The Foxes of Tyrone

c 1840        In Crockdunn - the family farm

                   A family of Fox  lived in this area - about a mile from Mullanmore -                   PETER FOX- the father of Patrick Fox and Annie Fox - and at least                   two other brothers - PATRICK FOX and JAMES FOX who later                   were allowed to share the family farm  between them - presumably                   because they  were the oldest.

This farm still exists - owned by the McRory family - 4th generation                    descendants of Patrick and James Fox.

Mullanmore

A small farm  about a mile away was bought for Peter in Mullanmore                    where he later lived with his new wife

C 1860     ELIZABETH McKENNA

The marriage of Peter Fox to Elizabeth ( Bella ) McKenna was obviously prior to  1864the  date of the compulsory establishment of registration records - and " early church records -of baptisms betwen 1847 and 1880 have been lost " ..Fr McGrath ..Carrickmore Oct '96

Their children  were  Mary , Patrick,  Annie , Bridget , Michael,Alice, Catherine, and Bella - many of them born in Mullanmore  we presume.Patrick - the father of Jim Fox  of Barley Hill - told Jim that he lived there for  about eleven  years -attending school in Carrickmore

This farm has since disappeared - but has been pointed out to Jim Fox

Perhaps records still exist of the children's attendance at school in Carrickmore.

1873

About this time Peter Fox bought the farm in Barley Hill  but continued to live in Mullanmore until about 1878 when he eventually sold  the farm in Mullanmore.

If we assume that Mary was the eldest child and that Patrick was born c 1866 then  the family must have lived in Mullanmore for about 13 years.

1878                      To Barley Hill

The  family move to Barley Hill - Patrick  Fox switching schools at this point - to attend Innishtrask school - presumably Annie switched also.

In the valuation of tenements list - appendix 1 of " Out of the Embers "- A      History of Creggan and its Peoples - Pete Fox appears to own the property in 1885 - 1896, and a Peter McGurk before that from 1860 - 1884.


From 1897 - 1929 , Patrick Fox is listed as the owner .

1885                The Search for work -  Grangetown  England

According to the electoral records - Peter Fox is listed as  occupying the house in 39 Bessemer St Grangetown  at this time from 1885 - 1891 and  Patrick Fox  in 1892  - although a Patrick Fox is listed as living in 11 Laing St in 1884 - the year before Peter Fox - his father?- comes over.Patrick Fox would be 18 in 1884 - Did he prepare the way for his father by arriving first ? The same year 1885 a John O' Neill is listed as occupier of 33 Bessemer St- two doors away from the Fox house- looked after by Peter's daughter Annie Fox -whilst the men go to work.  Soon after....

          1887                      Marriage of John O'Neill & Annie Fox

          Oct 29th               John O'Neill - father John *( deceased ) of 15 Laing St ** married

          Annie Fox    - father Peter - of 39 Bessemer St Grangetown in

          St Mary's RC Chapel Grangetown

                   Witnesses - Thomas Flanagan and Annie Tierney

It  has always been claimed  by Eileen Rooney - formerly O'Neill -that John O'Neill  was in fact - illegitimate - born to an umarried mother called Margaret O'Neill of Carrickmacross -so the father's name here is probably an invention - to  eliminate any embarrassment .

*The address of 15 Laing St - given by  John - is strange - considering the fact that  I had always assumed that the John  O' Neill  in 33 Bessemer St  was the same as the one who married Annie Fox and most likely was - so why  did he supply this address to the registrar ?  Was it because he was really living there at that time and  the John O' Neill in 33 Bessemer St  was a different  John O'Neill -or was it because it  was really the place where his mother Margaret was living with a family of Gribbin - the records show a Patrick Griffins living there  in 1887- but  the later census of 1891 show a Patrick Gribbin  and his family - thus suggesting an error in the compilation of electoral register records - as was not uncommon in certain cases - George Gainford is written as Bainford in one register. So  was he using this address for his mother's sake as a gesture perhaps - to those who had helped him in the past - remember his first child is called Patrick - not John - after Patrick Gribbin perhaps. However the records do not show the presence of a Margaret O'Neill  in 15 Laing St  in 1891 which would have proved the connection between  the families beyond doubt - so we must  search for more proof . 

1888          Birth of Patrick O'Neill - 5 Bessemer St ( Granda)

Nov 10      Birth of Patrick O'Neill son of John O'Neill -Steelworks Labourer and

                   Annie O'Neill - formerly Fox - 5 Bessemer St Grangetown

1889

Jan 3                     registered  birth  of  Patrick by Annie O'Neill  -mother -

         J E Brentnall Registrar

1891

Feb 18                   Birth of Mary Ann O'Neill - did not survive the year

           daughter of John O'Neill and Annie [Fox]

Feb 22                   Baptised St Mary's by JJ Nolan

Godparents - Edward Stinson and Bridget Fox    

Edward Stinson appears to be the brother of  Mrs Gribbin - see census records

another strong link with the Gribbin family and probably a friend of John O' Neill?               

