Brook Street, Coleraine, 1911

For general interest, I thought I’d take a closer look at some residents of Brook Street in the 1911 Census. The picture above is dated circa 1912. 

ONSI Historical Fourth Edition Map 1905-1957.
​Brook Street can be seen running up the middle of this map of Coleraine.

House 1 Brook Street

Here we can see two widowers, Jane McMullan, 78 (circa 1833) and Margaret Blaney, 65 (circa 1846), noted as a seamstress. They could possibly be sisters?
​Margaret Blaney had been married for 35 years (circa 1876) and had 2 children with 2 living. 

Jane McMullan had been married for 41 years (circa 1870) and had 2 children of which 1 was still living. A marriage for a Jane Thompson to John McMullan is found registered in Coleraine on the 27th April 1869, Jane would have been about 36 years old.
​Jane McMullan passed on the 15th February 1913 in Brook Street of old age, aged 80.

House 2 Brook Street

​Here we have the McLean family. Father Thomas, born in Co. Antrim, 67 (circa 1844), works in the Corn Mill. He has been married to Catherine, 72 (circa 1839) for 46 years (circa 1865) and they have had 8 children with 7 living. Two of their children live with them. John, 29 (circa 1882), a shoemaker and Lizzie, 25 (circa 1886), a laundry worker, both unmarried. Two grandchildren are there on census day, they might live there or may just be visiting. Sarah Rankin, 13 (circa 1898) and Catherine McFadden, 10 (circa 1901), born in Scotland.

​Eliza Reid McClean (Lizzie) was born in Lisnagalt, Ballyrashane on the 16th January 1883 to Thomas McClean and Catherine McClean nee Donaghy.

House 3 Brook Street

​Here we have an elderly couple, John and Eliza McAfee. John is 85 (circa 1826), a Bootmaker. Eliza is 73 (circa 1838). They have been married for 48 years (circa 1863) and have had 7 children with 6 living.

​Eliza McAfee passes on the 5th September 1914 at the age of 76 (circa 1838) at Brook Street with son David McAfee present at death.

​John McAfee passes on the 3rd January 1920 at the age of 84 (circa 1836) at Brook Street with son Thomas present at death. 

House and Building Return Form
​

​Brook Street consisted of mainly 2nd and 3rd class Private dwellings but the Street included a Gospel Hall and a shop.

​Most of the houses had 2 rooms and 2 windows.

House 4 Brook Street

​The Higgins family reside at number 4. William, 42 (circa 1869), a Plasterer and his wife Rose, 40 (circa 1871). They have been married for 8 years (circa 1903) and have 3 children with all 3 living with them. Maria, 7 (circa 1904), Jack, 5 (circa 1906) and Jennie, 3 (circa 1908). 

House 5 Brook Street

​House 5 sees Mother and daughter, both called Jeannie. Jeannie Snr is 51 (circa 1860), a Tailoress, widowed. Daughter Jeannie is 19 (circa 1892), an office girl. Jeannie Snr states she has two children with two living.

​A marriage is found for James Montgomery to Jane Wallace on the 14th April 1884. James is described as a Clerk, Jane a Milliner. 

​Daughter Jane is born on the 26th August 1892.

​Sadly, James passes later the same year on the 24th November. Cause of death states Delirium. He passed in the workhouse, probably a hospital ward. An inquest was held on the 25th November.

House 6 Brook Street

​Martha M Hamill, 49 (circa 1862) and her four children, Mary, 16 (circa 1895), Annie, 15 (circa 1896), Samuel, 12 (circa 1899) and James, 11 (circa 1900) live in house 6. Martha is noted as married so her husband is alive, just not present at home on the day of the census. Martha has been married for 16 years (circa 1895), has four children with four living.

​A marriage is found between Robert Hamill, a blacksmith aged 21 (circa 1872) and Martha Morgan on the 29th December 1893.

​Their four children’s births are then found. This is a prime example of taking the ages on a census with a pinch of salt.
Mary Jane Burns Hamill was born on the 14th October 1894.

​Nancy aka Annie Hamill was born on the 12th July 1896.

​Samuel James Hamill was born on the 7th March 1898.

​James Hamill was born on the 7th July 1899. 

Occupations, Ages, Religion, Where Born

I have made a list of each households occupations, ages, religion and where they were born. There are a wide and varied range of occupations from a Message Boy to a retired Civil Bill Officer. Ages range from newborn babies to 90. A complete mixture of religions but mainly Presbyterian and Church of Ireland. Residents were mainly born in Counties Antrim and L'Derry. Follow this link to look up the meanings of some old occupations 'Old Occupations'

​Seamstress
78, 65
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry, Co. Antrim

Corn Millworker, Shoe Maker, Laundry Work
72, 67, 29, 25, 13, 10
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry, Co. Antrim, Scotland

Boot Maker
85, 73
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry

Plasterer
42, 40, 7, 5, 3
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry

Tailoress, Office Girl
51, 19
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Shirt Maker
49, 19, 15, 12, 11
Presbyterian
Co. Antrim

Painter, Gardener, Dressmaker
72, 72, 34, 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
Presbyterian, Church of Ireland, Methodist
Co. L’Derry

Jobbing Smith, Smiths apprentice, Message boy
54, 42, 21, 19, 14, 13, 8
Presbyterian, Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Coal Merchant and Carter
34, 34, 7, 5, 3, 0
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry, Co. Antrim

Car driver, Painter, Grocer labourer, Assistant on oil tank
54, 51, 28, 19, 15, 14, 5, 3
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry, Co. Antrim

​Retired Laundress, Tar Lady
85, 69
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Tailor
62, 20
Roman Catholic
Co. Tyrone, Co. Antrim

Labourer
45, 42, 9
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Labourer in Stone Quarry
74, 24
Church of Ireland
Co. Antrim, Co. L’Derry

Housekeeper, Domestic Cook Servant
72, 40
Roman Catholic
Co. L’Derry

Boot and Shoe Maker, Housekeeper
40, 38, 13, 12, 10, 6, 4, 1
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Carpenter, Grocer’s Assistant, Dressmaker
90, 68, 55, 48, 22, 20, 15, 13, 9
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry

Railway Porter
27, 23, 2, 0
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry

Tailor, Labourer in a Foundry
61, 23, 21, 0
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Shoemaker
35, 31, 7, 5, 1
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry

Butcher
37, 28, 2
Roman Catholic
Co. L’Derry, Co. Armagh

Plumber
25, 23, 2, 0
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Sanitary Engineer
23, 21, 3, 0
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry, Scotland

Carpenter
34, 31, 8, 3, 2, 1
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

General Labourer, Domestic Service, Spinner
40, 29, 28, 15, 0
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Linen Weaver
33, 22
Salvationist
Co. L’Derry

Mason Labourer, Hair Dresser, Engine Driver, Weaver
50, 45, 23, 21, 18, 16, 12, 9
Church of Ireland
Co. L’Derry

Blacksmith, Domestic duties, Painter, Shirt maker
58, 35, 18, 16, 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 1
Presbyterian
Co. L’Derry, Co. Tyrone