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The McGann Family
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The McGann family and all their "feeder" families are rooted in Ireland, and the ancestral line that has been verified in the family tree extends back to the early 19th century and for 6 generations.... Little is known of the Irish hometowns of these ancestors - indeed only one specific hometown is known (Tullamore, Co Offaly) and therefore only one family group (the Grogans) has had its Irish antecedents researched in detail...... hopefully our ongoing research will give us some more Irish leads.
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"McGann" is an Old Irish surname - the Connacht variant form of the original "Mac Canna", which translates as "the son of Wolf Cub". The earliest known records show that the original Mac Canna clan chiefs were the Lords of Clanbrassil in the 10th Century, a place on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, County Antrim - the last recorded Chief of the name, Donall MaCanna, was still known as lord of Clanbrassil as late as 1598. Around this time the Mac Canna clan chiefs apparently supported the uprising led by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, who was initially successful but was finally defeated at Kinsale in 1602. Most of his supporters were dispossessed and driven from their homelands, including the McCannas - the branch of the clan who were forcibly migrated to Connacht became the McGanns.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Amhlaibh MacCanna, which was dated circa 1155, Lord of Clanbrassil, as recorded in the "Annals of the Four Masters", during the reign of Turlough Mor O'Conor, High King of Ireland, 1119 - 1156. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation and, over the years, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to unusual variants of the original spelling, and there are many different and unusual spellings of McGann – which hasn’t helped in my research!
The McGann Coat of Arms is a blue field, a silver chevron between three silver boars courant.
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My personal DNA analysis shows that I have a 77% Irish genealogy - not surprising given that 3 of my 4 grandparents were from Irish families - and that my Ethnicity Estimate places my entire Irish Ancestry as emanating from Connacht - in particular from North Connacht, West Roscommon & East Mayo, and South Sligo. This fits very well with the above known origins of the "McGann clan". What is surprising about this analysis, however, is that Tullamore/County Offaly (the "home" of the Grogans) is not within the Connacht area, which implies that there is either an error in the analysis of my DNA results or that the Grogans et al moved to Tullamore from their Connacht homeland - this would actually tie-in with my mum's recollection that her mother had told her that her family was from Sligo!
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The known history of our branch of the family is as follows:
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The McGanns (and all other branches) have been manual workers since their emigration to England (at least until the most recent generations!) - the Grogans were peasant farmers in Ireland.
Matthew & Catherine McGann (nee Dyer)
Matthew McGann and Catherine Dyer married at St Joseph’s in Leigh on 10th October 1891 – after the birth of 3 of their children! They had 4 children: Michael, Jane, Thomas and Matthew - Michael McGann was born on 2nd October 1886 in Wigan (the family living at Worthington Row, Millgate); Jane was born in Hindley on 2nd October 1888; Thomas was born in Leigh on 26th January 1891; and Matthew was born in Widnes on 26th June 1894 – Matthew died on 7th August 1894, the cause of death being “convulsions”.
Matthew snr was a Labourer, and it may be assumed that he moved around this fairly close geographic area following the work that was available. Little is known of Matthew’s antecedents – he was born in 1856 in Ireland and his father was identified as Michael McGann, a farmer, on his Marriage Certificate. Michael is not identified as deceased on the Certificate, so he might have been alive at that time! On the Marriage Certificate Matthew’s occupation was given as a Road Labourer and he made his Mark whilst Catherine signed the Register.
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Where might Matthew be from?
The only potential “matching” Irish birth record (ie a Matthew born to a father named Michael) that I have found is for one Mathew McGahan, the son of Michael and Catherine McGahan (nee Lawless) born on 3rd August 1853 in the Lower Merces area of Dundalk, Co Louth, one of 6 children. There are, however, Irish parish register and Census entries in Co Louth over the period up to the 1911 Census that could logically (but not provably) be this Mathew, so we can’t really make the assumption/guess that “Dundalk Mathew” is our Matthew.
Anecdotally...... there is (was) a very strong physical resemblance between my cousin Michael McGann and Joe McGann – the eldest of the McGann “actor brothers” – Michael once sat behind one of the McGann brothers at a football match in London and introduced himself... the brother noted the striking family resemblance and sent a photo of Michael to his wife saying “look who I’ve just met at the football”: she replied asking what Joe was doing at the match! Whilst there is no proven link between the families it has to be said that such a strong physical resemblance certainly suggests that one is quite possible. The significance of this is that the McGann brothers’ genealogy is traced back to Roscommon to an area around Tibohine/Strokestown/Croghan in the early to mid 19th century – note this is the heart of North Connacht as per my DNA Ethnicity Estimate.
The earliest-known recorded Parish Register entry is for the baptism of Owen McGann (the brothers’ great-great grandfather) at Croghan in 1819, and this identifies Owen’s parents as James and Elizabeth (nee Fitzpatrick) so there is a proven family line in the area back to the 18th Century. Owen married Susan McCarthy and their eldest son Eugene was baptised at Tibohine in 1859 - the family emigrated to Liverpool in 1864 and have lived there since then. The brothers’ great-uncle, James McGann, was a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, being a Fireman (ie a Stoker) on the ship – he is recorded as being one of the last survivors to leave the ship.... in a news report of the time:
New York, April 20---Taking refuge on the bridge of the ill-fated Titanic, two little children remained by the side of Captain Smith until that portion of the big ship had been swept by water....
"He held the little girl under one arm," said James McGann, a fireman, "as he jumped into the sea and endeavored to reach the nearest lifeboat with the child. I took the other child into my arms as I was swept from the bridge deck. When it was plunged into the cold water I was compelled to release my hold on the child and I am satisfied that the same thing happened to Captain Smith.
"I had gone to the bridge deck to assist in lowering a collapsible boat. The water was then coming over the bridge and we were unable to launch the boat properly. It was overturned and was used as a life raft, some thirty or more of us, mostly firemen, clinging to it. Captain Smith looked as though he was trying to keep back the tears as he thought of the doomed ship.
