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What we do know about our grandmother is:

  • Katherine O’Neil was born in 1878 or 1879 in County Armagh (probably between 26/6/1878 - 2/4/1879).

  • We know nothing about her family of origin, but one family belief is that she did not know her father and she did not have any siblings.

  • In 1911 lived/worked in East St Pancras, London. Her daughter Freda was born there on 6/1/1911 [mother Katherine O’Neill, father’s surname White]. The 1911 census shows Katherine O'Neil, a 32 yo “Hotel Housemaid”, and Freda visiting Mary Ann Drinkwater, a 61yo married woman (and mother of 13 children).

  • In 1912 William O'Neil Perkins in Eastbourne (south coast of England), mother “Kate Perkins formerly O’Neill”, father William Thomas Perkins, followed by another son in 1915 in Eastbourne - Harry Perkins - also to William Thomas Perkins.

  • Katherine O’Neill died on 26/6/1936 57yo in Eastbourne, “otherwise Katherine Perkins, hotel chambermaid, spinster, father’s name and occupation unknown”.

I believe that I have now exhausted my online research and have narrowed down the field to three possibilities:

  • Catherine Neill was born on 24/9/1879 in Armagh, Armagh, daughter of Robert Neill and Agnes Mcconnell Neill. Their sons Robert Oneill was born in 1880 in Armagh and Henry O'Neil was born in 1891 in Partick, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

  • Catherine O'Neill born ~1879 Armagh, shown in 1901 Census, 22yo not married, RC domestic servant, living with Bridget Hamill [39yo RC widow] in a house at 54 Irish Street Lower (South Ward, Armagh).

  • Catherine O'Neil born Ireland 1878, daughter of John O'Neil [born 1849] and Margaret [born 1850]. The family moved to live in Partick, Lanarkshire, Scotland between 1878-1882. Their other children were Maria O'Neil born 1868, Lillie O'Neil born 1873, Mary O'Neil born 1875, John O'Neil born 1882, Frances O'Neil born 1884. Catherine O'Neil is listed in the 1901 Census: 23yo, birth ~1878 Ireland, domestic servant, living with the Stiell family (5) plus three other women at 1 Kinnoul Place, Govan, Patrick, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

It is so exciting as we get closer to solving the mystery of our grandmother’s life. It would be wonderful to identify her family of origin or any other information about her. Here's hoping someone can help us!

Wednesday 15th Jul 2015, 06:40AM

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  • Hi Robyn

    Here's the only one that comes up on www.rootsireland.ie/:

    Name:Kate O'NeillDate of Birth:

    Date of Baptism:25-Sep-1876 Address:
    Parish/District:SEAGOEGender:FemaleCountyARMAGH

    Denomination:Roman Catholic
    Father:Felix O'NeillMother:Mary ConnollyOccupation:

    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:Daniel ConnellySponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Isabella McMahon
    Notes:

    Col

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 16th Jul 2015, 03:25AM

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