1891                  Census records  of 39 Bessemer St Grangetown

Patrick  Fox           Head    24     s      Gen Labourer             Ireland

Bridget Fox           sister    18     s      Domestic Servant                             "

Patrick McKenna   lodger  47     s      Gen Labourer                                  "

James Darrock      lodger  21     s              "                                          "

Michael Darrock       "       21      s              "                                          "

Census Records for 56 Calthorpe St Middlesbrough

John O'Neill          Head     27    m   Ironworker - Puddler               Ireland

Anne O'Neill         Wife      24    m                                                     Ireland

Patrick   "              Son        2                                            Yrks-Grangetown

Sometime during the year the family move house to -17 LAWSON ST MBRO

Dec 27                         Birth of Margaret O'Neill - 17 Lawson St  Middlesbrough

1892

Feb 15th                       registered birth of Margaret  by father John O'Neill

Mar 24th                     Annie Fox  aged 28 dies in 17 Lawson St - of Pneumonia

One can only imagine the reaction of  Annie's relatives at her sudden death- her husband  left with a baby  three months old and toddler aged  3;  her father Peter  in  Grangetown; her  younger sister Bridget  who had probably replaced  her in 39 Bessemer St . Someone had to look after them - anda man needed to earn his living  - This is obviously the time when  John's mother -Margaret came on the scene-to take them to Barley Hill - according to Eileen - Annie's old home in Ireland - with  grandmother Bella -grieving for her daughter Annie and waiting to see her grandaughter  for the first time - Was this the time that Bridget  decided to go back -to help with her niece and nephew ?

Someone had to go with Margaret  [ Gran O'Neill ] - although no mention of  Grannie O'Neill was ever made  by Patrick Fox to his son Jim - and he only recalls the boy Patrick 0'Neill - not a Margaret - child or adult. However Eileen insists that she was there in Barley Hill - where  tea - a rare and rather expensive commodity at the time - was especially  obtained for  her.

Patrick O'Neill - grandson of Peter Fox and Bella was definitely there and probably went to schoolin Innishtrask - so records of his attendance should be available between the years 1895 -98 aged 6 to 9 yrs . He returned to  England  - " ran away " some say - about 12 yrs old - ready to work for Bolckow & Vaughan in Grangetown's thriving  steelworks  - with his uncles - Michael Fox and Edmund Purcell -  and lived with his gran  (Margaret  O'Neill ) in Multy Sullivan's back bedroom  until his marriage in 1908.

 

1901:                Census Barley Hill Sultan

Farm contains     Peter Fox    Head

           Bella Fox    Wife

           Patrick  "     Son

           Bridget  "     Dau

This confirms the  fact that  Peter Fox , Patrick Fox and Bridget Fox returned to the family home from Bessemer St  Grangetown - where they left behind Michael Fox -who married Bridget Purcell, Bella Fox- who married  Edmund Purcell - and, for a time - Alice Fox who married  Frank Donaghy.

            THE PURCELL CONNECTION

1888

Dec 5                      Birth of  James Keating

            son of Patrick Keating and Catherine [ Purcell ]

Dec 15                   Baptised by J J Nolan

           Godparents - James Casher  and Margaret Purcell

1890      

Sep 22                  Birth of Margaret Keating

          daughter of Patrick Keating and Catherine [ Purcell ]

Oct 4                   Baptised by J J Nolan

         Godparents - John Connelly and Anastasia Purcell

 

1894                   Birth of John Keating - probably died in infancy - see John in 1901

        son of Patrick Keating and Catherine

       Godparents - Thomas Fleming and Hana Fleming

1898        

Mar 20                   Birth of Joseph Patrick Keating - [ in 1st War ]

             son of Patrick Keating and Katherine [ Purcel ]

             Godparents - Michael Burn and Anna Burn

- probably married couple - possibly Anastasia Purcell ?

1901        

Mar 10                   Birth of  John Keating

            son of Patrick Keating and Catherine [ Purcell ]

            Godparents - Patrick McAlear and Mary McKenna

1902      

Oct 16                   Birth of Margaret Ann Purcell married Francis Loughran Jan 1922 Grangetown

           daughter of Edward  & Elizabeth Purcell - formerly Fox 

           Godparents - John Conway and Mary Ellen Twaith

1904      

July 21                   Birth of Isabella Fox of  35 Bessemer St

                              daughter of   Michael Fox and Bridget [ Purcell ]

July 30                   Baptism St Mary's Grangetown

           Godparents - Edmund Purcell and Isabella Purcell

1905

April 16            Birth of Isabella Purcell of 39 Bessemer St

      daughter of Edward Purcell and Isabella [ Fox ]

April 29            Baptised  in St Mary's

      Godparents - Michael Fox and Bridget Fox [ Purcell ]

1908            Birth of Mary Alice Purcell

daughter of Edward Purcell and Isabella [ Fox ]

Godparents - Anastasia Burns and Alice Donaghy

I can only assume that this Anastasia was a Purcell who married Michael Burns in the nineties and Alice Donaghy is  Bella's sister  - who married Frank Donaghy and later returned to Barley Hill .

