Rose Duffy (1864-1949)

Rose Duffy is Dermot's great grandmother. She was born in approximately 1864 to James and
Rose (--?--) Duffy in County Westmeath, Ireland. I have not been able to find any record of her birth or baptism, which makes her year of birth unclear, it could be any one of the following from the official documents I have:
1863 - from the 1911 census
1864 - from the 1901 census
1865 - from her death certificate

1874
Death of father James Duffy, age 59

1880
Death of sister Mary (Duffy) Gavin, age 23

1885
Rose married William Egan on 4 June 1885 at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Ballinahown.
Details can be seen in the post about William Egan here.

1886
Birth of daughter Emily J (1886-1959)

1888
Birth of son James Joseph (1888-1931)

1889
Birth of son John (1889-????)

1891
Birth of daughter Mary (1891-1947)

1893
Birth of daughter Rosana (1893-1957)

1897
Birth of son William (1897-1900)

1899
Birth of daughter Helen Clare (1899-1986)

1900
Death of son William, age 2

1901
In 1901, the Egan family were living at 13 Townparks, Navan, Co Meath.

• William Egan – age 40, stationmaster, born in Kings County
• Rose Egan – age 37, born in Co Westmeath
• Emily J Egan – age 14, scholar, born in Dublin City
• James J Egan – age 12, scholar, born in Co Westmeath
• John Egan – age 11, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Mary Egan – age 9, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Rose Egan – age 7, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Helen Egan – age 1, born in Co Meath

Birth of daughter Teresa Josephine (1901-????)

1905
Death of husband William Egan, age 44

1911
In 1911, the family were living at 27 Norfolk Road, Glasnevin, Dublin. The census shows that Rose was a widow and although crossed out we can read that she had 8 children, 7 of whom were still living.

• Rose Egan, age 48, born in Co Westmeath (widow)
• James Egan, age 23, butcher, born in Co Westmeath
• Mary Egan, age 19, born in Co Meath
• Rose Egan, age 17, born in Co Meath
• Nellie Egan, age 11, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Josie Egan, age 9, scholar, born in Co Meath
• Patrick Gibney, age 34, Commercial Traveller (flour mills), born in Co Cavan
• Emily Gibney, age 24, born in Co Dublin
• John Gibney, age 1 month, born in Co Dublin
• John Dagg, age 26, Glass Cutter, born in Co Wicklow

Emily Gibney is Rose's eldest daughter and John Dagg (no relation) is listed as a visitor.

1922

Death of mother Rose (--?--) Duffy, age 103

1931

Death of son James Joseph, age 42

1941

Death of sister Margaret  (Duffy) (Gavin) Hynds, age 96

1947

Death of daughter Mary, age 55

1949
Rose died on 12 June 1949, age 86 of cardiac failure and carcinoma of the neck in Church Street, Athlone. The informant of her death was Josephine Egan (daughter).

Curious Freak of Lightning

It is Friday again, when I share something that I have found whilst looking for records, that is interesting or adds information to our family tree.

The following is from the  Macclesfield Courier and Herald, Congleton Gazette, Stockport Express, and Cheshire General Advertiser. 26 August 1911, page 5

The transcription reads:
CURIOUS FREAK OF LIGHTNING.- During a thunderstorm that passed over Market Drayton early on Monday morning, Marion Meakin, a domestic servant, employed at the George Hotel, had an unusual experience. She was awakened by the smell of burning clothing, and an investigation showed that the lightning had passed through the open bedroom window, had struck an alarm clock, melting the case, and setting fire to the chair seating, burning the girl's boots and scorching the bedclothes.

As far as I can tell, Marion is not related to me, so unfortunately, this article is just a curiosity.

Surname: Westhoff

Surnames that occur in our family trees, starting with Dermot's side.

Westhoff is Dermot's father's name and the links back are:

Gerald Westhoff (1928-2012)
married
Mary Carmel Boushell (1926-1974)
Children:
* Dermot Edward Patrick Westhoff
* Gerald Brendan Francis Westhoff

Edward Westhoff (1902-1957)
married
Frances Roche (1902-1966)
Children:
* Mary Eileen Westhoff (1925-2006)
* Gerald Westhoff (1928-2012)
* Josephine Elizabeth Westhoff (1930-2018)
* Edward John Westhoff
* Francis Joseph

Edward James Westhoff (1867-1921)
married
Mary Horris (1874-1910)
Children:
* Mary Westhoff (1901-1901)
* Edward Westhoff (1902-1957)
* Anne Westhoff (1909-2005)

Johann Jacob Westhoff (1831-1908)
married
Mary Ann Mooney (1825-1918)
Children:
* John Michael Westhoff (1856-1859)
* Martin Westhoff (1858-1860)
* John Westhoff (1859-1924)
* Frederick Westhoff (1862-1920)
* Henrietta Westhoff (1864-1866)
* Edward James Westhoff (1867-1921)
* Henry Westhoff (1869-1920)

Johann Gustav Westhoff (????-????)

married

Unknown

Children:

* Johann Jacob Westhoff (1831-1908)

October Birthdays

Now we are on to the October birthdays, which I have so far recorded.

