Can any Irish Geneologist or kpfrombc please please help!!?

Question

We are trying to find out anything at all about my Great grand mother. Unfortunately we dont even know her name. One of her daughters, my Grandmother was called Mary Feehan (maiden name), who died around 1935 or 1936. She was approx 73. We think she was buried in an old graveyard in Templeogue in Dublin, possible Whitechurch?? She was married to my Grandfather Thomas English and had 8 children, the 8th child being my mother Winifred Reid nee English. I can remember hearing a story that someone in my mothers family(possible my Great Grand-Mother) was from Karachi, which at that time was India. This might be why we were never told anything about our Great Grand-Mother, maybe because she was asian and wasn't accepted in Ireland. Whatever the case i would be so greatful to anyone, if you could provide some or any information.....We have tried all the web sites already, thanks

Answer 1

Yes it is highly likely that the great grandmother was asian, and don't be surprised that the records do not show this as ancestry is not recorded most of the time. Especially in countries were it is preferable to be a white european in some way. It was also easier for families to be employed/hired or to rent homes if they were in a european country and recognised as european.

Try to get some old photographs to see what race you descend from, it is so exiting to know the truth of your heritage.

Answer 2

I've found your grandparents and their family in 1911 census living at house No. 4 in Rural District Cottages (Terenure, Dublin)

English Thomas 46 Male

English Mary 50 Female

English Christina 19 Female

English Henry 15 Male

English Mary 14 Female

English Michael 12 Male

English Thomas 10 Male

English Joseph 6 Male

English Winfred 3 Female

If you follow this link you will be able to scroll down and click on the images for the census.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pa...

You will see from Form B - The House and Building Return - that a Patrick FEEHAN (possibly Mary's brother?) is living next door to the family at No. 3:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pa...

Feehan Patrick 44 Male

Feehan Isabella 44 Female

Feehan Michael 20 Male

Feehan Mary Frances 17 Female

Feehan Isabella 15 Female

Feehan James A 13 Male

Feehan Elizabeth 8 Female

Feehan Patrick 6 Male

There are quite a few other FEEHANS in the 1911 census, but I couldn't find a female in the right age range for your gg-grandmother.

Answer 3

It could be your great grandmother was born in India, but of British parents.

Was the rest of the family born in Ireland?

I misread the name before.