4th known child & 3rd son to Catherine (nee Buckley) & Stephen Lyons.
1861 Born,31/10/1861, at 26, College St., St. Olave where
the family were living in the 1861 Census( prior to his birth). Possess
birth certificate B4. No mention of Joseph in name. Baptised 6/10/1861
at Holy Trinity, Dockhead. An error in the exact date probably in the official b.c. as it was not registered until December. . Dockhead replied: 1st June 1980
"No entries for Timothy or Stephen.
Michael Lyons, son of Stephen & Catherine Lyons (formerly Buckley) born
2.10.1861, baptised 6.10.61
Godfather "Patrick Lyons"
Godmother "Helen Connell"
No address or other details are given" I did some searching in 1861C
for this Helen Connell: but only match was aged 60, charwoman, b.Ireland, with
Hannah 21 & Jeremiah 15, both b.Ireland, living in Marylebone. No trace of
her in 1871C, and an Ellen Connell dies Marylebone Dec 1862. Unlikely that they
would have chosen such an old godmother. I feel Patrick Lyons is the son of
Honorah, aged 21 in the 1861 C: though there is another Patrick Lyons, 27, a cooper,
from Limerick, wife from King, married before leaving Ireland ~1858, in the
1861C living in St.John, Horsleydown
1871 census.
Aged 9. Eventually I found the family under "Lynes".
Stephen, age 45, b.Co Cork. 36 Brunswick Court, Bermondsey.
"Dock Labourer"
Catherine, wife, 45, b. Co Cork
Timothy, son, 17, b.Bermondsey, Surrey. "Wharf Labourer"
Mary, daughter, 15 b.Bermondsey, Surrey
Stephen, son, 11, b.St Olaves, Surrey
Michael, son, 9, b.St Olaves, Surrey
Eliza, daughter, 7, b.St Olaves, Surrey.
Also given is John Lyons, and it says "son", age
35 and blind.
Also at same address are a family of 3 names Lacey, the parents born Limerick,
and their 1 year old son, b.Co.Cork
Obtained the 1879 marriage cert. St. Olave Dec 1d.503 of a Michael Lyons and it is not him
But, through obtaining the 1882 b.c. B 20 of his second child, Stephen Patrick Lyons, I find that the wife of the Michael that I am interested in was formerly Mary Ann Dillon. And..
Marriages Jun 1880
Dillon Mary Ann St Saviour 1d 255
Lyons Joseph St. Saviour 1d 255 . Do not need the state m.c, as have now found
the marriage 5/4/1880 - see below -in St. Georges records.- it would only give me the occupations of himself, his father Stephen Lyons and his father-in-law,John Dillon. . I have the witnesses and addresses from the church record..
1880. Do not have her state b.c. Mary Ann Lyons born to Joseph & Mary Ann[nee Dillon] Lyons on 7/03/1880, baptised 28/03/1880, gps John Murphy & Mary Ann Foley, in Our Lady of Salette, Melior Street[ from parish records, Aug.,2009]. This is almost one month before her parents married in the different Catholic Church of St.Georges !. Maybe Michael decided to change his name to Joseph on this b.c. & his m.c. for anonymity. By 1881, he has reverted to Michael in the censuses and on future b.cs. of his children.
1880. Joseph Lyons married Mary Ann Dillon 5/04/1880 in St.Georges RCC.
Joseph Lyons (son of Stephen) to Mary Ann Dillon (daughter of John) with both
marriage partners recorded as living at 10 Freemans Lane Horselydown.
Witnesses: Stephen Howard [ he is the brother of Mary Ann's mother, Jane:
proved from 1881C entry!], address 25 Rand Rents and Mary Ann Pooley, address
18 Rand Rents, Rev J Reeks . Rands should read Sards. Am in email contact
with Stella Wilson, Genes, gggranddaughter of John Dillon, 1860, brother of
Mary Ann 1862 & Jane 1864, informant of the birth B20 of Stephen Patrick Lyons 1882 - June 2010, have asked Stella for the photo of Sards Rents she has: the buildings were built by Sards, ropemakers, for their workers.
