Tuesday 18 April 2017

Help please

Hello,

I wonder if anyone has any information about both sides of my Deptford family.

My grandad John Carney (now 86) lived in 73 Fawcett Road, Deptford, from 1928 onwards. His parents, Bridget (born O'Connor) and John Carney, lived there from even before that. My grandad also had siblings Brendan and Sheila Carney. Unfortunately, my grandad was put into care quite early on as his mother died so we don't have a lot of information about his Deptford days. Any memories of the family or Fawcett road would be greatly appreciated! 

Another side of my Deptford family history is that my New Cross Nan, Pauline Carney's (born Freeman) family used to run a (Jewish?) grocery store (or maybe a sweet shop) along Deptford Broadway, on the corner of the park and next to or near Molins Cigarette factory. My nan can't remember the name of the shop but thinks it was a family name - so probably Freeman's/Freemans or Friedman's? Rosenburg was also a family name: Eva Rosenburg and John Freeman were my great-grandparents. 

Both my grandparents are old now and enjoy talking about their family history so any information or any stories would be so lovely!

Thank you.

Saturday 8 April 2017

Hi - I was wondering if you might be able to help me,

My great-great-grandmother Julia Button formerly Murphy née Calnan/Hayes married her second husband, Edwin Charles Button in 1933 whilst living at 4 Grenville House, New King Street, Deptford. Family legend has it that she left her husband for another man (her first husband, Timothy Murphy died in 1924). She also worked as a money-lender, a profession which other Catholics would have found distasteful. As a result she fell out with most of her ten children from this marriage.

Julia died in 1949, nine years after her husband Edwin Charles Button. I would very much like to hear from anyone who may have known her. Unfortunately as a result of their fall-out, I have no photos of either of them to share, although it is possible that some may exist.

Her birth has also been the cause of some confusion - on both her marriage licenses she lists herself as the daughter of John Calnan, however on the birth certificates for half of her children she lists her surname as Hayes. She married in 1887 at the age of c. 16. There is no record for a Julia Calnan in the 1881 census but there is some record of a Julia Hayes - how she connects to the Calnan family is yet another mystery.

Thank you,

Daniel Maldonado