Looking for my grandfather ancestry. Michael Williams married Norah Conway around 1903. They had three boys; Thomas, John (my grandfather) and Peter. Michael was a postman and lived on Lakeview, carnmore, claregalway, galway ireland on the census reports for 1911. Norah's name was erased from the census, however I recently acquired my grandfathers birth certificate and found her name. I am wondering if she died early or perhaps they divorced. What happened to michael as well? I have been searching for a picture of the post office he would have worked at, which according to the census would have been located 3 doors down from his house on Lakeview. Any information at all about any of the Williams, Conways or the old post office would be very much appreciated.
Lolson
Wednesday 31st Dec 2014, 02:16PMMessage Board Replies
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This looks to be Michael in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Claregalway/Cahergowan/1378997/
There were only 2 Nora Conways in Co. Galway in 1901 of an age to marry. So probably Nora is one of the two women in these census entries:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Galway_Urban/Middle_Street/1373455/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Kiltormer/Coolagurrane/1368509/
I have looked for Michael & Nora?s marriage but cannot see it listed anywhere in Ireland. I have also looked for her death in the Galway area 1908 ? 1921 but again can?t see it. Nor can I see her elsewhere in the 1911 census.
I would not expect there was a divorce. In an RC community in rural Ireland in the 1900s, that was unknown. I checked the workhouse (where inmates were only recorded by their initials) but there?s no sign of her there.
The on-line death indexes go up to 1958. I searched for Micaehl Williams death 1911 ? 1958 in Galway. There was only 1 match which was for Oct ? Dec 1945 Volume 4, page 139. Est year of birth was 1869 which is fairly close. (The age on a death certificate is just the informant?s best guess and, for someone in their 70s, was often out by anything up to 10 years.). You might wnat to order that to see if it's the right Michael Williams.
Ahoghill Antrim
Wednesday 31st Dec 2014, 04:12PM