It began as a story about a Salford postcard and a question about Gertie and Delia who were mentioned on the back which became the inspiration for Sue to research the family and write the story.
John McCabe was baptised at St. Nicholas, Dublin in 1854, he moved to England as a young man firstly to an aunt in Macclesfield and later to Manchester where he married Margaret Maloney a Galway girl in 1875 at St. Wilfred’s in Hulme.
Numerous children came along in the following years the eldest Julia in 1876 followed by John, Margaret,
Frederick, William, Florence, Theresa, Bridget (Delia), Matilda (Tilly), Joseph and Gertrude (Gertie) in 1891.
Quite possibly there were more children (I haven’t found out about ‘Geff’ mentioned by Delia on the postcard to Gertie) born to this Irish catholic family before Margaret’s life was cut short in 1897.
John having been left widowed with children ranging from infants to children of a working age with presumably no family locally had little choice but to admit at least two of his young children into the care of Holly Mount.
The orphanage/ school of Holly Mount in Tottington on the outskirts of Bury admitted children from poor catholic families who else-wise were destined for life in the Workhouse. The establishment was run efficiently by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus Christ a Belgian order of nuns.
A board of guardians administered financial matters.
It would have been a formidable place for the young girls to enter sharing living space with over 200 other young girls. It was normal for girls to remain here until reaching 13 years of age an acceptable age at the time to begin a working life.
As with other similar institutions the girls were taught numerous domestic duties to equip them for married life and often a life in domestic service.
Not unsurprisingly John still of a reasonable age remarried in 1899 to Emily Roberts and sired at least two children with her and raised her son William alongside them. 1901 the new family are living in Hulme with only Theresa from his first marriage living amongst them, Tilly and Gertie are to be found on the census for Holly Mount. John passed away aged 73 years old in South Manchester.
Bridget, fondly called Delia from the postcard married Charles Dunderdale in 1928; a widower 20 years her senior with an already adult family. Passing away in 1941 Charles left a reasonable sum of money to Delia, she herself died in 1963 her probate details her beneficiaries as Matilda Evans and Mary Gertrude Grant widows.
From searching through local records it is confirmed the ladies are her sisters Tilly and Gertie.
Matilda, (Tilly) had been born in 1887 and as we know from earlier spent some time after her mother’s death at Holly Mount.
She married John Wilcox a Rubber Heel Moulder in 1909, a daughter Lilian was born soon after and as often happened died in infancy. A son Harold was born in the early part of 1911, by the time the child is one month old John Wilcox is a patient in Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The cause or illness I do not know or in fact if he ever returned home, it is documented though he passed away in 1913. One hopes Tilly found happiness again in 1916 when she married James Evans having at least four children with her second husband she passed away in 1975.
Of Gertie as yet I haven’t located her marriage although we do know she married a man with the surname of Grant, perhaps this was also a second marriage and so proving problematic to locate.
Florence married Giovanni Geri and passed away in 1966.
Other siblings I have yet to find in their adult life, I’m sure a bit more digging will unearth more information and I will update accordingly.
What we can learn from this family is life wasn’t always easy or kind in the 19th century or indeed the 20th century and many families were separated due to the death of one or both of their parents at a tender age; including my grandmother who was suddenly orphaned at eight years old, but that’s a story for another day.
© Sue Tydd 2017
Pictures; Peel Park, circa 1900, marketed by Tuck & sons, from the collection of David Harrop, Holly Mount School, 1894 from the OS map of South Manchester, 1894 courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/ Manchester Royal Infirmary, 1950 , m52916, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
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| The Salford postcard, circa 1900 |
Numerous children came along in the following years the eldest Julia in 1876 followed by John, Margaret,
Frederick, William, Florence, Theresa, Bridget (Delia), Matilda (Tilly), Joseph and Gertrude (Gertie) in 1891.
Quite possibly there were more children (I haven’t found out about ‘Geff’ mentioned by Delia on the postcard to Gertie) born to this Irish catholic family before Margaret’s life was cut short in 1897.
John having been left widowed with children ranging from infants to children of a working age with presumably no family locally had little choice but to admit at least two of his young children into the care of Holly Mount.
 |
| Holly Mount, 1894 |
A board of guardians administered financial matters.
It would have been a formidable place for the young girls to enter sharing living space with over 200 other young girls. It was normal for girls to remain here until reaching 13 years of age an acceptable age at the time to begin a working life.
As with other similar institutions the girls were taught numerous domestic duties to equip them for married life and often a life in domestic service.
Bridget, fondly called Delia from the postcard married Charles Dunderdale in 1928; a widower 20 years her senior with an already adult family. Passing away in 1941 Charles left a reasonable sum of money to Delia, she herself died in 1963 her probate details her beneficiaries as Matilda Evans and Mary Gertrude Grant widows.
 |
| Manchester Royal Infirmary 1950, where John Wilcox was a patient |
Matilda, (Tilly) had been born in 1887 and as we know from earlier spent some time after her mother’s death at Holly Mount.
She married John Wilcox a Rubber Heel Moulder in 1909, a daughter Lilian was born soon after and as often happened died in infancy. A son Harold was born in the early part of 1911, by the time the child is one month old John Wilcox is a patient in Manchester Royal Infirmary.
The cause or illness I do not know or in fact if he ever returned home, it is documented though he passed away in 1913. One hopes Tilly found happiness again in 1916 when she married James Evans having at least four children with her second husband she passed away in 1975.
Florence married Giovanni Geri and passed away in 1966.
Other siblings I have yet to find in their adult life, I’m sure a bit more digging will unearth more information and I will update accordingly.
What we can learn from this family is life wasn’t always easy or kind in the 19th century or indeed the 20th century and many families were separated due to the death of one or both of their parents at a tender age; including my grandmother who was suddenly orphaned at eight years old, but that’s a story for another day.
© Sue Tydd 2017
Pictures; Peel Park, circa 1900, marketed by Tuck & sons, from the collection of David Harrop, Holly Mount School, 1894 from the OS map of South Manchester, 1894 courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/ Manchester Royal Infirmary, 1950 , m52916, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass
I am a granddaughter of Matilda (tilly) . James Evans is my grandfather, though I never knew him. Tilly had a good marriage with James he died in the 1950's. I was told he was a very kind man
ReplyDeleteI was not aware of my grandmother's history until I read this article . It has been fascinating to be able to connect with her life.
Also with all those siblings, I must have a very large extended family I am not aware of!