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John Branigan Belfast possibly shankhil

Hi all! I’m researching John Branigan from Belfast, who lived around the Shankill Road area in the late 1800s. He was Church of Ireland, and he’s the father of my ancestor Margaret Branigan.

I now think John may have been married to a Margaret Irvine or Erwin, possibly in Trinity Church, Belfast. The names, location, and denomination all fit well with the family story, so I’m hoping to confirm whether this is the right couple.

I also have what looks like his death certificate — a John Branigan who died in 1910 in Belfast Workhouse/Infirmary. The age, occupation, and circumstances all fit the profile of the man I’m researching.

Here’s what I’ve pieced together so far:

• Born: probably 1820s–1830s

• Lived: Belfast, likely Shankill parish

• Religion: Church of Ireland

• Possible wife: Margaret Irvine/Erwin

• Possible marriage: Trinity Church, Belfast

• Daughter: Margaret Branigan, who later married Richard Henry Ware

• Death: Belfast Workhouse/Infirmary, 1910

What I’m hoping to learn:

• Whether the Trinity Church marriage is the right John and Margaret

• Where John was born (Belfast or elsewhere in Ulster)

• Any Branigan families in the Shankill area around 1850–1900

• Any Church of Ireland records that might match him

• Whether he connects to any known Branigan lines in Belfast

If anyone recognises this Branigan family or has come across similar records, I’d really appreciate any pointers. Thanks in advance.

...

Mbrown147

12 replies

This transcription of her 1903 marriage caIIs Margaret "Mary." Note the minister was Irvine.

Date of Marriage: 12-Jan-1903    

Parish / District: BELFAST County: Co. Antrim

Husband                                      Wife

Name: Richard Henry Ware    Mary Branigan

Address: Military Barrack Altershot 40 Lindsay

Denomination: Church of Ireland Church of Ireland

Occupation: TAILOR

Age: Full Age (Over 21)               Full Age (Over 21)

Status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried) Spinster (Previously unmarried)

Husband's Father          Wife's Father

Name: Edwin Ware John Branigan

:

Occupation: LABOURER

Witness 1 Witness 2

Name: Richard Henry Ware Edwin Ware

Address:

Notes:

Church:  ST STEPHEN'S Church of Ireland

BY LICENCE REV RICHARD IRVINE.

www.rootsireland.ie

glanvil3@aol.com

In 1878, Grace Brannigan was born to John Brannigan and Margaret Irvine:

Name: Grace Brannigan

Date of Birth: 28-Feb-1878

Registration Date: 8-Mar-1878

Address: 32 Melbourne Street

Parish/District: URBAN 5, BELFAST

Gender: Female

County Co. Antrim

Father: John Brannigan Mother: Margaret Irvine

Occupation: Time Keeper

Informant 1: Isabella Edmonson

Townsend Place

Notes: Deputy Registrar Robert Humphreys Mgr: Sponsor Present At Birth Mgr:

Sponsor Signed By Leaving Their Mark.

In the 1901 Irish census, Grace Brannigan was married and caIIed Grace Ware:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000341779/

Grace's marriage record--was her husband a brother of Richard Ware?

Date of Marriage: 12-Dec-1900

Parish / District: BELFAST County: Co. Antrim

Husband Wife

Name: Edwin Ware Grace Brannigan

Address: Limerick Barracks 40 Lindsay St

Denomination: Church of Ireland Church of Ireland

Occupation: LANCE CORPORAL

Age: 23 21

Status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried) Spinster (Previously unmarried)

Husband's Father Wife's Father

Name: Edwin Ware John Brannigan

Occupation: SOLDIER LABOURER

Witness 1 Witness 2

Name: John Cunningham Mary Branigan

Church: ST STEPHEN'S Church of Ireland

BY LICENCE REV W T BROWNE.

glanvil3@aol.com

Thank you. For your response. No Grace Ware and Mary Ware were separate individuals who married  2 ware brothers. Mary married Richard Henry  Ware and Grace married his brother Edwin. 

Mbrown147

The 1910 death had an informant John Branigan of 17 Howard St South. This looks to be him in 1911. He was Presbyterian, not Church of Ireland. Born in Belfast:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Howard_Street__South/169224/

He married in 1904 with witnesses James Branigan and Sarah Margaret Branigan.

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/marriage_returns/marriages_1904/10212/5717235.pdf

I think this is your family in 1901. It’s the same address as is on the 1910 death certificate (40 Lindsay St):

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Lindsay_Street/976261/

Note that all the children were born in Belfast but that John and wife Margaret were born in Co Antrim. That suggests they both moved from a rural area into the city.

Here’s daughter Grace’s birth in 1878. Mother’s name Margaret Irvine.

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1878/02980/2091916.pdf

Here’s the family in 1911 still in Lindsay St but they are Presbyterian now. Margaret is a widow so John died pre 1911. I think you have the right death.

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Lindsay_Street/169346/

I think John Branigan senior was married twice. First wife Mary Ann Logan. Her death in 1874:

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1874/020654/7247419.pdf

John the 1910 informant’s birth in 1872:

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1872/03239/2186871.pdf

There was also a daughter Margaret in 1867 and a son James in 1870:

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1868/03457/2269391.pdf

Can’t see that first marriage on irish genealogy but it is on the GRONI site as being in Belfast on 19th March 1865. .

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for everyone’s help. 

Mbrown147

John Branigan and his wife Margaret are both buried in the City Cemetery grave B2 417. Also buried in that grave are Eliza Brannigan died 18.4.1904 aged 28 and Thomas Gilbert Mccartney died 9th April 1909 aged 43. (No idea of his connection to the family but hopefully it might mean something to you).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Adding to previous posts, Mary Branigan (nee Logan) died on 13th July 1874.

Eliza Brannigan was born on 27th August 1875 (to John Brannigan and Margaret Irvine).

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/birth_returns/births_1875/03093/2134268.pdf

There’s an error on the irishgenealogy site which means ELIZA's birth is indexed as ELLEN. I have reported it.

I don’t see any marriage between a couple with those parents names in 1874/5 but there is one on 2nd Nov 1874 in Trinity COI between John Brannigan (widower) and Margaret Bell. She was a spinster. So if that’s the right marriage the question is why she was Bell when she married but Irvine when she had children. Can’t say for certain but perhaps her mother re-married and she had a choice of 2 surnames.

Note that on the 1974 marriage cert John’s father was John Brannigan, a farmer. Obviously you don’t get many farmers in a city so this tells you that John junior probably was born in rural Co. Antrim.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you. What I have found on ancestry is a marriage record for a Margaret Erwin. Could be an alternative spelling who married a James Bell in 1865. Now James Bell passed away in 1872. A Margaret Irvine then marries John Branigan. In 1874. Perhaps this is where the Bell names originates  I have attached the record

Mbrown147

Erwin and Irvine are certainly interchangeable in Ireland. Same name. No issue there. 

The marriage to James Bell and his death would certainly account for Margaret being Bell when she re-married to John Branigan. Odd that she said she was a spinster rather than a widow. Also odd that she named her father as James Bell not James Erwin, but she would have appeared to be free to marry, so it all seems to fit together. 

Thomas Mccartney’s death certificate gives a Branigan as his stepfather, so that seems to be the reason why he is in the family grave. This looks to be him in the 1901 census:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Lindsay_Street/976281/

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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