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Morrison/Morrisson in Killala Late 18th C

I am looking for a Morrison ancestor (maybe William) who was reportedly a wealthy shipping magnate with land in Killala during the late 18th and early 19th C. He apparently owned Morrison's Acres, which appears to be associated with the 1798 rebellion. I believe it was the estate taken over by the British during that event and was where they hanged the rebels. He later drowned at sea. His daughter Ellen also lived in Killala and inherited his estate. My information, with the exception of the 1798 connection, comes from an 1891 newspaper article in Buffalo, New York that interviewed my 2nd great grandmother about her late husband's family (attached below). Any information about this man or the family would be greatly appreciated.

 

Castles in Ireland 2.pdf

Ann McCarthy

12 replies

Thank you, Roger. That's very interesting. Maybe the reason he didn't seem to be working on the case was because he was ill. I wonder what happened to the property.

Ann

Ann McCarthy

Ann:

I checked the 1855 Griffiths listing for the parish and there were no Morrison records. There was an Ernest Gore who had land in seven different townlands. Likely he was the ancestor of the two Knox-Gore families in the 1901 census.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Anne,

Attached may be of interest: Credit =- Subscription Site  www.findmypast.ie

 

McCoy

Ann,

The Slater's Directory for 1847 does not show the Morrison Family nor does the Directory for Ballina. The Knox Gore family is in both.

Slater's Directory of Ireland 1846-Killala, Mayo (celticcousins.net)

Slater's Directory of Ireland 1846-Ballina, Mayo (celticcousins.net)

Directory: 1881 Slater's Directory of Ballina, Enniscrone / Inniscrone, Easky, Killala - County Mayo, Ireland [IGP Free Irish Genealogy] (igp-web.com)

Information on Knox Gore Family

Western People — The family who built Belleek | Western People

Wikipedia suggests Owen Morrison held land in Killala in 1798.

Battle of Killala - Wikipedia

I know this doesn't lead you to the money but provides some history. There are trees on Ancestry, primarily Cynthia and her family.

Regards- Mary

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Ann,

William Morrison was on the 1880 census for Buffalo. The trees on Ancestry suggest he died between 1880 and 1885. When he came to New York in 1829 he showed 19 as his age. Later censuses suggest about 1800.

I found this death record on Ancestry for an Ellen Morrison. Perhaps there is a will?

NameEllen Morrisson

Estimated Birth Yearabt 1791

Date of Registration1871

Death Age80

Registration districtBallina

Volume4

Page11

FHL Film Number101585

@@@@@@@@@

I found this record on RootsIreland for an Owen Morrison

Name:OwenMorrisonDate of Death:13-Jan-1882

Age:65Parish / District:KILMOREMOY DISTRICT

Address:Hill St BallinaCounty:MAYO

Status:Bachelor (Previously unmarried)Denomination:Roman Catholic

Occupation:FARMERSex:Male

GraveyardInformant

Graveyard:Relationship:Head Of Household

Parish:Name:Daniel Madden

County:Address:Hill St Ballina

Notes:

BRONCHITIS, ONE MONTH UNCERTIFIED, NO MEDICAL ATTENDANT

Regards- Mary

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Thank you, Mary!  I wonder if this Owen is Ogie. I'll have to look more closely at Ellen.

The confusing part of this is that I believe that William and his siblings were born in Belfast. I have found a baptism record from St. Anne's in Shankill that matches--August 1801 to James and Jane Morrison. I also found other siblings, including the one who traveled with him to New York. They departed Ireland from Londonderry, so Ulster is where I assumed they were from. Only this article suggests a Mayo connection. I am trying to bridge the information (and misinformation) gap.

My tree on Ancestry is the Morrison-Sinclair Family Tree. I have been researching the family since 2001, before records on Ancestry were searchable. The other trees are based on my research, so some of their misinformation came from my hypothesizing. William has been my biggest mystery. I know quite a bit about the family in the U.S., but crossing the Atlantic has been tricky. I greatly appreciate your assistance.

Ann

Ann McCarthy

Ann,

I think Owen b. 1817 might have been a relative. Since your William was born between 1800-1810, his father, Aunt Ellen, and Ogie jr. probably were born in the 1700s.

Ogie is such a unique name. Sources on the internet confirm it is Irish. I have not found any records with the name. Since he was a shipping magnate and had extensive land holdings, his main property might not be in Killala.

Regards- Mary

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Yes, I overlooked that birthdate. Couldn't be Ogie. I have been told that Ogie is a nickname, synonymous with Junior. I think the uncle may share a surname with his father. One theory is that they are both Owen. Another is that they are William. I have no evidence for that except knowledge of the Irish naming pattern.

Although I did not find a will for Ellen, I happened on the attached. It caught my eye because it had some matching details. It may just be coincidence. If this is him, it is interesting that he only left 90 pounds. 

Ann McCarthy

Ann,

This might be William Morrison from the will? On one tree I saw Captain after his name. Not sure how Mountpottinger, Down connects?

From Ancestry

  • SpouseEllen Davison

    FatherJohn Morrison

    MotherEllen Morrison

    ChildrenRev Samuel

    Birth1834 Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland

    Death9 Apr 1887 Runcorn, Cheshire, England

    @@@@@@@@@@

    NameWilliam Morrison

    GenderMale

    Marriage Date18 Nov 1853

    Marriage PlaceCarrickfergus, Ant, Ire

    FatherJohn Morrison

    SpouseEllen Davidson

    FHL Film Number101347

    @@@@@@@@@@

    RootsIreland

    Date of Marriage:18-Nov-1853  

    Parish / District:CARRICKFERGUSCounty:Co. Antrim

    HusbandWife

    Name:WilliamMorrisonEllenDavidson

    Address:CarrickfergusCarrickfegus

    Denomination:PresbyterianPresbyterian

    Occupation:SAILOR

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

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

    Husband's FatherWife's Father

    Name:JohnMorrisonMatthewDavidson

    Address:

    Denomination:

    Occupation:FISHERMANFARMER

    Husband's MotherWife's Mother

    Name:

    Address:

    Denomination:

    Occupation:

    Witness 1Witness 2

    Name:DavidMorrisonJanePark

    Regards- Mary

    mtvrdk@gmail.com

    It's hard to tell how or if these people are related. These dates are quite late. 
    Ann
     

    Ann McCarthy

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