Kay_C

Hi Lorna, i hope you are well. I have sent you a message about Thomas Kay (on the private message function) I don’t know if you look at that so thought I would post here too. Many thanks Clare

Just to update. I think I have found his birth...

Thank you so much for looking into this Pennine. I have been assuming her surname is Kay but they may have had different surnames? Two birth entries with surname Kelly is interesting.. I have just found a Mary Jane Kelly living in Hulme as a lodger in the 1891 census. Employed as a dressmaker. I am hoping her marriage certificate gives me more information...

Hi Lorna, This is fantastic, I never expected that a living person would have recollection of Thomas. Would that make Lily also first cousin to Thomas Hodson Kay? What was Lily’s mums name (if you don’t mind me asking). I mentioned previously that George Perrott noted himself as brother in law to Thomas Kay in the war records. On further research I found that George’s brother John James (who also died during WW1 in 1915) was married to a Mary Jane. I am waiting on their marriage certificate. On one of her children’s births it says her maiden name is Kelly. I’m hoping it’s a transcription error. Your cousins information gives me hope that she is the possible sister. It looks like Mary Jane also died in December 1916. I still can’t find a birth entry for Thomas or Mary Jane. I am going to have a look into the children’s home at Sandbach. Thanks again! Clare

Thank you JP, I agree this looks like a strong possibility. I am so grateful! I’ll have another look at birth entries and see if I can find him and look at records of the people who were living with him. Thanks again!

Thanks Lorna. Are the results of your project on display at the Canal Museum? I plan on researching the Hodson line at some point, I can see from ancestry that a few people are descended from this line and have done their research to Theobald and Jinks.

Thank you so much for replying JP thats interesting about Lucy Kay, yes please let me know if you learn more. I am finding Thomas Kay to be very elusive. He was born in Middlesex around 1888 (October 1888 according to his service record). He notes his occupation as boatman. He notes that he has no family on his service record! His next of kin was given as George Perrott another boatman. George Perrott claimed his possessions and medals in 1919 and said he was his brother in law. I can not find any connection to George Perrott though. It looks like Elizabeth Hodson (now Barlow as she married Hugh Barlow another boatman in 1910) tried to make a claim to the war office on behalf of her son. He first appears in the 1901 census at Wheelock wharf (age 14/15) working as a servant in a Drapers shop. Can’t find him on the 1911 census then he signs up in 1914. Address given is Arthur Street, Ancoats. He doesn’t appear on the war memorials in any of the locations he lived. I am not sure as yet how I will find his parents and I’m not entirely sure he come from a boating family. I have thought he may have come into boating when he worked at Wheelock Wharf. I also thought that his match with Elizabeth Hodson may not have been approved because of this. But im just speculating! Sorry to waffle on! I really appreciate your reply!

Hi Lorna, i am researching my husbands gg grandfather Thomas Kay. He was a canal boatman and died during WW1 (14th July 1916 at Flanders). He worked the canals at Wheelock, Cheshire and later Salford, Manchester. He had my husbands great grandfather Thomas Hodson Kay with my husbands great grandmother Elizabeth Hodson. They were not married but I believe she came from a large canal boating family. I understand Thomas Kay was from London but I know nothing of his life prior to him living in Wheelock, Cheshire in 1901. Im looking to learn more about his boating life. I was told about your project and I’m interested to find out more. my husbands grandfather (another Thomas Kay) was the last of the family to be born on a barge. Hi Lorna, i am researching my husbands gg grandfather Thomas Kay. He was a canal boatman and died during WW1 (14th July 1916 at Flanders). He worked the canals at Wheelock, Cheshire and later Salford, Manchester. He had my husbands great grandfather Thomas Hodson Kay with my husbands great grandmother Elizabeth Hodson. They were not married but I believe she came from a large canal boating family. I understand Thomas Kay was from London but I know nothing of his life prior to him living in Wheelock, Cheshire in 1901. Im looking to learn more about his boating life. I was told about your project and I’m interested to find out more. my husbands grandfather (another Thomas Kay) was the last of the family to be born on a barge. Hi Lorna, i am researching my husbands gg grandfather Thomas Kay. He was a canal boatman and died during WW1 (14th July 1916 at Flanders). He worked the canals at Wheelock, Cheshire and later Salford, Manchester. He had my husbands great grandfather Thomas Hodson Kay with my husbands great grandmother Elizabeth Hodson. They were not married but I believe she came from a large canal boating family. I understand Thomas Kay was from London but I know nothing of his life prior to him living in Wheelock, Cheshire in 1901. Im looking to learn more about his boating life. I was told about your project and I’m interested to find out more. my husbands grandfather (another Thomas Kay) was the last of the family to be born on a barge.