Thomas was born in either Stourbridge or Kingswinford (need birth certificate to check exact address…

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Thomas was born in either Stourbridge or Kingswinford (need birth certificate to check exact address) in January 1854 and through census records is shown as living with his parents in 1861 and 1871. This is the most likely GrO index for his birth
SKELLEY, THOMAS mother's maiden name KIRGAN
GRO Reference: 1854 M Quarter in STOURBRIDGE Volume 06C Page 219, although there is also this but it is for two years earlier
SKALLEY, THOMAS KEARAGHAN
Given the variation in the spelling of his mother's maiden name, could this one be related? An older sibling that had died maybe? See spelling of Ann's name on most likely birth regustration for his sister Mary, also in Stourbridge.

He married Sarah Burk on 29th January 1877 at St Mary and St Patrick’s church in Stoke on Trent.

Thomas's daughter Elizabeth was born in 1879 at 8 Alcock's Entry, Shelton according to her birth certificate. In 1881 at the time of the census Michael and Ann Scally (almost certainly Thomas’s parents) and some of their children were living at 6 Alcock's Entry.

The 1881 census records him living with his family at 33 Hampton Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent. The house contained two families. Thomas listed his occupation as Mason's labourer. On some sources he is said to be a bricklayer's labourer. In 1881 his family comprised: wife Sarah 20 a potter's cup maker, John 3, Elizabeth 2 (both born in Hanley); Mary 8 months old, born in Manchester. (Ref RG11; Piece: 2722; Folio: 94; Page: 6)

The other family was George (28, Potter's labourer) and Hannah (28) Gillett with their two children Lucy A. H. aged 8 and Mary E. aged 3. George was born in Tewksbury, Hannah in West Bromwich, Lucy in Canton (WAL) and Mary in Hanley. RG11; Piece: 2722; Folio: 94; Page: 6;

Although on 1881 census Thomas gives his place of birth as Hanley this is not substantiated by other census entries which suggest he was born further South in Kingswinford or Stoubridge where he lived with his family; Stoke on Trent registrar has no record of Thomas’s birth and research by another of his descendants has identified his birth place as Stourbridge. It seems likely that his parents Michael and Ann travelled from Ireland to Bristol and the family gradually moved North, most likely following employment opportunities and/or other family members. See notes about his father.

1891 Thomas now aged 37 is living at 89 Union Street, Hanley with wife, Sarah aged 31 and all children from John oldest at 13 to Bernard just 2 months old. Next door at 91 are the family Birks, which is the maiden name of his wife Sarah. The Birks family comprises: Richard 62, a green grocer from Longton, his wife Ellen, 40 a dressmaker from Stoke on Trent, their son Herbert 12, a scholar and a servant Mary J Teece 24 and William H Teece 4 (possibly her son) and a number of boarders, Elizabeth Shaw 42, single, school mistress and Henry Shaw 35 (described as an idiot) and Mary R Bird, 16 a visiting dressmaker. It is possible that they are related, but no evidence yet found.

By 1901 Thomas has died, Sarah is listed as a widow. A search of the index of deaths uncovered his death certificate. He died aged 43 on December 16th 1897 in the work house although his wife Sarah who registered the death was living at 5 ??? Place, Hanley. He had been a bricklayer.

His family thought that he had lived in Manchester during the early 1900s as referred to in notes by Daniel Cooper, grandson. However it seems that must have been referring to Sarah and her second husband and that her grandchildren did not realise that her second husband was not their natural grandfather.

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170 9 126 43 Sunday, 25 January 2009 00:00
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