Mary Ann O'Brien Christening, 1867 St Albans, Vauxhall

[n3ttl3]

Hello there

Sorry to ask a such long-winded question, however, my paternal great grandmother, Mary Ann HEWSON (nee O'BRIEN) is giving me a bit of gyp! I found a christening on Ancestry in August 1867 at St Alban's Church in Vauxhall, however, I cannot find a birth record for her. I've searched and searched on the GRO website, using different spellings, dates etc, to no avail. I'm coming home in June to see the Teracotta Warriors, so plan on nipping next door to the Library to do a bit of research.

Does anyone know if the parish records for St Alban's available at the Family History section at the library? I can't tell on the scan whether the month of birth is May or March, but she was christened on 25th August 1867. That indeed is if it's actually my Mary Ann!

Oh, the GRO don't seem to have a death certificate for her either, yet I have the record of her burial in Ford Cemetery on 16th January 1940, I know it's her as the address is correct! Where am I going wrong?? eeek!

thanks for any help in advance
All the best
Annette

[retiringtype]

The birthdate is given as 15 Maii = 15 of May. "of March" would be 15 Martii.

It's entirely possible that the birth was not registered. Registration of births wasn't compulsory for parents until 1875.

[retiringtype]

Her death was registered in Bootle in the first quarter of 1940 8b 538. Mary A Hewson.
The 15 May 1867 birthdate is confirmed by the 1939 register

[n3ttl3]

Thank you Retiring Type, I didn't know that about births not being compulsory! Please don't tell me that deaths didn't have to registered during the war!! I'm having terrible trouble tracing her family, it's daft, my dad lived with his grandparents until she died (apart from being conscripted), then he married my mum in June 1940. He hardly ever spoke about his family, but I know he had a happy childhood with them. I just wish I'd been interested in genealogy when I was younger.

Oh my goodness, just seen your other reply - why the heck wouldn't it work for me? I'll order the certificate now!

thanks so much again for your help, you're a star

all the best
Annette

[n3ttl3]

Mary ANNE with an 'E'!!! argh!

[Bertieone]

Free BMD,


Births Dec 1867

O'Brien Mary Ann Liverpool 8b 223

Could it be a late registration?
though can't find it on the GRO.

[retiringtype]

That December quarter birth registration is in the online index as surname O Brien (with a space between the O and the Brien). mmn Harford.

[n3ttl3]

Oh my goodness! I don't know how to thank you enough! I will send for the PDF, if it's not my Mary Ann(e) it will be someone elses!

thanks again
All the best
Annette

[retiringtype]

Isn't it the wrong mother's name for yours?

[n3ttl3]

Yes, it is the wrong mother's name, I'm attempting to find the marriage of her parents, however, as they are both from Ireland,I have to go to the library to use the free ancestry (I no longer have a subscription), when you can get on a computer! On the Christening documentation, the mother's surname looks like McKenna to me, so am searching for a marriage using that name. My dad did say his family were from Wexford, the only Peter O'Brien I can find is from Youghall, which is near Wexford. I just wish they'd said exactly where in Ireland they came from (one ancestor put 'by swords'). Ah well, onward and upward. Again, thank you for your help.
All the best
Annette

[retiringtype]

I just noticed that the previous baptism that day in 1867 at St Alban's was one of my own relatives - John Joseph Devine

[n3ttl3]

Sorry for late reply, been having computer problems, just goes to show it's a small world!

All the best
Annette