Person:Margaret Rice (13)

Watchers
Margaret Rice
b.29 Mar 1852 Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland
d.27 Apr 1933 Willesden, Middlesex, England
Parents and Siblings
(edit)
m. 5 Dec 1850
  1. Margaret Rice1852 - 1933
  2. Peter Rice1854 - 1922
  3. James Rice1857 - 1913
  4. Mary Rice1860 - 1926
  5. Joseph Rice1863 - 1938
  6. John Rice1865 - 1920
Spouse and Children
(edit)
m. 2 Jun 1879
  1. Mary Jane Sweeney1882 - 1957
  2. Margaret Sweeney1884 - 1884
  3. Kate Sweeney1884 - 1884
  4. Margaret Sweeney1887 - 1960
  5. Stephen Michael Sweeney1889 - 1966
  6. Catherine Eliza Sweeney1891 - 1894
Add another spouse & children
Facts and Events
Name Margaret Rice
Gender Female
Birth[1][2] 29 Mar 1852 Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland
Christening[1] 20 Apr 1852 Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, ScotlandOur Lady and St Ninian Catholic Church
Census[2] 7 Apr 1861 Whithorn, Wigtownshire, ScotlandShadock Cothouse
Census[3] 2 Apr 1871 Whithorn, Wigtownshire, ScotlandBalsmith Farm House
Marriage 2 Jun 1879 Kensington, Middlesex, EnglandSt Mary of the Angels
to Stephen Sweeney
Census[4] 3 Apr 1881 Lambeth, Surrey, England122 Mayall Road, Brixton
Census[5] 5 Apr 1891 Paddington, London, England2 Alfred Road
Census[6] 31 Mar 1901 Paddington, London, England19 Amberley Road
Census[7] 2 Apr 1911 Paddington, London, England87 Sutherland Avenue
Death[9] 27 Apr 1933 Willesden, Middlesex, EnglandCentral Middlesex Hospital
[edit]

Childhood

Margaret (sitting) with brother Joseph and sister Mary.
Enlarge
Margaret (sitting) with brother Joseph and sister Mary.
Margaret Rice was born on 29th March 1852 at Whithorn in Wigtownshire, Scotland, daughter of Jane Rice, formerly Lemon, and her husband James Rice, an agricultural labourer. Her baptism was recorded in the registers of Newton Stewart Catholic Church a month later. Margaret's parents were both from Ireland, and had moved to Scotland about the time of the Potato Famine in Ireland. Margaret was the eldest of their six children, all born at Whithorn.

The 1861 census finds Margaret living with her parents and siblings in a one roomed cottage at Sheddock, a farm to the east of Whithorn village close to the sea. Her parents were still there ten years later, but by this time Margaret was working as a general servant at nearby Balsmith Farm.

[edit]

Marriage

Margaret in the garden.
Enlarge
Margaret in the garden.
Margaret married a carpenter named Stephen Sweeney, who was from the neighbouring village of Sorbie, and also the son of Irish immigrants. Although Stephen was from the next village they married over 400 miles away, at Kensington in the western suburbs of London. They married on 2nd June 1879, when Margaret was 27 and Stephen was 25. Having married in the Kensington they then moved to Brixton, where they appear in the 1881 census in Mayall Road with Margaret's brother James living with them. They were still in Mayall Road the following year when their daughter Mary Jane was born.

In 1884 Margaret gave birth to twins, Kate and Margaret, who were born in the Kensington area of west London. Sadly they both died as babies. By 1887 the family was living in Paddington in west London, where they had another three children: Margaret in 1887, Stephen in 1889 and Catherine Eliza in 1891. Back in Scotland, Margaret's mother Jane died in 1890.

In 1894 Margaret's youngest daughter, Catherine Eliza, died aged three. The following year her husband Stephen died of phthisis (tuberculosis), aged 41. Margaret was therefore left a widow at the age of 43 with three surviving children aged between thirteen and six to look after.

[edit]

Later life

In the garden again.
Enlarge
In the garden again.
Margaret's recently widowed father moved down from Scotland and lived with the family for some time. Of Margaret's brothers and sisters all but one had left Scotland and moved to the London area. The 1901 census finds Margaret, her father and her younger daughter living at 19 Amberley Road in Paddington. Margaret was working as a waitress. Margaret's father later returned to Scotland, where he died in 1907.

