origin, and Joseph's parents are listed as being from Ireland, while Joseph was born in England.
This is all something and nothing. Two similarities with the O'Keefe family in Egton Bridge. The connection to Mills and Milling being one and the interest in pottery. John O'Keefe (1832/6) was an agent for Eartheware products when he lived in Glaisdale. We wondered if this was a link to a Milling family in Waterford. But possibly it could be a link to this family in Stoke. There is also the same lack of consistency with the spelling of the family name and a deep commitment to Catholicism.
Wednesday, 1 January 2020
Revisiting [Karen's contributions in blue] All ideas welcome, good to question things.
John O'Keeffe (I think this is the spelling in the 1861 census - there is for sure, an O' ,and I think the lower parts of two ffs ) was apparently born in 1833 but was not quite sure of it! This would make him 13 years older than wife Elizabeth, if it was true. We know he is a school master, and numerate, and trustworthy. So why does his age than wander to a birth date of 1836? [presumably to bring thier ages closer together - a very common thing people did when their ages were quite different was to bring them closer together]. He seems to be O'Keefe at his wedding and then he is known as Keefe. Is this the outcome of others filling out his census returns etc?[he is named as Mr J keefe in 1858 when attending the opening of the catholic Church in Scarborough] Or did he choose to lose the O'? Karen thinks he would be avoiding prejudice against the Irish but I do not agree with this. [This is what people in the family told me when I began researching the family history in the 1980s - I was told that it was Mary nee Conroy who insisted they use the "O" because it was she who was especially pro-Irish] He lives in an outpost of Catholicism where he has come as part of the Mission to them as the first schoolmaster at the Catholic School. I don't think they are anti Irish in this spot. They have far too much experience of oppression to be thus biased. Where did the O' go? And the extra f.? My feeling is that is was of no importance at the time as these spellings are all uses...... his son Joseph marries as O'Keeffe. But then Joseph's son is John O'Keefe. [I suspect the use of the "O", or omission of it, in the birth registrations of the children of Joseph and Mary O'Keefe may have been dependent on who registered the birth] I think I have been denied my full quota of letters in my name!
Karen has a book with dedication very clearly to O'Keeffe. [this is a book with the date 1854 in the inscription - perhaps when he turned 21 or left ireland] It must be that we have a liking for standard spellings that was not around in earlier times. If I changed the spelling of my name it would lock me out of various internet accounts. Things are different now.
Also, he must have had an Irish accent. So avoiding Irish prejudice would have been a bit difficult.
So here we have the first teacher at the new Catholic School. (1858)
He resigns this post around the time of his marriage for a clerical post at the Ironstone works. Which closes, and by 1871 he is " out of employ" which is bad luck for a man with two children and a rent to pay. [he is a "booking clerk out of employ" - I was never sure if this was for the railway or for the ironworks. However, the Glaisdale ironworks opened in 1866 and closed in 1876. maybe this is why John and Elizabeth went to live in Glaisdale if this is whre he worked for a while. (He is known to have collected money towards the building of the church from workers at the iron works - this reported to me by the archivist at Middlesborough many years ago). The Grosmont ironworks was 1862-1892] We don't know the date that he finished at the school and began at the Ironstone works. We must presume that there was better pay as a clerk, because the status as schoolmaster was something to be prized. Maybe. [I am pretty sure he left the school master job in order to earn more working, he was school master when he married.]
It was not a well paid job. The school could not have been very large. At the time, the school must have been attached to the church somehow ... the modern day school is housed in the pre 1867 church building which also included the Presbytery for the priest.
I don't know if there was also another school in Egton Bridge or Egton maybe for non Catholic children. We must assume yes.
Just having read a history of Teachers and Education in Ireland I wonder that John Keefe was given the post. There is a record of John Keeffe graduating from Queen's College in Cork around 1856 ish - as usual I cannot find the record when I need it - in Arts. But according to the information I just read through, it was not really the done thing for a Catholic to attend this college because of disapproval by the bishops of Ireland. Also, very few Catholics were admitted because generally speaking, they were not well educated ,to access further education.
It is all very enigmatic.
What are the chances that " the Captain" ( first mate maybe) of a ship should land up in Egton Bridge and be appointed the first school master in a remote Catholic community? I could understand the situation if John had been educated in England, say Ampleforth or Stoneyhurst or even Ushaw. Maybe if he had been in England before 1858. But to think that he came over from Cork? What is this about? It does suggest that the post was given him while he was resident in Cork and that he filled in his time after his education with learning to be a mariner. Cork was a good place for sailors but this is all very odd. [I agree it seems likely the school master job was arranged while he was in Ireland, and he came over to take up the post. Egton Bridge is mentioned in Irish newspapers as donating money to Irish causes. It is possible the O'keefe's knew Andrew McCarthy who was priest at Egton around the time John went there. As for the ship connection - there is no reliable evidence for this at all, though it is quite possible John arrived in Whitcby by ship, unless he came to Liverpool and made his wasy across country. The Catholic archives found nothing in the EB school or other records, about his origins or how he came to be there. Also, there is no trace of a baptism for him in Cork - could the story have been that it was his father who was baptised or married in Cork, rather than him? We actually have no idea where he lived, all we have is that in the 1911 census "unknown" for place of birth is crossed through - was this written by Elizabeth? - and Cork written in it's place - strongly suggesting he was born in Cork. But so convincing baptism found to date.]
It would seem that he and his wife Elizabeth moved to Glaisdale after their marriage. [possibly for the ironworks job as mentioned earlier]
Before this John is involved with the Egton Bridge Horticultural Society and Show on St Thomas' Island (He lodges with a family in 1861) - which island is just before the mill in Egton Bridge. This Society and Show was begun in 1859 and did not go well the first year. After that things improved. John never enters anything that he has grown - he is the Secretary dealing with the paperwork. He is not a grower. He is a Classer at another Show some years later though. [He is a classer in 1866 - the year before he married - he must have known something to be given a judging job?] However his FIL George Barker is a keen exhibitor and wins many prizes - as are many other familiar names. Joseph Lawson, Richard Barker etc. George grows winning gooseberries and these are exhibited in the Gooseberry Show, another organisation - apparently around since 1800. George has been a winning shower for a long time before the Horticultural Society was founded! A George is mentioned in the 1820's but this was probably an earlier George Barker.
In 1867 after his marriage John is involved with Penny Readings in Glaisdale. Press references to these span only two years. Penny Readings are a fashion in Whitby before this time.
After this he is the Secretary for the Egton and Glaisdale Ploughing Society.... for around 8 years by Press release info. This is the competition for ploughing and hedge cutting. The committee have meetings at local hostelries ie The Tunnel Inn in Grosmont and other venues. The competition takes place in the winter.
