Genealogy Chat

My nan was married when she had mum but registered birth under her maiden name.

Deb do you mean marriages before the birth or after. We have searched afterwards and a little before but there are so many male mckeowns and they dont all list the middle name ie Mary J so was costing a fortune in marriage certs and we dont even know she was english could have been irish and came over to do nursing in the war. Ps Thanks everybody for trying to help.

When you were searching marriages, were you looking at Devon? I've a feeling she married in this place. It's where she returned after the birth. Have you thought that the husband was away at war and she moved away to have the baby so hubby wouldn't find out? Try searching marriages from late 30's/early 40's when the war broke out. It just might turn something up. It did for me.

Yep, I'll second that Deb! Also, I have done a little looking around (quickly) and see that there are quite a lot of McKeowns in Manchester. Maybe her own parents were there, maybe she was born there? That might explain why she went back to Manchester to have the baby - she knew the territory. Anyway, good luck Carole! Regs Annie

going to try Preston for Catholic marriages it might narrow the search as she must have been Catholic because adoption was through medical officer at Worsley and St Edmunds Catholic church Little Hulton. this we know from the Catholic rescue society .............still cant believe they dont know her age........things would be so much easier with this information.

Have now spoke to someone at devon records office I need commission them to search for her on electoral rolls. Shame it wont state age but at least ill know she was there under the name of McKeown.

does this nudge?

Maybe the Honiton Records Office may have some information. Don't give up Carole, but don't wait for the 1941 census either because there wasn't one done in that year.
There will probably be one or two of my decendants miffed over that one.

Good Luck

Don't forget she could have been Scots.

These are all the Mary Jean's who have died in Devon between '84 and '05 born 1905-25

Mary Jean Addyman 18 May 1925-Oct 1996 Exeter
Mary Jean F Lock 13 May 1906-Feb 1990Torbay
Mary Jean Osborne 19 Jun 1924-Nov 1996 Torbay
Mary Jean Prescott 30 Nov 1925-Aug1985 Exeter
Mary Jean H Wymer 8 Nov 1913-Mar 1999
Exeter
There are no relevant births for Mary Jean Mckeowns in the english birth indexes for these though.

I apologise if I'm stating the obvious but I guess you've contacted everyone who's on GR who has a Mary McKeown in their tree in the correct time span.

I would be inclined to think she was single. If she was married, even if her husband was in the Forces she probably wouldn't have been in the nurses home. I would also think that her family would have been local to her but perhaps she had extended family in Manchester.