William Connolly VC

[Blue70]

A search for descendants:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-me ... e-33024686


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[MaryA]

Just a little more
http://www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/vc135.html

[daggers]

'Liverpool Heroes', voume 1, edited by Ann Clayton, describes the background to Gunner William Connolly's VC but sadly concludes that he died in the West Derby Union Workhouse in Kirkdale as a pauper. He may have married in 1839, but the book makes no reference to children.
How sad.
D

[Blue70]

There seems to be some conflict of opinion there then he can't die at home at 14 Westminster Road and die a pauper in West Derby Union Workhouse. Perhaps there's confusion over the type of burial? Perhaps he had a public burial rather than pauper burial? There's also a curious probate record of a man with the same name and date of death:-

Name: William Connolly
Probate Date: 26 May 1892
Death Date: 31 Dec 1891
Death Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Registry: Liverpool, England





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[Blue70]

William Connelly, aged 73, single man, retired labourer, born in Liverpool, living at West Derby Union Workhouse (Rice Lane, Walton) on 1891 Census.

William Connolly, aged 60, widower, army pensioner, born in Liverpool, living at 40 Seacombe Street Everton on 1881 Census.


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[Blue70]

William Connoley, aged 41, unmarried, for occupation see below, born in Liverpool, living at 124 Upper Mann Street Toxteth on 1861 Census.




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[Bertieone]

There's various reports in the newspapers, 1858, reporting the action. The Dublin based paper, the Freeman Journal claim him to be Irish,

The Bury and Norwich Post, 1858, give his full name.

[Bertieone]

14 Westminster Rd,

1891,
RG12 P2962 F83 Page2
Elizabeth Johnson, Herbalist.
Family

1881,
RG11 P3678 F4 Page1
John Johnson, Hairdresser,
Elizabeth,
Family

[Blue70]

Possible baptisms

Name: William Conolly
Birth Date: 23 Jul 1816
Baptism Date: 28 Jul 1816
Parish: St Peter's RC, Seel Street
Father's name: Willm Conolly
Mother's name: Bridget Conolly

Not our William Connolly!
His marriage:-
Name: William Connolly of Chadwick Street Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1844 Parish: St Peter’s RC Spouse's Name: Mary Basson of Gore Street TP Father's name: William Connolly Spouse Father's Name: James Basson Witnesses: Hugh Connolly and Catherine Connolly
Other info:
1851 Census - Gilder & Painter at 10 Upper Pitt Street Daughter Maria Connolly Age: 22(?) possible Marriage Date: 24 Dec 1866 Parish: Liverpool, St Philip Spouse's Name: John Roberts Father's name: William Connolly (painter) Spouse Father's Name: John Roberts

Name: William Connelly
Birth Date: 3 Apr 1818
Baptism Date: 5 Apr 1818
Parish: St Mary's RC, Edmund Street
Father's name: Patric Connelly
Mother's name: Ann Connelly

Name: William Conolly
Birth Date: 2 May 1820
Baptism Date: 7 May 1820
Parish: St Mary's RC, Edmund Street
Father's name: Michael Conolly
Mother's name: Elizabeth Conolly

Name: William Conoley
Baptism Date: 19 Mar 1822
Parish: St Peter's CE, Church Street
Abode: School Lane
Father's name: Joseph Conoley
Father's occupation: Cooper
Mother's name: Elizabeth Conoley



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[Blue70]

There's various reports in the newspapers, 1858, reporting the action. The Dublin based paper, the Freeman Journal claim him to be Irish,

The Bury and Norwich Post, 1858, give his full name.

Thanks Bert. I'd like to look at the original sources that the various profiles have used to establish their facts. Someone out there must have got the death certificate. The probate record, the Workhouse census record and the Westminster Road death address are confusing me. There was no institution on Westminster Road at this time for the elderly it was only after the industrial school closed in 1904 that Kirkdale Home(s) for the aged and infirm was started in Westminster Road. Some people may think that the address 14 Westminster Road mentioned in the profiles was an institution but it was definitely a private address.


