Searching for O'Pray of Whitehaven, Cumberland

[winterblues]

Hi, I have just joined the site, I have been doing my tree off and on for 10 years. My paternal grandfather James O'Pray died as a result of burns he received from an explosion in the William Pit disaster June 1941, Whitehaven, Cumberland UK, he was 38 and left my grandmother Ellen (Stainton) and 7 children.

James's father William my great grandfather was also killed in May 1910 in the Wellington Pit disaster, Whitehaven, Cumberland UK, he was 35 and left his wife Mary Jane (Rooney) & 4 children and was pregnant with a 5th.


I can't seem to find a birth for William to find out his father/mothers names or whether he was born in Cumberland or anywhere in the UK or even Ireland ?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated ?

 

[leefer]

Hi and welcome....even by the standards of mining at the time this pit must have the worse safety record ever
At least three major explosions....shocking.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/ancestorsearchresults.asp?standardize=N&last_name=Opray

This link may help but be patient as i am sure you will get some answers from the forum members in time.

There are plenty of O Prays in the sections for the early 1800s

All the best..Lee

 

[winterblues]

Thank you for your welcome and your reply,

Over the years I keep looking and getting no where

Its not a common name so I thought it would be easier.....

My maternal side of the family is Murphy orignating from co. Louth Ireland (Bridget & Bernard) have done some work on that, but thats for another time :biggrin:

Thanks again Lee

 

[davelambert271]

Hi

welcome

to the forum

As you have said, William was not on the 1911 census. He was on the 1901 census aged 29 born Whitehaven.
I can only find one william in 1891 and he is aged 23, BUT he was born in Co Down, Ireland. I cannot find him in 1881.

If he was from Down, let's hope our Irish members will be able to help.

dave

 

[winterblues]

Hi Dave,

Yes, its strange that it says he was born in UK on 1901 census but cant find him in 1891, 1881 census. Over the years people have contacted me to ask if the O'Prays in my family are related to them but I can honestly say I can't say. I remember asking about other O'Pray's killed in the same disasters and was told that they were relatives but how they were related I again don't know. It must have been a very very tough life for all the familys, we are so lucky these days

Kath

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

There is this William Henry Oprey - Birth date 22 Aug 1869 - Place Killyleagh, Co.Down - Father Hugh Oprey - Mother Sarah Peden.

 

[winterblues]

Thank you for your interest in trying to help me

Ive been looking and I have found this one:

william O'Pray born 20th feb 1872 in campsie, sterlingshire , father John O'Pray and mother Eliza Mcgibbony

how do i find out if this is the one ?

Thanks again

 

[juliejtp]

Hi,

William and Mary Janes marriage certificate will give the father name and occupation.

 

[gortonboy]

marriage reference

Name:O'PRAY, William

Registration district:Whitehaven

County Cumberland

Year 1900

Quarter Apr-May-Jun

Volume no:10B
Page no:1229



ROONEY, Mary Jane

 

[winterblues]

Thank you for all your help, will let you know how i get on, i am sure i will be back for some help :biggrin:

Kath

 

[leefer]

http://4wardnotback.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/mining-toil-without-tribute.html

Hi Kath....i like storys like this....sad as it is.

This link shows that your William and a John Lucas tried to escape and actually chalked on a door a message

Good luck with it.

 

[winterblues]

Hi Lee,

It is a very interesting story and shows the sorrow that the familys must have gone through.....

My dad used to talk to me about it when I was younger, all the familys that lost loved ones were given a tissue hankerchief with all the details on by the royal family, I remember seeing it many times although now I believe it has been lost.

For it to happen again to one of his sons years later must have been terrible, the people then were so strong with everything they had to endure.

Thanks again for all your help

 

[caerfai]

Hi, Am searching for a Shelia Opray who eventually married a Vicars.
can anyone help please? thank you.

 

[leefer]

Did have a look with no luck.....very common name in Australia it seems.

Hope someone can help you.

 

[davelambert271]

there are two births recorded in Whitehaven with initial S
Elizabeth S a/j 1962, Cockermouth, mother Woolaghan and Sheila o/d 1931 Whitehaven, mother Opray

and, there are two marriages Elizabeth S j/m 1984 to Stephen M Craig and Mary S j/m 1955 to William Lodge.

Is Mary S, actually Sheila who would appear to have been illegit

dave

 

[caerfai]

Thank you David-sorry for the delay-I have had real problems trying to log in-maybe because I have not been on for a while. i have ordered the marriage cerrtificate of Mary Shelia and William Lodge to try and get the father as I am sure they are related to the Oprays in the mining disasters.
I am really stuck at this point!

 

[caerfai]

Just to clarify mary Shelia married William Lodge not Vicars as i said previously. They ended up in Barnsley.

 

[winterblues]

Hi Caerfai,

I am very sorry but I do not have a Sheila in my tree, lots of O'Prays all orginating from Whitehaven but no Sheila, I also got your message from Ancestry but thought I would answer on here instead.

Do you know the names of any of Sheila's siblings ?

Why do you think she is related to O'Prays of mining in Whitehaven ?

I do know that all the O'Pray's that were involved in the mining disaster were related, cousins etc.

Let me know if I can help in any other way ?

Kath