Alice McDonough, nee Tierney (1889-1967)
Langley Moor woman widowed during the war
Alice Tiernan (or sometimes Tierney) was born in Langley Moor to James Tiernan, originally from Ireland, and Bridget (nee Kelly). According to the 1911 census, James and Bridget’s 34-year marriage had produced 11 children, nine of whom were still living.
Alice married Robert Wilson in January 1911 at Langley Moor Roman Catholic Church. Later that year they had their first child, Phyllis-Annie, followed by Robert (1913) and James (1915). In June 1916, the first of two tragedies struck. Phyllis-Annie, Alice and Robert’s four-year-old daughter, died. It seems that Robert was allowed compassionate leave from the Durham Light Infantry as his name appears on Phyllis-Annie’s death certificate as being present at her death. Not quite a year later, Robert was also dead. (Scroll down to “Related to this story” to find links to the pages of Robert Wilson and his brother, Albert.)
After the war, Alice remarried in the same church that she had married Robert. She went on to have five more children with Peter McDonough, including Phyllis Ann in 1922. Although she started a new life, she kept the cards and pictures that Robert had sent her until she died in Coventry in 1967. The most human and touching of which has to be the “After the match” postcard. On the back of this card Robert wrote to Alice “Ask Phyllis if she can spot her daddy.”
Civil Parish: Framwellgate Moor
Birth date: 1889
Death date: 1967
Armed force/civilian: Civilian
Residence: Langley Moor (birthplace)
49 Princes Street, Littleburn (1901 census)
Old Pit, Framwellgate Moor (1911 census)
Religion: Roman Catholic
Employment: Seamstress (family information)
Family: Parents: James Tiernan, Bridget Tiernan nee Kelly
Siblings: Patrick Tiernan, Mary Tiernan, Michael Tiernan, William Tiernan, James Tiernan, Thomas Tiernan, Kate Tiernan (1901 census)
Husband: 1) Robert Wilson, married 21 January 1911
2) Peter McDonough, married 15 November 1919
Children (with Robert Wilson): Phyllis-Annie Wilson (1911), Robert Wilson (1913), James Wilson (1915)
(With Peter McDonough): Peter McDonough (1920), Phyllis Ann McDonough (1922), Nora and Mary McDonough (1923 – twins, Mary died in early infancy), Thomas McDonough (1927)
Gender: Female
Contributed by Dr. Donough Wilson
