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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me track down the grave / burial or cremation details for my grandmother Mary Christina/Christine McNiff who died 15th July 1968 at 31 Mount Ararat Road in Richmond Surrey. She was working there when she died. She was originally from Ballinafad, Sligo in Ireland but had emigrated to England for work. She is not buried with her family back in Ireland. Sadly she died before I was born and my mother was adopted and only learnt of her existence after she had died. My mum is elderly now and I am trying to do this one last task and find where my biological grandmother was buried or cremated. But I don't know how to go about it? Is someone able to help advise me please? Thank you so much.

Have you tried the cemeteries in Richmond?

Cemeteries in Richmond, Greater London
7 cemeteries in Richmond, Greater London.

North Sheen Cemetery
Richmond Old Burial Ground
Richmond and East Sheen Cemeteries
Sheen Priory
St Andrew's Church
St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard
Vineyard Burial Ground


Alternatively

https://www.deceasedonline.com/

Nothing showing on Deceased online for Mary

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery-browse/England/Greater-London/London-Borough-of-Richmond-upon-Thames/Richmond?id=city_403817

Nothing showing via the above site which gives the list posted by ErikaH and is searchable by clicking on the name of each cemetery.

The list may not cover all places of burial in the area

She may have left instructions in her Will

Name Mary Christina Mcniff
Death Date 15 Jul 1968
Death Place Surrey
Probate Date 18 Apr 1969
Probate Registry London

You might find help via the local Cemeteries Office

https://www.richmond.gov.uk/services/cemeteries/contact_the_cemeteries_team

Cemeteries Department
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
2nd Floor Civic Centre
44 Richmond Road
Twickenham
TW1 3BZ

Telephone: 020 8876 4511
Email: [email protected]

As we attend each burial, and are often out of the office with families, there may be occasions when the office is not staffed. An answer phone service is available if your call cannot be answered personally. Please leave a short message giving your name, contact number and a brief description of your query, and a member of the team will get back to you.

Hi everyone thank you so much for this help. The other McNiffs are not the same family sadly - her brother Michael J McNiff died in the late 1970s. But I will check in with the cemeteries so thank you so much for this. We haven't got a copy of her will either and she was unmarried. Thank you again - really grateful to you for your help.

The one in 1939 was Mary Catherine.....I've been double-checking
Which means that the woman in question was born in 1909/10

Deaths Sep 1968 (>99%)
MCNIFF MARY C 58 RICHMOND/THS 5D 666

I've deleted all the wrong info, to avoid confusion

No record on 1911 Irish Census for Mary McNiff in Sligo

Ditto births on the Irish Genealogy website

Have also deleted the burial records and 1921 census info as not correct family

Trees on Ancestry say (without proof) that Mary's DOB was 6 Dec 1908 , at Lecarrow, Ballinafad, Sligo, Ireland.

No-one named McNiff in Ballinafad in 1901 or 1911....and no children there in 1911

Going by the trees on Ancestry - ie - claimed names and dates of parents, and POBs of children, this should be the family in 1911 - but no Mary Christina:


Michael Mc Niff
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1911
Name Michael Mc Niff
Gender Male
Age 43
Birth Year abt 1868
Birth Place C Sligo Ireland
Residence Date 2 Apr 1911
House Number 4
Townland/Street Lecarrow
District Aghanagh
County Sligo
Country Ireland
Electoral District Aghanagh
Literacy Read and write
Language Spoken English
Marital Status Married
Number of Children Born 3
Number of Children Living 3
Years Married 3
Inferred Marriage Date 1908
Occupation Farmer
Religion Roman Catholic
Relationship Head
URL
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Michael Mc Niff 43 Head
Mary Mc Niff 28 Wife [nee Kelly, per trees ]
John P Mc Niff 2 Son
Bertie Mc Niff Son [7 months ]
Mary Mc Niff 88 Widow


I suppose she could have been with Kelly grandparents or other relatives on that night.

The census record does say "3 children living".

Marriage record for Michael Mcniff and Mary Kelly
/ Sligo
Party 1 Name: Michael Mcniff
Party 2 Name: Mary Kelly - [ father Bart. Kelly <<<<<< ]
Date of Event: 06/02/1908
Group Registration ID: 1951870
SR District/Reg Area: Sligo
Image path: marriage


??
Mary C McNiff
in the Web: Ireland, Census, 1911
Name Mary C McNiff
Gender Female
Age 2
Birth Year abt 1909
Birth Place Co Sligo
Residence Date 2 Apr 1911
House Number 10
Townland/Street Cloghoge Lower
District Templevanny
County Sligo
Country Ireland
Electoral District Templevanny
Literacy Cannot read
Marital Status Single
Religion Roman Catholic
Relationship Grand Daughter (Granddaughter)
URL
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Batty Kelly 73 Head
Anne Kelly 69 Wife
Annie Kate Kelly 25 Daughter
Batty Kelly 23 Son
Mary C McNiff 2 Grand Daughter (Granddaughter)


However, if Marianne is certain Mary isn't buried with family in Ireland, all this isn't much help with her query.

Thank you for your help everyone. Yes to confirm my grandmother was Mary Christina McNiff born in Ireland in 1908 and she died in Richmond, Surrey, England in 1968.

The correct death, Kay, is the first one you posted…..of the woman who was not 65

And yes thank you so much @argyllgran - she was indeed with her grandparents on the night of the 1911 census. All confirmed by the relatives who were around at the time and documentation. You were absolutely correct!

Does anyone know how I am able to find a copy of her will / see her probate - thank you ErikaH for flagging this. I have tried through the UK government website but it says there is no record of her probate or will.

Thank you again. You've all been so helpful!

This has got me thinking. Mum's adoption files were lost. She was told that her Mum had left a letter for her and I just wonder if she left it with her will.

Thank you so much - again, I'm grateful to you for your help.

Name Mary C M McNiff
Gender Female
Marital Status Single
Birth Date 6 Sep 1909
Residence Date 1939
Address Baydon General Hospital Larden Road
Residence Place Croydon, Surrey, England
Occupation Nurses Dining Room Maid
Line Number 22
Schedule Number 1
Sub Schedule Number 22
Enumeration District Clsf
Borough Croydon
Registration District 39/3
Household Members (Name)

1939, could this be her,,,there is some added ink above her DOB,,,



Mary Christina McNiff person details
Name Mary Christina McNiff
Event Type Birth Registration
Event Date

Dec 1908

Event Place Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Event Place (Original) Boyle, Ireland
Page Number 68
Volume Number 4

Boyle is abt 15 miles from Sligo.

Richmond Cemetery in Queens Road seems to be the nearest to Mount Ararat Road.

If she was cremated there won’t be a grave - obviously - and if she was buried, it may well be unmarked

Getting in touch and asking is your best bet