Thomas and Mary (McSherry) Devlin and Furnessia Devlin
Looking for information on Thomas Devlin born 21st July 1874 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
He married Mary McSherry on the 17th July 1896 in the RC Church, in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Thomas and Mary sailed from Glasgow, Scotland to Ellis Island, on the 2nd April 1903 and arrived at Ellis Island on the 14th April 1903. Here the story gets interesting. The ship they travelled on was the Furnessia and on the ship’s manifest there is an entry against Mary’s name which is not clear but appears to say “Died on S/S Child Birth”. The word “Died” is not clear and may say something else – if anyone can decipher please let me know. Up to now, I knew this much.
A couple of days ago doing a broader search for my Devlin’s I came across an Ellis Island entry for a Furnessia Devlin. An unusual name I thought and had a look out of curiosity. It turns out that Thomas and Mary Devlin were the parents of a child born at sea on the 9th April 1903 and they named her after the ship they were travelling on, The Furnessia. Confirmed this in the Scottish Records Office where the birth is registered. As the birth is registered in Scotland I assume they returned to Scotland. Was this because Mary did die in childbirth leaving Thomas with a daughter? I don’t know and so far can find no further records.
With an unusual name like this I am hopeful of finding more. Any information greatly appreciated.
Jim Devlin
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