Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi, I have just joined this site and would be grateful for any information on the McDonnell family living in Widnes, particularly my g grandparents Annie (nee Maxwell) and Charles. I know they were born in Ireland, he in ca. 1855 and she in ca. 1859 in Collon, Co Louth. They had 6 sons, Charles, Percy (my grandfather), Arthur, Leo and Ernest (Herbert was born in 1903 but died in 1904). Charles was in the 13th Hussars and was Baden Powell's batman.

My g grandfather, Edward Doyle was born in 1866 and died in 1895. He had 2 brothers, James and Joseph, and a sister Mary.

I would love to hear if anyone knows anything about them. Thanks.

Anna

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Can you tell us what you need, censuses, baptisms, marriages, military details etc? and we'll try to help out.

If you are looking to trace the family forward we've put together a few suggestions here http://liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/phpBB ... php?t=8154

Hi Mary, thank you for your reply. I have birth and marriage certs for the McDonnels but can't find Annie McD's death anywhere. She was alive in 1911. Also, I would like to know where Charles served and was hoping to find him on some sort of military site, but haven't had any luck. I thought if I found him I would discover where he was born.

Thanks.

Anna

Prior to 1964 Widnes would have been covered by the Prescot Registration District http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/dist ... escot.html

After 1911 there are only four Anne/Annie McDonnells deaths in the Prescot district. One in 1916 age 64, one in 1946 age 46, one in 1968 age 88 and the one I believe likely to be your Annie is

Annie McDonnell DOD 1936 Prescot 8b 753 Age 73.

I know it might seem a year or two out but the age given on a death certificate was given by somebody who may or may not have known the exact date of her birth, also the age on census might be a little out.

As for the other part of your query, we have a few forum members who are far more knowledgeable than I am about military matters and I hope you get a response from them.

Hi Mary, thank you so much for your reply. I think the death in 1936 seems likely to be her - I will send off for the cert. I don't know why I couldn't find it!

Thanks again. Anna

Hello Anna nice to "meet" you
Baden Powell joined the Hussars in 1876 as a 2nd Lt.
He first went to India and Afghanistan then to Ashanti & Matabele in Africa.
I know this because one of my Cornthwaites fought in the Matabele wars.
1897 BP joined the Dragoons.
By 1901 Charles is 48 bn Ire in Widnes working as a chemical labr. Family listed as Mc space Donnell.
Let's see if the crew can find a birthplace in Ireland.

Tina

Hi Anna
According to Widnes Cemetary Records Annie McDonnell died aged 76 on 16th Dec 1936 and was buried in Grave No. 1521 section 4R on 19 Dec. 1936. She died at 1 Warrington Rd Whiston i.e. Whiston Hospital. She was buried from 15 Bower St. Widnes. Also in same grave was Charles george McDonnel died age 45 27 Jan 1936 Buried 30 Jan 1936 same address.
St. Bedes also has baptism records for Percy, Arthur Ernest and Leo. if you want them.
Cheers Chris Leigh.

Hi Chris, thank you very much for all this information. I thought St Bede's was Catholic and I think the family was C of E. However, they are all the right people.

How do I go about getting this baptismal information?

Thanks, Anna

Hi Anna
Baptisms as follows.All sons of Caroli and Anna McDonnell maiden name Maxwell
Percius Gulielmus born 10 April 1892. Baptised 17 April 1792 Godfather Thomas Maxwell Godmother Maria Joanna Colfer.
Arthurus Thomas b.23 Dec 1892 bap. 14 Jan 1894. Godfather Marcus Wright Godmother Helena White.
Ernestus Eduardus b. 3 March 1896 Bap. 22 March 1896 Godmother Catharina Maxwell.
Leo Franciscus b.9 Jun 1898. Bap. 3 Jul 1898 Godfather Franciscus McKinley Godmother Elisabeth O'Brien.
Cheers

Chris, thank you so much for all this information. I can't believe I'm seeing it all written down like this.

Thanks again. Anna

Hi Anna
Your welcome if i can help just say. There are also cemetary records For Leo and Annie Mcdonnel also Percy & Mary Bertha McDonnel. Presume you know about these.
Cheers

Chris, thanks for everything you've done for me.

I don't have cemetery records for Leo, Percy and Mary Bertha McDonnell, so if you could let me have those it would be great!

Thanks, Anna

Hi Anna
Leo Francis McDonnell Grave Number 1847 Section 3c. age 60yrs. Died 29 Jun 1958 at Whiston Hospital. Buried from 75 Victoria Rd. Widnes.
Percy Herbert McDonnell Gr.No. 2978 Sec. 9r. age 69yrs. d. 7 April 1962. 15 Lower Appleton Rd. Widnes. Buried from same address 10 Apr. 1962
Mary Bertha McDonnell same grave as Percy age 78 d. 8 July 1971 at 760 Warrington Rd. buried 12 July 1971 from 760 Warrington Rd. Rainhill.
Sorry I took so long replying. Anything else?
Chris.

