Wallace/Roney/Marrs/Ellis - Leitrim/Edenreagh/Mullaghboy townlands Early 1800's

Do you have specific information that confirms that the James Roney who married Sarah O’Brien in Mallow in 1808 moved 250 miles north to the Bellaghy area? Such a move for a farm labourer would be pretty unusual, in my experience. If son James was born and married around Bellaghy, I’d be inclined to expect that his parents also came from that area.  Your couple who married in May 1845 married in the Church of Ireland whereas the Mallow couple were Roman Catholic. I don’t think that’s the same family at all.

Bear in mind that Ballyscullion RC’s records only start in 1844, and that Ballyscullion Church of Ireland’s early records were lost in the 1922 fire and so if they married in either of those denominations, then there will be no record to find. That there’s a couple with those same names in Mallow is probably just a coincidence. Plus they appear to be the wrong denomination.

I can see 6 Rooney households in Ballyscullion in Griffiths Valuation of 1859. I assume you will have found those. You can follow forward to see changes of occupancy up to 1929 using the Valuation Revision records on the PRONI website:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/searching-valuation-revision-books

There was a James Roney in Mullaghboy in the 1831 census and the family was Church of Ireland:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollon/Ballyscullion/Mullaghboy/74/

Likewise a William Roney in Mullaghboy and Hugh in Edenreagh:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinsho…

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollon/Ballyscullion/Mullaghboy/70/

There’s an odd thing on the 1845 marriage certificate in that James Roneys father is named as James Chesters, suggesting perhaps a second marriage for one of his parents.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

Hi Elwyn!

Thank you so much for your reply!

Your points are useful & valid, and its good to reconsider the possibility that what I've constructed over the years could have a different solution scenario.

While I've had the great pleasure of travelling quite a bit in both Scotland & Ireland (both South & North) I have not physically been able to research at PRONI or the Mallow Heritage center, so that is yet to come and will reveal many more mysteries, I'm sure - Smile.

While it would appear to a casual observer that my connecting of these families is a stretch (to say the least) - I am certain the James Roney that was married to Mary Wallace 15 May 1845 in Bellaghy,  was born in Cork (I'll get to that later)  but have always belived that his extended family were from the Ballyscullion parish area.

There's evidence that the Roney's and the Kennedys were connected in various ways, but I haven't researched those connections thoroughly yet as I've been spending more time on the Wallaces as of late. 

While I agree that the marriage certificate for his parents from Cork is from the Roman Catholic Church, My Wallaces - from all evidence through the ensuing years - were devout Presbyterians so I have always envisioned due to the circumstances in Ireland at the time, being married in a C.O.I church was the best option for a "mixed marriage".

In 1855 in Falkirk Scotland, my 2GG James Roney, husband of Mary Wallace signs as The informant on his daughter's birth certificate that he is 36 and was born in Cork. I'm sure you're aware that 1855 was "The Golden Year" for Scottish records - as much more information was required on birth certificates in that year)

When James dies in Bo'ness Scotland in 1882, my Great Grandfather Hugh Robertson as the informant (He's a son-in-law & known the family for years) He states James' father as James Roney and his mother as Sarah O'brien. I do not have the 1869 death record for Sarah Roney even though its available - of course, they usually don't help much but every now & then you get a pleaseant surprise. One of these days I'll get a copy. This is the Sarah Rooney in GV from Mullaghboy. 

There are birth certificates in Cloyne(Mallow) for both a James Roney and an older brother William Roney born to James & Sarah Roney from Mallow in county Cork in 1817/1818. This timeframe would match James stating that he's 36 & from Cork on his daughter's birth certificate. While not iron clad, it's a compelling start, I think? (Notice there's a William Rooney nearby to Sarah)

Without boring you with conjecture, it is fascinating to me that these Roneys from Mallow in County Cork dissapear from the records down there right before the show up in records in Ballyscullion parish in the north. (I realize there are few records to research - LOL)

The neighbor James Charters is most likely just a good neighbor as the "substitute father" at James & Mary's wedding - as his daughter Elizabeth marries Patrick Roney - James brother in 1855. Though admittedly I've not "clustered" The Charters, so that research is still to come.

I really appreciate your response - thought provoking - Thank You!

All the best & may the force be with you.

@GenJedi