Above: Because of the lack of 19th century census returns in Ireland, much dependence is placed on a set of records called the 'Griffiths Valuation'. The Griffith's Valuation of Ireland was executed under the direction of Sir Richard Griffith to determine the amount of tax each person should pay towards the support of the poor within their poor law union (division of land). For each county, both the leasers of land as well as the land owners were recorded, and each individual property was valued. The Griffiths Valuation for County Tyrone was completed on 13 July 1860. The Valuation for Clonavaddy, Parish of Donaghmore, County Tyrone (Bridget McGrath's home village), can be seen above, displaying John Magrath (most likely Bridget's father), as well as a James Magrath and a Thomas Lappan (Bridget McGrath's mother was Susanna Lappan). There are also O'Neills, who I suspect are closely tied in with our McGraths, and Sharkeys, whom I suspect became related by marriage.
Above: Extract from the Census of Ireland, 1901. This shows the household of 54 year old widow Alice Sharkey of Clonavaddy, county Tyrone. Living with her, as well as her son Hugh and neice Mary Donaghey, is her mother, SUSAN McGRATH!!!!!!!
How amazing is that!!! I am sure that this Susan McGrath is Susan Lappan McGrath, our Bridget McGrath Sheridan's mother, and that Alice is Bridget's sister. Susan's age is correct..she was 84 years old in 1901, putting her birth year as approximately 1817.
We know that she was married on November 4, 1840, in the Parish of Donaghmore, Tyrone , to John McGrath, bachelor, and that she was from Clonavaddy. If she was born in c. 1817, she would have been aged about 23 years when she was married, which fits in beautifully with the age of the Susan McGrath in the 1901 census.
The chance of finding a Susan McGrath of the right age to be Bridget's mother in a tiny place like Clonavaddy who wasn't ours would be minuscule. Plus the name Alice was not overly-common in Irish Catholic families, yet Bridget used it for her last child, Alice Christina, who was born in Australia in 1884.
Alice McGrath Sharkey was born c. 1847. Bridget McGrath Sheridan was probably born c. 1845-46, although her age on the birth certificates of her later children favoured 1847-48 as she dropped a few years off her age. Similarly, her age at death gave an approximate birth year of c. 1847.
Whatever the case, Bridget was still of the perfect age to be an elder sibling of Alice, born only a year or two before her.
Alice McGrath of Clonavaddy married Felix Sharkey in the Galbally Roman Catholic Church, parish of Conavaddy, on January 9, 1870. I have just downloaded the details from their civil marriage record, which prove that Alice is the sister of our Bridget McGrath Sheridan:
Nameof Groom: Felix Sharkey.
Address: Dragtoll
Occupation: farmer
Age: Full age (over 21)
Status: Bachelor
Father: Hugh Sharkey, farmer
Name of Bride: Alice McGrath
Address: Clonavaddy
Age: Minor- under 21 years.
Status: Spinster
Father: John McGrath, farmer.
Witnesses: Hugh O'Neill
Sarah McGrath
To be continued tomorrow....
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