Danny4554 Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 As you can see, I am new to this forum and a complete novice when it comes to tracing information on relatives. If any of you have read any of my previous threads, you will know that I have inherited the death penny, letters and other items for: 242234 Pte Francis McKeown 2/6 West Yorks Regt Now I seem to have all I can on his military service, but I still cannot fit him into the family tree. On Friday I received a copy of his Death Certificate which shows that he was 37 years old when he died. I have just signed up for access to BMD within the UK and think I have found the right man, he was born in Manchester in the last Quarter of 1879. When I try and get the image to come up on screen it is still showing as very small and ineligible. Also I don't seem to be able to get up any of the marriages! Can someone help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Danny, This your chap : Francis Mckeown Manchester Vol 8d page 272 quarter 4th year 1897 Any idea when he married ? Hth Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 16 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Are you sure you think it's right because I have him being born in 1879 not 97 or have you just got the last 2 digits the wrong way round? This is the problem with him, born in Manchester, but all war documentation, death penny etc sent to Knareborough in North Yorkshire. When I checked the Census of 1901 for Knareborough he doesn't appear anywhere. I do have a letter that he has written which starts "my dearest wife" and ends "your ever loving husband". Written on the back of the letter in pencil it say "The last ever letter from Frank". From that I presume he is married. Do local church parishes still keep records and if so for how long before they are sent to central government offices? That would be my next step. As I have stated do not know where to look next really. Thanks for your efforts Grant, very much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Danny, Can't find a Mckeown / Emmett marriage Have found a Mckeown / Cahill marriage 1913 and a Mckeown / Dodson marriage 1912 ..had a thought if they were married why would it be addressed to MISS Emmett ? Grant Opppps fingers are saying it bed time :-( of course it's 1879 Sorry Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 16 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Grant, this is what is puzzling me? Why Miss Emmett, the only thing I can think is that he maybe got married whilst on leave and the clerks in the Bn didn't update his record? Then again he might not have married an Emmett! Have you any idea where these marriages took place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Danny, Here he is in 1891 (just check my fingers :-) ) census, living at Sharp st, manchester MCKEOWN, Teresa Head Widow F 42 Hawker Manchester Lancashire VIEW MCKEOWN, Francis Son M 11 Scholar Manchester Lancashire VIEW BECKETT, John Lodger Married M 29 Labourer Manchester Lancashire VIEW BECKETT, Mary E Lodger Married F 23 Tailoress Retired Hyde Lancashire VIEW BECKETT, John Lodger M 6 Scholar Manchester Lancashire VIEW BECKETT, Ann Lodger F 4 Manchester Lancashire VIEW OBRIEN, Patrick Lodger Married M 34 Porter Market Manchester Lancashire VIEW OBRIEN, Sarah Lodger Married F 41 Washerwoman Manchester Lancashire VIEW OBRIEN, Mary Ann Lodger F 11 Scholar Manchester Lancashire VIEW -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RG number: RG12 Piece: 3248 Folio: 10 Page: 14 Registration District: Manchester Sub District: St George EnumerationDistrict: 27 Ecclesiastical Parish: St Michaels Civil Parish: Manchester Municipal Borough: Manchester Address: 13, Sharp Street, Manchester County: Lancashire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 16 December , 2007 Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Cahill in Chorlton 1913 Dodson in Halifax 1912 There is another Emmett / Kay conection 1914 - Fielding Emmett married Florence Kay Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 16 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Grant, You are a diamond! I am going to have to go back to my Dad and ask about Cahill or Dodson, just to see if there is a link anywhere. Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 16 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 16 December , 2007 Bloody hell Grant you are working faster than I can type a reply! Halifax is certainly getting closer. The Kay/Emmett connection I have is Bridget Emmett remarried after her husband died to a Robert Kay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 17 December , 2007 Share Posted 17 December , 2007 Danny, The only Bridget that I can find is in 1891 aged 22 married to a William Emmett (22) with a son called Henry (8mts old) living in Salford. A William Emmett is registered dead in the third quater of 1898 aged 30. There is also a Eliza Kay born in the same quater of that year. What was Bridgets Maiden name ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 17 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 17 December , 2007 My Great Grandmother (Elizabeth Kay, born 19 Sep 1896) Birth Certificate, which I have a copy of, shows Father as Robert Kay, Mother, Bridget Kay, late Emmett, formerly Connor. I presume they were married in the Knaresborough/Harrogate area. Thanks Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 18 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 18 December , 2007 As I am a complete novice, I have just read a thread on memorials. Surely if someone wanted to put a name on their local memorial it would have to recorded somewhere who wanted it put on? As Francis McKeown appears on the Knaresborough memorial would I be able to search local council records? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 18 December , 2007 Share Posted 18 December , 2007 Danny, It depends on who arranged the Knaresborough memorial. If it is/was a church memorial then the local diocese would be the place to check. If a local council (parish council) then that would be the place to go. If a town council then of course try the local council for their records. I would not hold your breath in hope that the contributors to a memorial will be recorded. The names of those on the memorial perhaps (and not even these names sometimes!). Anyway leave no stone unturned! But first find out about who is responsible for the memorial. it might be worth trawling through the local newspaper archive for when the memorial was commissioned - it might provide some avenues to explore. Post war years - 1919-1925 is the usual period, although some were commissioned during the war years and some a lot later. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 18 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 18 December , 2007 Ian, Many thanks for your words of wisdom. I will crack on and see what comes up! Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 18 December , 2007 Share Posted 18 December , 2007 Danny, Cant find a marriage - Robert / Bridget Another thought I had regarding the Kay / Emmett marriage I found, if it were your branch of the Kay's and they had a daughter she would have been your Grandad's cousin. Happy hunting Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny4554 Posted 8 January , 2008 Author Share Posted 8 January , 2008 I might at long last be getting somewhere with Pte McKeown. I spoke with the local council reference the war memorial but they have no records, so went back onto the internet and found a website to all the names on the Knaresborough memorial. Another name popped up of a Charles Emmett (he is my great great Step Uncle). Notes were left next to his name. I read the notes and a photo was sent to the person who ran the website. The photo was from a man by the name of Roy Bethune-Emmett. I then googled the name and find that he is an author. I have found a friend of his who states if anyone wants to make contact with Mr Bethune-Emmett to contact him. E mail sent and a reply received tonight that my email has been passed on to Mr Bethune-Emmett. I will now wait for a reply. I am quietly confident I might be getting somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest heilander Posted 10 February , 2008 Share Posted 10 February , 2008 I might at long last be getting somewhere with Pte McKeown. I spoke with the local council reference the war memorial but they have no records, so went back onto the internet and found a website to all the names on the Knaresborough memorial. Another name popped up of a Charles Emmett (he is my great great Step Uncle). Notes were left next to his name. I read the notes and a photo was sent to the person who ran the website. The photo was from a man by the name of Roy Bethune-Emmett. I then googled the name and find that he is an author. I have found a friend of his who states if anyone wants to make contact with Mr Bethune-Emmett to contact him. E mail sent and a reply received tonight that my email has been passed on to Mr Bethune-Emmett. I will now wait for a reply. I am quietly confident I might be getting somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest heilander Posted 10 February , 2008 Share Posted 10 February , 2008 Hello, Danny Imagine my surprise when, after googling my own name, I found a link to this discussion. Some quick info for you, then, Danny. Lizzie Kay was the half-sister of Charles Emmett (1888-1917). Charles was killed at Arras in April, 1917, whilst serving with the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment. Charles was my great Uncle (full brother to my Grandfather Dennis Emmett, who served in the 3rd Hampshires in WW1), and Lizzie, my Great Aunt...I remember her from my childhood, and her fondness for dominoes and Mackeson (like Guinness). She was the daughter of Bridget Connor (1855-1926) and Bobby kay. In turn, Bridget was the child of (one of many to)John Connor and Mary Haran (both born in Ireland). Now, Bridget the booze -yes, she drank heavily- had been married to Charles Emmett, but he was killed by a train in the Bramhope Tunnel, in 1891, whilst trying to repair the tunnel (he was a railway bricklayer). Bridget and Charles Emmett produced numerous children, including Charles (d.1917) and my grandfather. Benjamin Emmett, another son, was gassed and discharged from the army in 1918. Yet another son, John William (South Lancs re.) lost a leg at le Tropeur. All children were raised as catholics. As far as I recollect, Lizzie had two children- both illegitimate, I think. The first was Charlie Kay, born in 1917, and named in honour of his uncle, Charles Emmett, lately killed at Arras, I think there was also a Ronald Kay..and maybe others. In later life, she lived with her half-sister Margaret Emmett (b.1891) aka Maggie Surr, a stalwart of the papacy and another notorious drinker. Anyway, food for thought. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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