Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Hemsley/Moody connection

Looking to find out more informtion about the families involved with this marriage: John Nugent Hemsley (1921 Leeds ) married Hannah Williams Moody (1833 Leeds, England) married on 12 July 1849 at the Rosemary Street 2nd Presbyterian church in Belfast Ireland. Aparently they had a son, Joseph Nugent Hemsley in 1851 in Ireland before moving back to England where all of their other children are born. I have not been able to find any birth record for Joseph Nugent Hemsley to confirm. I don't know where the Nugent name came from- but it is used many times for each male born for generations right up to the 1960's. I'm hoping since I can't find it in England maybe it is here in Ireland. I can be reached via email at suecicala@me.com. Cheers!

slonstedy

3 replies

Statutory birth registration didn’t start in Ireland till 1864. So for a child born in 1851 the only record would be a baptism.

The church where John & Hannah married was described as Belfast 2nd Presbyterian. I note that the Minister was Rev John Scott Porter. I am fairly sure that he was a Non Subscribing Presbyterian (sometimes called Unitarian). That church is more widely known as All Souls.  If that’s also where Joseph was baptised then the bad news is that their baptism records for that period appear to be missing. So you probably won’t be able to find any record of that event. I can see that the marriage transcript you have – from the UHF site I think - says Rosemary St 2nd Presbyterian. Unfortunately there isn't actually a church by that name. I think the transcribers may have got confused. However All Souls was generally called Belfast 2nd so that's where I think the event occurred.

The 1849 marriage certificate states John was a mechanic and lived in the Shankill Rd. That was an area full of mills (nearly 50). If he was a mechanic from Leeds (another big mill town) I’d guess he was in Belfast to deal with mechanical issues in the mills.

Presbyterians often gave a middle name which was either a mother’s maiden name or the name of someone they respected eg a Minister or schoolteacher, for example. That might be the origin of the Nugent name but that is just speculation.

John is listed in the 1852 street directory for Belfast. He was staying at the Union Tavern, on Shankill Rd:

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/1852names2.htm

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

 

Thank you Elwyn!  

I did assume that Nugent was a maiden name and tried for several months to follow that line in both Ireland and England, with no luck.  The issue I feel is the lack of documents I can view to 'prove' I'm working with the correct families.  There are several Nugent families in both locations. I have noted that every generation, from this marriage forward has at least one male utilizing the Nugent middle name, up and including those born in the 1960's.  

I did look into the directories for the 1850's. as you suggested.   In 1841 I see John Nugent Hemsley, a corn miller, living with his parents in England.  He Marries in 1849 in Ireland, (listed as a mechanic), living on Shankill Road.  In 1852 I found John Nugent Hemsley listed as proprietor of Union Tavern, Herdman's Buidlings on Shankill Road. Interestingly one of the witnesses of his wedding, Joseph Moody is listed as a Publican living in the Herdman's Buildings in 1950.  By 1852, that Joseph Moody is listed as the proprietor of Hibernian Tavern and Spirit Store at 10 Pottinger Street, Belfast. I would like to make the leap that this is either Hannah's brother... or her Father. I want to opt for brother because she lists her father as a Mechanic  on her marriage license.  But, then again that is exactly how John Nugent is listed.   I'm not sure if a parent could also be the witness?  

I so wish there was some sort of travel documents for the back and forth between England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.  It would truly help to solve many of my ancestors movements.

 

 

 

 

slonstedy

Unfortunately there have never been any records for travel between Ireland and Britain. Leeds to Belfast was (and still is) a short domestic journey, and no records were kept or needed.  Just the same as travelling from Yorkshire to Lancashire.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.