“Sard’s Rents was an alley that ran eastwards of Church Street, near the present Tower Bridge Road. Shown on my paper map Map 7.86 London Bridge Station 1872-1893. It might have been diminished by an extension of the railway viaduct, but it certainly outlived Charles Booth; the alley was still there between the world wars. Its site was eventually used to build the St. John's Estate on the eastern side of Tower Bridge Road. In fact, I would say that the laying out of Tower Bridge Road itself (in 1902) was probably more important than the widening of the railway viaduct. It disappeared from the Electoral Roll books ~1937.
The ropery was in the same place. I see from the Kelly's Post Office LondonDirectory of 1883 that the business was entered as Samuel Steven Sard & Son,Church Street, Horselydown. The last name was an ancient name for that vicinity, which is no longer in use.
The Ordnance Survey map of 1872 shows the alley and the ropery, and so does the next edition of 1893. You can buy a reproduction of these maps in the series published by Alan Godfrey. One publication entitled London Bridge Station 1872-1893 includes both maps. Sards Rents went across the boundary of the sheet to which I refer, but it would be the best one to obtain.
Ropemaking was a traditional industry in that area, associated of course with shipping on the River Thames, but normally based just a little inland, presumably where the land was cheaper. A ropery (or 'rope walk') needed a large elongated piece of land”.
Apparently in the St. John's Estate on the eastern side of Tower Bridge Road, there are still some steps left from Sard’s Rents.
http://london1868.com/ is a wonderful 1868 Map site: click on it to zoom.
1881 census a Micheal (transcribed incorrectly) Lyons,19, waterman lighterman, appears married to a Mary Ann,19, and with a 1 yr. old Mary Ann, all 3 born in Horsleydown. Address 1, Albert St., Bermondsey.[ A fair way from Freemans Lane but not far south of Sards Rents where Mary Ann's family were. Think this has disappeared, but, it was north and parallel to Abbey Street, which is an eastwood continuation of Long Lane]
1882. 10/03/1882, a Stephen Patrick Lyons born, at 10 Freemans Lane, St.John Horsleydown [St Olave] to Michael Lyons, lighterman, & Mary Ann Lyons, formerly Dillon, the informant being a Jane Dillon [Mary Ann's sister] of 25 Sands[ read Sards]Rents, Horsleydown. Possess b.c.B20. This Michael must be him....same address, 10 Freemans Lane, as 1881C entry for Stephen, Catherine & Elizabeth. Why he chose to get married as Joseph Lyons is a complete mystery! But he does go on to call his third son Michael Joseph in 1887. No baptism La Salette & not in St. Georges
1884. Son John born . Sep 1884 St. Olave 1d 201 . No baptism found in Our Salette & not in St. Georges
1887. Another son Michael Joseph born. Jun 1887 Lyons Michael Joseph St. Olave 1d 231. No baptism found in Our Salette & not in St. Georges. Need to ask Dockhead for these 3 1882-7 baptisms in 2010
1888. His father is admitted to the St Olaves Workhouse as destitute from 15 Snowsfield. Catherine is given as of 2 Millsream Road, Dockhead & 2 sons ,also mentioned, not sure whether of same address - if so must be Michael & Stephen.
1890. He is certainly the informant, M Lyons, son, on the death cert. of his father, Stephen, who died 1/03/1890. Stephen died in the St. Olaves Infirmary, having been admitted there 17/12/1889, but is referred to as Hide Sorter of no. 3 Cross St.,St.Johns, Southwark. Michael's address is also given as 3,Cross St.; so he & his family were obviously living here in 1890. As his father had been destitute in the Workhouse in 1888, I suspect 3 Cross Street was primarily the home of Michael & his family and that father, Stephen, had just been taken in during his last year of life. But I am dubious as to whether his mother Catherine & his 2 siblings Stephen & Elizabeth were also with them- they might have been in Millstream Road: see Catherine page. There are 2 Cross Streets in 1891C, the houses in one, next to Swan Mead, being uninhabited[=slums in 1890?], the other having house names, which sound too posh although tradesmen, but not labourers, are living there.
At 12, Curlew St, Horsleydown, in 2 rooms, Michael Lyon 29, waterman, Mary Ann 29, Mary Ann 11, Stephen 9, John 6, Michael 3, all born St.Johns. 3 other families in the house.
