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An impossible one, I think. After all the help everyone gave me to my first query I thought I would push my luck and ask another one. This is what got the family interested in the first place.
My maternal grandfather was adopted, either officially or not, took the name Shiel and all we had were rumors and a CWS pension card with his name as 'McELROY known as SHIEL, GEORGE WILLIAM SHIEL BEST'. There were 2 stories that were handed down. His family emigrated and couldn't find the fare for the youngest so had him adopted. One of his sisters entered a Covent. We found the first part of the puzzle on the 1881 census.
George Shiel, head, 1846, coal miner
Alice. H.V. Shiel, wife, 1846, dressmaker
Emma A. Shiel, daughter, 1869
Katherine McElroy,border, 1855, shopkeeper
George W.S. McElroy, border 1881
7 Cowan Road, Gateshead. Next door, 9 Cowan Road there lived
James McElroy, head, 1852, Glassmaker (Found he was a brother)
Catherine McElroy, wife, 1853
John Macintire, border, Labourer.
Alice Shiel registered the birth and gave the name of a William Henry Best as the father but this was crossed out with a note on the side of the cert. So we knew where all the names came from. Katherine's father was Denis McElroy, born abt 1825, from Ireland, who ended his days in Gateshead Union Workhouse. I can trace Katherie's 3 brothers so they didn't emigrate. Possibly William Henry Best left the country but I can't find him. Assuming there is some truth in all stories, could Katherine McElroy, after giving away an illegitamate child, have entered a Convent. As all nun's changed their names is there anyway I could trace her as she disapears off the radar after 1881? Any ideas welcome, Thanks to all.

Yes, it's not just a brick wall, it's a mountain range.

Georgius Gulielmus Shiel Best Mcelroy
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

birth: 02 Feb 1881
residence: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England
parents: Gulielmi Best Mcelroy, Catherinæ Mcelroy

record title: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name: Georgius Gulielmus Shiel Best Mcelroy
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 23 Mar 1881
baptism/christening place: St Joseph, Gateshead, Durham, England
birth date: 02 Feb 1881
father's name: Gulielmi Best Mcelroy
mother's name: Catherinæ Mcelroy
indexing project (batch) number: C04207-3
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 2046499


Geo W S Mc Elroy
England and Wales Census, 1881

birth: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England
residence: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England
census: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Geo W S Mc Elroy
age: 0
gender: Male
birth year: 1881
birthplace: Gateshead, Durham, England
relationship to head of household: Boarder
marital condition: Single
address: 7 Cowen St
census place: Gateshead, Durham, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1342213
the national archives reference: RG11
piece/folio: 5032 / 71
page number: 17

1881 census for reference -
SHIEL, George Head Married M 35 1846 Coal Miner
Longhoughton Northumberland
SHIEL, Alice H V Wife Married F 35 1846 Dress Maker
Newcastle Northumberland
SHIEL, Emma A Daughter Single F 12 1869
Newcastle Northumberland
MC ELROY, Katherine Boarder Single F 26 1855 Shopkeeper Newcastle Northumberland
MC ELROY, Geo W S Boarder Single M 0 1881
Gateshead Durham

RG number: RG11 Piece: 5032 Folio: 71 Page: 17
Registration District: Gateshead Sub District: Gateshead Enumeration District: Ecclesiastical Parish:
Civil Parish: Gateshead Municipal Borough:
Address: 7, Cowen St, Gateshead County: Durham

George SHIEL Head M Male 35 Longhoughton, Northumberland, England Coal Miner
Alice H.V. SHIEL Wife M Female 35 Newcastle Dress Maker
Emma A. SHIEL Daur U Female 12 Newcastle
Katherine MC ELROY Boarder U Female 26 Newcastle Shopkeeper
Geo.W.S. MC ELROY Boarder U Male 2 m Gateshead


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Source Information:
Dwelling 7 Cowen St
Census Place Gateshead, Durham, England
Family History Library Film 1342213
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 5032 / 71
Page Number 17


1881

Emma A Shiel
England and Wales Census, 1881

birth: 1869 —Newcastle, Northumberland, England
residence: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England
census: 1881 —Gateshead, Durham, England
parents: George Shiel, Alice H V Shiel

record title: England and Wales Census, 1881
name: Emma A Shiel
age: 12
gender: Female
birth year: 1869
birthplace: Newcastle, Northumberland, England
relationship to head of household: Daughter
marital condition: Single
address: 7 Cowen St
census place: Gateshead, Durham, England
record type: Household
family history library film: 1342213
the national archives reference: RG11
piece/folio: 5032 / 71
page number: 17

1861 census??

MC ROY, Dennis Head Married M 33 1828 Labourer
Ireland
MC ROY, Catherine Wife Married F 30 1831
Ireland [
MC ROY, James Son Unmarried M 10 1851 Employed In Glass Man Scotland
MC ROY, Mary A Daughter F 7 1854 Scotland
MC ROY, Catherine Daughter F 5 1856
Heworth Durham
MC ROY, John Son M 3 1858
Heworth Durham
MC ROY, Joseph Son M 0 (11M) 1861
Heworth Durham

RG number: RG09 Piece: 3797 Folio: 15 Page: 23
Registration District: Gateshead Sub District: 1 Heworth Enumeration District: 1 Ecclesiastical Parish: St Albans
Civil Parish: Heworth Municipal Borough:
Address: Carr Hill, Heworth County: Durham

Catherine Mcleroy

England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975


residence: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
parents: Denis Mcleroy, Catherine Beaty

record title: England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
name: Catherine Mcleroy
gender: Female
baptism/christening date: 03 Feb 1856
baptism/christening place: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
father's name: Denis Mcleroy
mother's name: Catherine Beaty
indexing project (batch) number: I03079-4
system origin: England-EASy
source film number: 1936956

Thanks to everyone, especially confirming the mother of Katherine as I hadn't found a definate record. Also another daughter I had missed as I'd found an 1871 census but not the 1861. I'll be able to take this lead further but I think George William Shiel's mother, Katherine, will remain a mystery. Appreciate all your help and enthusiasm. :-)

Alan...Can you direct me to your thread with previous info.
I am finding it difficult to follow exactly which McElroy /McLeroy /Multiple variations...
1871....
eg...The Family of James b Scotland 1856....