"He turned to the men lowering the boat and shouted: 'Well, boys, it's every man for himself.' He then took one of the children standing by him on the bridge and jumped into the sea, he endeavored to reach the overturned boat, but did not succeed. That was the last I saw of Captain Smith."
So does this help us in our search for Matthew’s origins? Not really!!
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There are, however, marriage register entries for Michael Magan in Roscommon in 1842 and for Michael McGann in Croghan in 1856 - there is no record of Matthew’s baptism in the area, although the Tibohine baptisms from July 1859 to Jan 1863 are missing, so we can’t really establish where the connection to the brothers’ family might be.
Finally, the 1857 Griffiths Valuation records a Michael McGann in the Townland of Kilroddan in the parish of Tibohine, renting a Tenement of House and Land – so there was a family headed by Michael McGann in the same parish as Owen McGann at the same point in time! Coincidentally, a John Dyer is also a tenant in the same Townland (of 13 properties!) as Michael at the same time, perhaps this may be a relative of Matthew’s wife Catherine Dyer?
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Catherine Dyer was born on 31st May 1863 in Stalybridge and was baptised in a private ceremony on the same day, suggesting that she may have had a life-threatening illness that she obviously overcame. The baptism is registered at St Peter’s Stalybridge. Catherine was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Dyer (nee Logan) both of whom were born in Ireland in 1823 and 1829 respectively, although the Dyer family were living in Stalybridge from at least 1848 as Thomas & Ellen were married at St Peter’s Stalybridge on 25th July 1848.
Whilst Catherine may be traced through successive Censuses, I can only be certain that Matthew appears for the first time in the 1891 Census (although he may have been in the Army, stationed at the Tower of London at the time of the 1881 Census!). The Dyer family seemed to remain in the Stalybridge area, and there is no known connection with Wigan, which is where Matthew and Catherine are first seen together in 1886.
Michael was baptised on 14th October 1886 at St. Mary’s in Wigan – his godparents were Michael Dyer (Catherine’s brother) and Catherine McGrath (unk). Jane and Thomas were both baptised at St Joseph’s in Leigh – Jane on 9th September 1890 (nearly 2 years old) and Thomas on 8th February 1891: Jane’s godparent was Sarah Anne Morgan (unk), Thomas’s godparent was Mary Ann McDermott (unk). Matthew was baptised at St Patrick’s Widnes, his godparents were John Butler and Eliza Dodd (unk).
The 1891 Census shows the McGann family (Matthew, Catherine and children) living at 5 George St, Pennington, Leigh, along with Catherine’s widowed mother Ellen – Matthew was a General Labourer.
At this stage the McGann family seemed to be a “normal” family, but something catastrophic (I don’t know what!) happened in the mid-1890’s that broke the family up. In September 1896 Jane McGann had been placed in the care of the “Wigan Workhouse” – the minutes of the Board of Governors meeting showing that legal proceedings were being taken against “the persons liable for her maintenance”. On 17th September 1896 Thomas McGann was admitted to the Swinton Industrial School (a type of combined school and orphanage used at the time to house children from the Wigan Workhouse) – the admission records give the reason for his admission as “Deserted by Father and Mother”. Jane McGann was subsequently admitted to the Swinton Industrial School on 2nd August 1897 – there is nothing in the records to indicate why Jane was sent to Swinton nearly a year later than Thomas! There is no record of Michael McGann being admitted to Swinton, so the assumption must be that (whatever the cause) the two younger children were left by Matthew and Catherine, but Michael stayed with one (or both) of them. The fact that the children were in the care of the Wigan Workhouse suggests that the family had returned to live in Wigan before the break-up – perhaps the whole family was living in the Wigan Workhouse and Matthew and Catherine absconded with Michael – we may never know! In June 1898 both Jane and Thomas were transferred from the Swinton Industrial School to the Kirkdale Industrial School (in Liverpool) – they were both recorded as having been “Deserted” by their parents. Both Jane and Thomas were still “Pauper Inmates” at Kirkdale at the time of the 1901 Census. Jane was discharged from Kirkdale, returning to the Wigan Workhouse, in August 1902. Thomas was transferred from Kirkdale to the St Vincents Orphanage School in Fulwood, Preston in June 1903, but by the time of the 1911 Census he was living back in Wigan.
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Swinton Industrial School Kirkdale Industrial School St Vincent’s Orphanage School, Fulwood
The 1901 Census shows the McGann family spread fairly far and wide:
Jane and Thomas were in Kirkdale Industrial School; Michael (age 14) was living as a Boarder at 44 Naylor St South in St Helens – his occupation is as a General Labourer; Matthew was living as a Boarder at 9 Mount St in St Helens – his occupation is as a Bricksetters Labourer; Catherine was (I believe) a Pauper Inmate of the Salford Union Infirmary (at the time the hospital and asylum of the “Salford Workhouse”) suffering from some form of dementure – I’m not yet 100% sure that this is the right Catherine (ie Michael’s mother) but the available evidence points to this being the case (I’m still trying to find conclusive evidence) – but there is also a Katherine McGann in Wigan!!
Matthew McGann died on 20th August 1904 – he was at the time an inmate of the Whiston Workhouse, having been admitted there on 10th August 1904. His address at that time was 2 Oxford St, Widnes, and no next-of-kin was identified. His death certificate identifies him as “a labourer of Widnes” and his cause of death is a “Stricture of the Urethra” along with a haemorrhage and blood poisoning: not a pleasant way to go!