Mary Ann 7/3/1880, Jun St.Olave,1d.206 [have baptism]: Stephen Patrick 10/3/1882 Jun 1882 St.Olave 1d.200 [have b.c]: John Sep 1884 St. Olave 1d 201: Michael Joseph Jun 1887 St.Olave 1d.231. In the Electoral Roll Book for 1891, he is not given at 12 Curlew Street, so maybe only moved in there just before the April Census[ X104/360 & 361 are the LMA fiches with this on] .
1892. His mother, Catherine Lyons, is admitted to St. Olaves Infirmary 4/3/1892 and there till 30/5/1892, reason given as 'own request'. On 10/8/1892 she is admitted to St. Olaves Workhouse, reason given as 'sons neglect', sons being listed as Michael of 12 Curlew St. and Timothy & Stephen of unknown address. She is discharged from there on 18/8/1892. Then on 22/8/1892 she is admitted to St.Peters House, Lambeth, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. She lives there for 10 years until her death in 1902. He appears to be the son who has most kept in contact with his parents c1888-1892[ although his brother Stephen is living with widowed mother Catherine in 1891C] and would appear to be desperately poor himself, having just the 2 rooms for his family of 6.
1892 ,1894 Listed in Rotherhithe Electoral Roll[ St.John Horsleydown, p.74] books as having 2 rooms unfurnished on the second floor of 12 Curlew St., rent given as 4/6d per week in 1892 book . Also found him there in 1901-2, 1907-8 books, but not listed 1911-12 & 1912-13. Did not look at other years - August 2010.
Michael Lyons [mistranscribed as LYNS] 39 Lighterman barge, Mary 39, Mary 21 bookfolder binder, Stephen 19 lighterman barge, John 16 tea packer grocer, Michael 13 errand boy port, still living[ as in 1891] at 12 Curlew Street, still just 2 rooms, Bermondsey[ near river, to east of Tower Bridge Road].
1903. Purchased the d.c of a Michael Lyons, 43, but it is not our Michael[but that of Michael married to Ellen and living in Gilhams Court]
1911C..Michael Lyons, 50 ,born 1861 Bermondsey, Lighterman, living in 1 room [ so still very poor] at 12 Curlew Street, St. Olave, together with Mary Ann Lyons ,50, born 1861, Bermondsey, married 30 years, 4 children, 1 died: could have been any of 3 other than Stephen Patrick. Searched deaths 1901-1911 & Michael Joseph Lyons died 'Jun' 1905, 1d.80 , St.Olave Bermondsey, aged 18. . . Nobody else in his household, but his married daughter, Mary Ann Coakley , is living in 3 rooms in the same house with her husband & 3 children, plus another family in 2 rooms. Curiously he is not listed in Curlew St. in the 1911-12 Electoral roll book!.
In Rotherhithe Electoral Roll books[in Southwark Archives but also on fiche in LMA] Michael is listed at 12 Curlew Street from 1892 - the earliest book found - until 1907-8 when J. Cokeley, his son-in-law, also appears . In 1911-12, 1912-13 books Michael is not listed, just J.Cokeley, but then he reappears in the 1913-14 & 1914-15 books as a lodger in 2 rooms, one on first floor, one on the 2nd, both unfurnished. In 1918 book I think [notes messy! and now unfindable!!] he is still listed, for the last time, with Jeremiah Cokeley & his wife Mary Ann Cokeley, but in Spring 1919[probably - notes messy] until Spring 1922 probably there is also a Mary Ann Lyons listed, who must be Mary Ann nee Dillon, inferring that her husband Michael is dead and she still has her own room in the house with her daughter & son-in-law. In Autumn 1922 she ceases to be listed there. Now found death of Michael Lyons, aged 54, Dec 1915 St.Olave[county London!] 1d.239.
Can not find a suitable death for Mary Ann Lyons[Dillon]. Maybe Dec 1920 LYONS Mary A 57 Camberwell 1d 585 - age is almost correct, she would have been 59. But this does not tie up with her being in Curlew St. up till Spring 1922, which would suggest a 1922 death or entry into a carehome/workhouse??. Could she have moved away from London to live with one of her surviving 2 sons?. Likely to be confusion between her born ~1861 and Stephen's widow, same name, born ~1863.- the 1920 Camberwell death age agrees for Stephen's widow .
