hello
my name is Beth and my grandad John (jack) Martin was from Ballymena. Born there on June 27 1911. My great auntie tells me that his birth certificate is not on record due to the local parish burning down? I found his parents in the censor documentation you have on your website, but not him.
I will be in Northern Ireland on July 12, 13 and 14 staying at the Ballygally Self Catering Holiday Apartments. I suspect it's a far stretch but it would be simply amazing to connect with any family line that remains in Ireland. After he came to Canada, his siblings and parents followed in 1929.
I have the address of their house on Princes street in Ballymena and on Ypres Park, Whiteabbey and so look forward to tracing his footsteps.
I don't know anything about his mum. Elizabeth McCready and if she has any relatives still in the area. She was Irish, but I believe her family settled in Port Glasgow Scotland.
I have recently had my DNA tested and am fascinated about my ancestory. Since discovering your wonderful web site, thought I'd follow your advice and send a message to your volunteers via the message board :)
Bemma
Thursday 15th Mar 2018, 05:55PMMessage Board Replies
-
Bemma,
I assume this is your family in the 1911 census. The census was taken in April so that was before John’s birth:
Bessie’s place of birth is given as Scotland. As you say her family may have originated in Ireland. Huge numbers of people from Ulster moved to Scotland in the 1800s, mostly because the work prospects were much better there, so it’s not uncommon to find families moving back and forth like that. A cheap, easy journey too, which helped.
James & Elizabeth married in Belfast on 9th August 1910:
The belief that John Martin’s birth record was lost due to a fire is not correct. His birth was registered with the civil registrar. The date of birth on the certificate is 27th July 1911, and he was born in Princes St, Ballymena. Birth certificate here:
Looking at the records on Scotlandspeople, I think Elizabeth McCready was born 18th June 1889 at 13 Argyle St, Port Glasgow. Her father was an iron fitter and her mother was Margaret Cooper. Parents married 2nd December 1878 Port Glasgow. If you view their marriage certificate you’ll get their parents details etc, and if you search the Scottish censuses 1881 – 1911, you’ll hopefully get Elizabeth’s siblings. All of those records are available on the Scotlandspeople site (pay to view). https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
Looking briefly, I think the family are probably in Port Glasgow in the 1891 census ref 574/18/34. Thomas born c 1861 and son Thomas aged 7, Lizzie aged 1, John C aged 4, Margaret aged 11, Mary G aged 0 & mother Margaret aged 31.
You may know more about the family but if they were in Scotland in 1891, they possibly stayed there in which case they should be in the 1901 & 1911 Scottish censuses, and if they remained there then any descendants seem likely to be in Scotland rather than Ireland. The census should tell you whether parents Thomas and Margaret were born in Scotland or Ireland.
John Martin’s denomination was Presbyterian, according to the 1911 census, so that suggests his ancestors originated in Scotland, probably coming to Antrim or the surrounding counties in the 1600s when huge numbers of Scots settled there then. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church. They married in St Anne’s in Belfast so she was apparently Church of Ireland (Episcopalian). So she too is possibly descended from settler stock. Probably from Scotland. St Anne’s is the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Belfast and is still in regular use today.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Thursday 15th Mar 2018, 07:03PM -
Elwyn this is wonderful. thank you so much for this. My trip is going to be so much more enhanced thanks to you.
Could I bother you further to ask about James' family? I'm told his father died when he was very young (10 yrs old I think). and that he had a brother who stayed in Ireland. I suspect that brother has a family and would love to trace them if possible.
Bemma
Friday 16th Mar 2018, 12:45PM -
Bemma,
I think this is probably your James Martin in 1901 with a brother and sister:
James Martin was born 11.10.1888 at Springwell St, Ballymena to James Martin & Catherine McCaughey. I looked for the parents marriage but couldn’t find it.
John was born 24.10.1886 in Ballymena:
Lizzie was born 11.10.1884 in Ballymena:
John Martin senior looks to have died on 23.11.1898, aged 63:
I don’t know where the family went after 1901. Can’t see them in the 1911 census. John Martin is a very common name. Very hard to trace forward without some clues as to what he might have done.
