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Robert McKeown - Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Tyrone

Hello Ireland Reaching Out

I'm hoping that I'm posting this message correctly.

I have a brickwall I need to breakdown, just to give you a little background, my father was five years old when his mother passed away after childbirth in Ringaskiddy, Cork January 1920. My grandfather Peter Bond was from Dublin and was left with four boys aged seven to new born. He took Dad (Joe) and his older brother George back to Dublin where he was from and left the two smaller boys in Cork. Bob aged two was raised by grandmother Julia McKeown (nee O'Leary) and Michael (new born) was fostered to a neighbour. The female in the family usually is the knowledge base for the family history, When my grandmother Emily passed away there wasn't any hope of this information being passed on. Dad certerainly did know much at all, he emigrated to Australia in 1949.

Tyrone is where I'd like to focus at present and find out about my Great Grandfather Robert McKeown and his family, at least where in Tyrone the McKeown's may have lived, I'm hoping that someone can assist According to the 1901 Census in Cork Robert stated that he was born in Tyrone about 1849 working on his age stated, please see attached. At this stage he was working in government stores on Haulbowline, in Cork harour.

He married Julia O'Leary 25th May 1879 in Cork, on the Marriage register it states that he was a Presbeteryn Convert, copy attached.

Robert passed away 17th January 1911 in Ringaskiddy, Cork. My grandmother Emily was the informant but I feel she was wrong about his age at death.

I have no information of the McKeown family in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It would be great to find out what parish they were from and any other information. Why would a young man leave his home in Tyrone and go to Cork? Was his transferred by his work to there? Any guidance would would very much appreciated.

I'd like to move further back with his line, so far DNA hasn't connected me with any family so far.

Regards

Cath Maris, Brisbane, Australia

cath@maris.net.au

3 replies

Hello Miriam

Thank you so much for all the information you have found, I'm sure it will help me to move forward with my McKeown family in Northern Ireland. 

Finding that Robert was in the British Army explains why he ended up in Cork. I guess after meeting Julia and getting married there he had to leave the British Army in order to stay there as he may have been posted to other places otherwise. 

I have a BrickWall course on 30th November at the Genealogical Society of Queensland. I'll send all the information you have found for me and hopefully they can help be breakdown the brickwall further. I'll let you know what we find, and importantly Robert McKeown's British Army records if they have survived, they may have some important information.

Thank you once again, you have been a wonderful help.

Regards

Cath

cath@maris.net.au

Cath,

Robert was born around 1848 (based on the 1901 census). That’s well before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864). So you won’t get a birth certificate for him but you might get his baptism. Not every church has records for the 1840s and of those that do, not all are on-line, especially for Presbyterian records. However there is a pretty comprehensive collection of the surviving Presbyterian records in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.  You could get someone to go through all the Presbyterian churches in Tyrone (30 or 40 perhaps) to see if they can locate his baptism. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

Robert’s father was George and we know he was a labourer, and that he was deceased by May 1879. I searched the death records for a George McKeown (and variants) who died in Tyrone 1864 to 1879. (The records only start in 1864).  There was just one adult death in that period. That was for a George who died on 30.12.1870 aged 65, in Dungannon registration area. I cannot say whether it is your family but you might want to look at it. You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

Robert’s marriage might have been a reason for leaving the army but it certainly wasn’t obligatory. When soldiers were posted they usually took their wives and children with them at the army’s expense. However he may just have preferred to remain in Ireland. His military record may give his reason for leaving.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Morning Elwyn

Thank you so much for the information, I very much appreciate your help.

Will follow your advice.

From what I saw on Robert and Julia's Marriage certificate Julia was a grocer and I do remember my Dad telling me that his grandmother had a grocery shop in Ringaskiddy, I have a feeling that it may have been at the front of the home but I may be wrong. 

Regards

Cath

cath@maris.net.au

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