Genealogy Chat

Hello Jax,

Yes I know this is my Grandad thanks. That's about it for now. Waiting for some records now from Dublina, will keep everyone posted if I find something interesting! Thank you all for your help so far.

Kind regards.

There are 2 Leonard marriages in 1927 which might fit. None found in Scotland

Michael Leonard (no other initial) to Agnes Fathers in Worksop, Notts or
John M Leonard to Florence G Deall or Curtis in Liverpool.

If the latter then this would perhaps match up with the death found in 1980.

And if so, have both these records got the name John wrong or is it the army records where Joseph is wrong?And then, is it J Michael or Michael J as this could make a difference when looking for records?

Thank you greyghost. My Grandfather was known as both, but unfortunately it doesn't make any difference. The marriage to Agnes Fathers is correct as is the death.

During my rsearch being Joseph or John hasn't proved at all fruitful.

I am now going down the NOK route as this name means nothing to me at the moment. Hopefully Mary Finn has living family.

Also applied for some records in Dublin, this is a lead I knew nothing about until today when I received his Army Records.

Thank you for your help.

I have drawn a complete blank with Mrs Fletcher Lodge and Berty Lodge. They are listed as living with Mary Finn on 1911 census and I found them on Ancestry so know they were not Lodgers! How can I find out what Bertys mothers maiden name could have been.

I think you will find that the Fletchers were Lodgers which was very common back then anyway....the image does actually say Lodger but not put in the box

Maureen, looking at the image of the 1911, I am pretty sure that the names are Mrs Fletcher and Berty Fletcher. The ditto mark after Berty is only below the Fletcher on the line above and not under Lodger. No relationship is given for Mrs Fletcher - I believe that the "Lodger" should be in that column.

Mrs Fletcher's POB is given as Wisbech, Cambrigeshire and Berty's as Manchester.

The form is signed not by Mary Finn but by Eliza Jane Fletcher

Of course it does. So no hope of fining out anything about them. Not to worry, Thank you.

Have tried looking for Berty and Eliza in 1901 but not finding anything except this possible birth for "Berty":

Births Dec 1897 (>99%)
Fletcher Bertram Ernest Chorlton 8c 816

There is a possible Army record for him which I will check.

Pretty sure the Army Pension record is for Berty. He was born Gorton; next of kin given as grandfather, 4 Elm Street, Wisbech (which is the address on his discharge); grandmother, Mary, same address. Between "grandmother" and "Mary", "Mrs Fisher" is inserted, so not clear if they are Fletcher or Fisher.

He was in the Suffolk Regt; shot in the neck which seems to have affected the use of his arms; he received the Military Medal.

What regiment was your granddad in?

Wow, what great information. I wonder why they were living with Mary Finn in Manchester in 1911. I now know they are not related to Mary Finn going by this information unless Bertys mothers maiden name was Finn?. I am trying to find out the relationship between Mary and my Grandfather, as I have said he put her down as his next of kin when we thought he had no family. Perhaps it sounded better than landlady! What do you think?

Is this the family in 1901?
Various children with her and a husband Patrick

Name: Mary Finn
Age: 50
Estimated birth year: abt 1851
Relation to Head: Wife
Gender: Female
Spouse: Patrick Finn
Birth Place: Ireland
Civil Parish: Dukinfield
Ecclesiastical parish: St John the Evangelist
Town: Dukinfield
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Registration district: Ashton under Lyne
Sub-registration district: Stalybridge
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3793
Folio: 179
Page Number: 19
Household schedule number: 119
Household Members:
Name Age
Patrick Finn 56
Mary Finn 50
Bridget Finn 24
Mary Finn 28
Christiana Finn 18
William Finn 10

All the children born in Dukinfield, Cheshire/Lancashire
A birth certificate would give Mary's maiden name


NO - ignore.

I do not think that's the same Mary as they are still together in the same area in 1911 with the youngest son William

I've just had a look on the net and it seems 'next of kin' doesn't have to be a relative.

Thank you everyone, this has given me something to work on today. I will keep you all informed with any progress.

Maureen, when did your grandfather join and leave the Army. Was Mary the only NOK listed on the record? Knowing that Mary was alive then might help to find a death for her and the informant on that might help.

Hi Potty, He left the Free State Army on 16th November 1923 and joined the British Army the day after. . That is why I am now convinced she must have been his Aunt as he be living in Barracks. She was the only NOK mentioned. As I have mentioned in previous posts as far as we were concerned he had no family. He never spoke about family or about his life in Tipperary to anyone in our family.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/living_relatives/thread/1342175

Posting another thread won't make any difference to the available info, and is actually counter-productive, as it will irritate the people who have tried to help you already

Didn't know I had, just answering questions as tbey arise.

Is there any need for that Ricochet?

I had already mentioned 3 days ago that Maureen didn't need to start another....It also has not been touched since then, so you did not need to chastise her for a simple error of breaking the Genes cardinal rule of posting more than once about the same person

Thanks Jax,

I was going to ignore it, probably should have, can't be doing with it, reminds me of why I left Genes years ago.