James McGee was born at 39 Chatham Street, Manchester [or more likely Lower Chatham Street] on March 2, 1879 to Margaret Hyslop (1858 - 1891) and Thomas McGee (1846 - 1916). [See Section MG-6-1 for family background.]
Maria Shanks was born in India on May 30, 1875 to Rose Hagan (c1851 - ????) and Richard Shanks (c1837 - 1899). [See Section SH-6-1 for family background.]
1903 On Thursday, December 3 James McGee and Maria Shanks were married at St. Aloysius Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Catholics, by Certificate. The marriage was registered No.131 in the District of Chorlton in the Counties of Manchester and Lancaster.
James was a Bachelor, age 24, occupation Calico Engraver and residence at the time of marriage, 26 Frances Street, [Ardwick,] Chorlton upon Medlock. His father is recorded as Thomas McGee, Calico Engraver.
[In the census of 1901, 26 Frances Street is unoccupied, but James's uncle William Hyslop and family were living at 24.]
Maria was a Spinster, gave her age as 28, no occupation recorded, and residence 13 Mawson Street [also in Ardwick]. Chorlton upon Medlock. Her father is recorded as Richard Shanks (deceased), Night Watchman.
[In census returns, she is recorded as a dressmaker.]
The celebrant was Frederick Barton, Priest and the witnesses were Joseph Martin and Mary Driscoll, neither of whom has yet appeared in any other connection with this family.
James and Maria had the following children —
| Margaret | born in 1904, married George Ellison in 1933 and died in 1997. |
| Richard | born in 1906, married Eva Gilpin in 1934 and died in 1976. |
| Evelyn | born in 1908 and died in 1909. |
| John | born in 1910, married Sarah Coleman in 1938 and died in 1989. |
| William | born in 1912, married Kathleen Murphy in 193x and died in 1994. |
| Hilda | born in 1914, married George Shaw in 1938 and died in 1999. |
| Thomas | born in 1915, never married and died in 1990. |
| Rosa | born in 1917, married William Reynolds in 1945 and died in 1992. |
1904 On Saturday, August 27, Margaret Mary was born. Her birth was registered in the District of Chorlton (later Manchester South) which includes the sub-district of Ardwick. (The GRO reference is 1904 Q3 Chorlton 8c page 854 (or 834).)
She married George, son of Lily and Percival Brough Ellison, on May 27, 1933 (GRO ref. 1933 Manchester S 8d page 501) and they lived at 15 Bikerdyke Avenue, Longsight. They had no children.
George died on Sunday, June 10, 1956, aged 52 (GRO ref. 1956 Q2 Manchester 10E page 187) and was cremated at Manchester Crematorium on the 14th. Margaret died on Monday, January 20, 1997, aged 92 (GRO ref. 1997 Jan Stockport 0131B, B70A page 091) and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 28th.
1906 On Tuesday, February 6, Richard (Ritchie) was born. His birth was registered in the District of Chorlton (GRO ref. 1906 Q1 Chorlton 8c page 828).
He married Eva Gilpin on December 6, 1934 (GRO ref. 1934 Q4 Manchester S 8d page 340) and they had a daughter Sylvia in 1944.
Ritchie died on March 28, 1976, aged 70 (GRO ref. 1976 Q1 Stockport 39 page 1523) and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on April 1. Eva died on Saturday, February 5, 2000 and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 11th.
James and Marie with Margaret and Ritchie
1908 Evelyn McGee was born on Tuesday, November 17 at 25 Old Elm Street, Ardwick to Maria McGee formerly Shanks and James McGee, Engraver to Calico Printers. Her birth was registered No.208 in the Sub-district of Ardwick in the District of Chorlton in the Counties of Manchester & Lancaster on December 22 by J. McGee, Father.
Sadly, she lived less than a year.
1909 Evelyn McGee, daughter of James McGee, Engraver for Calico Printers died on Monday, October 4 at 25 Old Elm Street, Ardwick, age 10 months, of Broncho Pneumomia, Cardiac Syncope as certified by K.W. Jones, MB. Her death was registered No.385 at Ardwick the following day by James McGee, Father, In Attendance.
1910 On Sunday, March 13, John (Jack) was born. His birth was registered in the District of Chorlton (GRO ref. 1910 Q2 Chorlton 8c 742).
He married Sarah (Peggy) Colman on June 18, 1938 (GRO ref. 1938 Q2 Manchester S 8d page 426) and they had a daughter Monica in 1953.