The 1911 Census shows Michael living as a Boarder at 11 Edward St, St Helens and Thomas living back in Wigan as a Boarder at 28 Alfred St, Pemberton - his occupation being "Colliery Labourer below ground". Surviving WW1 Service and Pension Records identify a Thomas McGann who enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers on 5th Sept 1914 - this Thomas McGann was a Collier, and he enlisted in Wigan. He was medically discharged from the Army in November 1915 due to poor eyesight - on his discharge papers his parents are listed as "not known" and his next-of-kin is given as his sister, Jane McGann, whose address was given as 41 Wallgate, Wigan. Certain details do not fit the facts we have re Thomas (ie his birthplace is given as Wigan, not Leigh; his date of birth is incorrect and his religion is given as CofE) but it can easily be imagined that these are details that Thomas may not have known/chosen to ignore given his "start in life". The records show that Thomas was 5' 5" tall, weighed 109lbs (7st 11lb), had a sallow complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and had a slight physique - almost a midget by today's standards, but able to earn his living as an underground labourer nonetheless! Jane McGann does not appear in the 1911 Census (at least not "obviously"!) - but there are possible entries that place her in Wigan.
For reasons that are not yet known, Thomas and Jane both moved to live in Huddersfield. Thomas married Mary Garside in 1925 and had 3 children - Thomas continued to work as a Miner and died in 1959: his descendants are alive today. Jane (by this time known as Jinny or Jennie) married Ernest Hirst and had 1 child - a daughter, Doreen. Jane was, for a time until 1951, a shopkeeper (of the corner shop at 10 Birk House Lane, Mold Green) and died in 1965 - she was pre-deceased by Ernest who had worked for many years at the Huddersfield Examiner newspaper. Doreen died in 1967.
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Pictured left is Jennie Hirst (Jane McGann as was) with her daughter Doreen.
Pictured right is Thomas McGann with his wife Mary (nee Garside)
In his later life, Michael never spoke about the existence of his brother, although he did talk about his sister.
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Our knowledge of the early history of Thomas and Jane in Huddersfield is as a result of the personal recollections of Thomas’s daughter Mary (Sykes). The family lore in Huddersfield had it that Thomas and Jane came from Manchester, were orphaned at an early age and were subsequently adopted by a family who were either from Huddersfield or who moved to Huddersfield. Mary believes that Jennie and Ernest Hirst only married when they were older and recalls attending their wedding when she was quite young. Mary thinks that she was 10 or so years younger than Doreen and that Doreen remained a spinster throughout her life.
Obviously these are Mary Sykes’ honest recollections, but there are no records that support these recollections – indeed the records found to date for Jane suggest a different story:
There is no Civil Registration record for a marriage between Ernest Hirst and Jane McGann anywhere at any time – also there is no Civil Registration record for the birth of Doreen Hirst where the mother’s maiden name is McGann anywhere at any time. Which is an interesting start to the quest, to say the least!
There is no recorded marriage anywhere between an Ernest Hirst and a “Jane” – the only recorded marriage between an Ernest Hirst and a “Jennie” is (tellingly) in 1916 in Huddersfield. This Ernest Hirst has an interesting story, to say the least..... he was born in Huddersfield in 1892, the son of John Walker and Emily Hirst but had moved to Australia by the time of the outbreak of WW1, sailing on the SS Marathon from London to Melbourne on 4th December 1913 – he joined the Australian Army in September 1915 having been employed as a Painter immediately beforehand. His next of kin was his mother who was living at 11 Waverley Terrace in Huddersfield. Ernest was posted to the Western Front in December 1915 and spent time in hospital in Cairo and later in France, before being transferred to London for treatment in August 1916. Following this treatment he was given leave and returned to Huddersfield. He was again unwell when in Huddersfield and became AWOL. During this time he married Jennie Warden on 21st October 1916 at Huddersfield Registry Office – the Marriage Certificate records Jennie as a shop assistant, aged 25 and resident at 11 Waverley Terrace, her father being Matthew Warden (Deceased): this was either a whirlwind romance or Ernest and Jennie had met before he went to Australia (or while he was there?).
From this time until the end of the War Ernest seemed to be either in the Court Martial process or AWOL. In 1918, as part of his submission to a Court Martial he stated that he was married with 2 children! Note that by this time Ernest’s Army record had been updated to include details of his marriage and his next of kin was now his wife, Jennie. Ernest effectively went “on the run” and the Australian Army eventually gave up on him when they returned home at the end of the War and it was obvious that Ernest wasn’t interested in returning with them!
Despite Ernest’s claim of being the father of 2 children in 1918 there is no sign of them anywhere – it is obviously possible that he had these children, but they definitely weren’t Jennie’s children and don’t appear to have been living with her or with Ernest’s mother.
Ernest and Jennie had one child: Elsie D Hirst, born 14th August 1919.
The next documentary evidence of the family was in the 1939 Register when the following inhabitants were recorded for the property at 10 Birkhouse Lane:
Ernest Hirst – Painter Disabled
Jennie Hirst – Grocery and Sweets etc Dealer
Elsie D Hirst - Wire Temperer; notation of a married name of Wilkinson (19th Sept 1949)
Audrey J Hirst - At School
(birth registered in Bradford in 1933 – mother’s maiden name Huddleston);
notation of a married name of Longbottom (6th May 1952, registered in Bradford)
It is presumed that Audrey was Ernest’s niece – the 1939 Register does not record family relationships.
The Civil Registration records show that Elsie D Hirst married George F Wilkinson in Huddersfield in 1949
Ernest Hirst of 10 Birkhouse Lane died on 10th December 1949, aged 57. The Huddersfield Examiner “In thanks” section references “Mrs Hirst and daughter Doreen”.
Jennie Hirst of 15 Senior Street, Mold Green, died on 2nd December 1965, aged 77. The Huddersfield Examiner records her as the wife of the late Ernest.
Elsie D Wilkinson died in September 1967, aged 48.
I believe that the foregoing IS the story of our Jane McGann: most of the dates and names fit – the most obvious (and major) issue being Jane/Jennie’s maiden name. I believe that it’s clear from the recorded official records that the Jennie Hirst who was known to the McGann family in Huddersfield IS the Jennie whose surname is recorded as “Warden”. I’ve not been able to find any earlier record of a Jane/Jennie Warden with a father named Matthew and I can’t find Jane Warden in the 1901 or 1911 Censuses. So - the question remains as to how Jane McGann became Jane Warden.... in line with the family folklore it is clearly possible that she could have been adopted by a Mr/Mrs Warden and changed her surname accordingly, but given that she was still in the care of the Wigan Workhouse until 1902 when she would have been aged 14 or thereabouts that is probably unlikely.... there could, of course, be many other reasons that Jane changed her surname: she could have married, but I can’t find any record of that happening in the UK; she might have been evading “the law” – we don’t know!
