Irish Census of 1911 -James Connolly

[pastradamus]

I've just been looking through some old archives and discovered James Connollys Census of 1911.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000119513/

Two things are of note here.

1: Connolly states he's from the Irish County of Monaghan and not Scotland
2: Connolly also states that he has a disibility

My Question to people here is what was this disability as it is difficult to read.

[PRC-UTE]

Weird... is that where the myth that he was from Ireland originated?

And are you sure it's the very same JC?

[ComradeOm]

Good find pastradamus. I can't make out the disability unfortunately. As for Monaghan, it may just be where his family was from


And are you sure it's the very same JC?Has to be. The age and the wife's name (and religion) are the same

Edit: I can't quite make out his profession either - National Organiser Socialist... Something?

[pastradamus]

Weird... is that where the myth that he was from Ireland originated?

And are you sure it's the very same JC?

Yes

The National Archivists and the Central Statistic's office confirmed it.

[Magdalen]

I've just been looking through some old archives and discovered James Connollys Census of 1911.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000119513/

Two things are of note here.

1: Connolly states he's from the Irish County of Monaghan and not Scotland
2: Connolly also states that he has a disibility

My Question to people here is what was this disability as it is difficult to read.

The entry for Connolly's death (traced through the Mormon run FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org/) website), repeats the myth that he was born in Monaghan, the home county of his father. A few years ago, while doing work experience at my local registrar's office, I managed to track down a photocopy of the original entry for Connolly's birth in Edinburgh in 1868. Unfortunately, you have to pay to access these copies online.

[pastradamus]

Here's Eamon De Valera. Though he entered his name as "edward" de Valera.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000124143/

I Found it funny when in the area where it said "if Born in Ireland state which county or city you were born in, if elsewhere state the name of the country".......Dev writes in "New york". Says a lot about the man who ruled our country for nearly 3 decades.

[ComradeOm]

I Found it funny when in the area where it said "if Born in Ireland state which county or city you were born in, if elsewhere state the name of the country".......Dev writes in "New york". Says a lot about the man who ruled our country for nearly 3 decades.Nah, New York has its own GAA branch, it qualifies as a county ;)

[pastradamus]

A few others I found.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000081064/ - James Larkin. Note he filled the census in using the Irish Language.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000035223/ -Arthur Griffith (again In Irish)

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000031698/ - Thomas Clarke

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000133850/ - Paidraig pearse

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000044781/ - Sean O Casey

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000209724/ - WB Yeats

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000186386/ - Douglas Hyde

I couldnt get James Joyce as he was out of the country at the time. :(

[pastradamus]

The entry for Connolly's death (traced through the Mormon run FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org/) website), repeats the myth that he was born in Monaghan, the home county of his father. A few years ago, while doing work experience at my local registrar's office, I managed to track down a photocopy of the original entry for Connolly's birth in Edinburgh in 1868. Unfortunately, you have to pay to access these copies online.


James Connolly was responsible for the myth himself. He never considered himself to be scottish in the firstplace. He grew up in Cowgate in Edinburgh - an area swarming with Irish emigrants and a large Irish Community was what he was part of. So for him to say he was from Monaghan is understandable. The Myth was then propagated by people searching the archives and seeing "monaghan" as a birthplace so its a simple mistake on their part really.

I should be in Edinburgh in January, is it possible to walk in to their offices and check their archives at all do you know?

[Magdalen]

James Connolly was responsible for the myth himself. He never considered himself to be scottish in the firstplace. He grew up in Cowgate in Edinburgh - an area swarming with Irish emigrants and a large Irish Community was what he was part of. So for him to say he was from Monaghan is understandable. The Myth was then propagated by people searching the archives and seeing "monaghan" as a birthplace so its a simple mistake on their part really.

I should be in Edinburgh in January, is it possible to walk in to their offices and check their archives at all do you know?

The General Register Office is quite easy to access, it's housed in a rather grand building just off Princes Street. You don't have to give them any advanced warning, but it costs about £5 to get at the records.

Just now I'm trying to figure out where Connolly lived in Dundee between 1888 and 1890, and if the house is still standing.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Connolly also states that he has a disibility

My Question to people here is what was this disability as it is difficult to read.

He was probably just trying to get more money on the dole like any sensible person. Fuck normal JSA.

[ComradeOm]

Incidentally, that site is a good historical resource even without the census. They have some great images of the country in 1911 (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/index.html)

Good to see that they're making progress on the project anyway. I checked out those census records a few months ago and there was very little up. Still waiting for Louth though

[pastradamus]

Incidentally, that site is a good historical resource even without the census. They have some great images of the country in 1911 (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/index.html)

Good to see that they're making progress on the project anyway. I checked out those census records a few months ago and there was very little up. Still waiting for Louth though

Yeah i agree.

In about a months time they're putting up 5 more counties to the census itself. As you can imagine there's a lot of work and time put into it so its understandable that it takes a while.

I found my great grandparents on it so its good that way. Also i discovered they're the basic west cork peasent farmers and how much land and cattle they owned so its interesting enough as it is.

[Jolly Red Giant]

James Connolly was responsible for the myth himself. He never considered himself to be scottish in the firstplace. He grew up in Cowgate in Edinburgh - an area swarming with Irish emigrants and a large Irish Community was what he was part of. So for him to say he was from Monaghan is understandable. The Myth was then propagated by people searching the archives and seeing "monaghan" as a birthplace so its a simple mistake on their part really.
This is correct - Connolly's parents were from Monaghan - not surprisingly for a first generation emigrant - he would have considered himself from Monaghan.

One other thing to remember is that Connolly deserted from the British Army and may have put Monaghan on the Census form to divert possible attention from this.



My Question to people here is what was this disability as it is difficult to read.
Connolly had a very severe stammer/stutter when he spoke - this may have been what is being referred to.