This indicates that John was not very interested in growing things or that he did not have any time, or garden land. It also suggest that John was keen to get busy in Glaisdale until the children began to arrive and then his outlet was the Ploughing Society. John keeps to this for a good time and I hope he enjoyed the planning meetings and events. We don't know if the Press references and times they represent are determined by fashions for activities or by the proficiency of the organisers in getting press releases. It would suggest that John was a man who understood the ploughing of land though: that he cared about it. Or was he just being amenable? His obituary emphazises his kindness and goodwill.
Other social activities for him would include membership of the Guild of st Hedda and St Joseph in Egton Bridge. [John was not a member of the Guild of St Hedda's - I have been through all the Guild books, including the membership lists, at the RC Archives at Middlesborough and John never subscribes as a member of the Guild, or pays in to the funeral funds etc. I suspect John was more interested in education and entertainment and would have found the Guild rather too restrictive and narrow, which was maybe why he never joined.] Activities included walking round the area preceded by the Egton Bridge Brass Band and then a meeting - food - lectures by the priest. One source cites this guild as being more influential than the parish priest " due to the strict rules for behaviour that were devised"( Margaret H Turniman.)
We see John more clearly in his musical activities. He played the violin and family legend has it, that he gave lessons in violin. He played at some time in a quadrille Band for balls and so on and he was given to singing at the Catholic Concerts in Egton Bridge. (Not Irish songs maybe, although some reports include others singing Irish ballads, but not John). In one report he sings about Hot Codlings, a rather suggestive song about alcohol... he also sings in Glees. (part singing usually of a classical nature at this time) He is clearly a very musical man. He and his wife are believed to have sung in the church choir before their marriage. I hope they sung afterwards as well.
Employment.
Looking at the census returns gives us a skewed picture. He is out of employ then a signal man, shopkeeper -then a signal man and so on. [The census returns give him as a booking clerk in 1871 (presumably at the railway/), a railway signalman and gocer in 1881, a block signalman i n 1891, a railway signalman in 1901, and a pensioned retired signalman in 1911 South Eastern Railway] His Obituary declares that he was a Signal Man for 25 years and he had a pension for this. The date is given but I forget. I believe he must have been a Signal Man from around 1875 . The Press reveals that, in addition to this, the family was giving accommodation for visitors and this is documented from around 1890. I do forget. They were taking in visitors at Carr View, as were their daughters Eliza and Helen at some point. They also have paid guests when living back in Egton Bridge at St Hedda's Row.
The whole area was famous for beautiful scenery and there was much business to be gained.
His father in law and second wife, they were very much into the lodgings trade (Esk Villa) and this is where we find the daughters of the family finding economic development. (Manchester) His sister in law Hannah Mary marries the nephew of Joseph Lawson [she married Isaac lawson in 1899 - in 1891 he is railway clark in Darlington, in 1901 he is Station master at Egton Bridge] the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton Bridge. Her husband Isaac has been working in Darlington prior to his appointment as Station Master at Egton Bridge. The prizes won by Hannah's husband Isaac as Station Master in Egton Bridge suggest she that she too is into growing stuff and good at it too. I imagine hanging baskets of flowers. The building of Esk Villa would seem to be aimed at developing the business side of Holiday Lodgings - instead of the traditional family trade of tailoring and shop keeping. [It seems highly likely that it is Frances, George Barker's 2nd wife, who runs this - it is her name in all the newspaper lists of visitors]
Looking at the connections and family and social grouping for John, gives an interesting picture.
His sisters in law, Hannah and Esther were talented musicians, both capable pianists and organists. Hannah was also a teacher and Principal of her own school. [Hannah is an assistant teacher or teacher in 1881 and 1891. In 1901 Hannah Mary Lawson is living at 1 Broomfield terrace, Ruswarp, and is the first listed in the household of 2, but is given as "partner" to the head of household (who is presumably not present that night) and her occupations as "Principle Private School" working from home on her own account, with a servant Annie SDoyle age 18 born in Anglesy, living in with her. Assistant ] He married into a very musical family. A family that educated their girls. I wonder why his wife Elizabeth was not so gifted? Or was she? [I seem to remember newspaper reports show she was involved in the helping with entertainment events]
He mixed with the whole community and I would guess this was important to him.
Looking at the work and opportunities for progression on the railways - John did not do so well? He is a signal man which is labour rather than managerial. [but you did have to be literate to do asignalman's job - communications and train movements had to be logged in a record book, and it does seem to have been a pensionable job]]
Isaac Lawson, his brother in law, is a station master.
John and his wife took in some orphans from Bradford. The Glenn family were adopted by them and appear either in John's home or in the home of his grown up daughters. When one of the Glenn family dies from injuries sustained in action in the second world war there is quite a thing about it in the Press. Father in law George also seems to have an orphan from Bradford living with him and second wife Frances, in the 1891 Census. Anne Starr born in Bradford. Is she a servant or a foster child?
I boggle at the accommodation needs of so many children, foster children, and summer visitors!
Lastly John is listed in a Trade Directory as a dealer in Earthenware when in Glaisdale ie 1890. That is a bit of an anomaly.He was a signal man at that time. Perhaps he also had a shop (he is down as a shopkeeper either 1881 or 1891 I forget.) How would there be enough room for a shop?
Joseph Lawson - the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton, he is a sportsman and was into hunting in his younger years.
John however, has no references to this kind of activity. In the old photos which we think were taken around 1867 ie the time of his marriage - he has a bowler hat. These details are significant of social class at the time. What does this signify? [In 1858 at the opening of the RC church in Scarborough (or Whitby), he is described in newspapers as a "noteable" person. In 1901 he is reported in the newspapers "At the Arncliffe Hotel: Mr J O'Keefe presents a silver albert and silver matchbox on Mr pearson leaving the district to join the Outh African Constabulary", and his obituary in the newspapers in 1915 make it clear he was a respected person. Anuty kath thought of him as a "gentleman" and said his accent was more Dublin than Cork - but who knows! I just wish someone had asked him about his Irish family.]
Elizabeth wears a blouse and skirt: she has a pretty hat and a cloak. Remember that her father is a tailor by trade and a daughter at one point is a dressmaker.
If John's father was called Richard , why no Richard son? We understand that brother in law, Richard Barker was "the Black Sheep" of the family -but Richard is present at many local gatherings and has office of some sort, he also had the tenancy of an Inn in the village of Egton [he is joiner's app 1871, grocer in 1881, joiner in 1891, at the Wheatsheaf Inn as innkeeper and farmer in 1901 [Etgon for all these), then in 1911 he is living at Old Boulby, Easington and is a mechanic at the Ironstone mines.
Why no references to Ireland handed down by family? [Was Elizabeth the dominant one? from what aunty kath said she was quite a feisty character, so maybe his origins were not talked about?]
If John's father was a miller in any meaningful way, why cannot we find reference to this? It should leave an echo. Was he exaggerating somehow, about the miller bit? Was his father a farmer? With a bit of an interest in corn milling? Not a man notable as a miller.
