Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Brawley family

DerryFaughanvale (Derry)

derry I am trying to trace the Brawley (there are many spellings of the name on a variety of records)family. My 3x great grandfather John Brawley had 4 children between 1827 and 1840. The children were born in Glasgow. Their mother was Hannah Kane, Cain or Kean. I cant find a marriage for John and Hannah in Scotland. The godmother of their eldest child , Mary was Margaret Brawley. I have found that she did get married in Glasgow but her marriage record shows she was originally from Faughanvale. I dont have her parents details. Im thinking she could be Johns sister or a close relative. Icant find a death for Hannah in Scotland so it is possible she returned to Ireland. I have found a death for aJohn Brawley who is from Derry and was born around 1797. His parents were Hugh Brawley and Margaret Kean Hiswifes name is not on his death record I just dont know if its the same John. My Johns eldest son is Hugh so that could be a clue. The John whose death I found had brothers Hugh and Patrick. Ive been through their records but I cant find anything that positivity links them to my ancestor. Are there any local records I can check that might help? Thanks in advance.

Paula

PFRae

12 replies

 

I should have mentioned that the family were Catholic. 

Paula

PFRae

Paula,

Unfortunately Faughanvale RC parish records don’t start till 1863 so if both John & Hannah came from there, and married there, there won’t be a record.

I looked at the 1831 census of Co. Londonderry. There were 45 Brawley (and variant) households. Only 2 headed by a Hugh and both happened to be in Faughanvale.

This Hugh Brolly in Cloghole townland, 1 male & 5 females, all RC:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Tirkeeran/Faughanvale/Cloghole/8/

This in Tully , 4 male, 2 female all RC:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Tirkeeran/Faughanvale/Tully/8/

In the same townland, a Patrick, with 1 male and 1 female, RC:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Tirkeeran/Faughanvale/Tully/29/

Statutory death registration only started in Ireland in 1864. I searched the records for Hannah’s death post 1864  but did not find it. If she died before that it would be hard to trace her. No Hugh deaths, nor any Margarets of the right age.

I looked at the tithe applotment records for Faughanvale in 1835. There were no Brolly households in either Tully or Cloghole. That indicates they the families there in the 1831 weren’t farmers. They were probably labourers or weavers. They can be hard to trace as they often moved around a bit to follow the available work.

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/derry/tithe-applotments/faughanvale-parish.php#.WpryPhR2ug0

The death in Scotland for the John Brawley born c 1797 should give his marital status at that time which may help narrow the search for any wife.  Obviously if he’s a bachelor then it’s not the right man, and if a widower, you know to search before that date for her death.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

 

I should have mentioned that the family were Catholic. 

Paula

PFRae

Hi Elwyn and thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. ( I seem to be having some phone issues having typed up a reply which disappeared so apologies if you get 2 similar responses). 

The name Logue after Brolly in the Cloghole record is interesting in that Logue features in the family  they appear as godparents but the family numbers don’t work out  

The 1797 John was married. He died in 1856 so at that time the wife would usually be on the death register but not in this case.  He died in the poorhouse and the death was registered by the governor.  His parents details are there.  I know from past experience that the poorhouse records provide a load of information but it appears this register didn’t survive.  His father Hugh was a weaver.  A lot of information fits but I just can’t link them for sure.  

As for Hannah I have no idea.  Her son was married in 1856 and her first name isn’t even on the record. I don’t know why that is.  Possibly a mistake by the registrar or maybe she had gone from their lives  

My mother’s name was Brawley so this is a line in the family that I’d really like to trace back  

It’s so kind of you to do this.  Thank you again. 

Paula

PFRae

Paula,

Another approach might be to check Scottish Poor Law records. If your ancestors claimed under the Poor Law in Scotland (as many many Irish did), then the Poor Law file usually records their parish of origin in Ireland as well as details of next of kin there. Poor Law records for the Glasgow area are kept in the Mitchell Library. They will normally do a look up for a small fee. You might want to contact them:

http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/libraries/the-mitchell-library/archives/collections/poor-law-archives/Pages/default.aspx

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Elwyn. I’ve been to the Mitchell Library hoping to find the record but was advised that it’s unavailable. Lost or destroyed. I was really disappointed as I’ve found  so much information on those records. Sadly I’ve had a few ancestors who have ended up in the poorhouse or applying for poor relief. 

Paula

 

PFRae

Paula,

If Hannah was still alive in 1856 and doesn’t appear in the Scottish death records then, as you say, she might have returned to Ireland.  If she died between 1856 and 1863 there are no statutory death records and you may struggle to find any record of her. I searched death records 1864 to 1900 and found just one death in the whole of Ireland, Hannah Brawley who died in Belfast aged 80 on 3rd April 1868. 80 is a bit old for a woman who had a child in 1840 but in those days the age on a death certificate was often out by 10 years or more, as it was mostly the informant’s best guess. You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate. 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

This family are a bit of a mystery. I can only find them on their children’s birth records. I would expect to find them on the 1841 census having had a child in 1840 but nothing. My great great grandfather reappears in 1856 when he gets married in Ayrshire. I can’t find the siblings either. DNA is my next step. The 1868 Hannah could be the one but like John I can’t prove it.  I wish I could find more information on the Tully family. Thanks for all your help.  

PFRae

I am trying to connect with Paula I know it is an old post but it is imperative that I contact Paula she is definitely my relative my mother is descendant of John brawley from around Virginia Kentucky Tennessee and then to Missouri please tell me how I can get in touch with her. My email is Wolfsrobe@yahoo.com

David Booher (Braley)

Hi David

I've sent you an email.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Paula

 

PFRae

Paula I never did get a message from you my email is Wolfsrobe@yahoo.com and I don't know if you text or not but my cell phone is 928-925-4586 and again this is Dave a relative of yours

David Wolfsrobe

Hi Dave

I sent a message on Wednesday which has maybe gone to your junk folder  You can contact me at msgenealogyuk@gmail.com

Kind regards 

Paula 

 

 

PFRae

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.