Re: Jane’s supposed “late marriage” recalled by Mary Sykes: Mary obviously must have attended something that she, as a young child, she took to be a wedding. A possible explanation for this could be that Ernest and Jane had a “renewal of vows” (or similar) – remember that the circumstances of their wedding in 1916 probably meant that it was a no-frills affair and so it would not be surprising if they decided to celebrate properly at a future point in time.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the story of Matthew McGann’s daughter!
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Michael & Mary Ellen McGann (nee Garvey)
Michael McGann and Ellen Garvey married on 20th August 1915 at Sacred Heart Church in St Helens – the witnesses to the marriage being Thomas Garvey and Catherine Garvey. Michael’s occupation at the time is given as General Labourer and his address is given as 12 Phythian St, St Helens, although by that time he was in the army on active service in France.
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Michael was a successful cross-country runner in his younger days - the St Helens Newspaper carries a number of reports for in the early 20th Century which show that Michael was the Captain of the Sacred Heart Harriers Cross-Country team. This photograph of Michael is assumed to be of him as a Sacred Heart Harrier, but I’ve not been able to identify what Trophy he is pictured with.
Michael served in the South Lancashire Regiment (1/5th Battalion Territorial Force) during the First World War. His service record (which would have provided the “chapter and verse” of his wartime service) was destroyed by bombing in WW2, so his “war story” has to be inferred from the various records that have survived set alongside the War Diary of the 1/5th Bn - with some intuition to fill in some of the gaps!
NB The War Diary doesn’t identify individual soldiers (apart from some officers) so we don’t have a precise record of Michael’s actions/experiences over this time, but we can see where the Bn was, the actions it was involved in and the conditions in which they operated, so we can know the general situation that Michael found himself in!
The West Lancashire Division (of which the South Lancashire Regiment was part) had just begun its annual training when war broke out on 4 August 1914. The units immediately returned to their drill halls to mobilise for war, and the bulk of them volunteered for overseas service – Michael was one of these volunteers, attesting on 2nd September 1914 in St Helens. The 5th Bn went to its war station at Edinburgh, moving in October to Tunbridge Wells.
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During the winter of 1914-15 the battalions of the West Lancashire Division began to be sent to reinforce the Regulars of the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France. The 1/5th Battalion South Lancashires disembarked at Le Havre on 13th February 1915. Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in Trench warfare.
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The sector occupied by 12th Brigade was one of the worst on the BEF's front, with the water table so high that trenches could not be used and defences consisted of breastworks, so the conditions that 1/5 Bn found themselves in must have been very difficult to say the least.
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The 1/5 Bn War Diary records that the Bn remained at Le Bizet until 28th April 1915 – during which time the Bn was involved in a number of engagements with the enemy in addition to intensive training and pioneer work (“tunnel warfare!).
The 1/5 Bn suffered its first battlefield casualties on 21st February, with the Bn continuing to suffer casualties (both killed and wounded) on an almost daily basis.
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(The question of casualties is important in Michael’s history, because he was back in St Helens in August 1915 where he got married – the Bn was continuously engaged in France and Belgium during this period and it’s pretty unlikely that a private soldier would be given home leave to get married (to say the least!!) so the most likely reason for a temporary repatriation would be from suffering a battlefield injury that couldn’t be dealt with locally.... this needs more investigation!)
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1/5 Bn was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, arriving on 30th April 1915, being directly engaged in the battle from 2nd May until the fighting died down on 25th May:
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On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.
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More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.
At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.
On the 8th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9th it returned to La Brique, leaving 'C' Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13th, when it was moved back to the support lines.
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1/5 Bn was back in the line on 22nd May, and two days later the Germans released the heaviest concentration of gas yet encountered, followed by an infantry attack. The situation quickly became critical, and the battalion sent up 'B' and 'C' Companies to hold the line near Shell Trap Farm, the two companies suffering heavy casualties under shell fire. During the night 4th Division fell back to the support line, and the South Lancashires had to improve the positions while keeping the enemy at bay with snipers and bombing parties. Fighting died down on 25th May, ending the battle, although 1/5 Bn were still involved with exchanges with the enemy until they were relieved on 1st June.
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On 6th June 1/5 Bn were moved back into the line in the Ypres Salient where they were involved in various engagements with the enemy until 8th July, suffering daily casualties.
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Following a number of days in billets, the battalion entrained to Doullens, France on 22nd July, taking over a new sector of the line north of Albert, Somme on 3rd August. The rest of August saw the battalion moving in and out of the line, seeing minor action with very few casualties.
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It is at this point where we need to digress and look beyond the War Diary:
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As noted above Michael was in St Helens on 21st August 1915 getting married to Mary Ellen Garvey, and, given that he definitely went to France in February 1915, he had to have been repatriated for some reason – most probably as a result of being wounded (this is being researched).
This is the one existing photograph we have of Michael at that time – pictured with Mary Ellen, the date of the photo isn't known, although family folklore has suggested that it was taken at the time of the wedding (no certainty!!). The quality of the photo isn't very good, and it may be that his uniform sleeve has stripes (it should be noted that he was not promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major until 1916).
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BUT..........
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Members of the 11th (Pioneer) Bn were known as the “St Helens Pals”, and Michael McGann never served in the 11th Bn. However, at the outbreak of war, the term “St Helens Pals” was used to describe all volunteers to the South Lancs Regiment who signed-on in St Helens – Michael was certainly one of these, and his name is recorded as one of the “St Helens Pals”. The 11th Bn was only designated as a Pioneer Bn in early 1915 and it was at this time that they became to be known as “the Pals”.
