Looking for the Herward family and the Keane family in Oughterard late 1800 and early 1900

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

You mention finding the 1841 and 1851 census records for the family. There are no remaining 1841 and 1851 census records for Co. Galway. Do you have a copy of a Census search form for an Old Age Pension application. Could you share a copy? Having trouble locatein any records for Ellen and the marriage record for Sarah. Thanks!

Roger McDonnell

Hi

Michael Cain / Keane / Kane and Sarah Neal / Neill were married 9th February 1873 in Tuam, living in Clough in 1901 / 1911. Sarah was from Argloragh, Tuan. Not related in any way to Herward.

Do you have a copy of a record linking your family to the Galway area? Do you mind sharing?

Regards 

Hi Both,

The information I used above is based on what I thought were copies of an 1841 and 1851 census form, I have attached copies of these forms.  

I found a 1901 and 1911 census for Sarah Keane and family in the same area as mentioned on the 1917 requested copies of the 'census forms' and just made the leap.  If it is wrong I will have to remove from my tree and look again.

I would be interested in your thoughts on the attached forms and even more pleased if it helps eithr of you move forward.

Regards

Ellen C

Hi Ellen!

You have 1841 and 1851 census search forms that were requested when Sarah Herward Keane filed for the Old Age pension in July 1917. A little history and I'm sure Gerard can add more. The Old Age Pension Act was passed around 1908 and implemented around 1910. You had to be 70 and have income below a certain level to get the pension. At that time the 1841 and 1851 census records were available in Dublin (they were later destroyed in 1922 when the Public Records Office burned after a bombing during the Irish Civil War). The clerks who processed the pension applications sent census search record requests to verify the age of the applicant. It looks like they did not find Sarah's family in the 1841 census but located them in the 1851 census. They likely denied the application in 1917 but she likely got the pension a few years later.

Unfortunately, the RC church of Cong and Neale does not have any records until 1870 so we won't find any baptismal records and I'm speculating that Ellen married right before 1864 when civil registration started. Still does not explain why a marriage record for Sarah does not show up.

Roger McDonnell

Thanks for that Roger - it does clear up a couple of things.

If the 1911 census I have is correct for 'my' Sarah then she married in 1865 as the years married are noted as 36 years on the census.

As to Ellen, my direct ancestor I have a bit of a mixed bunch of information for her.

She and Thomas appear to have children born in both Ireland and England.

2nd Jan 1872 a boy, John Hughes was baptised in Cloonbur, Galway with parents Thomas and Ellen Hughes nee Herward.  FHL File number 255845

On the birth certificate Thomas is shown as a farmer of Doughta

By the 1881 Census they are back in the UK in Parr in Lancashire

They were in Staffordshire during the late1860s, but I was not able to find them on any1871 census.  I had assumed they had returned to Ireland - I know it is easy to make things fit, but John's birth fits with later UK census forms.

Just incase any information comes to you - Thomas Hughes was a couple of years younger than Ellen born in /around 1841 in Clifden Galway.  There endth my info on his birth. 

All the census forms I have are consistant about places of birth and the couple of years difference in their ages.  They were  both alive living in Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire for 1911 census 

On the UK 1911 census the marraige year is stated as1864.

Thanks

Ellen:

Sarah would have married around 1875-- 36 years from 1911. The Clifden RC baptismal records start in 1838 but I did not locate a baptismal record for a Thomas Hughes.

Roger

Thank you for looking at the baptismal records for Clifden.
Yep, my subtraction leaves a little to be desired. It looks as though Gerard is correct re the 1901 and 1911 records.  

I will just keep plugging away and hope something shakes free

Many thanks