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I am trying to trace the family line of William O'Neill. Born c1850. Place: Waterford, Ireland.
He moved to England, date unknown. He was employed as a fitter labourer for the Orient Line at Tilbury Docks.

Do you have him in a census - can you post that please.

He has a common name and English census often don't have any more than born Ireland on them, so it may be difficult for helpers to find him and start helping you.

Many Irish records aren't available as they were destroyed in the 1921 uprisings.

As much information as you can give us that you know about him will help us to help you.

Did he marry, a record would show his Father's name if he knew it.

There will be various spellings of his surname I expect -

eg - 20 spelt that way +/- 5 years in 1901 census with and without a second initial but many more with spelling variations

Having said all that this one is living in Essex - Thurrock 3 miles from Tilbury, but not knowing when you first sight him in England ......


1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census
12, Melbourne Road, Little Thurrock, Orsett, Essex, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
William O'Neill Head Married Male 51 1850 Marine engineer's labourer Ireland
Annie O'Neill Wife Married Female 39 1862 - Plumstead, Kent, England
Kathleen B O'Neill Daughter - Female 7 1894 - Tilbury, Essex, England
William T O'Neill Son - Male 4 1897 - Little Thurrock, Essex, England
Mary J O'Neill Daughter - Female 0 1901 - Little Thurrock, Essex, England
Male

From the free to use site (you need to register)
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp#Results

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname:
O'NEILL, KATHLEEN BRIDGET DOLAN
GRO Reference: 1894 M Quarter in ORSETT Volume 04A Page 478

O'NEILL, MARY JOSEPHINE DOLAN
GRO Reference: 1901 M Quarter in ORSETT Volume 04A Page 630

William Oneil
in the 1891 England Census
Name: William Oneil
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Relationship: Head
Birth Year: 1850
Spouse:
Annie Oneil
Birth Place: Waterford, Ireland
Civil parish: Grays Thurrock
Ecclesiastical parish: Grays Thurrock
Residence Place: Grays, Grays Thurrock, Essex, England
Registration district: Orsett
Sub registration district: Grays
ED, Institution or Vessel: 17
Neighbors:
Piece: 1377
Folio: 70
Household Members Age Relationship
William Oneil 41 Head
Annie Oneil 29 Wife - Plumstead

Possibly the man's marriage - in right area and would fit time wise with children's ages. However, suggests Annie had been married previously with Mother's maiden name on birth registrations being Dolan

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1890 (>99%)

Bryan Annie Orsett 4a 558
O'Neill William Orsett 4a 558

copy of the marriage certificate would give his status when he married Annie - ie Widower, single

Annie's previous marriage - there are Baxter/Laws births registered post that marriage so Bryan and Deal would be the other couple. Not seeing Bryan/Dolan births

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Dec 1883 (>99%)
Baxter Alfred Henry West Ham 4a 239
BRYAN Thomas W Ham 4a 239 <<<<<<<
DOLAN Annie W. Ham 4a 239 <<<<<<
LAWS Charlotte Lucelia W Ham 4a 239

??

DOLAN, ANNIE mmn GALLAHER
GRO Reference: 1861 D Quarter in LEWISHAM UNION Volume 01D Page 698

Lewisham RD included Plumstead.

To try to trace William's ancestors, you need the marriage cert, to see who William's father was -- though I don't see his birth c1850 in Waterford.

Not seeing William in RC baptisms c 1850 on find My Past in Waterford nor on this free site below for Church baptisms (generally Church of Ireland)

https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie

The poster's line is through Francis J Smedley born 1925, MMN O'Neill

Marriages Mar 1923 (>99%)
O'Neill Mary J Smedley Rochford 4a 986
Smedley John W O'Neill Rochford 4a 986

1939 Register
18 Princes Avenue, Corringham, Thurrock U.D., Essex, England

John William Smedley 04 Jan 1900 Male Steel Binder Reinforce Concrete Married 54 1
Mary J Smedley 30 Dec 1900 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 54 2
John W Smedley 24 Apr 1923 Male General Invoice Clerk Single 54 3
The record for this person is officially closed.

James W Smedley 11 Sep 1927 Male At School Single 54 5
Ann O'Neil 25 Nov 1861 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Widowed 54 6

1921 census -
First name(s) Last name Birth year Birth place Parish Registration district County
William O'Neill 1850 Waterford, Ireland Chadwell St Mary Orsett Essex

William, Annie and Francis E are on this record

1921 census is only on FMP - you don't have to be a member but you will need to pay to view full transcript of the original (even FMP members have to) - going cheap at the moment until tomorrow 50% off (posted on Genealogy Chat) Look at the original rather than the transcript if you can so you read it yourself rather than the transcription where mistakes may have happened.

I have absolutely no idea if this could be the same William or not .
Probably a complete red herring - just posting in case he had been married before - for which you need the 1890 marriage cert:


Area - KERRY (RC) , Parish/Church/Congregation - KENMARE

Marriage of WILLIAM O'NEIL of WATERFORD and HONORA O'NEIL of KENMARE on 28 November 1878
Husband Wife
Name WILLIAM O'NEIL HONORA O'NEIL
Address WATERFORD KENMARE
Occupation NR NR
Father MICHAEL O'NEIL JAMES O'NEIL
Mother MARY SWEENEY MARGARET HALLISSEY
Further details in the record
Priest REV. M. NELIGAN
Husband's Father's Occupation NR
Witness 1 JAMES O'NEIL
Witness 2 HENERY BENNETT