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If we assume that Michael was wounded before August 1915 and was repatriated for treatment/convalescence then he may well have spent part of his recovery in training with other members of the SLR before returning to France (ie at Grantham!). It isn’t too fanciful to believe that Michael would know members of the 11th Bn – after all they all volunteered in St Helens at the same time... they would have been his friends! Again, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that Michael could have been involved in what was very informal photograph taken at the camp if he was there with his mates! The “sergeant” (aka Mick McGann?) is wearing an old battledress jacket (the black stripes were used when the 11th Bn was a Rifle Battalion – ie before it was a Pioneer Battalion) and therefore could have been borrowed.
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There was only one other “McGann” who served in the SLR in WW1 (John McGann) and he didn’t serve in either 1/5th or 11th Bn, and isn’t recorded as being a “St Helens Pal”.
There is no certainty that this photograph is of Michael McGann, although the foregoing “supposition” is far from fanciful. All in all, it doesn’t change the overall story if his WW1 service history, but it would be nice to believe that it IS a contemporary photograph of Michael!
Back to the known history:
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Michael was back in France in 1916 –the exact date of his return is unknown, but he was promoted to Acting Company Sergeant Major on 24th May 1916.
In January 1916 1/5th Bn was still in the Somme and was re-assigned to the 55th (West Lancs) Division, and for a number of months was involved in intensive training within the new Brigade structure, with receiving and integrating substantial reinforcements, with building/re-building both offensive and defensive positions, as well as rotating in and out of the front line – the War Diary suggests a relatively quiet time in terms of enemy engagement.
The Battle of the Somme commenced on 1st July 1916, and the War Diary reports that 1/5th Bn was involved in considerable patrolling, bombing and bombardment, sustaining light casualties in the first half of July. Towards the end of July the battalion refitted and received further reinforcements of 200 men. On 25th July 1/5th Bn moved to Maricourt and from there moved up to the front line of the Battle at Mansel Copse – in the first 5 days of August the battalion suffered 59 casualties in exchanges with the enemy. On 8th August 1/5th Bn took part in the 55th Division’s major offensive at Guillemont – during this battle Michael was wounded in action (precise details unknown) but the war history records that the Brigade’s attackers became entangled with the troops who had made the previous attack, and 1/5th Bn's supporting companies became hopelessly mixed up with them under shellfire. 1/5th Bn suffered 138 casualties in the first 2 days of this action.
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Michael was subsequently awarded the Military Medal on 27th October 1916: the citation reads “His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field… …... awarded for services rendered on various occasions during the progress of the Campaign ….”, his rank of Acting Company Sergeant Major was later made permanent. Family folklore supposes that Michael may have served as a Runner in the Army, which would be logical given his previous experience as a cross-country runner – it might also explain the Military Medal citation given that a Runner would be very exposed and would be in dangerous situations on “various occasions during the progress of the Campaign”
Michael is pictured (left) during his convalescence - probably spent in the 4th (Reserve) Battalion SLR - a battalion that was used for training and convalescence. The details of the remainder of Michael's War Service are uncertain, but it seems possible that, following his convalescence his medical condition meant that he continued to serve in the Training Battalion which would have meant that he was close to home in St Helens - the fact that he and Ellen had 2 children before the end of the War probably supports this supposition!
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The Regimental Records show that the 4th Training Reserve Battalion were stationed at Richmond Barracks, Dublin from April 1918 - the Battalion was disbanded in 1919 and personnel absorbed by the 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn and Michael is recorded as having transferred from the 4th Bn to the 3rd Bn on 20th March 1919, joining "C" Company (later changed to "B" Company on 26th April 1919). At this time the 3rd Battalion was posted to Dublin being part of the last British Army involvement in Ireland prior to the establishment of the Irish Free State - stationed at Wellington Barracks. Michael's discharge papers record his medical category as "B1" (unfit for General Service but fit for Garrison Service abroad) and details his place of rejoining in case of emergency as Barrow - the erstwhile home base of the 3rd Battalion. The 3rd Battalion was disbanded in October 1919 with non-regular soldiers being re-assigned to the 1st Battalion.
Michael was demobilized on 16th January 1920 from "HSD 1st Battalion" SLR.
This photograph (ostensibly of members of the “St Helens Pals” Pioneers) was taken in October 1915 at their training camp in Grantham – the 11th (Pioneer) Bn of the South Lancashire Regiment was undergoing its final training before deployment to France. The “sergeant” on this photograph bears an absolutely uncanny resemblance to Michael McGann’s grandson (also named Michael) and there can’t be any real doubt that this man is a “McGann” – but is he “our” McGann?
Make your own mind up!!
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The 3rd Battalion South Lancs Regiment is pictured above in June 1919 at Wellington Barracks, Dublin. Michael can be spotted towards the centre of the second row in the blown-up section of the picture (right).
Following Michael's demobilisation in January 1920 he joined Ellison’s builders in St Helens working as General Foreman for the rest of his working life. He suffered a stroke in 1945 and never recovered his health (pictured here during this period with his daughter Nellie) and he subsequently died on 20th January 1950 and is buried in St Helens Cemetery.
Mary Ellen Garvey was born on 1st September 1891 in St Helens, and was baptised on 2nd September 1891 at Sacred Heart Church, the 7th of 13 children of John and Esther Garvey (nee Grogan), she was the first of the children born in England - her godparents were Thomas Maledy and Eliza Grogan (Eliza being Esther’s sister – the Maledy’s being cousins). She was known throughout her life as Ellen (or Nellie!)
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At the time of the 1911 Census, Ellen was employed as a Servant at the Notre Dame Convent, Whalley New Rd, Blackburn (one of 13 young St Helens-born girls who were servants there at the time!). Family folklore also has it that, prior to her marriage, Ellen worked for some time as a housekeeper at a Convent in Oswaldtwistle. The nuns at this Convent were the Sisters of Mercy – the same order as the Convent in Tullamore (the home town of Ellen’s mother), and the records show that the Chaplain to the convent in Oswaldtwistle from 1910 to 1914 was Fr John Geoghan – a Tullamore man, so this may well be the reason why Ellen was sent to a Convent so far from St Helens.
