1788-1871

 1788 now seems more likely than the 1851 census figure

 siblings

not known

1788 The revised year of the birth of James in Killyleagh (spelling varies). James left Ireland at some stage for Cumbria where he married in 1811. New information from Lloyd McGrevy names Elizabeth Chamberlain as his wife and gives 14 children to James and Elizabeth, all (by word of mouth) born at different addresses. Using this information the marriage has now been located. Five children have now been traced. They were all born in Harrington (part of Whitehaven) in Cumberland between 1823 and 1836. If the 1811 marriage is correct, then there is ample scope for children earlier than those known as well as significant gaps in the data between the known children. The 1841 census data establishes Peter McGrevy as the newest discovery. 

1811 A marriage is recorded in Workington, St. Michael's Parish registers between James Mc Greevy and Elizabeth Chambers, on 21st December 1811. The marriage was by license, granted the day before, 20th December and details are shown from the Bishop's Transcripts and Allegations. James is a Blacksmith, aged 23 (b. 1788) and  Elizabeth, spinster, is aged 22 (b. 1789).  In view of later family tradition that Elizabeth Chamberlain was James's wife, this marriage seems the most likely. There are several Chamberlain marriages in Cumberland records between 1670 and 1837. There are just two McGreevy marriages found so far in the same period. (McGra.., McGri.. McGre, Mc Cr and Mc Gr.. all searched). One is the above, the other is also a James, (shipwright) who married Ruth Hellom by licence on 2nd January 1815. The IGI gives an extensive family of children for this couple none of whom correspond to those of James and Elizabeth. They are presumed to be a different couple and perhaps not in my direct line. ( It may also be noted that the surname Chambers occurs several times in these parish records and one marriage is of a Frances Chambers to a Humphrey Tyson - the Tyson name occurs in my tree when James's daughter Catherine McGrevy marries Robert Tyson.

1836 the last known child of the couple, Thomas, was born in Harrington. It seems likely therefore that at some stage after 1841 when they are last placed in Harrington but before 1847 when his daughter Sarah marries in Liverpool, the entire family moved to Liverpool.

1841 census, the family are traced (indexed as McGray) to Hollins or Hollings, High Harrington, Cumberland. The exact location is not found, the entry is after 'Grayton Green' (?) but before the entry for 'Wiggington' (?) and what looks like 'Stockshill. The following entry is then 'Rectory'.

This introduces Peter as a new name. The entire entry for region 10 is only 7 pages in the census, worthy of note is that there are two other families of Tysons very close by.  Nearby are other McGrevys and it seems possible that these all stem from the Antrim clan and are perhaps inter-related.

1847 James's daughter Sarah married Henry Fitzgerald in Liverpool (at age 24), in St James's Church, Toxteth. Bride and Groom both give their addresses as Northumberland Street. The family are not found in the 1843 directory for Northumberland Street. Neither McGrevy nor Fitzgerald are found in Slater for 1848, in Liverpool. However both Sarah and Henry are found, close by, with James, in Hill Street, four years, later in the census.

1851 The family are at 30 Hill Street, Toxteth Park in the census. Head of house is
JOHN McGreevey (more of the name 'John' shortly). 'John' is a journeyman, Ship Smith, born Ireland, Killaleagh, married and aged 57 (b. 1794). He is married to
Elizabeth, 56, b. Cumberland, Workington. Shown as their children are
James, son, unmarried, 17, (b. 1834) blacksmith apprentice, b. Harrington, Cumberland.
Thomas, son, unmarried,15 (b. 1836), sailmaker, b. Harrington, Cumberland.
Catherine Tyson, daughter, married, 23 (b. 1828) b. Harrington, Cumberland.
Henry Fitzgerald, 28, b. Ireland, Cork, Master Mariner, Son-in-law.
Sarah Fitzgerald, wife of Henry is shown as Daughter-in-law (after an alteration in the ennumerator's book) , this is not correct, she is daughter. She is 28 (b. 1823) born Harrington, Cumberland. This is correct and is confirmed by a marriage of Sarah McGrievey (age full, spinster, Northumberland Street) to Henry Fitzgerald (age full, batchelor, mariner, Northumberland Street) on February 12th 1847 (W. Derby Mar. qtr, 1847 XX, 702) at the church of St. James in Toxteth (then shown as the parish of Walton on the Hill) . Witnesses are Joseph O'Hare and Catherine McGrievey (Sarah's sister who became Catherine Tyson on marriage). Sarah's father is shown as JAMES McGrievey, blacksmith on the certificate, suggesting again that the 1851 census has the wrong name 'John' entered for head-of-house (James, b. 1835 gives his father as James on his marriage certificate also).

