Alfred and Mary Key (nee O'Brien) - Tom and Molly

The picture to the left is probably the best surviving picture of Mary Key (nee O'Brien) pictured with her seven children.

The stark black hair can be clearly seen - the hair that gives rise to the claim of Spanish ancestry - the picture, it should be noted, is taken in a photographic studio - probably in Clonmel, Co' Tipperary, c. 1916

This branch of the family has proved the most difficult to get to grips with.  Two particular problems have presented themselves - I have had no real chance to question closely anyone who had direct memories of Alfred and Mary to the detail I now realise I needed and secondly many of the records I need full access to are in Ireland.

The situation is further compounded by ongoing variations in the use of various names.

Alfred Frederick Key was born in 1878 in Boothen, Stoke-on-Trent, son of Charles and Hannah Key.  

However, for much of his life he was known as Tom and so in many records such as baptisms and the liked of his children he is recorded as Thomas.  Throughout this page I have referred to him as Tom as that appears to have been the most common name used by his friends and family

Mary O'Brien, Irish born daughter of Thomas and Mary O'Brien (nee Butler) was born c.1875 and was known as Molly.  

She was reputed, as is not uncommon in Ireland, to have had spannish ancestry and this was often cited as the reason for her pitch black hair colour.

Molly is pictured here outside of her house in Tipperary (precise location unconfirmed) c.1925.  

Tom and Molly married in St Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel on 28th November 1903.  The witnesses were John Devonshire and Mary Eagar.   Tom and Molly were to have seven children:

They lived in South View Terrace, 86 Upper Irishtown.

Tom was a driver and bombardier in the Royal Artillery in the British Army and this caused some tensions, not least with the travel around the British Islands and the world, but also with the timings - after he returned home from the First World War, not only was he coping with a form of shell shock (causing him to drink to excess) but he also faced  a much changed Ireland, undergoing radical change and engaged in the War of Independence from Britain.

At some point they appeared to seperate and Tom moved to Jackson's Cross, before moving back to Stoke-on-Trent, England, whilst Molly remained in Ireland.

I have little information about Molly at all really, but there is a surviving post card of her hand-writing send to her daughter Florrie in c.1925 when Florrie was living in St Albans.

Molly died c.1933 and is buried in Fethard, Co. Tipperary.

Alfred Frederick Key died on 19th April 1935 in 578 Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent.  He was aged 58.

The death was registered by Mrs A Key, a sister-in-law (suggesting he had a brother) who lived at 30 Lord Street, Etruria (now renamed since 1953 Etruria Road I think).