Is the marriage record wrong as to name? [I have often wondered if the name is wrong!]
[One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette. Who is Peter Keefe? Was he a relative visiting John? A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker" Again a tantalising record which might be a clue to relative of \John's. There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887. All his sons are potters at some time growing up. His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at cannock. ]
John O'Keeffe (I think this is the spelling in the 1861 census - there is for sure, an O' ,and I think the lower parts of two ffs ) was apparently born in 1833 but was not quite sure of it! This would make him 13 years older than wife Elizabeth, if it was true. We know he is a school master, and numerate, and trustworthy. So why does his age than wander to a birth date of 1836? [presumably to bring thier ages closer together - a very common thing people did when their ages were quite different was to bring them closer together]. He seems to be O'Keefe at his wedding and then he is known as Keefe. Is this the outcome of others filling out his census returns etc?[he is named as Mr J keefe in 1858 when attending the opening of the catholic Church in Scarborough] Or did he choose to lose the O'? Karen thinks he would be avoiding prejudice against the Irish but I do not agree with this. [This is what people in the family told me when I began researching the family history in the 1980s - I was told that it was Mary nee Conroy who insisted they use the "O" because it was she who was especially pro-Irish] He lives in an outpost of Catholicism where he has come as part of the Mission to them as the first schoolmaster at the Catholic School. I don't think they are anti Irish in this spot. They have far too much experience of oppression to be thus biased. Where did the O' go? And the extra f.? My feeling is that is was of no importance at the time as these spellings are all uses...... his son Joseph marries as O'Keeffe. But then Joseph's son is John O'Keefe. [I suspect the use of the "O", or omission of it, in the birth registrations of the children of Joseph and Mary O'Keefe may have been dependent on who registered the birth] I think I have been denied my full quota of letters in my name!
Karen has a book with dedication very clearly to O'Keeffe. [this is a book with the date 1854 in the inscription - perhaps when he turned 21 or left ireland] It must be that we have a liking for standard spellings that was not around in earlier times. If I changed the spelling of my name it would lock me out of various internet accounts. Things are different now.
Also, he must have had an Irish accent. So avoiding Irish prejudice would have been a bit difficult.
So here we have the first teacher at the new Catholic School. (1858)
He resigns this post around the time of his marriage for a clerical post at the Ironstone works. Which closes, and by 1871 he is " out of employ" which is bad luck for a man with two children and a rent to pay. [he is a "booking clerk out of employ" - I was never sure if this was for the railway or for the ironworks. However, the Glaisdale ironworks opened in 1866 and closed in 1876. maybe this is why John and Elizabeth went to live in Glaisdale if this is whre he worked for a while. (He is known to have collected money towards the building of the church from workers at the iron works - this reported to me by the archivist at Middlesborough many years ago). The Grosmont ironworks was 1862-1892] We don't know the date that he finished at the school and began at the Ironstone works. We must presume that there was better pay as a clerk, because the status as schoolmaster was something to be prized. Maybe. [I am pretty sure he left the school master job in order to earn more working, he was school master when he married.]
It was not a well paid job. The school could not have been very large. At the time, the school must have been attached to the church somehow ... the modern day school is housed in the pre 1867 church building which also included the Presbytery for the priest.
I don't know if there was also another school in Egton Bridge or Egton maybe for non Catholic children. We must assume yes.
Just having read a history of Teachers and Education in Ireland I wonder that John Keefe was given the post. There is a record of John Keeffe graduating from Queen's College in Cork around 1856 ish - as usual I cannot find the record when I need it - in Arts. But according to the information I just read through, it was not really the done thing for a Catholic to attend this college because of disapproval by the bishops of Ireland. Also, very few Catholics were admitted because generally speaking, they were not well educated ,to access further education.
It is all very enigmatic.
What are the chances that " the Captain" ( first mate maybe) of a ship should land up in Egton Bridge and be appointed the first school master in a remote Catholic community? I could understand the situation if John had been educated in England, say Ampleforth or Stoneyhurst or even Ushaw. Maybe if he had been in England before 1858. But to think that he came over from Cork? What is this about? It does suggest that the post was given him while he was resident in Cork and that he filled in his time after his education with learning to be a mariner. Cork was a good place for sailors but this is all very odd. [I agree it seems likely the school master job was arranged while he was in Ireland, and he came over to take up the post. Egton Bridge is mentioned in Irish newspapers as donating money to Irish causes. It is possible the O'keefe's knew Andrew McCarthy who was priest at Egton around the time John went there. As for the ship connection - there is no reliable evidence for this at all, though it is quite possible John arrived in Whitcby by ship, unless he came to Liverpool and made his wasy across country. The Catholic archives found nothing in the EB school or other records, about his origins or how he came to be there. Also, there is no trace of a baptism for him in Cork - could the story have been that it was his father who was baptised or married in Cork, rather than him? We actually have no idea where he lived, all we have is that in the 1911 census "unknown" for place of birth is crossed through - was this written by Elizabeth? - and Cork written in it's place - strongly suggesting he was born in Cork. But so convincing baptism found to date.]
It would seem that he and his wife Elizabeth moved to Glaisdale after their marriage. [possibly for the ironworks job as mentioned earlier]
Before this John is involved with the Egton Bridge Horticultural Society and Show on St Thomas' Island (He lodges with a family in 1861) - which island is just before the mill in Egton Bridge. This Society and Show was begun in 1859 and did not go well the first year. After that things improved. John never enters anything that he has grown - he is the Secretary dealing with the paperwork. He is not a grower. He is a Classer at another Show some years later though. [He is a classer in 1866 - the year before he married - he must have known something to be given a judging job?] However his FIL George Barker is a keen exhibitor and wins many prizes - as are many other familiar names. Joseph Lawson, Richard Barker etc. George grows winning gooseberries and these are exhibited in the Gooseberry Show, another organisation - apparently around since 1800. George has been a winning shower for a long time before the Horticultural Society was founded! A George is mentioned in the 1820's but this was probably an earlier George Barker.
In 1867 after his marriage John is involved with Penny Readings in Glaisdale. Press references to these span only two years. Penny Readings are a fashion in Whitby before this time.
After this he is the Secretary for the Egton and Glaisdale Ploughing Society.... for around 8 years by Press release info. This is the competition for ploughing and hedge cutting. The committee have meetings at local hostelries ie The Tunnel Inn in Grosmont and other venues. The competition takes place in the winter.
This indicates that John was not very interested in growing things or that he did not have any time, or garden land. It also suggest that John was keen to get busy in Glaisdale until the children began to arrive and then his outlet was the Ploughing Society. John keeps to this for a good time and I hope he enjoyed the planning meetings and events. We don't know if the Press references and times they represent are determined by fashions for activities or by the proficiency of the organisers in getting press releases. It would suggest that John was a man who understood the ploughing of land though: that he cared about it. Or was he just being amenable? His obituary emphazises his kindness and goodwill.