By 1910 Margaret had moved to 87 Sutherland Avenue, a large town house. Family tradition says that Margaret received assistance from her father's employer, the Marquis of Bute, although this cannot be proven. However, Margaret's son Stephen was sent to the Cathedral School in Oban (he appears there in the 1901 census), which may plausibly have been due to a benefactor's help. Margaret ran 87 Sutherland Avenue as a boarding house. She appears there in the electoral rolls from 1910 to 1915. In the 1911 census there were three boarders in the ten-roomed house, plus Margaret's three children and her widowed sister. One of the boarders, Dora Higgins, would later marry Margaret's son, Stephen.

Some time between 1915 and 1918, during the First World War, the family left Sutherland Avenue and moved to 5 Peploe Road in the Kensal Rise area of Willesden.[11] Here Margaret lived with her daughter Mary and was later joined by Mary's husband when Mary married in 1922. Margaret became a grandmother at the age of 70 and had just two grandchildren who survived infancy, both born in the 1920s. In about 1929 the family left Peploe Road and moved out to Wembley, where they lived at 73 Cecil Avenue.

Margaret died at the Central Middlesex Hospital in Willesden on 27th April 1933, aged 81.

References
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Baptisms register, in Roman Catholic Church. Newton Stewart Catholic Parish Registers. (Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Catholic Archives).

    Names of Baptized: Margaret
    Names of Parents: law[ful daughter of] James Rice and Johannah Limon
    Born: A.D. 1852 March 29
    Baptized: A.D. 1852 April 20
    Names of Sponsors: Peter Ward and Mary Rice
    Priest: J.J. Buckley

  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 General Register Office for Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
    900/00 002/00 002, 7 Apr 1861.

    Address: Shadock Cothouse, Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    1 room with windows
    James Rice, head, married, male, 30 [1830/1], Ploughman, b. Ireland
    Jane Rice, wife, married, female, 34 [1826/7], Ploughmans Wife, b. Ireland
    Margaret Rice, daughter, unmarried, female, 8 [1852/3], Ploughmans Dau[ghte]r, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Peter Rice, son, unmarried, male, 6 [1854/5], Ploughmans Son, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    James Rice, son, unmarried, male, 3 [1857/8], Ploughmans Son, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Mary Rice, daughter, unmarried, female, 9 months [1860], Ploughmans Dau[ghte]r, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire

  3. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland. 1871 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh)
    900/00 003/00 005, 2 Apr 1871.

    Address: Balsmith Farm House, Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    8 rooms with windows
    William Brown, head, married, male, 73 [1797/8], Farmer - Joint Tenant of 144 acres arable, b. Penninghame, Wigtownshire
    Mary Brown, wife, married, female, 69 [1801/2], b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Mary S. Brown, daughter, unmarried, female, 36 [1834/5], b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Peter S. Brown, son, unmarried, male, 32 [1838/9], Farmer Joint Tenant, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Margaret Rice, servant, unmarried, female, 18 [1852/3], General Serv[ant], b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    William McGee, servant, unmarried, male, 16 [1854/5], Farm serv[ant], b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire

  4. ↑ 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 622; Folio 98; Page 65, 3 Apr 1881.

    Address: 122 Mayall Road, Brixton, Lambeth, Surrey
    Stephen Sweeney, head, married, male, 27 [1853/4], Joiner, b. Scotland
    Margaret Sweeney, wife, married, female, 28 [1852/3], Nil, b. Scotland
    James Rice, boarder, unmarried, male, 23 [1857/8], Joiner, b. Scotland

  5. ↑ 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 1; Folio 48; Page 20, 5 Apr 1891.

    Address: 2 Alfred Road, Paddington, London
    5 or more rooms occupied
    Stephen Sweeney, head, married, male, 36 [1854/5], Joiner, employed, b. Scotland
    Margaret Sweeney, wife, married, female, 38 [1852/3], b. Scotland
    Mary J. Sweeney, daughter, female, 8 [1882/3], b. Brixton, London
    Margaret Sweeney, daughter, female, 3 [1887/8], b. Paddington, London
    Stephen Sweeney, son, male, 1 [1889/90], b. Paddington, London

  6. ↑ 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 7; Folio 116; Page 13, 31 Mar 1901.

    Address: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington, London
    2 rooms occupied
    James Rice, head, married, male, 74 [1826/7], Retired Farm Bailiff, b. Ireland
    Margaret Sweeney, daughter, widow, female, 44 [1856/7], Waitress, b. Scotland
    Margaretta Sweeney, granddaughter, single, female, 13 [1887/8], none, b. Paddington, London

  7. ↑ 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 36; Schedule 87, 2 Apr 1911.

