Gunning's of Shinrone

Jennifer, I'll see what I can find out for you and post an update soon.

Thank you Dick, I found out a name change from Gunnell to Gunning between 1901-1911. On my GGrandfathers death register he has Gunnell crossed out and Gunning added., in 1942. I've  traced them back to Gurtnagowna in 1853, to Drumnakeenan in 1901 and then to Gunning in Shinrone in 1911, where my mother was reared. I've found one 3rd cousin in Canada but alas he doesn't know why a surname change. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Jennifer, I have found the Census for 1911 and it appeaars that your GGGgrandfather Frank Gunning was a stonemason - BORN in LEEDS - it would explain the moves you have outlined - Frank would have moved with the work.  Attached are a few files that may be of some use to you -

1. Summary of the Census of 1911 showing that they were living in Shinrone - they don't appear here on 1901 Census there.  I'll check and see if they're on an earlier census elsewhere.  I'll send you the documents from the census of 1911 later.

2. A simple map taken from www.osi.ie (map viewer - zoom into the locality you want) of Kilfrancis - the locality in which your ancestors lived. It dates from 1837-1842 mapping.  There's a newer on dating from 1888-1913 which you zoom into greater detail as its on a larger scale.  The map shows a lime kiln near the top and may have been where Frank Gunning would have worked - this is only speculation!  

3. A list of the townlands of Shinrone - Kilfrancis is a small townland of just 167+ acres!

On the issue of the changing of a name on a Birth/Death etc Certificates, it would have been common practice to correct mistakes on entries - once they became known.  The name Gunnell would have been more common here than Gunning and the death name reported to the registrar by whomever was most likely erroneous.  I'll see if I can locate the certificate here and maybe have a more informative explanation for you later.  If you like, email me your copy of the Death cert - I'm reasonably satisfied with the concept that it was a mistaken reporting initially that was corrected on review.  My email address is dick.conroy@gmail.com - it may prove easier to pass info to each other.

Regards,

Dick.

Jennifer, I just located Francis Gunning's Death record - attached here.  I'm positive that the person writing it into the ledger made a simple mistake and wrote down an incorrect name first (Gunnell) and quickly crossed it out and wrote the correct version!  Sometimes records were altered weeks/months/years after the original was entered following either a representation from a family member and/or a "recheck" by the head registrar - in these cases a note would have been added to the amended record.

Dick

Jennifer, I also found this record - it's a death record for Francis Gunning (Jnr) - he died of Pneumonia in 1938 at the age of 39 - he's most definately the Francis (aged 12) on the 1911 Census.  I'll wait till I get a few records before I send you any more - apologies for the piecemeal posts!

Dick

Jennifer, the attached files have the 1911 Census returns with some notes I added, plus an article on Bridget Gunning, her husband and the locality.  All are in one PDF document.  Hope it adds to your knowledge.

Regards,

Dick

Jennifer, attached are some records of the McLoughlin Family and the 1901 census with some more maps to show how close the families and locations are to each other.  William & Bridget's marriage recoord is also here as well as how I located him in the Census of 1901.

Hope you enjoy them!  Let me know if you have any more questions.

Dick