Hi Chris, this information is wonderful - I knew roughly when Percy and Mary B died, but to have the dates is fantastic. I'm also stuck with my g grandfather (Charles George McD died in Whiston in 1903); I know he was born in Ireland but no idea where and he was in the 13th Hussars as Baden Powell's batman. Do you know of a way of finding out where he came from? I have tried looking at army sites but all I can find out seems to be about the officers. He was in Widnes from late 1891/1892 onwards (his first son Charles was born in 1891 in Ireland - one one census it says Dublin) and Percy was born in Widnes in 1892. Annie (CG McD's wife) was, according to the 1911 census, born in Collon, Co Louth.
Also the Doyles - my gg grandfather married to Alice Linda Jameson died in 1893 - he had 2 brothers, James and Joseph, and a sister Mary, but I can't find her after the 1891 census. I think Joseph moved to Fylde, but James stayed in Widnes. Any info would be very welcome. Thank you so much for everything you have found out for me so far. Anna

Hi Anna,
These are Doyles baptisms from St. Maries R.C. Church,Widnes
15-Mar-1866 18-Mar-1866 Edwardus Mariae Jacobi Doyle Rawlinson
27-Oct-1871 29-Oct-1871 Jacobus Mariae Jacobi Doyle Rawlinson
14-Nov-1873 16-Nov-1873 Josephus Mariae Jacobi Doyle Gerrard
11-Sep-1867 13-Sep-1867 Maria Mariae Jacobi Doyle Rawlinson /Gerrard?
_____________________________________________________
28-May-1893 28-May-1893 Maria Bertha Alicia Lindae Eduardi Doyle Jameson
6-May-1891 10-May-1891 Anna Nora Alica Linda Edvardi Doyle Jamesion
15-Apr-1890 17-Apr-1890 Gulielmus Archibaldus Belindae Edvardi Doyle Jameson
18-Feb-1889 24-Feb-1889 Edvardus Jacobus Lindae Edvardi Doyle Jameson
I presume you have Alice Linda in 1911 census. Where she appears to have remarried and dropped the Alice.
Afraid I cant help much with Charles McD. other than Ancestry and any muster roles.
I will see if I can find any more on the Doyles.
My internet connection is playing up a bit so it may take some time.
Cheers

Hi Anna
sorry the email didnt come out as I hoped.
the first four show Edwardus,Jacobus, Josephus and Mariae as children of Mariae and Jacobi Doyle mothers maiden name Rawlinson/ Gerrard.
While the last four show Maria Bertha, Anna Nora, Gulielmus Archibaldus and Edvardus Jacobus Doyle children of Alice Linda or Lindae/Belindae and Edvardi Doyle mothers maiden name Jameson.

Chris, again many thanks. I had the birth dates for all those you mentioned in your message, but it is nice to know all their middle names. Alice Linda did drop her first Christian name - in fact, when I saw her in the 1901 census she was down as Alice and I had no idea who she was as nobody in the family who remembers her (she died in 1951) knew her as anything but Linda. Linda married Nicholas Harper in 1895 after the death of Edward Doyle and went on to have another 9 children (my grandmother Mary Bertha was the sole surviving child of her first marriage - there was an Edward, Nora and William who all died). I would love to know what happened to Mary Doyle, born in 1867 - I know in the 1881 census she is down as attending a convent, but I can't find her in the 1901/1911 censuses. Also, William Jameson (Alice Linda's father) was married to an Annie Maria Taylor but I don't know much about her - any help with them would be great! They had 2 sons, Archie (he died young) and Joseph - no idea what happened to him, as well as 3 girls.
As ever, thank you for searching on my behalf.

Hi Anna
Could this be your Mary in 1891 census?

16 Victoria Rd Widnes
Mary Doyle wid confectioner 61 bn Rainhill
Rachel RAWLINSON dghtr single 35 confectioner
Mary Doyle dghtr single 23 confectioner
James Doyle 19 shoe shop asst
Joseph Doyle 17 pawnbrokers asst
all born Widnes
1 dom serv.

Tina

Hi again Anna
You probably have Rachel in 1901 married to John Donaldson?
Just listed by her initial R
I was hoping Mary may have been with her.

As you said Joseph is in Thornton nr Fleetwood in 1901

Tina

Hi Anna
Slaters Directory for Widnes 1895 shows a Rachel Rawlinson at the Crown Inn Ann St. West This was across the road and maybe 40 yds up from William Jamesons Pawnbrokers.
Widnes Weekly News shows funeral of Edward Doyle Age 27 yrs. Address Crown Inn, Ann St. died July 22 1893 buried July 29 1893 Also Edward Jamesca (Eddie) age 5 Died Dec 24 1893 buried Dec 30 1893. Same Address.
And Mrs. Doyle Funeral Apr 7 1894 same Address. There is also an Inquest listed for the same Mrs. Doyle.
Cheers.