1871 Census
6 Records found


Piece: RG10/5061 Place: Gateshead -Co. Durham Enumeration District: 38
Civil Parish: Gateshead Ecclesiastical Parish: St Johns
Folio: 74 Page: 29 Schedule: 163
Address: Deckhan Place



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Surname First name(s) Rel Status Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
MCELROY Dennis Head W M 46 Fireman Ireland - -
MCELROY James Son U M 20 Glass Maker Scotland - -
MCELROY John Son - M 13 Co. Durham - Carrs Hill
MCELROY Joseph Son - M 8 Co. Durham - Carrs Hill
MCELROY Catherine Dau U F 15 Teacher Co. Durham - Carrs Hill
BEATTY Bridget Ma-Law W F 63 Domestic Ireland - -

Bridget is the mother of Catherine Beattie....Cath and Dennis above married in Glasgow 7 Feb 1848.

Catherine b Carrs Hill was "Baptised" at St Marys Ncle

John and Joseph (b Carrs Hill) are living in Southey St. Gateshead and Brid. Beatty (g.mother) is with them.(1881)

Sorry for delay in getting back. Am a relative newcomer to this so hope this is relevant.
First def. clue to my grandfather was the 1881 census which shows him as an infant with his mother, Katherine McElroy (correct spelling). She was a boarder with the couple who adopted him and gave him his surname.
George SHIEL Head M Male 35 Longhoughton, Northumberland, England Coal Miner
Alice H.V. SHIEL Wife M Female 35 Newcastle Dress Maker
Emma A. SHIEL Daur U Female 12 Newcastle
Katherine MC ELROY Boarder U Female 26 Newcastle Shopkeeper
Geo.W.S. MC ELROY Boarder U Male 2 m Gateshead (my gfather)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Information:
Dwelling 7 Cowen St
Census Place Gateshead, Durham, England
Family History Library Film 1342213
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 5032 / 71
Page Number 17
1881
At 9 Cowan St. there was a brother
James McElroy, head, 1852, Glassmaker
Catherine McElroy, wife, 1853
John Macintire, border, Labourer.
Armed with James and Katherine (brother and sister) it ties in with the 1861 census
MC ROY, Dennis Head Married M 33 1828 Labourer Ireland
MC ROY, Catherine Wife Married F 30 1831 Ireland
MC ROY, James Son Unmarried M 10 1851 Employed In Glass Man. Scotland
MC ROY, Mary A Daughter F 7 1854 Scotland
MC ROY, Catherine Daughter F 5 1856 Heworth Durham
MC ROY, John Son M 3 1858 Heworth Durham
MC ROY, Joseph Son M 0 (11M) 1861 Heworth Durham

RG number: RG09 Piece: 3797 Folio: 15 Page: 23
Registration District: Gateshead Sub District: 1 Heworth Enumeration District: 1 Ecclesiastical Parish: St Albans
Civil Parish: Heworth Municipal Borough:
Address: Carr Hill, Heworth County: Durham

It appears that the eldest son, James, was working in the glass industry at 10yrs old and was still there as an adult.
I know there are many forms of McElroy but Dennis came over from Ireland at about the time of the potato famine and would have had a strong Irish accent not understood by Geordie enumerators. He went first to Glasgow, then after the birth of James came to Gateshead, where their other children were born.
Dennis died in Gateshead Union Workhouse but it appears there two Dennis McElroys. One was born 1827, 64, retired general labourer, widowed and from Ireland. the other was born1821, 70, retired general labourer, widowed, came from Ireland but was blind (1891 census)However, there was another Denis McElroy in the Gateshead area who was born in 1828 and died in 1893, not in the workhouse.

On George William Shiels birth certificate, registerd by Alice Shiel, the mother was down as Katherine Gonzales McElroy. I haven't got a clue where the Gonzales came from!

Sorry, I've been rambling a bit, I even get myself confused! I doubt this makes anything clearer but thanks for taking an interest.

Alan...How certain are you that "Katherine" was the sister of James... other than he was b. Scotland and the info. for him (1881) corresponds with previous Census?
It may have been pure coincedence that he lived next door to the Shiels/McElroy.
There are a couple of things I would question relative to his being Bro.of Katherine.

"Katherine" is down as being b Ncle.
James sister Cath.was b Carr's Hill although she was Baptised Ncle.
Cath (1871) was shown to be aged 15 and a Teacher..there is a Cath McIlroy as a lodger living in Tanfield ..Cert. Teacher..age is a little out at 21 but a possibility that is actually James sister....birth place G.Head.

Who was the "other sister" you identified on the 1871 Census ?
How did you identify Dennis 'death in the W.House as being "your Dennis"...do you have the death cert....?