    Address: 87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington, London
    Ten rooms occupied
    Margaret Sweeney, head, female, 58 [1852/3], widow, Boarding house keeper, employer, b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire
    Mary Sweeney, daughter, female, 28 [1882/3], single, Assistant to above, b. Brixton, London
    Margaret Sweeney, daughter, female, 23 [1887/8], single, Assistant to above, b. Paddington, London
    Stephen Sweeney, son, male, 21 [1889/90], single, Railway clerk, worker, b. Paddington, London
    Bride Connolly, boarder, female, 30 [1880/1], single, Elementary school teacher - L.C.C., worker, b. Moher, Roscommon
    Dora Higgins, boarder, female, 22 [1888/9], single, Elementary school teacher - L.C.C., worker, b. Walthamstow, London
    Bryan G. O'Donnell, boarder, male, 21 [1889/90], single, Insurance clerk, worker, b. Kilmallock, Limerick
    Mary Phippen, visitor, female, 50 [1860/1], widow, Housekeeper (domestic), b. Whithorn, Wigtownshire

  8.   London, England. Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 (Ancestry).

    1899
    Rice, James: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    Sweeney, Margaret: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    1900
    Sweeney, Margaret: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    1902
    Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    1903
    Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    1904
    Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.: 19 Amberley Road, Paddington
    1905
    not found - not listed at 19 Amberley Road
    1909
    not found - no-one listed at 87 Sutherland Avenue
    1910
    87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington
    1st division: no-one listed
    2nd division: no-one listed
    3rd division: Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.
    1911
    87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington
    1st division: no-one listed
    2nd division: no-one listed
    3rd division: Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.
    1912
    87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington
    1st division: no-one listed
    2nd division: Sweeney, Stephen / One room top floor, furnished
    3rd division: Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.
    1914
    87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington
    1st division: no-one listed
    2nd division: Sweeney, Stephen / One room top floor, furnished
    3rd division: Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.
    1915
    87 Sutherland Avenue, Paddington
    1st division: no-one listed
    2nd division: Sweeney, Stephen / One room top floor, furnished
    3rd division: Sweeney, Margaret, Mrs.
    Sweeney, Stephen: One room top floor, furnished
    1916-1917: No electoral register published
    1918
    no-one listed at 87 Sutherland Avenue
    1922
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Rasey, Jane
    Rasey, Joseph
    Reid, Michael
    Sreeves, Robert
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1923
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Rasey, Jane
    Rasey, Joseph
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1924
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Rasey, Jane
    Rasey, Joseph
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1925
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Rasey, Jane
    Rasey, Joseph
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1926
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Collard, George Henry
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1927
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1928
    5 Peploe Road, Willesden
    Reid, Mary
    Reid, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    1929
    73 Cecil Avenue, Wembley
    Read, Mary
    Read, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret
    Sweeney, Margaret, Jnr.
    1930
    73 Cecil Avenue, Wembley
    Doyle, Maurice
    Read, Mary
    Read, Michael
    Sweeney, Margaret

  9. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).
    REGISTRATION DISTRICT WILLESDEN
    1933 DEATH in the Sub-district of Harlesden in the County of Middlesex
    No.When and where diedName and surnameSexAgeOccupationCause of deathSignature, description and reisdence of informantWhen registeredSignature of registrar
    126Twenty-seventh April 1933
    Twyford Lodge
    Acton Lane U.D.    		Margaret SweeneyFemale81 yearsof 73 Cecil Avenue
    Wembley U.D.
    Widow of Stephen Sweeney a Carpenter - Builders    		1(a) Senile Decay
    No P.M.
    Certified by W.E. Turner M.R.C.S.    		S. Sweeney
    Son
    72 Hanover Road
    Willesden    		Twenty-seventh April 1933John C. James
    Registrar

    "Twyford Lodge, Acton Lane" was a euphemistic address, dating from the Central Middlesex Hospital's original use as the Willesden Union Workhouse. Most workhouses had a non-identifying address which was used on birth and death certificates to avoid any stigma associated with the workhouse attaching to the people concerned. The buildings had been taken over in 1930 by Middlesex County Council and renamed as the Central Middlesex County Hospital. [1], accessed 11 Sep 2017.

  10.   19 Amberley Road (Margaret's home between 1899 and 1904) appears to have been demolished in the 1970s. A photograph of the house is available on the City of London's Collage website (accessed 28 Jan 2013).
  11. ↑ Margaret's son Stephen gave 5 Peploe Road as his address when he married on 17 Sep 1918.
Retrieved from "https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Margaret_Rice_%2813%29"