1858 On February 3rd, James's son, also James McGrevy marries Mary Hayden in Liverpool, at St. Barnabas. The marriage was by banns. James gives his age as 23 (b. 1835), a shipwright of 21 Jordan Street ( close to the church). James gives his father as James, a shipwright, (he does not say 'deceased'). Mary is a spinster, aged 22 (b. 1836) and lives at 6 Jordan Street. Her father is Michael Hayden (spelt thus) an Inspector of Police. This agrees exactly with subsequently proven data for these people. Both bride and groom were able to sign their names. Witnesses were John Cusack and Joseph Curtis. No entry is shown for 21 Jordan Street in the 1858 PO directory.

1861 James is not found in the census (though there is a John McGreevy (66 = b. 1795) in Byker, Northumberland married to an Elizabeth, however the census says that they are both born in Ireland. This may of course be other people, or incorrect data. Interestingly there are a some Tysons in Byker just a few houses away).

1871 A death, undoubtedly his, (spelled McGreivy) occurred in Liverpool on 22nd June 1871. (Liverpool, Jun, 1871, 8b 57). James died of 'Senectus' - which means 'old age'. In other words, nothing special and definite, he just 'wore out'. James was said to be 84 on death. The informant was Catherine Tyson, present at the death (his daughter Catherine nee McGrevy of 13 Kew Street). The death took place at 67 Kew Street, which is off Scotland Road. It has been possible to look back at the 1871 census and locate Catherine Tyson, (indexed as Catrina Tyson), at 13 Kew Street with her family. James is not at No 67 then, but is at No 69 Kew Street. He is married, aged 83, Shipsmith, born Ireland. Living with James is his wife, Elizabeth, 79, b. Cumberland, Whitehaven.

To be investigated:

1829 William McGreavy is a blacksmith at Distington, this is close to Harrington and High Harrington

1839 A Patrick McGreevy is father to Bernard McGreevy at Whitehaven. 24th Feb 1839. They live at Bacon Court, Marlbro, Whitehaven. Bernard's mother is Mart McGreevy formerly McSherry, she registered the birth with her mark.

1851 census has William McGreavey, coal miner aged 13 at 22 Cleator Moor, Cleator. This is very close to Whitehaven. With this William are brother Hugh, 33 (b. 1818) and brother Luke , 23 (b. 1828). The ages are such that they could all be children of James. (Cleator Moor and mine is an exact area and Millom (an area which occurs in James's son James). The mine is an Iron (specifically Haematite) mine rather than coal however. .

year

Address

stated age

source

proof

calc age

1794

Killaleagh, Ireland

0

1851 census data

1794

1811

probable marriage St Michael's, Workington, 21st December 1811

23

Parish records

1788

1841

Harrington, Cumberland

45

census

1796

1847

Northumberland Street, Toxteth, Liverpool (assumed)

-

Sarah's marriage

-

1851

30 Hill Street, Toxteth, Liverpool

57

census

1794

1871

69 Kew Street, Liverpool 3

83

census

1787

1871

67 Kew Street, Liverpool 3

84

death certificate

1787