Other social activities for him would include membership of the Guild of st Hedda and St Joseph in Egton Bridge. [John was not a member of the Guild of St Hedda's - I have been through all the Guild books, including the membership lists, at the RC Archives at Middlesborough and John never subscribes as a member of the Guild, or pays in to the funeral funds etc. I suspect John was more interested in education and entertainment and would have found the Guild rather too restrictive and narrow, which was maybe why he never joined.] Activities included walking round the area preceded by the Egton Bridge Brass Band and then a meeting - food - lectures by the priest. One source cites this guild as being more influential than the parish priest " due to the strict rules for behaviour that were devised"( Margaret H Turniman.)
We see John more clearly in his musical activities. He played the violin and family legend has it, that he gave lessons in violin. He played at some time in a quadrille Band for balls and so on and he was given to singing at the Catholic Concerts in Egton Bridge. (Not Irish songs maybe, although some reports include others singing Irish ballads, but not John). In one report he sings about Hot Codlings, a rather suggestive song about alcohol... he also sings in Glees. (part singing usually of a classical nature at this time) He is clearly a very musical man. He and his wife are believed to have sung in the church choir before their marriage. I hope they sung afterwards as well.
Employment.
Looking at the census returns gives us a skewed picture. He is out of employ then a signal man, shopkeeper -then a signal man and so on. [The census returns give him as a booking clerk in 1871 (presumably at the railway/), a railway signalman and gocer in 1881, a block signalman i n 1891, a railway signalman in 1901, and a pensioned retired signalman in 1911 South Eastern Railway] His Obituary declares that he was a Signal Man for 25 years and he had a pension for this. The date is given but I forget. I believe he must have been a Signal Man from around 1875 . The Press reveals that, in addition to this, the family was giving accommodation for visitors and this is documented from around 1890. I do forget. They were taking in visitors at Carr View, as were their daughters Eliza and Helen at some point. They also have paid guests when living back in Egton Bridge at St Hedda's Row.
The whole area was famous for beautiful scenery and there was much business to be gained.
His father in law and second wife, they were very much into the lodgings trade (Esk Villa) and this is where we find the daughters of the family finding economic development. (Manchester) His sister in law Hannah Mary marries the nephew of Joseph Lawson [she married Isaac lawson in 1899 - in 1891 he is railway clark in Darlington, in 1901 he is Station master at Egton Bridge] the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton Bridge. Her husband Isaac has been working in Darlington prior to his appointment as Station Master at Egton Bridge. The prizes won by Hannah's husband Isaac as Station Master in Egton Bridge suggest she that she too is into growing stuff and good at it too. I imagine hanging baskets of flowers. The building of Esk Villa would seem to be aimed at developing the business side of Holiday Lodgings - instead of the traditional family trade of tailoring and shop keeping. [It seems highly likely that it is Frances, George Barker's 2nd wife, who runs this - it is her name in all the newspaper lists of visitors]
Looking at the connections and family and social grouping for John, gives an interesting picture.
His sisters in law, Hannah and Esther were talented musicians, both capable pianists and organists. Hannah was also a teacher and Principal of her own school. [Hannah is an assistant teacher or teacher in 1881 and 1891. In 1901 Hannah Mary Lawson is living at 1 Broomfield terrace, Ruswarp, and is the first listed in the household of 2, but is given as "partner" to the head of household (who is presumably not present that night) and her occupations as "Principle Private School" working from home on her own account, with a servant Annie SDoyle age 18 born in Anglesy, living in with her. Assistant ] He married into a very musical family. A family that educated their girls. I wonder why his wife Elizabeth was not so gifted? Or was she? [I seem to remember newspaper reports show she was involved in the helping with entertainment events]
He mixed with the whole community and I would guess this was important to him.
Looking at the work and opportunities for progression on the railways - John did not do so well? He is a signal man which is labour rather than managerial. [but you did have to be literate to do asignalman's job - communications and train movements had to be logged in a record book, and it does seem to have been a pensionable job]]
Isaac Lawson, his brother in law, is a station master.
John and his wife took in some orphans from Bradford. The Glenn family were adopted by them and appear either in John's home or in the home of his grown up daughters. When one of the Glenn family dies from injuries sustained in action in the second world war there is quite a thing about it in the Press. Father in law George also seems to have an orphan from Bradford living with him and second wife Frances, in the 1891 Census. Anne Starr born in Bradford. Is she a servant or a foster child?
I boggle at the accommodation needs of so many children, foster children, and summer visitors!
Lastly John is listed in a Trade Directory as a dealer in Earthenware when in Glaisdale ie 1890. That is a bit of an anomaly.He was a signal man at that time. Perhaps he also had a shop (he is down as a shopkeeper either 1881 or 1891 I forget.) How would there be enough room for a shop?
Joseph Lawson - the keeper of the Station Hotel in Egton, he is a sportsman and was into hunting in his younger years.
John however, has no references to this kind of activity. In the old photos which we think were taken around 1867 ie the time of his marriage - he has a bowler hat. These details are significant of social class at the time. What does this signify? [In 1858 at the opening of the RC church in Scarborough (or Whitby), he is described in newspapers as a "noteable" person. In 1901 he is reported in the newspapers "At the Arncliffe Hotel: Mr J O'Keefe presents a silver albert and silver matchbox on Mr pearson leaving the district to join the Outh African Constabulary", and his obituary in the newspapers in 1915 make it clear he was a respected person. Anuty kath thought of him as a "gentleman" and said his accent was more Dublin than Cork - but who knows! I just wish someone had asked him about his Irish family.]
Elizabeth wears a blouse and skirt: she has a pretty hat and a cloak. Remember that her father is a tailor by trade and a daughter at one point is a dressmaker.
If John's father was called Richard , why no Richard son? We understand that brother in law, Richard Barker was "the Black Sheep" of the family -but Richard is present at many local gatherings and has office of some sort, he also had the tenancy of an Inn in the village of Egton [he is joiner's app 1871, grocer in 1881, joiner in 1891, at the Wheatsheaf Inn as innkeeper and farmer in 1901 [Etgon for all these), then in 1911 he is living at Old Boulby, Easington and is a mechanic at the Ironstone mines.
Why no references to Ireland handed down by family? [Was Elizabeth the dominant one? from what aunty kath said she was quite a feisty character, so maybe his origins were not talked about?]
If John's father was a miller in any meaningful way, why cannot we find reference to this? It should leave an echo. Was he exaggerating somehow, about the miller bit? Was his father a farmer? With a bit of an interest in corn milling? Not a man notable as a miller.
Is the marriage record wrong as to name? [I have often wondered if the name is wrong!]
