Person:Catherine Ralston (2)

Childhood

Catherine Ralston was born on 3rd October 1846 at Miller Court, Albion Street in the town of Birkenhead, Cheshire. Her parents were a stone mason from Lanarkshire in Scotland called William Ralston, and his wife Ellen Coghlan, who was originally from Ireland. Catherine was William and Ellen's first child.

In Catherine's early childhood, she lived with her parents and maternal grandmother, an Irish midwife also called Ellen Coghlan. The family lived at 3 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, which appears to have later been renumbered as 5 St Anne Street. In 1854, Catherine's father William left Birkenhead to go to New York, quite likely intending to get himself established before sending for his wife and children to join him. However, he died there of congestion of the brain caused by sun-stroke during a heat wave, aged just 29. Catherine was only seven when her father died. Less than four years later, Catherine's mother Ellen died of tyhpus. Catherine thus found herself orphaned at the age of eleven, with five younger siblings. When their mother died, the children's grandmother was still alive, and she managed to care for the children for some of the time, but she had to resort to placing some of the children in the care of the Liverpool Orphan Asylum for some of the time.

Adulthood

When Catherine was fifteen, (although claimed to be 18) she married at St Werburgh's Catholic Church in Birkenhead to Dennis Kelly, who had recently arrived from Ireland. He was a dock labourer and ships' boiler maker, and was eleven years older than her, being 26 when they married. Dennis and Catherine had eleven children together over the 24 years that followed their marriage. All but one were born in Birkenhead - their second child, Francis, was born at Liverpool on the opposite bank of the River Mersey in 1865, but they had returned to Birkenhead by the following year when Francis died aged about eleven months. All Dennis and Catherine's other ten children lived to adulthood, and they also raised their eldest daughter Bridget's daughter, Mary Ellen.

Dennis died in 1904, aged 69. Catherine subsequently lived with her daughter Christina at 26 Sandford Street, and worked as a domestic servant. She lived to be 87 years old and died in 1933.

1. ↑ Birth certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   1846 BIRTH in the Sub-district of Birkenhead in the County of Chester
   No.231
   When and where born: Third of October 1846, Miller Court, Albion Street, Birkenhead
   Name: Catherine
   Sex: Girl
   Father: William Ralston, Mason
   Mother: Ellen Ralston formerly Coghlan
   Informant: X the mark of Ellen Ralston, mother, Miller Court, Albion Street, Birkenhead
   Registered: Second of November 1846

   
2. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 2175; Folio 499; Page 51, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 3 St Ann Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Ellen Coghlan, Head, widow, f, 69 [1781/2], Nurse, b. Ireland
   William Ralston, Son in law, married, m, 26 [1824/5], Stone Mason, b. Scotland
   Ellen Ralston, Daughter, married, f, 26 [1824/5], Wife, b. Ireland
   Catherine Ralston, Granddaughter, f, 5 [1845/6], b. Cheshire Birkenhead
   William Ralston, Grandson, m, 3 [1847/8], b. Cheshire Birkenhead
   Ellen Ralston, Granddaughter, f, 18m [1849], b. Cheshire Birkenhead
   John Ralston, Grandson, m, 3m [1850/1], b. Cheshire Birkenhead
   Bartholomew Coghlan, Grandson, unmarried, m, 17 [1833/4], Labourer, b. Ireland
   John Murphy, Visitor, unmarried, m, 19 [1831/2], Tailor, b. Ireland
   John Spink, Visitor, married, m, 27 [1823/4], Stone mason, b. Yorkshire Skipton
   Mary Ann Spink, Visitor, married, f, 21 [1829/30], Wife, b. Yorkshire Skipton

3. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 2642; Folio 73; Page 64, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 5 St Ann Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Ellen Coglan, widow, married [sic], female, 84 [1776/7], Midwife, b. Ireland
   Catherine Ralston, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1844/5], Midwife daughter, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   William Ralston, son, unmarried, male, 14 [1846/7], Midwife son, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Ellen Ralston, daughter, unmarried, female, 12 [1848/9], Midwife daughter, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John Ralston, son, unmarried, male, 10 [1850/1], Midwife son, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Constance Ralston, daughter, unmarried, female, 8 [1852/3], Midwife daughter, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Joseph Ralston, son, unmarried, male, 6 [1854/5], Midwife son, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Michael Mooran, lodger, single, male, 24 [1836/7], Labourer, b. Ireland
   Philip McMalan, lodger, single, male, 28 [1832/3], Labourer, b. Ireland

4. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 3745; Folio 174; Page 4, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 195 Eccleston Terrace, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John Kenny, head, unmarried, male, 30 [1840/1], Dock Labourer, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kenny, sister, unmarried, female, 25 [1845/6], Brothers Housekeeper, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Henry Kenny, brother, unmarried, male, 16 [1854/5], Shop boy (out of employment), b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Dennis Kelly, boarder, married, male, 31 [1839/40], Rivetters Labourer, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kelly, boarder, married, female, 25 [1845/6], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   William Kelly, boarder, male, 8 [1862/3], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John Kelly, boarder, male, 1 [1869/70], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire

5. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 3577; Folio 6; Page 6, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 22 Eldon Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Dennis Kelley, head, married, male, 40 [1840/1], General Laborer, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kelley, wife, married, female, 36 [1844/5], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   William Kelley, son, unmarried, male, 18 [1862/3], General Laborer, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Bridget Kelley, daughter, unmarried, female, 14 [1866/7], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Christina Kelley, daughter, female, 9 [1871/2], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John J. Kelley, son, male, 11 [1869/70], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Edward Kelly, son, male, 7 [1873/4], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Dennis Kelly, son, male, 4 [1876/7], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Alexander Kelly, son, male, 2 [1878/9], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John Kenny, boarder, unmarried, male, 40 [1840/1], General Laborer, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kenny, sister, unmarried, female, 35 [1845/6], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Patrick Lynch, boarder, married, male, 23 [1857/8], General Laborer, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Mary A. Lynch, wife, married, female, 23 [1857/8], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire

6. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 2880; Folio 83; Page 55, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 8 Eldon Place, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   4 rooms occupied
   John Kelly, head, married, male, 49 [1841/2], Dock Laborer, employed, b. Kildare, Ireland
   Catherine Kelly, wife, married, female, 45 [1845/6], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Edward Kelly, son, single, male, 17 [1873/4], Dock Laborer, employed, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Dennis Kelly, son, male, 15 [1875/6], Dock Laborer, employed, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Alexander Kelly, son, male, 13 [1877/8], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Frank Kelly, son, male, 10 [1880/1], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Mary E. Kelly, daughter, 4 [1886/7], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Peter Kelly, son, male, 3 [1887/8], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Patrick A. Kelly, son, male, 7 [1883/4], Scholar, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   ~ [another household at same address]
   2 rooms occupied
   John Kenny, head, single, male, 49 [1841/2], General Laborer, employed, b. Newry, Ireland
   Catherine Kenny, sister, single, female, 40 [1850/1], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire

7. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 3388; Folio 165; Page 21, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 13 George Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   3 rooms occupied
   Dennis Kelly, head, married, male, 59 [1841/2], Ships Boiler Maker, worker, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kelly, wife, married, female, 55 [1845/6], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Frank Kelly, son, single, male, 19 [1881/2], General Labourer, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Albert Kelly, son, single, male, 17 [1883/4], Apprentice Baker, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Peter Kelly, son, single, male, 13 [1887/8], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Mary E. Kelly, granddaughter, female, 14 [1886/7], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   John Kenny, visitor, single, male, 60 [1840/1], Ragman, own account, b. Ireland
   Catherine Kenny, servant, single, female, 46 [1854/5], General servant, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire

8. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 21963; Schedule 156, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 26 Sandford Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire
   6 rooms occupied
   Catherine Kelly, head, female, 64 [1846/7], widow, married 49 years, General Servant Domestic, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   George Steadman, son in law, male, 44 [1866/7], married, Labourer, worker, b. Shropshire
   Christina Steadman, wife, female, 39 [1871/2], married 7 years, 3 children, 3 still living, General Servant Domestic, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Edward Smith, stepson, male, 18 [1892/3], single, Railway Porter, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Francis Smith, stepson, male, 16 [1894/5], Railway Porter, worker, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Christina Smith, stepdaughter, female, 13 [1897/8], Attending School, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Joseph Smith, stepson, male, 11 [1899/1900], Attending School, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Esther Ann Steadman, daughter, female, 6 [1904/5], Attending School, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Albert George Steadman, son, male, 4 [1906/7], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Frederick Steadman, son, male, 1 [1909/10], b. Birkenhead, Cheshire
   Walter Le Laurie, boarder, male, 41 [1869/70], married, Labourer, worker, b. Oxton, Cheshire
   Marie Le Laurie, wife, female, 43 [1867/8], married, 0 children, General Servant Domestic, worker, b. Secombe, Cheshire

   Against Edward Smith's name is recorded 4 children, 4 still living, which has been crossed out. It is presumed this referred to the children from his mother's first marriage rather than to him.

9. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   1933 DEATH in the Sub-district of Birkenhead in the County of Birkenhead C.B.
   No.319
   When and where died: Sixth December 1933, 26 Sandford Street, UD
   Name: Catherine Kelly
   Sex: Female
   Age: About 83 years
   Occupation: Widow of Dennis Kelly, Ships Plate Rivetter (Ship Builder's)
   Cause of death: I(A) Arterio-Sclerosis, (B) Myocarial degeneration, II. Gangrene of foot, No PM, Certified by J.W.McFarland M.B.
   Informant: D. Kelly, son, in attendance, 47 St Anne Street
   Registered: Sixth December 1933