Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I came to Liverpool from the USA to solve a riddle. A few years ago in London I got a birth certificate for my grandfather George Lahey, born in Liverpool in 1877. His parents were listed as Martin Lahey, born in Greece, and Isabel Moule. He was the only person of that name recorded as born in Liverpool between 1850 and 1900. However, after his emigration, my grandfather told the US Census that his birthdate was 1866 and that his father's name was John Paul Lahey, born in Belfast. Yet, in another census, he said his father was born in Greece. To complete the confusion, I have found a John Paul Lahey born in 1836 in Corfu, who died in America in 1929. I am at a loss and don't how to proceed. The Central Library couldn't help. Can anyone here? And do I have cousins among you?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Can you tell us the exact details from the birth certificate as I've never known a father's birthplace be noted before.

Do you know what year George emigrated to America and which censuses is he noted on and where?

Do you have details from his marriage certificate?

Births Sep 1877; Lahey, George - Liverpool 8b 57

Marriage: ISABELLA MOULES and MARTIN LEAHY
Marriage year/qtr: 1871 / Dec
District: LIVERPOOL; Volume 8B; Page 531

The spelling at George's birth registration could be a 'hearing error' if Martin had a serious accent, such a strong Irish. Leahy can be pronounce La-hee!

Marriage

Well done with those finds lads, Bert's marriage took place in Our Lady of Reconciliation de la Salette, a RC Church.

There is also a baptism for a probable brother of George at Our Lady of Reconciliation de la Salette,
James (Jacobus) Leahy born 2 August 1875, baptised 11 August, parents Martin and Isabella (nee Moles), Godmother Carola Moles

Baptism of George, same church
born 24 July, 1877, baptised 30 July, parents Martin and Elizabetha Leahy (nee Moles) godmother Anna McCoy.

It's possible that Elizabeth was named instead of Isabella because of laziness or deafness on the part of the priest.

1930, US Federal Census, Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia

Short form.

George Lahey, 63, Bn, England, Fathers Birthplace, Greece.
Zola, wife, 48,
Grace, Dau, 15

1920 US Federal Census, Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia

Details as above, 10 years younger, Father born England

Thinking of Dickiesam's pronunciation I think that an Irish accent might lead to a Lecky also.

Baptisms same church as above
Born 11 September 1873 and baptised 22 September 1873 Isabella Lachey parents Martin and Isabella Lachey (nee Moules) godparents Joes McKibbon and Maria A McKibbon
Born 28 April 1879 and baptised 27 May 1879 William Martin Lackey - parents Martin and Isabella Lackey (nee Moles), godmother Maria Walsh.

I have a gut feeling that this is the family in 1891
183 Scotland Road, Liverpool
Isabella Lecky Head Widow 40 Shopkeeper Fish born Dublin
Mary Waldon daug M 20 Liverpool
William Waldon son in law M 24 Carter Liverpool
William Waldon grandson 1 Liverpool
George Lecky son 14 Scholar Liverpool
Martin son 7 Scholar Liverpool
Catherine Fitzpatrick Servant M 35 General Servant Domestic Liverpool
RG12; Piece: 2901; Folio: 62; Page: 14

There is a possible burial on 23 March, 1886 for Martin Leaghey of 39 Titchfield Street, age 32 at Ford Cemetery Grave No. 1796. This would be a general grave but Ford Cemetery is RC.

It might be coincidental and there might be another George Lahey declaring a Greek father, the one I posted in the 1920 US census declares his year of arrival as 1881 in the 1930.

Is it the correct George?

An Isabella with a father George, matches the marriage Bert found...

1861: RG09 Piece 2654 Folio 307 Page 28
Address: 38 Titchfield Street, Liverpool
Geo Moles Head 34 1827 Joiner - Ireland
Isabella Moles Wife 35 1826 - Ireland
George Moles Son 15 1846 Joiner - Ireland
Isabella Moles Dtr 11 1850 - Ireland
Emma Moles Dtr 9 1852 - Ireland
Wm Henry Moles Son 5 1856 - Ireland
Charlotte Moles Dtr 1 1860 - Liverpool

dickiesam wrote: Address: 38 Titchfield Street, Liverpool

That address is very coincidental to the burial I discovered for Martin .... could the family have of necessity returned home to the father/mother when Martin was ill?

MaryA wrote:

dickiesam wrote: Address: 38 Titchfield Street, Liverpool

That address is very coincidental to the burial I discovered for Martin .... could the family have of necessity returned home to the father/mother when Martin was ill?

I believe Titchfield Street and the adjacent area such as Ashfield Cottages was a very Irish enclave. My g.g,father was there from 1875 to about 1900.

OK I have linked the death of Martin to the family in the 1891 census by this marriage.

Our Lady of Reconciliation de la Sallette - 25 January, 1888
William Waldron of 30 & 32 Bevington Street, father John Waldron and
Mary Lackey of 39 Titchfield Street, father Martin Lackey
Witnesses Thomas Lackey of 39 Titchfield Street
Sara Murray of 52 Vauxhall Road

1881 page is torn but appears to be Titchfield Street
All born Liverpool
Martin Lackey Head M 30 Dock Porter
Isabella Wife M 30 Provision Dealer
Thomas son 12 Scholar
........ daur 9 Scholar
........ son 3 Scholar
....... J daur 3 months
....... Mould Nephew 14 Shop Boy
Mary Shackley Serv Unm 18 General Servant Domestic
Henry Moran Boarder Unm 60 Dock labourer
RG11; Piece: 3597; Folio: 145; Page: 48

MaryA beat me to it by a whisker....

May not be the Leahy/Lahey family....
1881: RG11 Piece 3597 Folio 145 Page 48
Address: believed to be Titchfield Street. Summary page torn and piece missing. That missing piece has the four missing names of children on it!

Rest of post removed to avoid duplication!

More children to fill in some gaps, same church
Born 22 March 1882 baptised 27th
Alice Laquey child of Martin and Isabella Laquey nee Mowls Godmother Charlotte Shannon

Born 16 December 1880 baptised 29th (probably the 3 month old in the 1881 census)
Emma Johanna Lecky child of Martin & Elizabeth Lecky nee Moldes godmother Johanna Flannery

Born 3 July 1883 baptised 12th
Martin Lackey child of Martin and Isabella Lackey nee Mowldes, godmother Charlotte Moulds

I think the children may be Mary, George and Emma J. Glad I got the Thomas confirmed as he is witness in a marriage, but my head is spinning with all these changes of names and now I can't remember which marriage. Oh yes, his sister Mary.

Bet the nephew ?? Mould is the child of one of Isabella's brothers.

The death notice Alfred is referring to,

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJX9-SQF3

Despite a lot of research having been done to substantiate the Leahy/Lackey/all the other spellings, I still feel that the answers to my first questions might help - we still don't know when George emigrated and so where he should be in the 1900/01 and 1910/11 censuses.