Joseph Valentine Callaghan was born in Manchester, Lancashire, on 14th February 1877. ^{[6, 9, 23, 43, 48]}

He was also known as Joseph Valentine Mason.

Joseph Valentine died in Birmingham, Warwickshire, between January 1928 March 1928. ^[6]

Joseph's Marriage Certificate shows a birth date of1874. The 1911 census shows 1875. The Birth Index shows 1877 The Death Index shows 1878. Joseph's birth index is wrongly transcribed as Calligan.

My Grandfather Joseph Valentine Callaghan was born on 14 Feb. Valentine's Day. He and Lizzie (sometimes called Elizabeth) were my grandparents.

Elizabeth wanted them to change their surname from Callaghan to Mason to avoid the Irish surname associating them with the Irish, at a time of civil unrest in the Irish revolutionist period against British rule.

It is not illegal to change one’s name without government approval, making it difficult to trace ancestors who have changed their names. In the modern computerized world, it is still not illegal, but difficult to do so without going through a legal process.

Their three children, William, Ernest (my father) and Percy were all born and officially registered as Callaghan, however on census and electoral documents already using the name Mason. William and Percy kept the name of Mason and were known as Mason, but my father Ernest on learning of the name change at age 15 insisted on reverting to his original surname and being known as Callaghan. On the death certification for William the correct surname Callaghan was used, however Percy's death was registered as Mason.

Joseph served as a Private in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in WW1 and was a victim of gassing which hurt his lungs. After coming to Birmingham with his wife he became a Waiter at a hotel in Birmingham.

Jill Shaver nee Callaghan

The Royal Dublin Fusiliers were a Irish Infantry Regiment of the British Army garrisoned in Ireland and fought in the Second Boer War and WW1. With the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, regiments that recruited in Ireland were disbanded.

Wikipedia

More facts and events for Joseph Valentine Callaghan (Mason)

• Residence 1901. 5 Court 11 Moreville Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwicksire: Relation to Head of House: Head. Occupation: Barn man.[43]
• Residence 02 Apr 1911. Back of number 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire: Relation to Head of House: Head. Occupation: Hay and Corn Trade. [23]
• Bet. 1914-1920 Military Service. The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Regimental number: 487077 Rank: Private. [16]
• Occupation 1926. Birmingham, Warwickshire: Hotel Waiter.
• Residence 1927. 2 Back of number 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire. [25]

Joseph Valentine married Lizzie (Elizabeth) Boulton on Monday, 26th October 1896, at Holy Trinity Church in Hulme, Manchester, Lancashire. ^[48]

They had three sons: William, Ernest and Percy.

Lizzie (Elizabeth) Boulton was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, between July and September 1877. ^[43]

She was the daughter of William Henry Boulton and Martha Moxon.

She was also known as Lizzie (Elizabeth) Mason.

Lizzie died in Birmingham, Warwickshire, after 1955.

There are 3 deaths registered in Birmingham any of which could be Lizzie. Elizabeth Mason in 1956 & 1957 aged 79 and Elizabeth Callaghan in 1965 aged 87.

More facts and events for Lizzie (Elizabeth) Boulton:

• Residence: 1881. 20 Ryland Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[51]  
• Residence: 1891. 224 Bell Barn Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[52] Lizzie Boulton. Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter. Occupation: Machinist.
• Residence: 1901. 5 Court 11 Moreville Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[43] Lizzie Callaghan becomes Elizabeth Mason. (Transcriber probably entered Elizabeth instead of Lizzie on Census) Relation to Head of House: Wife.
• Residence: 2nd April 1911. Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[23] Elizabeth Mason becomes Lizzie Mason. Marital Status: Married. Relation to Head of House: Wife.
• Residence: 1927. 2 Back of 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]
• Residence: 1930. 2 Back of 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]
• Residence: 1935. 2 Back of 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]
• Residence: 1939. 2 Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^{[25, 53]}
• Residence: 1945. 2 Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]
• Residence: 1950. 2 Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]
• Residence: 1955. 2 Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25]

Sons of Joseph Valentine Callaghan and Lizzie (Elizabeth) Boulton:

m I. William James Callaghan was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, on 17th August 1897. ^{[6,9, 23, 43]}

He was also known as William James Mason.

William James served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as Private 45165 between 1914 and 1920. ^[54]

He died in Birmingham, Warwickshire, between April and June 1938 ^[6]

At some stage William James Callaghan (Mason) and his wife Barbara Rhodes (1898-1930) split up. Barbara fell upon hard times and was often in the Union Poor House, where in fact she eventually became ill and died.

• 1923 Residence: Barbara Rhodes. Union Poor House, Gillingham, Medway, Kent
• 1926 Residence: Barbara Rhodes. Union Poor House, Gillingham, Medway, Kent
• 1930 Residence: Barbara Rhodes. Union Poor House, Gillingham, Medway, Kent

Their son Jeffery James Callaghan (1921-2005) went with his father and was brought up by his Grandmother Lizzie Callaghan (Mason).

Jeffery married Joyce Brookes in 1943.

Hillary Callaghan (1923-2009) aged 7 was taken in and raised by kindly neighbours.

Hillary married Richard Guy in 1943.

My father Ernest Callaghan and mother Ivy told me that Uncle William (Billy) Callaghan was no good, a terrible womaniser and a bad person all the way through. Jill Shaver nee Callaghan

More facts and events for William James Callaghan:

• Residence: 1901. 5 Court 11 Moreville Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[43] Relation to Head of House: Son.
• Residence: 2nd April 1911. Back of 17 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[23] Relation to Head of House: Son. Single. Occupation: Warehouseman - Leather Merchant.
• Residence: 1927. 2 Back of 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25] William is again living with his parents.
• Residence: 1930. 2 Back of 15 Blythe Street, Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire ^[25] William is living with his mother.