Birth

The 1939 Register records John Griffin's birth date as the 23 January 1878. This was not his birth surname and it is more likely he was born in 1879. The 1901 Census records his age as 21 years old and his place of birth as Ireland. The 1911 census records his age as 32 years old and his place of birth as Dungarvan, Waterford. The 1901 census was taken on 31 March 1901, this would put his birth in 1880. The 1911 census was taken 2 April 1911, this would put his birth in 1879.

There is a birth record within the Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 that records a John Twohill, Date of Registration: 1879 Jan-Feb-Mar, Registration district: Dungarvan, Birth Country: Ireland, Volume: 4, Page: 720, FHL Film Number: 101056

It is probable that John was born 23 January 1879.

John Griffin's surname was orignally Twohill (Tuohil) then O'Toole and finally Griffin which was his mother's maiden name.

John Griffin's Ancestors

The 1901 census records his mother as Catherine O'Toole who is married but the husband is not recorded. The census was taken on the 31 March 1901. How do I know this is the correct record for John Griffin? I had my DNA tested at Ancestry and the results showed that I had a number of DNA matches with people surnamed "Towle" living in the USA. In correspondance with Paula Glynn Smith it became self evident that we share great great grandparents (William Towle/Touhil 1818 -1871 and Catherine Foley 1823 - 1876). William and Catherine had several children but I would like to mention two:

John Touhil my maternal great grandfather (1849 - 1919) married Kate Griffin (1854 - 1928). His birth record refers to him as Joannes Towel and his father listed as Michael Towel and mother is Catharina Foley.

Michael Towle Paula's great grandfather (1859 - 1943) married Mary Ann O'Brien (1868 - 1940). Michael moved to the USA in 1881 from Ireland.

John Griffin's mother was Kate Griffin (Kate is a nickname for Catherine) and his father was John Tuohil. They married in 1877 at Dungaravan, Ireland ( Source Information Ancestry.com. Ireland, Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1845-1958 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: “Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes 1845–1958,” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah. General Register Office, Republic of Ireland. "Quarterly Returns of Marriages in Ireland with Index to Marriages.". Volume: 4 Page number: 597 FHL Film Number: 101253)

I have not found any evidence that John Touhil left Ireland but there is evidence that his wife and children moved to Wales before 1901.

Marriage

John was married in 1918 to Elizabeth Hannah McCarthy nee Davidge at Bedwellty, Monmouthsire, South Wales. John was 39 years single and Elizabeth was a 29 year old widow. Elizabeth's first husband was Eugene McCarthy killed in action WW1.

Elizabeth had seven children with her first husband. Six children from her first marriage were alive when she married John Griffin. Elizabeth (my Nana known as Hannah) and John (my grandad) had eight children together (Margaret b. jan 1919 d. Jan 1919, Uncle Johnny b. 6 Oct 1919 d. 11 Dec 2009, My mum b. 9 Sep 1920 d. 22 Jun 1994 and named after John's mother, Mary b. Apr 1922 d. Jan 1938 who my mum spoke about dying as a young girl, Auntie Josephine b. 1924 d. , Uncle Laurence b. 12 May 1926 d. Dec 1997, Auntie Bridie b. 14 Jul 1929 d. Jun 2002 and Auntie Thersea b. Jan 1934 d. ). In total my grandmother Elizabeth Hannah had 15 children.

Census 1901

The 1901 census was a household census taken on the night of Sunday 31 March 1901. The 1901 census records that John Griffin is living at, Ecclesiastical parish St John, 222 Gellifaelog, in the town of Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales.

The number of rooms is listed as three with twelve people sharing all from Ireland. Seven of these are the O'Toole family and the other five are listed as borders. Catherine O'Toole is listed as 46 years, Wife in relation to Head of Family; the Head being John Touhil ( AKA O'Toole) 1849-1919 who was not present in the house the night of the census. Her son William is listed as 22 years and recorded as feeble-minded. Her son John (grandfather) is recorded as a 21 year old steel worker. Her son Thomas is recorded as a 18 year old steel worker. Catherine is recorded as having two daughters, Mary age 16 years and Bridget age 14 years both not listed as working. Lastly, her son Maurice is listed as 9 years old and my mother often spoke to me about Uncle Maurice being a man of the road.

Probably John and his brother Thomas were working at the steel works at Dowlais. Steel production at Dowlais eventually ceased in 1936 due to the Great Depression.

Census 1911

The 1911 census was a household census taken on the night of Sunday 2nd April 1911. The 1911 census records that John O'Toole was living at 40 Lower High Street, Dowlais, Glamorganshire. This is a village near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. The house had 3 rooms which includes the kitchen.

Catherine O'Toole is listed as Head of the family, age 57 years and married. There were 9 children born alive with 5 still living and 4 who had died. Given that in 1901 there were 6 children recorded then either William, Thomas or Mary had died by 1911. There is a record of death for William O'Toole age 23 years registered at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, United Kingdom. The death was in Sep 1901 and register reference is VOLUME: 11a, PAGE: 432

Her son John (grand father) was recorded as 32 years old, single, a gas stoker and his birthplace is listed as Waterford (resident Dungarvan). Her son Maurice was was recorded as 20 years old, single, a Platelayer in the Ironworks industry and the same birthplace as his mother and siblings. Her daughter Brigid was recorded as 25 years old, single and no occupation recorded.

This would imply that John's siblings Thomas and Mary had started their own families. A story for another day perhaps.

In 1911 Ireland was considered part of the British Empire.

Probably John and his brother Maurice were working at the steel works at Dowlais. Steel production at Dowlais eventually ceased in 1936 due to the Great Depression.

Census 1921

The 1921 census was a household census taken on the night of 19th June 1921. I was unable to find a census record for John, at this time he was married to my grandmother Elizabeth Hannah McCarthy nee Davidge. However, there is a record for his mother and brother as shown above. His mother is recorded as Catherine O'Toole and was known as Kate, recorded on the person making the return.

1939 Register

The 1939 register is a snapshot of the civilian population of England and Wales just after the outbreak of the Second World War. The record shows that John Griffin was living at 63 Mayfield Road, Northfleet, Kent. He was was born 23 Jan 1878 (1879 perhaps) and his occupation was a Cokeoven Worker. All the names on this record I knew as my uncles/aunts and mother. His eldest child is John Griffin (my uncle), born 6 October 1919; occupation is a Cutter Assistant at the paper mills. The paper mills were the Imperial Paper Mills that opened in 1911 and my father worked there from the 1960s till the mid 1970s.

Death

John died 18 May 1956.

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