July 14                   Birth of Michael James Fox -   did not survive

            son of Michael Fox and Bridget [ Purcell ]

July 15                   Baptised St Mary's

           Godparents - James McNicholas and Anna McNicholas

1909

Feb 18         Birth of James Donaghy of 45 Bessemer St

son of Francis Donaghy and Alice [ Fox ]

Baptised in St Mary's

Godparents - Peter Kirk and Margaret O' Neil

 

This Margaret O'Neill could either be young Margaret aged 17 yrs

or older Margaret aged c 61 yrs - depends on the age of Peter Kirk I suspect.

1910      

Feb 22                   Birth of  Patrick Fox - did not survive

            son of Michael Fox and Bridget [ Purcell ]

Mar 1                   Baptised St Mary's

          Godparents - Patrick Donnelly and Catherine Caster

Oct 5                   Birth of Elizabeth Purcell   married  Timothy McGarrell Scarboro' 1921

         daughter of Edward Purcell and Isabella [ Fox ]

Oct 29                 Baptised St Mary's

         Godparent - Margaret O'Neill - same theory as before re identity

Lizzie Purcell died in 1968 - gravestone in Eston near James and Winifred Fox

Husband - Tim McGarrell died aged 85 yrs.

1911                     TRAGEDY STRIKES BOTH FAMILIES

Jan 11                   MICHAEL FOX RUN OVER BY ENGINE

                         Sat. Jan 14th 1911 : Middlesbrough Weekly News

A man named Michael Fox, metal carrier of Grangetown, was run over by an engine at Messrs Bolckow Vaughan and Co's Cleveland Steelworks on Wednesday. As a result, one hand and one foot were completely severed and he also received severe injuries to the head. He was conveyed to the Eston Hospital.

Sat. Jan 21st 1911 : Middlesbrough Weekly News

An inquest was opened and adjourned at the Eston Hospital on Tuesday, on Michael Fox of Grangetown. He was badly crushed with an engine and succumbed to his injuries after being removed to hospital.

                  Sat. Jan 28th 1911 : Middlesbrough Weekly News

                 An inquest was held at the Eston Hospital on Tuesday on Michael Fox of Bessemer St Grangetown, who was injured by an engine at Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co's Works and a verdict of accidental death was returned. The deceased was a metal carrier and while taking a short cut, was knocked down by an engine.

Jan 14                                          Death of Michael Fox aged 39 yrs

Gravestone Inscription in Cemetery

MICHAEL

The Beloved Husband of

BRIDGET FOX

WHO DIED JAN. 14th 1911

Aged 39 years

-----

also JAMES, PATRICK & EDWARD

the beloved children of the above

who died in infancy

-----

ALSO EDWARD PURCELL

Brother-in-Law of the Above

WHO DIED MARCH 2ND 1911

Aged 32 years

-------

ON WHOSE SOULS SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY

R.I.P

Feb 26        Birth of Edward Fox - died after 6 days

son of Michael Fox and Bridget [ Purcell ]

Baptised 'in domo baptizatus ob puria mortus' Feb 26 1911

Mar 2         DEATH OF EDWARD PURCELL aged 32 yrs

Husband of Bella Fox

Brother of Bridget Fox nee Purcell

Brother in Law of Michael Fox

Mar 4        Death of baby Edward Fox.- obviously named after her brother

The mystery of why Edward Purcell died so soon after Michael Fox was explained to me by Jim Fox of Barley Hill - as being his direct reaction to the death of a best friend and brother-in law - who just  " went downhill "as a result of the death.

We must assume that Edward developed severe depression - not only because hehad lost his best friend but perhaps from the trauma of seeing the accident occur.

This was an incredibly tragic time for Bella Fox and her sister-in- law Bridget, who both lost their husbands and brothers within six weeks - and Bridget also lost her baby son Edward.

One can only imagine both families' grief at this time - a pity that Bridget's last child could not have survived to console her for the loss of her husband Michael - but it appears that none of their earlier children survived either - Isabella 1904, Michael 1908 or Patrick in 1910.

Bella was more fortunate to have Margaret born in 1902 who later married Frank Loughran in 1922 and Lizzie who married Tim McGarrell in 1931.

She later married a man called Healy and continued to live in Bessemer St - and even returned to the family farm in Ireland for a visit in the thirties - with Our dad.

She was an opera singer -so it is claimed by Mary Parks nee O'Neill - and appeared all over the country in her hey day - so it would be interesting to have some sort of record of this- or even a picture or programme - Is this where Fiona's voice comes from ?

As far as Bridget Fox formerly Purcell goes - there appears to be no further information. She had now lost everything close to her - her husband, her brother and her baby boy -It would be hardly surprising if she also died in tragic circumstances ...But she appears to have survived long enough to ensure the erection of a beautiful and costly headstone for her husband, brother and her children. She did have sisters nearby - namely Anastasia who had married Michael Burns and Catherine, wife of Patrick Keating - so did she live with them as a young widow - or was this gravestone a final grand gesture before  returning  to Ireland in search of peace she had never had ?