I note you are visitng the area from 12th to 14th July. Just in case you didn't know, the 12th & 13th July are public holidays in Northern Ireland and so places like PRONI will be closed then. Museums are usually open but some things close down. Just a point to be aware of.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Friday 16th Mar 2018, 07:02PM -
thank you again Elywn. yes, great grandad James was in fact born on Oct 11, 1988 so you have the right one there.
they lived on Duke Street at the time.
my great Auntie who is still a very active young woman, wrote the following should you like to update any records at your end, here is her information.
Written by Elizabeth Mary (Martin) McLagan on Tues, Feb. 6th, 2018, 95 years of age:
Before the War, my father, James Martin worked in the shipyard in Belfast. He joined the army and the army educated him. He left school at 10 because his dad died, his mother could not get help, he and his brother Jack sold papers to support them. He also had a sister, Lizzy. He was stationed in Mesopotamia, in Bagdad which is now Iraq. He learned Arabic, dressed like a native and spent a lot of time in the market listening to conversations. His army discharge, says he was bilingual.
The Martin family left White Abbey because of the depression. The Stewarts left before the Martins. Your grandmother, Elizabeth Martin, and Mina Stewart were sisters. Her husband, Con Stewart and your Grandpa Martin, were in business together. They owned a wholesale business, they bought job lots and end of line clearances selling them door to door in White Abbey and around the country side.
They went to Montreal, from Ireland, before the Martins and left their children, Alex, Agnes and George, with your Grandmother. It was fun with the Stewarts, eight kids, never a dull moment! This was after the First World war 1914 to 1918. The houses in White Abbey were built for veterans, Uncle Con did not serve and was never in the army. Grandpa Martin sold his First World War Pension to pay our fare to come to Canada
thank you for the heads up about Orangman's day in July. I really and truly appreciate the experience you have provided me on this forum. keep up the great work. I can't wait to get over there! many many thanks.
Bemma
Monday 19th Mar 2018, 07:18PM -
hello
I have found out this further information that might help find Lizzie's family?
Elizabeth Martin.
Born 1884
Had a child out of wedlock at 16 called Christina Martin. Married William O'toole (catholic)
Elizabeth married Charles Magill Dec 26 1905 (catholic) She would have been shunned from the family.
Had 6 children (2 died in childhood).
Charles Magill died in 1965 in Ballymena Northern Ireland.
Bemma
Monday 26th Mar 2018, 05:34PM -
This looks like Charles Magill & Lizzie in 1911:
There is a death for Charles Magill in Ballymena on 27.4.1965 aged 86. You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:
You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate. The death certificate should tell you whether Lizzie was still alive in 1965, and it may also give you next of kin and a more recent address to work from. Charles doesn’t appear to have left a will, or at least not one that required probate.
Some additional children to Charles & Lizzie: David 17.11.1911; James 10.2.1914 & Charles 21.7.1916. (Any later children’s certificates are not accessible on-line. You need to go to PRONI or GRONI in Belfast to search for them).
Looking at the 1916 birth certificate, Charles was a soldier then, so there may be military records on him at the National Archives in Kew, London.
Christina’s marriage to William O’Toole took place on 31.10.1919:
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 27th Mar 2018, 12:36PM -
thank you again Elwyn :)
Bemma
Monday 2nd Apr 2018, 01:12PM -
Hi Just spotted this post.Bessie was my grandfather, John McCreadys sister.My mother was named after the other sister Williamina who went to Canada.John went on to marry Helen Spence and had 13 children! All gone now.My mother never mentioned Bessie but spoke of having a visit during the war from a cousin in the Canadian Air Force who was stationed in Greenock.She also told me she and her nearest sister Helen recieved clothes parcels from Canada.She was 9 or 10 Beautiful clothes even a little fur coat! Hope you see this! Sheila Laidlaw in Scotland.
Thursday 21st May 2020, 09:42AM -
Hello Sheila! Thank you so much for this! I'd given up on this forum.
my personal email is bethmartin0@icloud.com if you'd like to chat further. Bessies daughter is still alive and well if you can believe it. 98 and still travels. She was named after her mom but they call her Betty.Bemma
Thursday 21st May 2020, 07:20PM