CHILDREN of MICHAEL LYONS,1861-1921
1. Mary Ann 1880- 19xx?. She was still alive, 21, single, a bookbinder folder in 1901. And still alive in1911, married -proof from a 1912 birth- [ not in protestant baptism records! ] in Dec 1901,1d.549, St Olave Bermondsey, to Jeremiah Cokeley. In 1911C, living in 3 rooms at 12 Curlew Street [same house as her parents: another family Langhelt of 4 in the same house in 2 rooms] in St Olave, Jeremiah Coakley, 36, leather warehouseman, Mary Ann 31, bookfolder, John 8, Helen Agnes 6, Bernard Jeremiah 2. The latter was born Dec 1908. Kathleen M Cokeley, mother Lyons, was born Jun 1912 and seems to have been their last child[ & Mary Ann does not seem to have died 1912-1915] . Think surname was spelt Coakley just in 1911C. ?. Jeremiah Cokeley , 26 in 1901C, was a general labourer. She and her husband are in Rotherhithe Electoral Roll books up till Autumn 1922 and I did not look further on - August 2010. Oct 2009: none of these Cokeleys on Genes Reunited. Death of Mary Ann Cokeley , husband or fate of any of her children?
2. Stephen Patrick 1882-1953. It is thought that he was friendly with his cousin,William John Lyons 1880, my grandfather, meeting for drinks in the pub, 1914-1930 say. He was also very fond of Opera and used to take my aunt Hilda,1910, to the Old Vic, say 1924-30. Think he was known as Stevie.Marriages Mar 1905 LYONS Stephen Patrick St. Olave 1d 276 [not in protestant records!]. This is probably to a Mary Regan , known as Polly[info.from Hilda 2009]. Marriage not in St.Georges, nor La Salette. Try Dockhead 2010.
1911C. Stephen Lyons, 29, Lighterman, b.Horsleydown, Mary, 29, b. Bermondsey, married 6 years, 4 children, 1 died, Stephen 4, Mary 2 & James 1mth, all b.Bermondsey. They were living in 3 rooms at 56, Gainsford Street, St. Olave Bermondsey, London S.E. Have not looked this address up in Electoral Roll Books. The dead child must have been Lilian Margaret 1905, born just after the marriage - interstingly called Lilian Margaret Lyons, as this was the name of this Stephen's cousin, born the same year, 1882, as he was but who died in 1883!. Need to search Electoral Roll Books for Gainsford Street
Tree for Stephen Patrick, his wife and 8 children 1906-1923, is at bottom of tree at top of page . None of these children baptised at St.Georges nor in La Salette..
Birth Lilian Margaret.1905. Died the next quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Births Sep 1906 Lyons Stephen James St. Olave 1d 159 . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Births Sep 1908 Lyons Mary St. Olave 1d 227 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . Births Jun 1911
Lyons James M St. Olave 1d 170 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Births Dec 1913 Lyons Hannah . Regan St.Olave 1d 330
Births Jun 1915 Lyons Elizabeth S. Regan St.Olave 1d 367
Births Sep 1919 Lyons Terence P. Regan Wandsworth 1d 1117 He does not belong
in this family: parents were Maurice & Maude[nee O'Farrell, widow of James
Regan]
Births Dec 1920 Lyons Michael . Regan St Olave 1d 252 . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Births Mar 1923 Lyons Ellen . Regan St.Olave 1d 250
I do not know whether Stephen Patrick served in WW1. I would have thought he must have done: and ,to add substance to this thought,there is a gap in the births of children between 1915-1920. Looking up Military Records on Ancestry, there are 14 entries, several of them for the same person. http://search.ancestry.co.uk/ . I can rule out all except 4, and, of those, 3 of them received the 1914/15 Star, for which one would have had to enlist as soon as war broke out, or already have been in the Army or Territorials. He could have been one of the latter, but, if not, was unlikely to have joined up immediately with 4 young children. So, if he did not join up until 1916, he might have been a RE, a Spr, WR/314011/281430 who did not get the star.
It is thought that at least 2 of these sons worked for the Hudson Bay Fur Company[ with which William John, as a fur trader, did business], and that they in fact emigrated to Montreal . But Ancestry's Canadian Immigration records seem to cover up to 1935, and no luck! Children of some of these might be alive today,2009. have had contact with HBC archives and they have no trace of a Stephen James nor a James M.
