When Irish Ancestors Are Calling - Part 1

Since March is the month of all things Irish. I thought it would be fun to look at my Irish ancestry line, starting with my nearest Irish ancestor.

My family tree - the yellow blocks are my Irish ancestors.

My 2nd great-grandmother,

Sophia Isabella Mary Stritch (Hutton)

was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1848.

She is the mother of:

my great-grandfather,

Geoffrey Stritch Hutton 

who was born in Bedford, England in 1889.

He married: my great-grandmother,

Phyllis Eline Cooper (Hutton)

who was born in the Cape Colony in 1894.

They had a daughter: my grandmother,

Aileen Phyllis Hutton (Ferns)

who was born in Messina, S. Africa in 1919.

She is the mother of my mother,

Elizabeth Ann Ferns (McNicol)

who was born in Joburg, S. Africa in 1940.

I am her daughter,

Amanda Mathilda Aileen McNicol (Erasmus)

born in Joburg, S. Africa in 1967.

The relationship line from me to Sophia.

Some interesting facts: 

Both Sophia and Phyllis died in 1921. 

Geoffrey lost both his mother and wife in the space of 3 months.

Phyllis died, just 1 day before her 27th birthday, of the Spanish Influenza. 

Aileen was just 20 months old at the time. 

She was sent to live with Hutton family members in England 

and returned to South Africa shortly before her 6th birthday. 

There is much more to learn and write about. 

I look forward to it! 

It's strange how our ancestry can sometimes call us "home." 

My 1st cousin Judith Ferns (Varley), born in South Africa, lives in County Mayo, Ireland. 

The same place Sophia married and lived with her husband Charles Wollaston Hutton. 

I am so grateful to Sophia, this strong Irish ancestor! 

Because of her, I am.

The gravestone of my 2nd great-grandmother, Sophia Isabella Mary Stritch (Hutton) who was buried in St Hilary's Churchyard, Spridlington, Lincolnshire, England. 1921.
 (Photo: Charles J. Anderson, Find A Grave Index)

 The Church of the Holy Trinity, King Williams Town, Cape Province, where my great-grandmother Phyllis Eline Cooper (Hutton) was baptized in 1894 when she was 1 month old. The Church still stands today and is operational as the Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
(Picture courtesy of their FB page)

Interior View: The Church of the Holy Trinity, King Williams Town, Cape Province where Phyllis was baptized in 1894. Interestingly the Church was designed by architect Sophy Gray and built by William Cooper. Phyliss was a Cooper and has Gray family members! I wonder if they are related.
 (Picture courtesy of their FB page)