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Ellen was living at 9 Mount St, St Helens at the time of her marriage to Michael. The Absent Voters List for 1914 gives 9 Mount Street as the home address of both Thomas Garvey and Michael McGann – so it may be surmised that the Garvey family were living at 9 Mount Street at this time (coincidentally the same address as Matthew McGann in 1901!).
Michael and Ellen had 10 children, born between 1917 and 1936 – the only child not to survive to adulthood was Matthew b 1934 d 1935.
The family initially lived in Mount Street (at number 9 at the time of the birth of my mum Jane McGann in 1922!). At some time around 1930 the family moved to 63 Eccleston Street and stayed there until the housing in the street was demolished in the 1950s. At this point Ellen moved to live in Thatto Heath (at 1 Howard Street) with 3 of her sons.
Mount St circa 1930 An aerial view of the Eccleston Street area
The large building on the right hand side of the street prior to the 1960's redevelopment
is St Patrick's School (attended by the McGann children) Sacred Heart church is in the top left-hand corner
No 9 is the house next door to St Patrick's (far end!) with the edge of the Greenbank district behind it
A photograph of the Girl's Junior Class at St Patrick's School in 1928 at a time when both Jane and Mary McGann were pupils.
It is believed that Jane is pictured on the extreme right of the picture.
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My mum’s first memory was of standing on the draining board in the kitchen of the house in Mount Street being washed by her mum, at about 4 years old. She also recalled that she regarded the family’s move to Eccleston Street as a big step up for them – presumably the fact of her dad’s employment as Ellison’s general foreman enabled them to move on from the Greenbank area (the “Irish Quarter” of St Helens). Their new home in Eccleston Street was a 2 bedroom terraced house in which Michael and Ellen brought up 9 children, although it did have a large rear garden. An explanation of why mum would have regarded a house such as this as a big upgrade might lie in the pictures below which show two scenes of the rear of the houses in Mount Street – it looks like a pretty bad location in which to live and bring up a family!
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Two views of Eccleston St: ^ ^
The photo on the left shows the house of Kathleen Clark (nee McGann)
The photo on the right shows the block of houses containing No 63 Eccleston St
Two photographs taken in the back yard of 63 Eccleston St.
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On the left is Jane McGann nursing a young James, showing the industrial landscape in the background.
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On the right is Jane McGann pictured with her brother-in-law Ernie Clark, showing the rear of the 2-bedroom house in which the whole family were raised. The window is that of the “men’s bedroom”.
These photographs were taken at family weddings in the 1940s:
On the left is my mum’s wedding and pictures Ellen and Michael and a young James (along with my paternal granddad (Thomas Parker) in the centre).
On the right is Kathleen McGann’s wedding to Ernie Clark and features the 4 McGann sisters (Jane, Esther, Mary and Kathleen) flanking Ernie in the front row. Ellen McGann is next to Kathleen and Michael is on the left of the back row – with his son Thomas pictured next to Michael.
A photograph taken at the marriage of Nellie McGann to Bill Peel and picturing the four McGann brothers (l to r) James, John, Thomas and Michael along with their mother Ellen.
Pictured on the left is my mum, Jane McGann, aged 12.
On the right is Ellen McGann pictured for her passport photo for a trip to Lourdes in the 1950s.
Ellen McGann died on 19th July 1981 and is buried with Michael in St Helens Cemetery.
Click on the image below to see the McGann Family tree including the known descendants of Matthew McGann (down to his great-grandchildren)
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John & Esther Garvey (nee Grogan)
John Garvey and Esther Grogan were both born in Ireland, John in 1866 (place unknown) and Esther in 1859 in Tullamore, Co Offaly, the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Grogan (nee Delaney) - Esther’s baptismal date being 28th August 1859. John and Esther married at the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on 12th June 1884 and moved to England in 1890.
John and Esther had 13 children although only 7 of the 13 survived into adulthood. They had 6 children in Tullamore prior to emigrating to England (3 of whom survived into adulthood) – Ellen was the first child born in St Helens (in 1891) but the next child Catherine (Katie) was born in Tullamore in 1894 – it’s not known why Esther returned to Tullamore for this birth – their remaining children were born in St Helens. A family recollection is that Elizabeth (Lizzie) was one of triplets – the records show that she had a twin sister (Esther) who was born and died in 1898: it is always possible that a third sibling was still-born and therefore the birth wasn’t registered.
The Church of the Assumption parish register entries for the Garvey children baptisms show that the family lived at both Barrack St and Tea Lane in the 1880s. These photographs were taken at a later time, but show the locations where they lived.
Barrack St, Tullamore
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Tea Lane, Tullamore
The 1891 Census shows the Garvey family living at 5 Bold St, St Helens – John’s occupation given as General Labourer. The 1901 Census shows the Garvey family living at 30 Bold St, St Helens – with John and his son John both being described as Chemical Labourers, and with Mary Ellen’s christian name being given as Helen. The 1911 Census shows the widowed Esther living at Back 13 Liverpool St with 4 of her children. Catherine Garvey was working as a servant in a private house in Blackburn.
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The Garvey family later lived at a number of addresses in the Greenbank area - mum had childhood memories of Esther (her grandmother) standing at her doorstep waiting for the McGann children to come out from St Patrick’s school and calling down the street to send them on errands for her – the children tried to avoid this if they could! At some point (presumably after her children had married and left home) Esther was living alone in Mount St and the McGann girls had to take it in turn to sleep overnight with Esther to ensure her safety – mum recalled that none of the girls liked doing this as Esther used to tell them scary Irish ghost stories!
At the time of the 1939 Register, Esther was living at 174 Scholes Lane with her daughter Elizabeth (Rigby) and other family members.
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A notable member of the Garvey family from the viewpoint of this Family History is Jack Garvey (pictured left) born in St Helens in 1913 and the son of William and Mary (nee Martin) Garvey. Jack was my mum’s cousin – his grandfather (John Garvey) was my great-grandfather. Jack’s claim to fame lies in the fact that he is the only family member (that I am aware of) who played for the Saints! He played as stand-off in the Championship Final against Huddersfield in 1932 – helping Saints become the Champions for the first time.
