Help Find Michael "Mick" Callan's Mother
Michael Joseph Callan
Michael Joseph Callan was born 7 June 1941
at the Hall, London Road, Staines, Middlesex.
His mother was named Helen Callan, a domestic servant of Springfield, Green Street, Sunbury-on-Themes. He was baptized at St. Ignatius Church, Green Street, Sunbury.
Michael was admitted to Nazareth House Finchley on 15 September 1941 and transferred to Nazareth House Carlisle on 19 December 1943. He was migrated to Australia on 13 November 1947 and was placed in the care of the Christian Brothers in Western Australia. The consent for Michael’s migration was signed by Sister Mary Fidells, Mother Superior at Carlisle.
Research Summary
The only available information to commence the search for Michael’s mother was her name from his birth certificate and her address at that time. As a result, all births of Helen and Ellen Callan were researched in England and Wales from 1900 - 1926. None were found. Marriage registrar were also checked for the years 1941 - 1983. Only 3 Helen Callans married in England and Wales during this time. The latter two appeared unlikely as they were not until 1977 and 1980, well outside the area. A marriage of a Helen Callen (not Callan) in 1943 to a Mr. Stathers has now been excluded. Mrs. Stathers was interviewed by the Trust in London.
The research has widened to include all Callan entries in case Helen was a middle name. A marriage of a Nora Callan in 1943 was noted because it was in Staines. The certificate was ordered and it was found that Nora Callan lived at 6 Green Street, Sunbury, the same street as Helen Callan. In the absence of other information to lead directly to Helen Callan, the search shifted to tracing Nora Callan, given the reasonable possibility that as she lived on the same street and Callan is not a common name in England, she may be a close relative of Michael’s mother. This search was intensified and very difficult as the family had migrated from the United Kingdom. After a four year search the family was located in Canada, interviewed, and sadly excluded in 1999. Nora Callan was not related to a Helen Callan.
Electoral rolls from 1938, 1939, and 1946 were checked for Green Street Sunbury, without success; i.e. no Helen Callan recorded. Edward Callan and Rosalyn Callan were located on Green Street, and have been extensively researched and ultimately excluded as they belonged to the family in Canada.
Birth and Marriage Records in Scotland were researched and three possible Helen Callans were located in 1980, 1920, and 1926. The last is considered unlikely and the earlier two have not been located, nor members of their families.
Current electoral rolls searched through the 1990's have been carried out for Helen Callan in the event she did not marry. Three ladies of that name have been interviewed and excluded, most recently in 1998 in London.
Initial screening of births in Dublin and Belfast has not identified obvious possibilities, but further research is required.
Death records have been searched in England, Wales and Scotland from 1941 - 1990 without result. The only recorded deaths were of people too old in 1941 to have been Michael’s mother.
The lack of any information about Helen Callan other than her name and address in 1941 have made this a difficult and frustrating search.
We believe Helen Callan was a single mother. Yes I believe the migrant trust have gone through all the deaths, births and marriages in England, Scotland and some in Ireland. They turned up a Nora Callan that lived in Green St (same St as Helen) at the same time. It appears Nora didn't know Helen. We think Helen may have been sent to England to have her baby and then went home 3 months after the birth. We do not know the name of the family at Springfield Green St, Sunbury. We don't know what happened during the war or if the house is still there. No one seems to have that information, or is not willing to pass it on.
Cheryl Callan
Another photo of Mick taken about 10 years ago, He says the dog Pip is not spoiled. She was just feeling the cold!
Cheryl Callan (wife), Aaron (grandson), Mick Callan - 2000
Mick at 24
Our family from left to right. Mick (44) myself, Ken (youngest son) and Ian (oldest son ) holding his baby Aaron.
Mick at 45 with our son Ken
Mick at 54 with Grandson Aaron.