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[Blue70]

Liverpool Mercury, Mon 6 Sep 1858




Freeman's Journal, Mon 6 Sep 1858





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[Blue70]

"Two years later, on 9th February 1886, a further two Crosses appeared at auction. Lot 218 was the award to Gunner William Connolly, Bengal Horse Artillery, for gallantry at Jhelum on 7 July 1857. This was bought by Mr. Charles Winter, the newly appointed head of the Medal Department at Spink (a position he would hold for the next 47 years), for £10."

https://www.spink.com/research-articles ... -1983.aspx


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[Blue70]

Thomas Hill surgeon who was mentioned on the William Connolly probate record is probably the Thomas Hill, aged 59, Medical Practitioner surgeon, born in North America living at 6 Westminster Road on the 1891 Census.


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[Blue70]

I don't think it will be possible to find any relations for two reasons:-

1. He may not have married
2. Difficulties in establishing facts about his early life


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[Bertieone]

Took a walk down Great Homer Street, 1891.
Court 6, House 11
Thomas Mcmahon, 30, Ireland, Seaman.
Mary A Mcmahon, 26, wife, Liverpool
Catherine Connelly, 26, sister, Widow, Liverpool,
others,

Thomas McMahon's marriage.


Name
Thomam McMahan

Marriage Date
19 Nov 1883
Parish
St Augustine (Augustini), Lancashire, England
Spouse's Name
Mariam A Gill
Father's name
Joannis Mcmahan
Spouse Father
Jacobi Gill
Witnesses, Bridget Connelly, Jacobus Gill, both of Garston.

[Bertieone]

1891,
RG12 P3004 F70 Page24,

Raglan St, Garston.

James Gill 54, Ireland
Bridget Gill 46, Ireland
Mary A Gill 23, All the rest Garston
Sarah Gill 20
Thomas Gill 18
Kate Gill 15
James Gill 13
Ann Gill 10

Wondering if Bridget,if nee Connelly, is related to William.

[Bertieone]

St Augustine,

[Blue70]

Not having access to the death certificate or burial record we'll have to go with what we've been told about the death and burial. William died at his home 14 Westminster Road and he was buried in a public grave at Kirkdale Cemetery. I think we can now add the probate record to what we know about him it has the same name, date of death and it names a surgeon who also lived in Westminster Road. The money left to Thomas Hill tells me that when he died William was not in poverty and he probably wasn't in touch with any family members. Thomas Hill could just be the executor and there may be others named in the will or William may be paying him back for treating him. The William Connelly in the West Derby Workhouse (Walton) is recorded as a pauper as they all were but he could just have been a patient receiving care there using their facilities. If so this would explain him being elsewhere when he died.


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[Blue70]

Took a walk down Great Homer Street, 1891.
Court 6, House 11
Thomas Mcmahon, 30, Ireland, Seaman.
Mary A Mcmahon, 26, wife, Liverpool
Catherine Connelly, 26, sister, Widow, Liverpool,
others,

Thomas McMahon's marriage.


Name
Thomam McMahan

Marriage Date
19 Nov 1883
Parish
St Augustine (Augustini), Lancashire, England
Spouse's Name
Mariam A Gill
Father's name
Joannis Mcmahan
Spouse Father
Jacobi Gill
Witnesses, Bridget Connelly, Jacobus Gill, both of Garston.

Hi Bert,

I don't think there was any family around as they don't appear on census with him or on the probate record. I wonder who was the informant on the death certificate. I think if it had been a family member it would have been mentioned by someone. It will be difficult proving a relationship to him. I think they buried him a public grave because there was no family around not because he was poor.


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[MaryA]

Watch your shoeleather !

Are you feeding this back Blue? wonder if there will ever be any descendants found.