Hello!
My 3rd great-grandfather Robert Purdy was married in St. Mark's Cathedral on either January 1st 1860 or 1861 to a Mary Jane Patterson. I have been trying to find where exactly both Robert and Mary hail from. I know they emigrated to the US (specifically Pennsylvania) not long after getting married, but I am unsure where they are originally from.
They had at least one son named Robert George Purdy born 1883 in West Virginia and died 1932 in Washington County, Pennsylvania.
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thank you!
Rennea
BurleyR
Monday 30th Jan 2023, 08:10PMMessage Board Replies
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Rennea,
The marriage was in 1860:
At the time of the marriage the groom lived in Grange which is in the parish of Clonfeacle in Co Tyrone. A Robert Purdy is listed in Griffiths Valuation c 1860 as living there on plot 12 which was just over 3 acres.
https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=name…
Robert’s farm in Grange is still farmland but the farmhouse is long demolished. Access would be off the modern Dreemore Rd.
There’s a death for a Robert Purdy in 1865 aged 61 which could be Robert senior. That death is not viewable free and you would need to pay to view it on the GRONI website.
I spotted a Sarah Purdy death in 1875 in Grange. Looks to have been the wife of John Purdy. Perhaps a relation?
Susan Purdy death in Grange to same family:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
Margaret Purdy of Grange died in 1878, farmer’s widow:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
John Purdy senior death:
They lived beside Robert Purdy so I would expect them to be related.
Elizabeth :Purdy of Grange marriage:
Jane Purdy of Grange marriage:
Lucinda Purdy of Grange marriage:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
John Purdy of Grange marriage:
Robert Purdy of Grange marriage:
John Purdy of Grange marriage:
Another John Purdy:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
James Purdy of Grange marriage:
1 Purdy family still in Grange in the 1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Moy/Grange/1733484/
Some probate abstracts from the PRONI wills site:
Letters of Administration of the personal estate of John Purdy late of Grange County Tyrone Farmer who died 8 February 1888 at same place were granted at Armagh to John Henry Purdy of Grange Farmer a Son.
Probate of the Will of James Purdy late of Grange County Tyrone Farmer who died 26 October 1902 granted at Armagh to Any Purdy the Widow.
Probate of the Will of Annie Purdy late of Grange, Moy, Co. Tyrone, widow, who died 31 October 1916 granted at Armagh to William Thomas Greeves, Grange, farmer. Effects: £240 0s 0d.
Purdy John of Grange Moy county Tyrone farmer died 1 December 1944 at Dungannon Hospital Dungannon in said county Probate Londonderry 22 November to Gertrude C. Wright widow. Effects £181 15s.
Mary Jane Paterson lived in the city of Armagh. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that may be where she and any siblings were baptised. If not they may have been baptised in the cathedral, as for a long time St Mark’s was just a chapel of ease. Copy of the records is held in PRONI in Belfast. Some coverage on rootsireland too (subscription).
I looked for a James Paterson, carpenter in the 1861 street directory but did not find one. Drew a blank on him.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 30th Jan 2023, 10:09PM -
Thank you so much! I visited Ireland, and got to see St. Mark's in person back in 2018, and since then I have been trying to find out information about the Purdy's!
As for the Patterson name, on Ancestry, Mary Jane's death certificate stated her fathers name was George Patterson and Mary Jane Ross both from Ireland. But I've also come across documents, like the Registrar's that you sent me that state his name might've been James.
BurleyR
Tuesday 31st Jan 2023, 07:04PM -
The information on the marriage certificate must have come from Mary Jane herself and so ought to be more reliable than that on a death certificate which by the nature of the event has to be 3rd hand. Mistakes on death certificates are common. So I’d be inclined to think its James rather than George.
Mary Jane’s parents must have married before 1845 which is when statutory marriage registration started. That makes it difficult. Prior to 1845 you have to rely on church records. Not all churches have records before 1845 and of those that do, not all are on-line. You could try St Marks and Armagh Cathedral in the hope they married there (and you might find Mary Jane’s baptism there too). But without an idea of precisely where they married it’s a bit of a needle in a haystack.
I looked for a Mary Jane Paterson death in the Armagh area 1864 onwards bit couldn’t find one who was the wife of a carpenter.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 31st Jan 2023, 11:07PM