Genealogy Chat

Could someone give me any tips on where to look next for my great nan's birth? I have her marriage certificate which gives fathers name. I know her date of birth, 22/08/1906. She grew up in Tredegar, Wales. However, I always thought she was born in Wales (she had a strong Welsh accent even after 70 years living in London!) - but there is no trace at all of her birth being registered in England or Wales. I know her family were Irish Catholics as she told me. I am now told by my dad that she may well have been born in Ireland herself. I haven't a clue which county. Is there anywhere online I can look to help me find out more about her family? Are there records of immigration from Ireland to Wales? Do I have a hope in hell of ordering her birth certificate?!

Sorry if I am asking obvious questions on this thread, but this is the first Irish relative I have found so really haven't a clue where to start!

Have you any idea about her parents' names - you might be able to find them on the 1901 census, either the English/Welsh one, or the one in Ireland. Otherwise, I think you are a bit stuck. There's a bit about Tracing Irish Roots on the homepage of this website but you have to scroll down to find it. I don't think there is much available online. nell

MICHELLE, a couple of important points 1) When looking for help on these Message boards it pays to give as much detail on NAMES,PLACES & DATES AS YOU CAN because many of the kind people who use this site do so with the aim of trying to help and the more info you give the easier it is help

I have given all the details I have, very few as she was estranged from her family. I have checked the 1901 census but it is a very common Irish name, Aherne, and there are also numerous variants of Aherne as well. I don't know her mother's name, or any of her siblings. I don't know which part of Ireland. All I have is the details from her marriage cert, which gives father as Michael Aherne, a general labourer. Her name was Ellen Aherne, but I have already posted another thread specifically asking for help finding her birth in Wales or England, and have exhausted all ideas in that area.

there is a irish site like the scottish one you have to pay for credits

I have looked at the tips on researching Irish ancestors bit on home page, seems to me I am not going to get far with her birth certificate without knowing the part of Ireland her family came from. Is there a record of immigration into England/Wales from the early 20th century? That might help, as apart from the 1911 census, the only way I can put Ellen Aherne with her father Michael is her birth certificate or an immigration record..

Sorry if you have had this information before, but there is an Ellen May Ahern who was registered in Wandsworth in the September quarter of 1906 - the reference is 1d 731.

Thanks Yvonne - yes, I have seen that Ellen Aherne. I am tempted to order the certificate just so I can eliminate it, but I just find it so very unlikely that her working class family moved from Ireland to London, then choose to move again to a tiny Welsh village, at that time. I know my nan definitely spent her childhood in Tredegar as she often talked of it. She also had a very pronounced Welsh accent! She moved to London to work as a maid when she was about 18.

Michelle , don't rule anything out, they may have followed other family members who had work in Wales, perhaps down the mines or in the Copper/tin works. A lot of people moved about in these industries and often there was housing available too,however basic. Kim

Michelle As they say don't rule anything out, I have a relative in our tree most of the family were from Wiltshire and before that Somerset. But this one daughter was born in Liskeard Cornwall; 1848. Even more difficult is the fact that the parents name are James and Mary Smith, Mary being from our family. I have posted messages so if that ladies relatives ever come looking they will be able to tie up in Wiltshire. Don't forget she could have been born at sea, was she the eldest do you know. Irene

I haven't a clue if she was the eldest, the only other thing she told me that may or may not be of help, is that there were several sets of twins born, and possible in some of these only one twin survived. I think it is more likely that she was born in Ireland than Wandsworth, although it would be much easier for me if it was the latter!

Michelle, It IS possible to obtain Irish birth cetificates. If you write to either of the GRO's. There is one in Dublin, and I think the other is Belfast. If you write and give them all the deatils you have, They will look in the Indexes and locate the certificate. I think the fee is about 7 euros. For Dublin (Southern Ireland records) the address is 8-11 Lombord Street east, Dublin 2. I don't have an address for N Ireland, but the telephone number is 02890252000 Alternativley Irish BMD's are available on microfiche at LDS centres around the country. Pat

Pat, thanks very much for that, I will give it a try. I thought you had to have a county for them to start with. I do know her exact date of birth and father's name, will they search on those specifics like they do for the UK records?

Michelle, If you give them all the info you have, then let them do the rest. I have used them a couple of thimes, and have always found them great. pat

michelle as you have a name and a date of birth have you tried the The Registration office at BEDWELLTY that covers tredegar i dont have the address at present but if you think it will help i can find on monday regards howard

Have tried looking on the best web sites thread here on the tips board, i know there are a few on there for Ireland. Clarexx

Howard, my great gran isn't registered in Tredegar, but there are a few Ahernes of later years that could be siblings - unfortunately I don't have the wages to be able to order certificates unless I am very sure it is a relative! Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread for taking the time to offer help.