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Jack’s Saints career was relatively short-lived, playing 119 games between 1931 and 1934 before being transferred to Broughton Rangers by a cash-strapped St Helens club. In 1936 Jack made the inexplicable act of joining Wigan and played for them until the outbreak of WW2. Jack was a more than decent player, winning England international honours during a career shortened by the War.
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Saints 1932 vintage!
Pictured with the Championship trophy and the Lancashire League trophy.
Jack Garvey is the 2nd player from the left in the back row
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The photograph on the left is of Thomas Garvey (who served with the Machine Gun Corps in WW1); that in the centre is of William Garvey and Catherine Martin (his sister-in-law); and that on the right is of Margaret Garvey's wedding (back row: Thomas Garvey, Katie Brownbill (nee Garvey), Joss Brownbill; front row: Lillian Brownbill, Margaret Garvey, Walter Dwyer (Maggie's stepson), John Dwyer, and Kathleen McGann).
The area of St Helens where the Garvey family lived was known as Greenbank (the “Irish Quarter”) and contained the Greenbank Chemical Works – it can be surmised that this is where John worked. The following descriptions are taken from a local history website, and give a feeling for what life must have been like in those days:
“The chemical industry was well established in the 19th Century and the acidic fumes from the factories making alkalis for the glass industry turned brasses green and blue, and killed trees and hedgerows….. One of the Streets said to be so filthy, unpaved and undrained was Greenbank, which had open cesspools which filled the streets with a horrible stench, and where many fever cases were reported. The over crowding was horrendous, the rapid expansion of what had been little more than a hamlet, was made even worse by the influx of thousands of Irish families fleeing from the Potato Famine in the 1840's”.
It may be that the latter comment related to a time before the Garvey’s lived there, but it hardly sounds like an ideal place to live!
Left:
A map of the Greenbank area circa 1850
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Right:
Photo of Greenbank circa 1900
Pictured here is Esther Garvey – the photograph taken in the mid-1930’s and picturing Esther flanked by Lillian Brownbill and “Auntie Katie” – with a young Michael McGann sneaking in at the side!
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John Garvey died in 1907 (age 39) in the St Helens Hospital, the cause of death being Acute Pnuemonia and Heart Failure – Esther registered the death, making her mark. Esther remained unable to write throughout her life. Esther Garvey died in 1943 (age 83, not 76 as was recorded on her death registration).
Ancestors of Esther Grogan
Thomas Grogan and Catherine Delaney married at the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on 28th May 1853 and had 5 children baptised at this church in the period 1855 – 1869.
Valuation records for the mid-19th century show that the Grogan family lived at Barrack St, Tullamore (parish register entries for the 1880s indicate that the family was still living in Barrack St at that time).
Catherine Delaney was born in Tullamore in 1830, one of 12 children of Michael and Ellen Delaney (nee Quinn). Michael and Ellen were married in the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on 23rd February 1830 and had 12 children baptised in the church in the period 1830 – 1853, Catherine’s baptismal date being 1st March 1830 (note less than a week after her parents married!). A number of the children must have died at an early age given that some of the Christian names are repeated (ie 3 x Henry’s, 2 x Michael’s, 2 x James), but the parish registers do not contain death/burial entries.
I can’t be absolutely certain about Thomas Grogan’s parentage (due to missing/illegible parish records) but it is highly probable that Thomas’s parents were Michael and Ann Grogan (nee Hensey) who married at the Church of the Assumption in Tullamore on 19th February 1822. Michael and Ann had 10 children baptised at this church in the period 1827 – 1850: I haven’t yet found the baptismal record for Thomas Grogan (missing baptismal registers) but there are strong links via godparent and marriage witness names that make it likely that this is Thomas’s family.
Life for the Grogan and related families cannot have been easy in Tullamore in the mid-19th Century. The following is an extract from a contemporary record: “Excursions Through Ireland in 1844 & 1845”, by Asenath Nicholson of New York:
On visiting Tullamore…….
"The next morning, the twin daughters of eleven years accompanied me into a lane to see the poor. Here I found these lovely girls had long been acquainted, for they inquired of a poor old man about the growth of a pig, and kindly patted the well known pets of donkeys, goats, and dogs, calling them all by name, while the mistress went into the garden to pluck a bouquet for the fine girls, who, she assured me, were the smartest in the parish. I had always heard the Irish were celebrated for giving the pig an eminent birth in their cabins, and was a little disappointed to find that though it was really so, yet there was some nicety of arrangement in all this; for in two cabins I found a pig in a corner snugly cribbed, with a lattice-work around him, a bed of clean straw under him, and a pot of food standing near the door of his house, to which he might go out and in at option. And in both these huts, though the floors were nothing but the ground, yet these were well swept; a peat fire was smouldering on clean hearths, and the delf was tastefully arranged upon the rude shelves. An old cobbler sat with his lap-stone, and said he could make one and six and one and ten pence a day, and he took care of the bit of ground at the rere of his cabin for the rent of it. " My wife, praise be to God, is dead, but I can get a comfortable bit for my children." An old blind man of seventy- two, sitting at the door of his cabin, thanked God that he had no right to complain, though he had seen better days ; for he had " two kind girls, who, when they had done all in and out of the cabin, got little jobs now and then, which kept the bread in all their mouths." On looking into the cabin, nothing could be cleaner. Here, too, the family pig was snoring snugly in his crib in one corner of the room; and here, in all justice, 1 must say that these pigs were well disciplined, for when one of them attempted to thrust his nose into a vessel not belonging to him, he was called a dirty pig, and commanded to go to his own kettle, which he did as tamely as a child or a dog would have done.
