can anyone help me with my mckenna family...PLEASE!!!

[jaklawson]

Hi there,
I wonder if anyone can help me trace my g/g/grandfather John Mckenna

John McKenna Snr dob 24.5.1835 Scotland (but I have no idea where????) married Mary Jane Lavell (known as Jane) (born Ireland) which according to the IGI was on 29 Oct 1848 in Glasgow and they lived in the district of Anderston however, no matter how hard I have tried, I cannot find a marriage certificate. I can find an entry on the OPR of them but it is only 2 lines and I wonder if this was part of the proclamation of the banns as opposed to the actual marriage???

As the Mckenna’s I remember were all catholic. I think it possible that they were possibly married in a catholic church ..but I don’t know how to begin to search for this…any help at all would be appreciated…..

John and Jane had a daughter also called Jane dob 23rd June 1857 and son John McKenna Jnr dob 26.2.1862 my G/Grandfather. and James 5th April 1864. They were all born in Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
I know they moved to Sunderland, England as they show up on the 1881 census there but not on the 1871…I searched the 1871 in Scotland and couldn’t find them nor on the recently released 1861 census but again am unable to find them. I know John (jnr) and James were born in Glasgow in 1862 & 1864 so I feel they MUST have lived there during the 18861 census but where????…again any help would be appreciated…

One more thing Jane (jnr) doesn’t show on the 1881 English census so I do not think she moved to England & I cannot find her anywhere either….….

Thanx for being so patient with me..
Totally frustrated Jack

[joette]

I dont know if I can help but maybe give you some guidance.
As Statutory Registration didnt come into being in Scotland untill 1855 most of the Records pre that date are patchy.There was no legal reasons for Recording Marriages(except to collect the money for the "calling of the Banns) which is all that might survive of a Marriage record.What is written there varies from the name of Bride and or Groom to whole swathes of Genealogical info- it depends who was keeping the records.Sometimes there is no record.Remember in Scotland you could marry by "common consent"-no Minister neccesary or be married by" habit & repute"-often called a common law wife/husband.
Re the Censuses have you checked surrounding areas? Have you used wildcard for their name- name variation are very common especially in Censuses.I presume you have the 1862 Birth Certificate? It should clarify parents name & their date of Marriage & I think place.We all get frustrated in our search & sometimes have to approach from a different angle.
Have you searched for Janes marriage on Scotlands People,her Death? Even using her maiden name you should come up with some possibilities .

[CatrionaL]

Hullo Jack

How well most of us can feel for you in your "total frustration"!

You perhaps knew this already, but you can search for (Mary)Jane's death using BOTH married name AND maiden name together. That reduces the number of hits and is the way I've found the DCs for most of the women in my family.

Hope you have some encouraging finds in the near future.

All the best
Catriona

[Andy]

They had another son in 1864:

1. JANE MCKENNA - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 23 JUN 1857 Anderston, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

2. JOHN MCKENNA - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 26 FEB 1862 Anderston, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

3. JAMES MCKENNA - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 05 APR 1864 Anderston, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland

So they should be findable in 1861.

[JayPee]

John McKenna Snr dob 24.5.1835 Scotland (but I have no idea where????) married Mary Jane Lavell (known as Jane) (born Ireland) which according to the IGI was on 29 Oct 1848 in Glasgow and they lived in the district of Anderston however, no matter how hard I have tried, I cannot find a marriage certificate. I can find an entry on the OPR of them but it is only 2 lines and I wonder if this was part of the proclamation of the banns as opposed to the actual marriage???

Was it common/legal/permitted-by-the-Church for a 13-year old to be married?
I'm no expert, but I think one of the two dates might be suspect; how do you know the date of birth?
- JayPee

[Jack]

Hi Jack,
Like JayPee i too was a wee bit concerned about the dob!
But hoped it was just a slip of the finger and meant to be 1825; and this is the only decently possible match if it was.
Though i can't see the family anywhere in Glasgow 1861.
If you have the birth addresses of Jane 1857 & John 1862 i could check them on the off-chance that the family are at one of them in 1861.
But who knows? maybe they were over in Ireland for a wee while.
--
1851 cens 644-1 (561) Ed1 p11 (City - St. Johns)
Claybraes.
John McKANNA [sic], head, marr, 24, labourer, b Glasgow
Jane McKANNA, wife, marr, 24, housekeeper, b Ireland
Catherine McKANNA, daur, 2, --------------- b Glasgow
--
I'd presume the marriage in 1848 would be Church of Scotland as it was in the OPRs.
You often don't get anything more than the banns, sometimes the marriage date is mentioned - but not always.

Jack