John died on July 9, 1989, aged 79 (GRO ref. 1989 July Stockport 39 page 1007) and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 14th.
1911 April 2 The family were still living at 25 Old Elm Street, Ardwick, Manchester.
James and Marie had been married for 7 years and produced 4 children of whom 3 were still living, the exception being Evelyn.
1912 On Saturday, February 24, William (Bill) was born.
He married Kath Murphy (date unknown) and they had children Kevin (1941 - 2016), Pauline (1946 - 2008), David (Dave) (now in New Zealand) and Robert (1955 - 1992). Kath died on December 28, 1978 in Southport. Bill died on May 4, 1994, aged 82 in Manchester and was cremated at Manchester Crematorium on the 11th.
1914 On Tuesday, April 17, Hilda was born. She married George Shaw (born September 9, 1909) on December 7, 1938 and they lived at 8 Kent Road, Denton. They had no children. George died on January 7, 1996, aged 86, and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 15th. Hilda died on November 1, 1999, aged 85 and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 12th.
1915 On Wednesday, October 20, Thomas (Tom) was born. He never married but lived with Margaret. He died on April 2, 1990, aged 74 and was cremated at Stockport Crematorium on the 9th.
1917 On Monday, October 22, Rosa was born at 25 Old Elm Street, Ardwick. The birth was registered No.80 at the Registration District of Chorlton, Sub-district of Ardwick in the County of Manchester C.B. on November 29 by Marie McGee, Mother.
This information is on a Certified Copy of the entry in the Register Book of Births No.16a issued on December 23, 1925.
1918 Maria McGee, of 25 Old Elm Street, Ardwick, wife of James McGee, a Calico Printers Engraver, died in the Royal Infirmary on Wednesday, February 13, aged 42, of (1) Acute Broncho Pneumonia (2) Intestinal obstruction, as certified by John Gow, F.R.C.S. Her death was registered No.478 in the Registration District of Chorlton, Sub-district of Chorlton upon Medlock in the County of Manchester C.B. on the following day by James McGee, Widower of deceased, Present at death.
Shortly after her mother's death, Rosa was sent north for a while. It was intended that she would stay with her father's cousin, Catherine Colvin and her husband James McIlhatton. However, she arrived shortly before the Glasgow Fair and Catherine and James had already made arrangements for their holiday which did not include a small child so Rosa was transferred temporarily to Catherine's sister Sarah and her husband William Rogan in Causewayside Street, Tollcross. The Rogans had several grown-up children in the house who made much of the baby.
The McIlhattons returned and reclaimed Rosa. After about a week, Mrs McIlhatton reappeared at Rogan's with Rosa on one arm, Rosa's belongings in a bag on the other arm and an air of being dog-tired. She dumped the baby on the bed, the bag on the floor and said "Keep her. None of us have had a decent sleep since we took her". And the Rogans were delighted.
After Marie's death, James took up with a widow woman Mrs Kelly, and may have married her. (Aunts Peggy and Eva disagreed on this.) Marie's children did not take to her and always referred to her as Mother Kelly. James split his time between two households, one with Mother Kelly (and her son Eric) and one with the children. Ritchie more or less moved out to stay with his aunt Frances Shanks (nee Howard) and her daughter. Finally, as the other children married, Hilda moved in with Margaret and George Ellison from which home she married in 1938.
Eric Kelly became a Funeral Director and had a son, Michael in the late 1940s.
1944 James McGee died on Wednesday, December 20, aged 65, at 29 Bankfield Avenue, Longsight, his home with Mother Kelly. The cause of death was Haemochromatosis, certified by C.A.Travers, M.B. His death was registered No.46 at the Registration District of Manchester, Sub-district of Manchester Eastern in the County Borough of Manchester on the following day by M. Ellison, Daughter, Present at the death, 15 Bickerdyke Avenue, Manchester 12.
1945 On October 6, Rosa married William Reynolds (born August 22, 1918) at St. Joseph's, Tollcross, Lanarkshire. They had children Mary (1947 - 2007), John (1948), Paul (1952) and Vincent (1953 - 1960). [See Section RS-8-1a for further information.]
Rel. Age Mar. Occupation Status Birthplace James McGee Head 32 Married Engraver, Calico Printing Worker Manchester, Lancs. Marie McGee Wife 34 Married [7-4-3] India Margaret McGee Daughter 6 — Manchester, Lancs.
Richard McGee Son 5 — Manchester, Lancs. John McGee Son 1 — Thomas McGee Father 65 Widower Engraver, Calico Printing Worker Glasgow