Too Many Deaths Too Soon!

Posted on March 27, 2015 by CJ Murdoch

The Beattie/Flanagan Connection….

Born on 9 Jul 1866 in Fountain Place, Londonderry she was a daughter, sister, wife and mother.  Her name was Rebecca and she was named after her mother and her great grandmother.  Rebecca Beattie is my great grand aunt, one of ten children born to James Beattie and Rebecca McCadden of Letterkenny & Rathmullan, Co. Donegal respectively.

Letterkenny, Rathmullan and Fountain Place

Rebecca was the sixth child and the 2nd daughter in the Beattie family.  Her younger sister Charlotte Elizabeth is my great grandmother.  On 2 Mar 1855 her parents were married in the Rathmullan Church of Ireland by Rev. H. Ferguson.  Sometime between their marriage and the birth of their first son Robert, who was born on 21 Feb 1856, they had moved to Londonderry and were residing in Fountain Place.

Beattie-McCadden Family

On 2 Sep 1887, at the young age of twenty one, Rebecca gave birth to her first daughter, Mildred Rose, who was known as Millie.  The Birth Record revealed that the father was Thomas James Flanagan, a butler, who was only nineteen.  Although Millie was baptized as “Flanagan” her parents were not married.  Rebecca remained living in her family home, located at 81 Marlborough Park, Rosemount while Thomas was residing on Lecky Road.

Thomas James Flanagan and Rebecca were united in Marriage at St. Augustine’s Church of Ireland – the “Wee Church on the Walls” on 17 Dec 1891.  St. Augustine’s is a beautiful little Church where many of my ancestors before her had married.  Their union was witnessed by Philip Fletcher Flanagan, the Grooms brother, and Martha Lochrie.  Their Marriage Record disclosed that Thomas was a Cartwright living at 162 Lecky Road and Rebecca, a “factory worker”; was residing at 81 Marlborough Park.

Lecky Road & Marlborough Park

On the 22 Nov 1892 at 162 Lecky Road their second daughter Rebecca was born.  Sadly, Rebecca’s life was not to be a long one.  On 6 Jun 1893, just before she was seven months old, Rebecca passed away.  Her death record showed the cause of death as “Teething – 14 days; Convulsions – 8 days, Certified”.  Her maternal uncle Alfred Beattie was present at her death.

While dealing with this loss the family was to be dealt yet another blow!  On 30 Jun 1893, just weeks after the death of her young daughter, Rebecca passed away at her parents’ home in the Creggan.  Once again Alfred Beattie, her brother, was present at the death.  The death record noted the cause of death as “Phitisis Pulmonalis (Pulmonary Tuberculosis), 6 months certified”.  John Foster, the Assistant Registrar, recorded her death just as he had recorded the death of her daughter a few short weeks before.  Both Rebecca and her infant daughter Rebecca are interred at the Derry City Cemetery.

Derry City Cemetery & Creggan Road

After the devastation that my family must have dealt with, I “needed” to find out more -what had become of her husband and their two very young children?

In 1907 at the age of nineteen, their eldest daughter Millie and William Bogle were joined in Marriage at Christ Church in Londonderry.  Sarah Coyle and Robert Bogle witnessed their wedding.  Very quickly their family grew – Millie and William had three sons between 1909 and 1913 named Robert, William and Samuel.

Derry City Cemetery

It would seem that long lives were not meant to be on this particular crooked branch of my family tree.  On 21 Mar 1914 Millie passed away from “acute laryngeal phthisis (tuberculosis), 1 1/2 months certified” leaving her three young sons without a mother.  Like her mother before her she died young and at the home of her maternal grandmother, 81 Creggan Road.  Her husband William was present at her death.

Yet another loss for her father Thomas James Flanagan… what happened to Thomas?  Well, that’s a story for another time!

About CJ Murdoch

Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
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17 Responses to Too Many Deaths Too Soon!

  1. Su Leslie says:
    March 27, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    I’m always particularly saddened by the deaths of small children, or their parents. It may have been commonplace, but each death is nonetheless a terrible tragedy for everyone involved.

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  2. Amy says:
    March 27, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    Isn’t it awful to find these stories? They always leave me feeling so sad but also so grateful that we live today with all the benefits of modern medicine. TB really was much more of an epidemic than I ever know, as was child mortality.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • CJ Murdoch says:
      March 27, 2015 at 10:52 pm

      It is Amy. I’m still surprised at the depth of emotion I feel when discovering the lives of my ancestors. I had no idea it would be such an emotional trip when I started this journey. I’m not afraid to admit I have cried many tears…

      Liked by 1 person

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      • Amy says:
        March 27, 2015 at 11:17 pm

        My father, who reads my blog regularly, said that he is surprised how much empathy I express for people I never knew. But it is real. They were real people. How can we not weep for them?

        Liked by 1 person

  3. The Silver Voice says:
    March 29, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Great research and I love the old photos of Letterkenny Square and Rathmullan, places not too far from my own home place.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Pingback: Derry Man Missing! | TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES

  5. Jordan tosh says:
    January 31, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    I’ve just found this, i the grandson of beryl sherrard, who’s mother was Morrison, who’s mother was beatie, I have the family bible going back 200 years, these people are my family

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  6. Jordan tosh says:
    January 31, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    If it helps, my great grandfather built the steps up the side of the post office in rathmullan, still there today I believe, my late mother was rosemary rosslyn sherrard, daughter of William sherrard and beryl morrison

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  7. Jordan tosh says:
    January 31, 2020 at 6:42 pm

    Could cj murdoch please respond thank you

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  8. Jordan tosh says:
    January 31, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    Also, I have in my possesion a photo of my great grandfather in rathmullan, back from the first war on leave in rathmullan

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