Hello everyone.
I just thought it might be nice to update you regarding my previous searches, for which I got lots of help and tips here! I did finally discover that the 'mysterious Aunts' Winnie and Laura Starkey were in fact the illegitimate daughters of my Great Grandmother Jessie Heaney (strictly speaking, they were Heaney too, just like their also illegitimate brother James) I am awaiting their birth certificates, even though I'm aware they won't really tell me any more than I already know, as it seems 'Father not named' is a big feature of my family tree on this side!!
Now - I don't know if anyone can help with my next mystery. I also had another 2 Aunts and nobody left in the family can tell me who they are connected through. Aunt 1: Gladys Starkey. All I know about Gladys is that she worked for many years in a big house overlooking the Mooragh Park in Ramsey - the employer was POSSIBLY called Corlett. Aunt 2: Lily Starkey. Lily has been mentioned on here before, and I learned that she did indeed marry Geofrey Lace and moved with him out to The Lhen, having links with the cafes there, and Hillside Cottage. What I'd really like to know, is where/when they were born, and the name of ANY parent(s) - I imagine, like the rest of this side of the family, it was Maughold, but are they too going to turn out to be the illegitimate daughters of Jessie? I suspect that both were born post 1900, but can't be certain. As to Geofrey Lace, I can only find one listed in a census, and he was born in Douglas to a John and Eleanor Lace, however, I'm not entirely convinced this is the right John and Eleanor? Then, I'm told that Lily and Geofrey had a son Timothy - I can find absolutely NO trace of him anywhere! (rumblings in the family that he might have been the son of Winnie or Laura, brought up by the otherwise childless Laces) I don't see how I could order birth certs for any of these family members with the lack of dates, parents names etc., so....
Over to you guys, your wonders to perform! I would of course be grateful as always for ANY pointer you can give me. The info regarding Hillside Cottage and the cafes was wonderful. and I intend to track down a copy of Sally McCambridge's book which mentions Lily and Geof.
Regards
Maggie