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Mary O''Neill (or Neill) my g-grandmother married James Donovan in 1873 at St George in the East, Middx, to become Mary Donovan. In 1885 they were living in Plaistow (West Ham) where they had a daughter Julia, my grandmother. James was a stevedore.

Julia was one of 8 children.

Does anyone have any information on Mary O'Neill (known as Molly) or James Donovan?

What info are you hoping for?

Hi Erika
To establish the birth dates of Mary and James for definite! There are so many O'Neill's and Donovans in the East End I was hoping someone might recognize the family.
Pat

For info

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Brook Street, Ratcliff, Stepney, London & Middlesex, England

James Donovan Head Married Male 42 1849 London, Middlesex, England General Labourer Transcription
Mary Donovan Wife Married Female 38 1853 London, Middlesex, England Washerwoman Transcription
Elizabeth Donovan Daughter Single Female 16 1875 London, Middlesex, England Cocoa Factory Hand Transcription
Mary E Donovan Daughter - Female 14 1877 London, Middlesex, England Nurse Girl Transcription
John Donovan Son - Male 10 1881 London, Middlesex, England Scholar Transcription
Annie Donovan Daughter - Female 8 1883 London, Middlesex, England Scholar Transcription
Julia Donovan Daughter - Female 5 1886 Essex, England Scholar Transcription
Ellen Donovan Daughter - Female 3 1888 London, Middlesex, England -

The marriage cert is the way to go.

It will name their fathers - if they knew them - and help you to pinpoint the right people

Thank you so much Erika. The 1891 census looks spot on for the family. More research tonight - just the weather for it! Thanks again.

A little variance on age on 1901

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
89, Grundy Street, Poplar, London & Middlesex, England
Learn more


James Donovan Head Married Male 49 1852 London, England Stevedore
Mary Donovan Wife Married Female 45 1856 London, England -
John Donovan Son Single Male 19 1882 London, England Stevedore
Ellen Donovan Daughter Single Female 13 1888 London, England -
Agnes Donovan Daughter Single Female 9 1892 Stepney, Middlesex, England -

from GRO birth index

DONOVAN, AGNES NEILL Order
GRO Reference: 1891 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 398

Thank you for that. I have found that sometimes they give inaccurate information to the census enumerator! It's detective work pure and simple so I'll plough on.

Pat

Pat ............

it is NOT inaccurate information in most cases.

People were asked their age on the date that the census was taken.

The modern-day transcribers changed the age to a year of birth based on the year the census was taken.

Depending on the date of their birthday vs the date of the census (ie, which came first), then the year of birth can be 1 to 2 years out.

We also have to acknowledge that many people really didn't know quite how old they were ............. it was not as important to them as it is today, so a guess might be made sometimes.


Then you have the ones who deliberately lied, usually because one spouse was older than the other and wanted to make the discrepancy in ages seem smaller than it was.

SylviainCanada......

Thank you for that information...lots of possibilities! Best of luck with your research.

Pat