Isabella Shannon.....

[David Wells]

Hi,

I am new to the list and looking for some suggestion and advice on tracing my Great Grandmother, Isabella SHANNON.

According to the 1881 and 1891 Census returns she was born in Dumfriesshire in 1849/1850.

Her Marriage Certificate (married Jonas WELLS in 1874) shows her Father as Robert SHANNON (Occupation: Baker). As she was married in England (Workington, Cumberland), her Mother's name was not listed.

My problem is, that the only birth entry that comes close is for an Isabella SHENNAN born 1849 in Dunbar, Kirkbean and lists her parents as Robert SHENNAN (Occupation: Ploughman) and Isabella DUNCAN.

I can accept the different surname spelling and the fact that her Father could have changed occupations and I know Kirkbean is close to Dumfriesshire, but my main problem is that on Isabella's Death Certificate, it states her Mother's Maiden name as PEACOCK (not DUNCAN). These details were supplied by one of her sons, Walter WELLS.

I have looked in the 1881 Census and on the 1871 Census on Scotlandspeople website but could not find any matching entries for Isabella or her parents. I have been sent a 1871 Census entry from Cumberland that list an Isabella SHANNON aged 21 working as a servant - and her birthplace is shown as Dunbar, Curbean, Scotland.

I have traced the bith of Isabella DUNCAN but cannot find any reference to PEACOCK, so I cannot say for sure that Isbaella SHANNON and Isabella SHENNAN are the same person (even though I believe they are).

I have found the Kirkbean family on the 1851 Census, but this does nothing to resolve the mystery of the different maiden names. Neither PEACOCK or DUNCAN appear as middle names in the rest of the family that I have traced.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks & Regards,

David
Sydney, Australia

[nelmit]

Hello David,

I hope I'm not going to confuse the issue here but I found this on the IGI.

Isabella DUNCAN married Robert SHENNON 19th July 1845, Urr, Kirkcudbright. Their daughter Isabella SHENNON was born 15th July 1849.

In the same batch of marriages there is a Jane DUNCAN married David PEACOCK 1848, Urr, Kirkcudbright. They had a daughter Isabella PEACOCK 27th April 1852.

At least it gives you some sort of connection between PEACOCK and DUNCAN.

Regards,
Annette M

[nelmit]

Hi,

I am new to the list and looking for some suggestion and advice on tracing my Great Grandmother, Isabella SHANNON.

According to the 1881 and 1891 Census returns she was born in Dumfriesshire in 1849/1850.

Thanks & Regards,

David
Sydney, Australia

David,

Where did you find Isabella SHANNON in 1881?

Annette M

[David Wells]

Hi Annette,

I am also not sure whether or not it adds to my confusion, but you are correct, it does give me some sort of connection. If they had PEACOCK relatives, I suppose it is conceivable that they mistakenly thought that Isabella's mother was also a PEACOCK (instead of a DUNCAN).

I will follow this line and see where it leads.

Thanks for you help - it is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

David

[David Wells]

Hi Annette,

In 1881, Isabella was living at 90 Hallside Village, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire with her husband Jonas and 3 children at that stage (Charles, Robert (My Granfather) and Elizabeth). By 1891 they had moved to Motherwell (they settled in the Motherwell/Wishaw area).

Regards,

David

[David Wells]

Hi,

Isabella Duncan was the sister of Jane Duncan, who married David Peacock, so there is a definite link.

Regards,

David

[nelmit]

Hi,

Isabella Duncan was the sister of Jane Duncan, who married David Peacock, so there is a definite link.

Regards,

David

Hello David,

I see the link between these DUNCAN girls but I'm not wholly convinced this is Isabella WELLS's family.

Annette M

[David Wells]

Hi Annette,

I am not sure I will solve this mystery (beyond reasonable doubt) but I will try to trace these DUNCAN / PEACOCK families just in case.

I do have another link and this is that Isabella SHANNON (SHENNAN) who was born in Kirkbean had a sister, Elizabeth was born in Kirkbean about 1846. She was married in Workington, Cumberland in 1875 to Frederick Seed (Father listed as Robert Shannon - Baker). In 1881 Census, they had moved to Cambuslang, Lanarkshire (same as Isabella and Jonas). On Elizabeth's death certificate, it lsits her parents as Robert Shannon and Isabella Duncan. Also, the name Elizabeth Seed turns up as a witness to the Marriage of Helen Wells (my Aunt) in 1925. Not sure if they are the same person, but interesting all the same.

Regards,

David