From Dermot's Side
28 October - Mary Doyle (1847-1885), 2nd great grandmother
28 October - Jane Roche (1873-????), 2nd great aunt
29 October - Mary Byrne (1868-????), 2nd great aunt
31 October - Esther Boushell (1900-1900), great aunt

From Judith's Side
2 October - Mary Elizabeth Hemmings (1876-1958), 2nd great aunt
3 October - Norman Meakin (1909-1962), great uncle
6 October - William Thomas Hassall (1870-1964), 2nd great uncle
7 October - Albert Hassall (1881-1904), 2nd great uncle
18 October - Clara Ann Hemmings (1878-1967), great grandmother
24 October - Benjamin Goodwin (1810-1879), 3rd great grandfather

Only one date this month which has 2 people sharing.

Commercial Sale: Drucilla Hassall

I found 2 small adverts, which linked Drucilla (Hudson) Hassall, my great grandmother to the Watts Russell Arms, a public house in Staffordshire. Dad remembers his mum talking about this, she remembered a forge at the back, the copper in the pub, which she helped to clean and the vicar coming after Sunday service to hold a short prayer meeting for those attending the drinking session, rather than the church service!

I have no information about when they moved, as the 1911 census shows them to be living at 14 Caroline Street, but can only surmise it was sometime between then and 1925, when they moved out.

Below is an extract from the 1924 Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire, under Alstonfield

The notice for the commercial sale from Staffordshire Advertiser 21 March 1925, page 12

The Watts Russell Arms is still in business today.

Wordless Wednesday

Investigating

Clara Ann Hemmings (1878-1967)

Clara Ann was born on 18 October 1878 in Nantwich, Cheshire to Abraham and Fanny (Mason) Hemmings, the 3rd daughter of 5. She was baptised on 1 December 1878 at St Paul’s church, Crewe. Abraham’s occupation is given as labourer.

1881
In the 1881 census, the Hemmings family lived at 21 Thomas Street, Monks Coppenhall, Cheshire.
The household included:

• Abraham Hemmings – age 30, labourer, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Fanny Hemmings – age 30, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Sarah H Hemmings – age 5, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Mary E Hemmings – age 4, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Clara A Hemmings – age 2, born in Crewe, Cheshire

1891
In 1891, the family were still living in Monks Coppenhall, but had moved to 23 Walthall Street
The household included:

• Abraham Hemmings – age 40, general labourer, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Fanny Hemmings – age 40, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Sarah H Hemmings – age 15, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Mary E Hemmings – age 14, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Clara A Hemmings – age 12, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Frances A Hemmings – age 9, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Bertha Hemmings – age 2, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Richard Richards – age 30, widower, general labourer, born in Shawbank, Shropshire
• Albert Richards – age 2, born in Crewe, Cheshire

1901
In 1901, Clara Ann had moved and was now working away from home for the Maddock family at Church Road, Alsager

• Arthur H Maddock – age 27, earthenware manufacturer, born in Alsager, Cheshire
• Dora Maddock – age 26, born in Leek, Staffordshire
• Arthur V Maddock – age 2, born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire
• Agnes Tillsley – age 23, general domestic cook, born in Wynbury, Cheshire
• Clara Hemmings – age 22, domestic nurse, born in Crewe, Cheshire

1902
Birth of son Reginald Hemmings (1902-1979)

1906
Clara Ann married John Meakin on 18 March 1906 in St James church, Sutton.

1907
Birth of son Rex Meakin (1907-1976)

1909
Birth of son Norman Meakin (1909-1962)

1911
The family were living at 45 Langley, Sutton in 1911

• John Meakin – age 30, warehouseman, born in Langley, Cheshire
• Clara Ann Meakin – age 31, born in Crewe, Cheshire
• Rex Meakin – age 3, born in Langley, Cheshire
• Norman Meakin – age 1, born in Langley, Cheshire

1912
Birth of daughter Brenda Meakin (1912-1982)

1913
Death of father Abraham Hemmings (1850-1913) - age 63

1914
Birth of daughter Grace Meakin (1914-1989)

1917
Death of husband John Meakin (1880-1917) - age 36

1932
Death of mother Fanny (Mason) Hemmings (1851-1932) - age 81

1939
The 1939 census shows Clara Ann living alone at 45 Langley, Sutton, Cheshire.

• Clara A Meakin – widow, born 18 October 1878, office cleaner

1945
Death of sister Sarah Hannah (Hemmings) Thompson (1875-1945) - age 69

1955
Death of sister Bertha Hemmings (1888-1955) - age 66

1958
Death of sister Mary Elizabeth Hemmings (1876-1958) - age 81

1960
Death of sister Frances Alice (Hemmings) Beard (1882-1960) - age 78

Clara Ann died age 88 on 28 September 1967 in Macclesfield, Cheshire.