Thomas Haley (abt. 1872 - aft. 1921)

Born about 10 Jan 1872 in Whitwood Mere, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Catherine (Fagan) Haley — married 1903 in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom

Descendants

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Biography

Thomas was born between 1871 and 1873 in Whitwood Mere, Yorkshire. He appears in records from 1881 onwards as the son of Patrick Haley and his wife Margaret.

In 1890, Thomas enlisted with the Royal Navy, giving his birth date as 10 January 1871 (contradicting earlier records stating a birth date of circa 1873). His first service was on 1 May 1890 on the ship Asia.

In 1903, Thomas married local woman Kathleen Fagan in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. A son, Thomas Michael Haley, was born shortly after the marriage. Though the couple did not have any other biological children, they adopted their niece, Muriel Fagan (the illegitimate child of Kathleen's sister), and raised her as a daughter.

In the 1911 census, Thomas and his family are seen living in Devonport, Plymouth, with Thomas working as a stoker as a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy.

The last record I can find of Thomas is in the 1921 census, where he's currently serving in the Royal Navy and stated as born in Castleford, Yorkshire circa 1871.

Research Notes

Have stated parentage is uncertain due to the lack of a matching birth registration or baptism record for Thomas Haley, despite every other sibling's birth being quickly registered. He also doesn't appear to be an illegitimate grandchild raised by Margaret as her child, due to the lack of any Thomas Clark/Clarkes born to unmarried mothers in the correct location and timeframe.

If Thomas' stated birth date of 10 Jan 1871 is accurate, he should appear in the 1871 census. However, then 3-month-old Thomas is conspicuously absent from the household of his parents and siblings in that census. He also doesn't appear with any known family members.

This is, to me, looking increasingly likely like an adoption situation. However, without supporting documentation, nothing can be said for certain.

Sources

• "England and Wales Census, 1881", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27Y-3G9X : Wed Mar 06 12:59:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Margaret Healy and Jno W Healy, 1881.
• West Yorkshire, England, Prison Records, 1801-1914 (available at https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=5085&h=165520&tid=&pid=&queryId=54621f4c-8e0a-4f6c-b4f9-10060b1c4402&usePUB=true&_phsrc=IwU418&_phstart=successSource).
• UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 (available at Ancestry).
• "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2631-PZL : 13 December 2014), Thomas Haley, 1903; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1903, quarter 1, vol. 11B, p. 751, Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW9V-WRK : 3 July 2019), Thomas Haley, Devonport, Plymouth, Devon, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• England 1921 England Census, Royal Navy Seamen (available at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F28151%2F0013%2F13).