A Stephen J. Lyons-1906? married Ada B Kenealy [Ada Beatrice Kinealy b.Mar 1908 1d173 St Olaves ] in Mar 1928, , and another one[ or the same?- no, no death of an Ada Lyons 1928-1933] married Ellen Birkby in Dec 1933 both in St.Olave. A Stephen was born to the first in Jun 1928 1d 163 St.Olaves Kenealey and died the next quarter, but the latter had Ramon M in Dec 1934 & Kevin D Sep 1941 Surrey Mid E. I feel the 1928 marriage is he. There are no more births to this couple ,so feel they must indeed have emigrated. And no likely death of a Stephen Lyons born 1906 in England [death in 1974 Newton Abbott gives a 1904 birth and there is another Stephen James born 1904!]
A James Michael Lyons born 26 feb 1911 did die in Brighton in 1987, but there was another James M reg in Jun 1911 in Bethnal Green, so this could be either[ unless we determined the birth date of our one! - London births on Ancestry end in 1906!] .
3. John 1884 Search for a John 1884 marrying threw up too many possibilities! Alive, aged 16, teapacker grocer, in 1901C. And still alive in 1911C['cos mother only has 1 dead child and have proved that was his brother, Michael Joseph], married for 5 mths, aged 26, lighterman, Cathrine 25, also b.Bermondsey, no children, living at 49 Queen Elizabeth Street in 2 rooms. So, he married a Catherine Mahoney, registered Mar 1911, St.Olave, 1d 255. They probably had the following children: John P.Lyons Jun 1912, Marie C. Lyons Dec 1915, Julia Lyons Dec 1917, Helen Lyons Jun 1920, Josephine Lyons Mar 1924 & Mary T Lyons Jun 1926, all reg. in St. Olaves. He is seemingly the informant on the d.c. of his aunt, Elizabeth Amos[Lyons] 1864-1940, of Rouel Street, on 8/10/1940, and he was then living at 19 Jamaice Road SE 16. - both addresses still right in Rotherhithe/Bermondsey.
4. Michael Joseph 1887-1905
Alive, aged 14, as errand boy port in 1901.
Died 'Jun' 1905, 1d.80, St.Olave Bermondsey, aged 18.
Below is now all rubbish, but have left it here in case any of their descendants ever contact me!
{Marriage in Mar 1911 of Lyons Michael J Toxteth P 8b 280 to Blackhall Bridget .And, 1911C, Michael Joseph Lyons, 24, years married 0, Dock Labourer, b. T.P., Liverpool!![ so have I got the correct Michael Joseph??], Bridget, 23, daut.!?, 1 child, 1 alive, b.T.P., Liverpool, and Lilian Josephine Lyons 1, daut., b.T.P. . Lilian Josephine Blackhall had been born 1909, so she obviously took the Lyons name when her mother married Michael.. The whole entry is very odd: Michael Joseph obviously had difficulty filling it up!, and there are several crossings out. Sep 2009 I have just found that another Michael Joseph existed, actually born in Liverpool : Lyons Michael Joseph Liverpool 8b 6l Jun 1887.
Mar 1912 Lyons Mary . Blackhall Toxteth P. 8b 259
Sep 1918 Lyons Bridget . Blackhall Toxteth P. 8b 201
Dec 1924 Lyons Michael . Blackhall Liverpool 8b 254
Mar 1927 Lyons George . Blackhall Liverpool 8b 311 I
found a match on Genes for George 1927 and Kellie Swinnerton confirmed that
he was her Maternal grandfather[agreeing that he had parents Michael & Bridget
Blackhall], but has since refused to reply!! Very weird. George 1927 married
Teresa Rice Mar 1949, Liverpool S. 10d.1065. They had Maria 1950 ,who married
John Swinnerton Dec 1970 Liverpool 10d.564. They had Kellie 1971, who married
a Mahon.
Searched for all the rest too on Genes Reunited,
Jan 2009, with no matches,and have now put them on my Genes tree for future
researchers to find me. No matches on Ancestry trees. NEED to REMOVE all this
from Genes & Ancestry!!!}