[One other event which may be of importance is the warrant for the arrest of Peter Keefe reported in the newspapers 1873 - "Assault at Glaisdale". —John Monaghan and Peter Keefe had been summoned for assaulting Charles Framley, at Glaisdale, on the Ist inst. Defendants did not appear, and warrants were issued for their apprehension." 12 April 1873 - Whitby Gazette. Who is Peter Keefe? Was he a relative visiting John? A P Keefe is also mentioned again in 1885 "As usual on St Stephen's day the Catholic colony at this village had their popular concert in the evening......by the choir of the church and songs by Miss...Barker .... and Messrs ... P. Keefe, R Barker ... J Keefe... vocal duet by Miss Clark & Miss Barker" Again a tantalising record which might be a clue to relative of \John's. There is a Peter Keefe born Waterford who lived in Staffordshire from 1849 - in 1851 he is "millwright", in 1861 Engline Fitter, becomes bankrupt 1868, millwright in 1871, railway Engine Fitter 1881, dies 1887. All his sons are potters at some time growing up. His grandson becomes an RC Priest at Stoke on trent and then at cannock. ]
Saturday, 21 July 2018
The Dunwells
John =Elizabeth CLOTH MAKER
Harriet James William Job Emma Mary Benjamin
William =Alice Thompson LABOURER JOURNEYMAN BRICKMAKER
James John Mary Ann Rachel others William
This family are in Holbeck South Leeds and William and family are there in the C1871 at 36 Pottery Place / Hunslet Hall.
James however, is in Egton Bridge. That is a big jump. He is lodging with Mary Ann Roe -shoe maker's widow. He is a Labourer brick works - it would be likely this is at Grosmont where there was a Brickworks next to the Ironstone Mine. It does not seem that at that time that the Brick works belonged to the Dunwells. His brother John is still in Leeds as a lodger in another family and he is a brick moulder.
James marries into the Roe family, one Margaret Roe in 1871 and she is the daughter of Thomas Roe a shoemaker of Egton. (Presumably deceased) as he is lodging with widow Mary Ann Roe in the 1871 census. (Did she have a little legacy I wonder?)
Ten years later James and Margaret are in Headingly Leeds at 20 Holderness Place with 7 children including Austin Dunwell and James is listed as Brickmaker. Of the children we can see that 5 were born in Egton up to Margaret born in 1878. The youngest children are twins Lilly and Rosa born in 1880. The road seems fairly prosperous with a mix of trades and employment but not wealthy or prestigious.
In the next census however, we find James and Margaret back in Egton now living at the Mill house in Egton Bridge. References to the family in the newspapers include a drowing of a young man who was visisting with them, an accident to one of the sons at the Brickworks that sounds quite serious and also a fire which nearly destroyed the property. James is now a Brick Manufacturer and I think it must have been Alban who was injured as he is in the brick trade while Austin is a joiner's apprentice.
By 1901 this family have moved to 9 Dixon Terrace Darlington and James is now a Brick and Tile manufacturer, as are Austin Dunwell and two of the other sons. James dies 1907/8 in Darlington. His wife Margaret lists herself a Brick Manufacturer in 1911 and her son Austin is listed as an assistant. Margaret dies in around 1928.
Meanwhile James' brother John has married another Roe - Sarah Frances Roe in April to June 1880. (daughter Catherine is born quite soon afterwards in the first quarter of 1881). In 1871 as mentioned above he is lodging in Holbeck Leeds and is a brick moulder. We next find him in the 1881 census living with parents in law in Grosmont. John Roe is the Ironstone Mine Deputy and John Dunwell is a brick maker. Ten years later John and wife Sarah Frances live at the Brickworks with their 8 children and by 1911 the family have moved up to Low Leys and John is now a brick and tile manufacturer.
William Dunwell, the youngest brother of James and John appears in the 1901 census as the foreman at the brickworks in Grosmont and ditto in 1911. He has married Mary Brown born in Robin Hood's Bay and has a fine family with some interesting names.
I always remember Aunty Kath talking about Austin Dunwell. She never called him Uncle Austin. She just said Austin Dunwell as if that was a thing. Eliza Keefe married Austin Dunwell and went to live in Darlington. Full stop. Austen Dunwell wanted one of the Keefe girls. Full stop.
What we do know from the press articles at the time, is that our Austin was engaged to another girl, a teacher, and she took him to court for breach of promise complaining that he had been seeing another girl. Austin and his fiancee could not marry because she could earn more as a teacher than he could provide her with -as his father only gave him a small wage. He became engaged to Margaret Fitzpatrick in 1900 and she took him to court in 1913. When examined during the court case, he stated that he had 29 shillings a week from the executors of his father's estate and that he and his brother managed the brickworks - presumably in Darlington. He did not marry Eliza Keefe until 1915 - during the war - after he had paid off the 60 pound damages awarded to Miss Fitzpatrick?- and they were both in their forties. In 1917 he joined the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. He seems to have endured some bad health. In the photograph with Hannah Lawson he looks a bit sheepish. Eliza - a capable boarding house keeper in 1911 living in Chorlton Manchester and running a large establishment - I wonder why she threw in her lot, with Austin Dunwell.
The Dunwells also made bricks in Pocklington. 1900 to 1915, the manager was Alban Dunwell and the company was run by Trustees of James Dunwell.
We were walking around Grosmont and wondering where the clay came from for the bricks and tiles. On the old maps there seems to be a fair pit around the brickworks so probably there was a clay bed around the works. There was a sale of a bed of clay in 1859 connected to a Robert Jackson ( Oxford graduate? school teacher and later shop keeper of Egton Village). It is not clear if he owned it or was an agent. The clay bed was adjacent to the railway line - maybe this is the site at Grosmont but not necessarily.
Certainly the manufacture of bricks and earthware chimney pots, drains etc became very profitable during the second half of the nineteenth century with development a sure investment. In this part of Leeds, the wealthy mill owners lost their estates to the owners of the brickworks. They became the wealthiest people. (Inghams Cliffes). The ironstone mines in Grosmont were a big source of employment for the area and a big source of wealth for the owners. They were worked out and the brickyard became as important for local industry. Looking at the area today does little to indicated how industrial it was in the nineteenth century with the coming of the railways opening up lots of opportunities for trade and manufacture. Coal was needed for the kilns and bricks could be sent out on the railways.
We have one little factlet about John Keefe - in 1891 he is listed in a Trade Directory as an Earthenware Dealer. Does this connect him to the Dunwells? Or to the OKeefe Brickmakers in Youghal?
John =Elizabeth CLOTH MAKER
Harriet James William Job Emma Mary Benjamin
William =Alice Thompson LABOURER JOURNEYMAN BRICKMAKER
James John Mary Ann Rachel others William
This family are in Holbeck South Leeds and William and family are there in the C1871 at 36 Pottery Place / Hunslet Hall.
