Having a problem finding a maiden name

OU812

My great, great grandmother was called Alice. Born in 1856, she was married to a man called James Merrigan & had one daughter (that I know of), Mary, born in 1881.

For the life of me, I can't find any further information on her & I don't know if its down to transcription errors, no records or me not knowing what I'm doing. I'd love to know her year of death & I'd hope that'd lead me to her parents.

The only mention of her I can find is the 1901 census which gave me her (approx) age and residence at the time.

Any ideas of where else to look or am I at a dead stop there?

L1011

Is there no maiden name on the 1881 birth cert?

The year of death isn't likely to bring you to the parents, as nothing you'd find from that is likely to record anything, but its never out of the question.

Hermy

Do you have a marriage record for Alice or an idea of when and where she married?

L1011

I would also not rule out the Alice Merrigan living with a son James in Rathgar in 1911 as being her. Age is off by 2 years but accuracy was not always there; counties of birth are not the same but are adjoining and the sons occupation is the same as the husbands - in a trade that was often handed down (Brewing) *and* that Alice isn't anywhere in 1901.

I'd look at getting these death records:

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/3772e112176339

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/702ef114337111

and this birth cert if you don't have one for Mary:

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/80facf3609170

Hermy

There's a James Merrigan died in Rathdown in 1903 could be the father if you don't have it yet.

Also this could be the baptism of the son.

That gives the mothers maiden name as Butler.

OU812

L1011 wrote: »

Is there no maiden name on the 1881 birth cert?

The year of death isn't likely to bring you to the parents, as nothing you'd find from that is likely to record anything, but its never out of the question.

I don't have a birth cert for her, I'm working off the 1901 census, that's the only time she's mentioned. Her husband James & the residence tie in with other family info.

Hermy wrote: »

Do you have a marriage record for Alice or an idea of when and where she married?

None at all

L1011 wrote: »

I would also not rule out the Alice Merrigan living with a son James in Rathgar in 1911 as being her. Age is off by 2 years but accuracy was not always there; counties of birth are not the same but are adjoining and the sons occupation is the same as the husbands - in a trade that was often handed down (Brewing) *and* that Alice isn't anywhere in 1901.

I'd look at getting these death records:

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/3772e112176339

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/702ef114337111

and this birth cert if you don't have one for Mary:

http://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/80facf3609170

That's very interesting thank you. Brewing was the "Family business" (in that they all worked in it for about 100 years), I'll look further into this

Hermy wrote: »

There's a James Merrigan died in Rathdown in 1903 could be the father if you don't have it yet.

Also this could be the baptism of the son.

That gives the mothers maiden name as Butler.

Thank you !

pinkypinky

Well, get the birth cert for Mary Merrigan asap, which will surely have her mother's maiden name on it.

OU812

L1011 wrote: »

I would also not rule out the Alice Merrigan living with a son James in Rathgar in 1911 as being her. Age is off by 2 years but accuracy was not always there; counties of birth are not the same but are adjoining and the sons occupation is the same as the husbands - in a trade that was often handed down (Brewing) *and* that Alice isn't anywhere in 1901.

This looks the most promising. It ties in with some family names & although I hadn't got the location before (they were normally city centre), the dates are pretty accurate. I'd be more than 80% sure that this is the same person (which also gives me more people to research).

Thankfully they all worked for Guinness so there's an active archive of DOB, DOD, spouse etc.