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McMullen ancestors Richill, Armagh.

Armagh

My ggg grandfather Robert McMullen (abt. 1823- 1867) was presumably born in the Richill area, Armagh.  His parents were James McMullen and Mary Hewitt.  Robert had a brother Richardson McMullen born abt. 1839 presumably in the Richill area but definately in Ireland. According to the 1861 Scottish census record, Richardson is recorded as born 'deaf and dumb' and was a shoemaker., born in Ireland. He was living with his brother Robert and his family in Denny, Scotland.  He disappears from the Scottish records after this.  

Robert McMullen married Bridget McConnel (abt. 1823- 1886) (also spelled McConnely and McConville) in either 1846 or 1847 in Richill, County Armagh.  Their first child James McMullen was born in County Armagh abt. 1847.    Sometime between 1847 and 1849 the family migrated to Scotland and they had several more children in Scotland.  They were Catholics and remained in Denny, Scotland for the rest of their lives. 

Bridget McConnel's father was Owen McConnell (spelled with two 'ls' on her death entry), a labourer. We do not know her mother's name.  

 

catd66@hotmail.co.uk

2 replies

CatK,

Richhill is in the parish of Kilmore. Their RC records start in 1845. The records are on-line but I do not see either the marriage or James McMullen’s baptism:

https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632601#page/10/mode/1up

The tithe applotment records lists farmers in Kilmore in 1823. All 3 surnames are common enough. I don’t see James McMullen or Owen McConnell so assume they were labourers or tradesmen eg a shoemaker, and so having no land would not be listed.

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/armagh/tithe-applotments/kilmore-parish.php

The surname Hewitt is quite common in Armagh (361 in the 1901 census). All were Protestant. Mostly Church of Ireland also a few Quakers and Brethren. None were RC.

McMullen is more mixed with a spread of RC, Church of Ireland & Presbyterians. Plus 1 Brethren. So one of these marriages must be mixed. Normally tradition was to marry in the bride’s church but with a Protestant  - Catholic marriage c 1847 the RC church would require the non RC person to convert, before conducting the ceremony. (And they usually pop up in the baptism records as an adult baptism about 1 month before the marriage.). Alternatively the couple might marry in the Church of Ireland (which would marry anyone.). Or marry in a Register office, an option available from 1845 onwards.  However I have checked the Church of Ireland & Register office records 1845 - 1850 but did not see their marriage.

Possibly it was the McMullen – Hewitt marriage that was mixed.  Unfortunately Richhill Church of Ireland’s pre 1845 marriage records were lost in the 1922 fire. Richhill Presbyterian has a gap in its marriage records from 1828 to 1845. The Pre 1828 records are held in PRONI in Belfast.

I am afraid I have drawn a blank.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwyn, thank you so much for checking for me. I really appreciate it. That's so interesting. Thank you. :-)

catd66@hotmail.co.uk

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