James however, is in Egton Bridge. That is a big jump. He is lodging with Mary Ann Roe -shoe maker's widow. He is a Labourer brick works - it would be likely this is at Grosmont where there was a Brickworks next to the Ironstone Mine. It does not seem that at that time that the Brick works belonged to the Dunwells. His brother John is still in Leeds as a lodger in another family and he is a brick moulder.
James marries into the Roe family, one Margaret Roe in 1871 and she is the daughter of Thomas Roe a shoemaker of Egton. (Presumably deceased) as he is lodging with widow Mary Ann Roe in the 1871 census. (Did she have a little legacy I wonder?)
Ten years later James and Margaret are in Headingly Leeds at 20 Holderness Place with 7 children including Austin Dunwell and James is listed as Brickmaker. Of the children we can see that 5 were born in Egton up to Margaret born in 1878. The youngest children are twins Lilly and Rosa born in 1880. The road seems fairly prosperous with a mix of trades and employment but not wealthy or prestigious.
In the next census however, we find James and Margaret back in Egton now living at the Mill house in Egton Bridge. References to the family in the newspapers include a drowing of a young man who was visisting with them, an accident to one of the sons at the Brickworks that sounds quite serious and also a fire which nearly destroyed the property. James is now a Brick Manufacturer and I think it must have been Alban who was injured as he is in the brick trade while Austin is a joiner's apprentice.
By 1901 this family have moved to 9 Dixon Terrace Darlington and James is now a Brick and Tile manufacturer, as are Austin Dunwell and two of the other sons. James dies 1907/8 in Darlington. His wife Margaret lists herself a Brick Manufacturer in 1911 and her son Austin is listed as an assistant. Margaret dies in around 1928.
Meanwhile James' brother John has married another Roe - Sarah Frances Roe in April to June 1880. (daughter Catherine is born quite soon afterwards in the first quarter of 1881). In 1871 as mentioned above he is lodging in Holbeck Leeds and is a brick moulder. We next find him in the 1881 census living with parents in law in Grosmont. John Roe is the Ironstone Mine Deputy and John Dunwell is a brick maker. Ten years later John and wife Sarah Frances live at the Brickworks with their 8 children and by 1911 the family have moved up to Low Leys and John is now a brick and tile manufacturer.
William Dunwell, the youngest brother of James and John appears in the 1901 census as the foreman at the brickworks in Grosmont and ditto in 1911. He has married Mary Brown born in Robin Hood's Bay and has a fine family with some interesting names.
I always remember Aunty Kath talking about Austin Dunwell. She never called him Uncle Austin. She just said Austin Dunwell as if that was a thing. Eliza Keefe married Austin Dunwell and went to live in Darlington. Full stop. Austen Dunwell wanted one of the Keefe girls. Full stop.
What we do know from the press articles at the time, is that our Austin was engaged to another girl, a teacher, and she took him to court for breach of promise complaining that he had been seeing another girl. Austin and his fiancee could not marry because she could earn more as a teacher than he could provide her with -as his father only gave him a small wage. He became engaged to Margaret Fitzpatrick in 1900 and she took him to court in 1913. When examined during the court case, he stated that he had 29 shillings a week from the executors of his father's estate and that he and his brother managed the brickworks - presumably in Darlington. He did not marry Eliza Keefe until 1915 - during the war - after he had paid off the 60 pound damages awarded to Miss Fitzpatrick?- and they were both in their forties. In 1917 he joined the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. He seems to have endured some bad health. In the photograph with Hannah Lawson he looks a bit sheepish. Eliza - a capable boarding house keeper in 1911 living in Chorlton Manchester and running a large establishment - I wonder why she threw in her lot, with Austin Dunwell.
The Dunwells also made bricks in Pocklington. 1900 to 1915, the manager was Alban Dunwell and the company was run by Trustees of James Dunwell.
We were walking around Grosmont and wondering where the clay came from for the bricks and tiles. On the old maps there seems to be a fair pit around the brickworks so probably there was a clay bed around the works. There was a sale of a bed of clay in 1859 connected to a Robert Jackson ( Oxford graduate? school teacher and later shop keeper of Egton Village). It is not clear if he owned it or was an agent. The clay bed was adjacent to the railway line - maybe this is the site at Grosmont but not necessarily.
Certainly the manufacture of bricks and earthware chimney pots, drains etc became very profitable during the second half of the nineteenth century with development a sure investment. In this part of Leeds, the wealthy mill owners lost their estates to the owners of the brickworks. They became the wealthiest people. (Inghams Cliffes). The ironstone mines in Grosmont were a big source of employment for the area and a big source of wealth for the owners. They were worked out and the brickyard became as important for local industry. Looking at the area today does little to indicated how industrial it was in the nineteenth century with the coming of the railways opening up lots of opportunities for trade and manufacture. Coal was needed for the kilns and bricks could be sent out on the railways.
We have one little factlet about John Keefe - in 1891 he is listed in a Trade Directory as an Earthenware Dealer. Does this connect him to the Dunwells? Or to the OKeefe Brickmakers in Youghal?
Friday, 18 May 2018
shopkeeper, grocers
At Egton Bridge in 1871 Census, George Barker give his occupation as Tailor, Draper and Grocer.
In 1881 Census he lives at Esk Villa and is a tailor. So he is no longer a grocer or draper.
In 1881, George's surviving son, Richard gives his occupation as Grocer. He has a grocers shop which in 1882 he sells, along with tools and agricultural items as he is, "leaving the area".
It could be that this is Richard's inheritance at the death of mother Ann in 1871 or 1872.
Richard is back in Egton Bridge in 1891 this time living at Sandsend just along from the Barkers, with his wife's aunt. He is now a joiner.
In 1871 Census John Keefe, the son in law of George Barker, gives his occupation as Booking Clerk Out of Employ. In 1881 he gives his occupation as Shopkeeper. Not grocer. Shopkeeper. His wife Elizabeth is a Shop keeper's wife. They are keeping a shop.
Which shop?
Was this Richard Barker's shop in Egton Bridge?
Or was John employed at Botham's shop at the end of Arncliffe Terrace? Unlikely as the shopkeeper is clearly Mackridge.
Or another shop of his own?
In 1881 Census he lives at Esk Villa and is a tailor. So he is no longer a grocer or draper.
In 1881, George's surviving son, Richard gives his occupation as Grocer. He has a grocers shop which in 1882 he sells, along with tools and agricultural items as he is, "leaving the area".
It could be that this is Richard's inheritance at the death of mother Ann in 1871 or 1872.
Richard is back in Egton Bridge in 1891 this time living at Sandsend just along from the Barkers, with his wife's aunt. He is now a joiner.
In 1871 Census John Keefe, the son in law of George Barker, gives his occupation as Booking Clerk Out of Employ. In 1881 he gives his occupation as Shopkeeper. Not grocer. Shopkeeper. His wife Elizabeth is a Shop keeper's wife. They are keeping a shop.
