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Bridget McNamara - Newmarket on Fergus born early 1880s

I am trying to help my mum trace her Irish ancestors but am struggling and wondered if you might be able to help. Here is what I know:

my mum's grandma, Bridget McNamara, was born in the early 1880s. We have been unable to find a birth certificate although the 1911 UK census gives her birthplace as Newmarket on Fergus

Bridget moved to England where she was was married as Delia McNamara to Walter Hudson in September 1902. Her father is given as Michael McNamara Gardener (deceased)

Bridget/Delia gives her age as 20 on her marriage certificate which places her birth year in 1881/2 although her entry in the 1939 UK Register gives her date of birth as 30th November 1883

I do not know when Bridget came to England. I cannot find a trace of her in either the 1901 UK or Ireland censuses under Bridget or Delia McNamara

...

I have also been unable to locate a Michael McNamara in the 1901 census although it is possible he died before then. I have searched the databases for a death certificate but haven't been able to find one that might be a match. I have found some which give farmer as the occupation or some where the deceased was in the workhouse, but wasn't sure how significant the occupation of gardener was and whether that might help with the search?

I don't know whether this is enough information for anyone to be able to help me make any progress or whether the fact that the name McNamara is so common in that area and the lack of any other detail means that that is impossible. If anyone if able to help, I know that my mum would be very grateful. Thanks in advance.

LorraineS

6 replies

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1885/02654/1978516.pdf

This birth cert for a Bridget McNamara , father Michael and mother Mary nee Cleary is from the village of Clarecastle which is a neighbouring village of Newmarket on Fergus. The birth date is 14/12/1884. Please keep in mind that people did not always keep exact dates on birth in that time. Also peoples occupations changed according to circumstances. Do you know the birth name of Bridget's mother or did she have any siblings ?

kellyeileen20@…

Based on the information Eileen provided above, I found Michael's and Mary's marriage record on Irishgenealogy. I only found two Michael McNamaras' deaths in Clare Castle between 1884 and 1902. One in 1892, age 73, widow, witness Margaret McNamara. The other 1890, age 67, witness wife- Minnie McNamara

Irish Genealogy - Explore your Family History

Click on Record Image

Party 1 Name:Michael Mcnamara
Party 2 Name:Mary Cleary
Date of Event:25/01/1879
Group Registration ID:2643612
SR District/Reg Area:Ennis
Marriage Ceremony
Registration Information
Image path:marriage_returns\marriages_1879\11060\8046435.tif
View record image

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Thank you Eileen and Mary. That is really helpful. Can you help me decipher the entry in column 7 of the birth certificate? Is that the father's occupation? How much did people move around at that time? Is it likely that the family would have stayed in and around Newmarket on Fergus? I have asked my mum about siblings but unfortunately she has no more information that she can remember. 

LorraineS

The occupation is shown as 'Car man', in effect he is a driver/hackney service but these occupations were temporary and changed as needed. I have seen other listings for McNamara's including a Thomas McNamara in the Newmarket on Fergus area so this family were established locally. Without more information , I would be guessing family connections, perhaps if you check birth/marriage/death certs in your family it might reveal a maiden name or birth sponser/family connection.

kellyeileen20@…

Thank you Eileen.

LorraineS

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