Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi,

I am trying to help my mother in law, to find out about her British relatives. Her Grandmother was from Liverpool, and was the daughter of the person I refer to as Joshua#3. If anybody can help me, that would be great!

Joshua #2 (his father) gets married to a Sarah (around 1868 I would think). They have a son in 1869, and names him Joshua (#3).

I find them in the 1871 census:

RG10 - Piece: 3770 - Folio: 24 - Page: 39
Address: 3 house, 5 Court, Hodson Street, Liverpool
MCDONALD, Joshua - Head - 22 - Scavenger - Manchester, Lancashire.
MCDONALD, Sarah - Wife - 21 - Ireland
MCDONALD, Joshua - Son - 2 - Lancashire

Then I belive that Joshua#2 dies in 1880 (I have ordered this from GRO, so I am not yet sure, but there can't be yet another Joshua, I presume).

In the 1881 census I can't find Sarah and my Joshua.

The problem is, that I haven't found Joshua McDonald#3 born in Liverpool (I have ordered a McDonald unknown 1869 from GRO, so fingers crossed) or Joshua#2 and his wife married (but I find them in the 1871 census). And what happens to Sarah after her husband dies?

Thanks
Geir

The last question about these, was as to where Sarah is in 1911. The answer is that she (and her daughter Sarah Ann) are in Norway.

1871 census

Joshua McDonald, head 22 bn, Manchester

Sarah, wife, 21, Dublin, Ireland

Joshua, son, 2, Liverpool.

occupation and address unclear

Rg10 Piece3770 Folio24 Page39

Joshua snr dies 1880

McDonald Joshua 29 Liverpool 8b 163, cert you have ordered,

Possible sighting of Sarah, 1881 census,
School
2/3 Gt Georges Square, Liverpool.
Sarah McDonald, bn abt 1852, Ireland.
Assistant senior class.
Rg11 Peice3616 Folio76 Page8

The enumerator has been lazy and recorded all adults as unmarried, which seems unlikely.

Thank you for filling in the background Bertie. Geir the details on each post are very important, we need to know birthplaces, dates of birth etc. that you know so we don't need to always refer to a previous post which will be closed to prevent duplication once this is done.

To Bertie:

If that is her, she would be a widow by then, but where would Joshua be?

Thanks
Geir

Hi Geir,

With her being a widow she would have to work and Joshua may well be in someone else's care while she did, the problem that presents, was he recorded as a member of some other family?

Not as far as I know.

Hi Geir,
can't find young Joshua anywhere in 1881, could be flogging a dead horse especially with Sarah being recently widowed its possible he went to live with her parents in Ireland, only to return when he's older, will we ever know.

I had a tip that he might have some siblings (maybe that can help?).

13 April 1876 Christ Church, Hunter St, Liverpool
Hannah MacDonald child of Joshua & Sarah
born 2 March 1876
abode xiii Court 4 house Milton St - labourer

The GRO Births Jun 1876
Hannah McDonald Liverpool 8b/80
Deaths Mar 1878
Hannah McDonald (age 1) Liverpool 8b/51

Thanks
Geir

Also maybe the one that MaryA refers to:

Baptism of Thomas McDonald at our Lady of Mount Carmel 20th December, 1880 - BIRTH 27 June 1875
Parents Joshua and Sarah McDonald (nee Brennan)
Godmother Catherine Gahan

Couldn't find Thomas or Joshua, apart or together in 81, perhaps the pair of them are out of the country. It would be difficult for Sarah to manage without a husband with 2 young ones. If that is Sarah working in 81 and its not certain it is her, the children would have to be looked after. Her parents in Ireland might have been the only option. At least Sarah's maiden name is a step forward.

So you think these are the same people? There can't be yet another Joshua and Sarah, can it?

Thanks
Geir

If they are another Joshua and Sarah, they are also missing in 81.

Good point

It is just that when I started out trying to make sense of this, I was told there couldn't be many Joshua McDonalds in Liverpool. Now I know of at least four.

BTW. My mother in law says that she was always told that there were Scottish roots, bur so far I haven't found any. They probably came from Scotland before going to Ireland, though. If Joshua had gone to Scotland in those "missing years" it would have come up?

Thanks
Geir

Got the thing from GRO, seems to be the right one:

Can anyone find out what might have happened to Sarah McDonald?

Thanks
Geir