Which shop?
Was this Richard Barker's shop in Egton Bridge?
Or was John employed at Botham's shop at the end of Arncliffe Terrace? Unlikely as the shopkeeper is clearly Mackridge.
Or another shop of his own?
Wednesday, 16 May 2018
John O'Keefe / Keefe Ships Crew Lists 1851
Forename | John |
|---|---|
| Surname | Keeffe |
| Vessel Name | Magyar of Cork |
| Area | Ireland South-West |
| Rank or Occupation | Seaman |
| Age | 22 |
| Place of Birth | Youghal |
| Source | Ship Crew Lists 1851 |
| Forename | John |
|---|---|
| Surname | Keeffe |
| Vessel Name | Charles of Cork |
| Area | Ireland South-West |
| Rank or Occupation | Seaman |
| Age | 22 |
| Place of Birth | Youghal |
| Source | Ship Crew Lists 1851 |
| Forename | John |
|---|---|
| Surname | Keefe |
| Vessel Name | Valentine of Cork |
| Area | Ireland South-West |
| Rank or Occupation | Mate |
| Age | 20 |
| Place of Birth | Youghal |
| Source | Ship Crew Lists 1851 |
Sunday, 6 May 2018
Rathronan, Rathangan and Ballyartella
This cutting is from 1852 papers, it is about Rathronan and I think we can be sure this is Richard O'Keefe Esquire of Rathronan Mills in Tipperary. They are a very well heeled lot the Yelverton O'Keeffes. Lawyers with public office and they settle in England in the end. Connected to aristocary Lady Avenmore was an O'Keeffe. Probably not who we are looking for,
Here are three brother, Martin, Edward and Patrick who are millers. Edward is the proprietor of Rock Vale Mills and Patrick seems to own Ballyartella Mills, still extant and a National Monument.
Patrick struggles financially and goes bankrupt. He immigrates to Australia and is followed by his wife and at least two children but these are shipwrecked and drowned in 1854. In the bankruptcy proceedings Patrick is described as Merchant, Dealer and Chapman.
Rock Vale mills is burnt down around 1860 and Edward was not well insured -the mills were rebuilt because they are seen for sale later in the century.
Another incidental factlet is that in Laracor which is next to Trim where there is a Richard Keeffe miller , there is a nursery seedsman named Martin Keeffe.
Martin Okeeffes are quite thin on the ground so should be findable. Edwards and Richards are not that common. This family should be very visible.
I do wonder if this branch of Okeeffe millers was originally the family from Kildare that had a big mill and distillery in Rathangan Kildare. Edward is one of their family names. They had the mill in 1780 and lost it some time around 1810 - the business got into trouble in the 1798 Rebellion with much fighting in the town of Rathangan and the British troops ate all the stores and then paid no damages leaving the family in debt. But what happened to them. Did they become involved in mills elsewhere?
Rathangan information
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
Mount Keeffe
Richard Aldworth became Lord Donerails. He is also associated with Rock Mills in Kildorrery. There are plenty of Keeffes and O'Keeffes in Kildorrery. Rock Mills is a village with...... a mill. A huge big mill. The mill is later owned by a family called Oliver connected to the Aldworths by marriage. The Aldworths built the town/village of Newmarket.
Mount Keeffe is associated with lots of Keeffe's. Manus O'Keeffe and Charles O'Keeffe MD and Arthur O'Keeffe. Also Fitzgerald O'Keeffe of Spitalfield House.
This is the first find for me of a Richard Keeffe associated with Mount Keeffe and it is of interest. The date is 1842. He is listed as a farmer, he has become bankrupt and so maybe he lost the land?
I willn try to find Mount Keeffe in Griffiths and see who owned it. The house and estate did stay in the Keeffe family.
It is the connection to Kildorrery that is interesting. It sounds a bit like Kerry, which was something Kath believed about John Keefe which does not make sense.
Tuesday, 1 May 2018
A bit more about 5 Generations of Barker tailors of Egton Bridge
I have not verified all the information below. Some comes from a book about Egton Bridge, or from "Hearts of Oak" now available online, about the Catholics of Egton Bridge, and some information comes from wills and registers of baptisms, marriages and burials from RC registers and Egton parish church registers.
George Barker 1819-1902 (1) maried Hannah Lyth (1) 13 April 1844. He is a tailor, but in 1871 is tailor & draper & grocer employing one man. He and Hannah have 3 daughters and 2 sons are known from this marriage - Elizabeth 1846-1919 = John O'Keefe, William 1848-1871, Richard 1853-1916 = Mary Harrison, Esther Ann 1856-1947, and Hannah Mary 1859-1942 = Isaac Lawson (station master at Egton Bridge) Hannah nee Lyth died sometime after the 1871 census returns and George married Frances Heslop in 1873.
There appear to be no male descendants from this part of the Barker family as there is no record of Richard having any children. Richard was remembered as the black sheep of the family - one story was that he drank. However, he is mentioned in a book that Aunty Kath had at her house about Egton bridge or The Holy Guild of St hedda. I recorded the following from this book: In 1900 Richard "happened an accident while wrestling with another member of the Guild". It was suggested he should not receive sick pay as he should have been at work at the time the wrestling was going on, but "there was not enough evidence to prove this so it was decide to pay him his sick allowance".
Richard has various occupations recorded in the census returns: joiner's apprentice 1871 in Newholme with Dunsley, grocer in 1881 in Egton (probably having taken over the shop from his father), joiner in 1891 in Egton, Inn Keeper & farmer at The Wheatsheaf Inn, Egton in 1901, mechanic in Iron Stones Mines, Easington in 1911. The book referred to above had a photo from 1897 which had 2 Richard Barker's in it but no-one knew which Richard was George's son.
George was a member of the Holy Guild of St Hedda - More information on the Guild in a future post maybe. George, Hannah and Frances are commemorated i a stained glass window in the RC Church in Egton Bridge. George's daughter Hannah mary and her husband Isaac Lawson are commemorated with a plaque in the church. His daughter Elizabeth and her husband John Keefe are commemorated with their names on the pascal candle sticks in the church.
George 1819-1902 (1) & his father Joseph (1782-1866) (2) were the tenants of 2 cottages & gardens comprising 39 perches of land at a combined rental of £3 p.a. The cottages were situated diagonally opposite a cottage previously the village post office & previously owned by Ambrose Harrison, postman. Immediately behind and below them were the stepping stones leading to the mill.
George's siblings (children of Joseph) were Mary who may have died young as no information found about her, and 3 brothers:
- John b. 1819, tailor, lived Scarborough = Sarah Slater who later lives with her father-in-law Joseph & hs wife in 1851 and 1861, while John appears to be living with Jane Barker and then Elizabeth nee Readman who is described as his wife, with son William Readman Barker b. 1871 who may be his son or step-son.
