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James & Mary (McConnell/McConel) buried in Finvoy Parish cemetery

AntrimBallymoney (Antrim)

Hi,

My great great grandparents are James & Mary Taggart.  I can track them in th 1901 and 1911 census.  I think both James and Mary were born in 1837 (+/- 3 years).  James passed in 1912, Mary passed 1917.  The 1911 census says Mary had 7 children and as of 1911 only 3 survived.  I never knew this.  I know Robert, one son lived with them in Eden.  Another son, George ("DA"), was born in Dirraw in 1866 or 1867 and immigrated to the US in 1888.  I have no knowledge of the third child but suspect it is a female.  If there is a way someone could direct me to the Finvoy Parish records to locate this information I would appreciate it.  I know the lived in Eden, another designation is "The Vow".  I know James and Mary are buried in the Finovy church graveyard as Robert sent their funeral cards to his brother, George, my great grandfather, and I now have possessionof them.  Maybe there is a family burial headstone with the childrens names? Church records? I know George was baptised in the Finvoy church.

Again, thank you in advance for any assistance you may offer. 

Pia Dorothy Taggart

 

PTAGGART@ptd.net

2 replies

Pia,

Finvoy Church of Ireland has records from 1811 onwards. There’s a copy in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. Some years are also on the rootsireland site (subscription).

I can see James married in 1859. For children born 1859 to 31.12.1863 you will need to rely on church baptism records but statutory birth registration started in Ireland on 1.1.1864 and for births after that you should be able to find them in the statutory records. I see 3 children to that couple:

George Taggart 15.3.1866

Mary 6.12.1870

William 31.1.1876

Here’s George. You can look the others up on the same irishgenealogy site. Deaths should also be there:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1866/03545/2304792.pdf

Couldn’t see Robert’s birth in the stat records but his age may be out by a few years. 

The Valuation revision records for 1897 – 1912 list James & Thomas Taggart jointly farming plot 26 in Eden. That was a 17 acre farm. That property today is up a lane off the Bendooragh Rd. It’s still a working farm, judging by Google Earth. At one time the lane continued on past the farm to the Vow Rd but that link no longer looks to be in use, except perhaps by farm vehicles.

https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

This is the only Taggart gravestone inscription I could find for Finvoy:

Erected / by / James TAGGART, Eden / in memory of / his daughter / Margaret Jane / died 5th August 1803 / aged ? Years / also / of his daughter / Elizabeth / who died ?th ? / aged 29 years

Probate abstracts from the PRONI wills site:

Probate of the Will of Thomas Taggart late of Eden County Antrim Farmer who died 11 December 1902 granted at Belfast to Robert Taggart Farmer.

Taggart Robert of Eden county Antrim farmer died 12 October 1928 Administration (limited) Belfast 21 February to Robert Taggart contractor. Effects £21 5s.

Taggart, Jeannie of Eden Bendooragh Ballymoney county Antrim died 3 April 1960 at The Route Hospital Ballymoney Administration Belfast 9 August to Herbert James Taggart farmer the husband. Effects £590 3s. 5d.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I am in tears. Overwhelmed by your research on behalf of me, a stranger. You have provided some valuable information and leads! I am so very grateful for your skills and research! Bless you! Thank you! Pia

PTAGGART@ptd.net

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