Another cabin attracted us by the tidy white aprons upon two little girls who were standing at the door, and their nicely attired mother, with clean cap and handkerchief, who welcomed me heartily to Ireland. On my commending her for her cleanliness, she said, “Plase God, poor folks should be a little tidy who have nothing else to set 'em off. Would ye walk into the garden ? May be ye'd like a rose or two." We willingly complied, and found an acre of kitchen garden well cultivated, with a few flowers interspersed, which they rented for nine pounds, and sold the avails for the support of the family. She plucked her fairest roses and ripest gooseberries, and bade me God speed, long life, and a safe return to my own country.
I returned from this lane much gratified by the cleanliness, simplicity, and comfort of this humble people; for I had ever associated a mud wall, a thatched roof, and a pig as an inmate, with all that was wretched in the extreme; and I had, so far as this lane could speak, abundant evidence that a very little will make the Irish content, and even happy."
There is no certainty that the Grogans and Delaneys lived like this, but it can be assumed that it is not far off the mark!
Ancestors of Catherine Dyer
Thomas Dyer married Ellen Logan at St Peter’s in Stalybridge on 25th July 1848 and had 7 children – all the baptismal records I have found have been at St Peter’s Stalybridge. The St Peter’s marriage register identifies Thomas Dyer’s parents as John and Jane Dyer (nee McDonnough) and Ellen Logan’s parents as David and Helen Logan (nee Burke) – this is the only information I have found regarding these earlier generations.
The 1861 Census shows the Dyer family living at Bolton's Yard, Stalybridge with 5 children, all of whom were born in Stalybridge. Thomas Dyer was a Cotton Stripper and Ellen Dyer was a housekeeper. Bolton's Yard was the subject of a "famous" Lancashire dialect poem by Samuel Laycock, written in the late 1850s:
BOWTON'S YARD.
AT number one, i' Bowton's yard, mi gronny keeps a skoo,
But hasn't mony scholars yet, hoo's only one or two;
They sen th' owd woman's rather cross,—well, well, it may be so;
Aw know hoo box'd me rarely once, an' pood mi ears an' o.
At number two lives widow Burns—hoo weshes clooas for folk
Their Billy, that's her son, gets jobs at wheelin' coke;
They sen hoo coarts wi' Sam-o'-Neds, at lives at number three;
It may be so, aw conno tell, it matters nowt to me.
At number three, reet facin' th' pump, Ned Grimshaw keeps a shop;
He's Eccles-cakes, an' gingerbread, an' treacle beer, an' pop;
He sells oat-cakes an' o, does Ned, he has boath soft an' hard,
An' everybody buys off him 'at lives i' Bowton's yard.
At number four Jack Blunderick lives; he goes to th' mill an' wayves;
An' then, at th' week-end, when he's time, he pows a bit an' shaves;
He's badly off, is Jack, poor lad; he's rayther lawm, they sen,
An' his childer keep him deawn a bit—aw think they'n nine or ten.
At number five aw live mysel', wi' owd Susannah Grimes,
But dunno loike so very weel—hoo turns me eawt sometimes;
An' when awm in there's ne'er no leet, aw have to ceawer i' th' dark;
Aw conno pay mi lodgin' brass, becose awm eawt o' wark.
At number six, next dur to us, an' close o' th' side o' th' speawt,
Owd Susie Collins sells smo' drink, but hoo's welly allis beawt;
But heaw it is that is the case awm sure aw conno tell,
Hoo happen maks it very sweet, an' sups it o hersel!
At number seven there's nob'dy lives, they left it yesterday,
Th' bum-baylis coom an' mark'd their things, and took 'em o away;
They took 'em in a donkey-cart—aw know newt wheer they went—
Aw recon they'n bin ta'en and sowd becose they owed some rent.
At number eight—they're Yawshur folk—there's only th' mon an' woife,
Aw think aw ne'er seed nicer folk nor these i' o mi loife;
Yo'll never yer 'em foin' eawt, loike lots o' married folk,
They allis seem good-tempered like, an' ready wi' a joke.
At number nine th' owd cobbler lives—th' owd chap 'at mends my shoon,
He's getting very weak an' done, he'll ha' to leov us soon;
He reads his Bible every day, an sings just loike a lark,
He says he's practisin' for heaven—he's welly done his wark.
At number ten James Bowton lives—he's th' noicest heawse i' th' row;
He's allis plenty o' sum'at t' eat, an lots o' brass an' o;
An' when he rides an' walks abeawt he's dress'd up very fine,
But he isn't hawve as near to heaven as him at number nine.
At number 'leven mi uncle lives—aw co him uncle Tum,
He goes to concerts, up an' deawn, an' plays a kettle-drurn;
I' bands o' music, an' sich things, he seems to tak' a pride,
An' allis maks as big a noise as o i' th' place beside.
At number twelve, an' th' eend o' th' row, Joe Stiggins deals i' ale;
He's sixpenny, an' fourpenny, dark-coloured, an' he's pale;
But aw ne'er touch it, for aw know it's ruined mony a bard—
Awm th' only chap as doesn't drink 'at lives i' Bowton's yard.
An' neaw awve dune aw'll say good-bye, an' leave yo' for awhile;
Aw know aw have n't towd mi tale i' sich a first-rate style;
But iv yo're pleased awm satisfied, an' ax for no reward
For tellin' who mi nayburs are at live i' Bowton's yard.
Unfortunately, the Dyer's aren't identified as residents in the poem - perhaps they moved into number 7 after the previous occupants had left!
Bolton's Yard, Stalybridge (built circa 1820, demolished in the 1960s!)
The 1871 Census shows the Dyer family living in Dukinfield, whilst in 1881 the Dyer family was living at 16 Hadfield Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, Catherine (age 17) was unmarried and employed as a “Cotton Operative”.
Thomas Dyer died in 1881 (age 57) and Ellen Dyer died in 1894 (age 64) – both these deaths were registered in Ashton under Lyne (the Registration District for Stalybridge). Ellen Dyer was buried at St Peter’s, Stalybridge – the burial register for St Peter’s for 1881 is missing and therefore it is not known whether Thomas and Ellen are buried together.