- William Barker b. 1813 died young
- William Barker 1816-1878 = Ann Driver 1826-1857 at RC cathedral, Leeds. They lived at Almindbury where William was a blacksmith & later a farrier too. They had 2 daughters, Elizabeth 1851-1888 who became a nun, and Mary Ann 1853-1933 single. When Ann died William married his servant Caroline Jewitt and they had a son John William in 1862. John William married Margaret Gledhill and they had 2 daughters and a son.
Joseph Barker 1782-1866 (2) was a tailor and married Elizabeth Oxley (2) in 1810 who was the mother of his children. In 1828 he was a widow and married Ann Wedgewood. In 1851 and 1861 he is described as tailor and farmer of 31/2 and 4 acres. He was the son of:
George Barker 1740-1783 (3)
George married Mary nee Harrison 1742-1810 (3) in Skelton in 1767, where quite a few local RC's from the Egton area married around that time. George was a tailor and shop keeper. In 1774 he is described as shop keeper in his daughter Ann's baptism record.
In 1780 George and Mary Barker are listed as recusants with 6 children (not named). 5 are known of - Hannah bap 1768 = George Roe in 1798, George bap 1770 (tailor) = Ann Lyth in 1794, Mary bap 1772 = George Harrison, Ann bap 1774, Joseph bap 1782 = Elizabeth Oxley in 1820, then Ann Wedgewood in 1828.
In 1780 John Harrison died and left £30 to his daughter Mary Barker (George's wife) in his will. Apparently, in 1727 John Harrison had inherited Greenhouses Estate from his father Henry.
George 1740-1783's is assumed to be the son of:
George Barker d.1750 (4), recusant and tailor of Egton Bridge.
George is listed in recusant returns in 1735 along with Elizabeth Barker, widow (likely his mother) and is also listed as recusant in 1745, when only men were listed. George appears to have died in 1750.
George d. 1750 could well be the son of:
George Barker d. 1723 (5), tailor of Egton Bridge
He is listed as a recusant in 1691 and 1716, and could well be the George Barker who dies in 1723. Hi swife is likely to be Elizabeth Barker d. 1746 (5) who is named as a recusant and widow in 1735 and appears to be buried in 1746, when she is described as Widow and Papist of Egton Bridge.
George Barker 1819-1902 (1) maried Hannah Lyth (1) 13 April 1844. He is a tailor, but in 1871 is tailor & draper & grocer employing one man. He and Hannah have 3 daughters and 2 sons are known from this marriage - Elizabeth 1846-1919 = John O'Keefe, William 1848-1871, Richard 1853-1916 = Mary Harrison, Esther Ann 1856-1947, and Hannah Mary 1859-1942 = Isaac Lawson (station master at Egton Bridge) Hannah nee Lyth died sometime after the 1871 census returns and George married Frances Heslop in 1873.
There appear to be no male descendants from this part of the Barker family as there is no record of Richard having any children. Richard was remembered as the black sheep of the family - one story was that he drank. However, he is mentioned in a book that Aunty Kath had at her house about Egton bridge or The Holy Guild of St hedda. I recorded the following from this book: In 1900 Richard "happened an accident while wrestling with another member of the Guild". It was suggested he should not receive sick pay as he should have been at work at the time the wrestling was going on, but "there was not enough evidence to prove this so it was decide to pay him his sick allowance".
Richard has various occupations recorded in the census returns: joiner's apprentice 1871 in Newholme with Dunsley, grocer in 1881 in Egton (probably having taken over the shop from his father), joiner in 1891 in Egton, Inn Keeper & farmer at The Wheatsheaf Inn, Egton in 1901, mechanic in Iron Stones Mines, Easington in 1911. The book referred to above had a photo from 1897 which had 2 Richard Barker's in it but no-one knew which Richard was George's son.
George was a member of the Holy Guild of St Hedda - More information on the Guild in a future post maybe. George, Hannah and Frances are commemorated i a stained glass window in the RC Church in Egton Bridge. George's daughter Hannah mary and her husband Isaac Lawson are commemorated with a plaque in the church. His daughter Elizabeth and her husband John Keefe are commemorated with their names on the pascal candle sticks in the church.
George 1819-1902 (1) & his father Joseph (1782-1866) (2) were the tenants of 2 cottages & gardens comprising 39 perches of land at a combined rental of £3 p.a. The cottages were situated diagonally opposite a cottage previously the village post office & previously owned by Ambrose Harrison, postman. Immediately behind and below them were the stepping stones leading to the mill.
George's siblings (children of Joseph) were Mary who may have died young as no information found about her, and 3 brothers:
- John b. 1819, tailor, lived Scarborough = Sarah Slater who later lives with her father-in-law Joseph & hs wife in 1851 and 1861, while John appears to be living with Jane Barker and then Elizabeth nee Readman who is described as his wife, with son William Readman Barker b. 1871 who may be his son or step-son.
- William Barker b. 1813 died young
- William Barker 1816-1878 = Ann Driver 1826-1857 at RC cathedral, Leeds. They lived at Almindbury where William was a blacksmith & later a farrier too. They had 2 daughters, Elizabeth 1851-1888 who became a nun, and Mary Ann 1853-1933 single. When Ann died William married his servant Caroline Jewitt and they had a son John William in 1862. John William married Margaret Gledhill and they had 2 daughters and a son.
George Barker 1740-1783 (3)
George married Mary nee Harrison 1742-1810 (3) in Skelton in 1767, where quite a few local RC's from the Egton area married around that time. George was a tailor and shop keeper. In 1774 he is described as shop keeper in his daughter Ann's baptism record.
In 1780 George and Mary Barker are listed as recusants with 6 children (not named). 5 are known of - Hannah bap 1768 = George Roe in 1798, George bap 1770 (tailor) = Ann Lyth in 1794, Mary bap 1772 = George Harrison, Ann bap 1774, Joseph bap 1782 = Elizabeth Oxley in 1820, then Ann Wedgewood in 1828.
In 1780 John Harrison died and left £30 to his daughter Mary Barker (George's wife) in his will. Apparently, in 1727 John Harrison had inherited Greenhouses Estate from his father Henry.
George 1740-1783's is assumed to be the son of:
George Barker d.1750 (4), recusant and tailor of Egton Bridge.
George is listed in recusant returns in 1735 along with Elizabeth Barker, widow (likely his mother) and is also listed as recusant in 1745, when only men were listed. George appears to have died in 1750.
George d. 1750 could well be the son of:
George Barker d. 1723 (5), tailor of Egton Bridge
He is listed as a recusant in 1691 and 1716, and could well be the George Barker who dies in 1723. Hi swife is likely to be Elizabeth Barker d. 1746 (5) who is named as a recusant and widow in 1735 and appears to be buried in 1746, when she is described as Widow and Papist of Egton Bridge.
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