I took a risk on this marriage record from England. I'm so glad I listened to my gut because I'm sure now that it is the marriage entry for my 3x great-grandparents, James Byron and Margaret Mahon. James and Maggie were born in Ireland and moved to England where their son called Matthew was born in 1862. Because I knew their eldest son was born in England I cross-referenced the English marriage index and found a James Byron that possibly married a Margaret Mahon. I was hoping it was the record I wanted to see. I'm so glad I took a chance on it. Now I have a marriage date and place, I have confirmation James father was also Matthew, I have occupations to
use and I have Margaret's fathers name which I never had before.
Over the weekend I took all of this information and was able to find them both in the 1861 English Census. Both listed Soho Street in Bolton as their residence on their marriage record. At first, I thought they lived together but it turns out they were neighbours. James is living at 26 Soho Street as a boarder in the Flanagan household. I almost missed him because his name is really hard to read. Margaret is living at 28 Soho Street as a boarder in the Sherlock household. She is listed on this census as Margaret Meehan, not Mahon like her marriage record shows. Mary Sherlock was a witness at their wedding and she is listed in this household as well. Like Margaret, she is working as a "Cotton Card Room Hand". It's safe to say they were friends that worked together.
From England, James and Margaret made their way to the USA with their son Matthew in 1867. They lived in Providence, Rhode Island for a little while before moving to Oil City, Pennsylvania where my great-great-grandmother was born. In the USA Margaret Mahon is Margaret Meehan on the records of her children.
Now I will try to find their baptisms and other records of them in Ireland. So far I haven't had much luck with this, but I will keep trying.
Visit my Warren Family Page to see how my great-grandfather, Harry Warren, is related to James and Margaret Byron. I will update the tree once I have a bit more information.
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