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Robert Rainey -Mary Ann Leech (Johnston)- Moore

Robert Rainey (1851-1924) married MaryAnn Leech (1851-1924) on 22 July 1871 at the Presbyterian Church, Townsend, Belfast. Mary Ann is listed as the daughter of Samuel. Mary Ann's mother was Ellen Moore and she appears to have children with two men: Samuel Leech and Robert Johnston. At one point MaryAnn is listed as Leech, and in other documents she is listed as MaryAnn Johnston. I also have hermother, Ellen Moore Leech (Letch-Leach)at the birth and death of many relatives for both the Leech and Johnston children but I have no actual documents to show a wedding or death for either Samuel Leech or Robert Johnston. Is it possible that women back then would just remarry or have children with several men if they were too poor to actually divorce or file for a marriage license? I'm looking to see if maybe anyone with DNA in any of thiese lines might be able to help me prove the papertrail I have found thus far. Thanks! suecicala@me.com

slonstedy

8 replies

There’s a wedding between Samuel Leech and Ellen Moore at Raloo Presbyterian church, registered in Larne on 13.8.1850. Both were widowed. Ellen’s surname name is just given as Moore and her father was Robert Moore, so it looks as though her previous husband must have been named Moore too.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1850/09391/5401673.pdf

There was a marriage on 16.4.1846 between James Moore and Ellen Moore in Clogher but I don’t think it’s the same family because that Ellen has a different father’s name. I suspect therefore that the “Raloo” Ellen married before April 1845, and so it won’t be in the statutory records.

I agree I can’t see a marriage to Robert Johnston. I searched up to 1880. So either they married outside Ireland or they didn’t marry. She wouldn’t have divorced Samuel. Divorce was practically unknown then. You required an Act of Parliament to get one, so that was out of the scope of all but the very wealthy.  They probably just lived together. If they had any children (after 1864), the birth certificates should show whether they were married (or whether they said they were married anyway).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Here's a marriage from www.rootsireland.ie - Samuel Leech (widower):

Date of Marriage:13-Aug-1850
Parish / District:LARNE
County:Co. Antrim
Husband
WifeName:SamuelLeich
EllenMooreAddress:Ballyhackett Ballynure
Ballylagan BallynureDenomination:Presbyterian
PresbyterianOccupation:WEAVER
Age:Full Age (Over 21)
Full Age (Over 21)Status:Widower (Male)
Widow (Female)
Husband's Father
Wife's FatherName:SamuelLeich
RobertMooreAddress:
Denomination:
Occupation:FARMER
FARMER
Husband's Mother
Wife's MotherName:
Address:
Denomination:
Occupation:
Witness 1
Witness 2Name:RobertMoore
AlexanderMcalisterAddress:
Notes:

Church: RALOO Presbyterian
BY LICENCE REV J WHITEFORD.

I couldn't find a marraige record for Johnston - Leech or Moore

I couldn't find any children of Robert Johnston & Ellen Moore / Leech or with Samuel Leech ; there are Robert Johnston burial records but it's hard to know which might be yours. Do you know the year of the birth of their youngest child?

No Samuel Leech burials

Col

 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Sorry, I didn't see Elwyn's info before I posted

Col 

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you everyone!  

My basis for these belief of two names is that Robert Rainey (1878-1933) lists his mother as Mary Johnston on his wedding document (1900 in Greenock Scotland).  Robert was an engineer and a stickler for things so I believe he would have corrected the paperwork if it should have said Leetch versus Johnston.  When I researched his birth-the only record that matched was one showing his parents as Robert Rainey and Mary Ann Leetch living on 170 Wilton Road and that his grandmother; Ellen Leetch of 126 Boundary Street was present at birth.  These two locations along with Ellen Leetch repeat over and over.  I have made several paper trails showing her as present for the births and deaths of children/grandchildren almost always at 126 Boundary Street.  Directories show a Robert Johnston living on Boundary Street as well as a Samual Leetch.  I have names/locations/vacinities all cross referencing but as of yet no concrete proof. 

If I could find some DNA distant cousins for the Johnston family I would feel much more confident of my paper trail.  As of this message I've yet to find a match; but maybe I need to my results onto a different site (currently on Ancestry).  Is there a site in Ireland that is more active?

I appreciate all of your research and advice! Cheers!

 

slonstedy

Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with FTDNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Weren't they divorced? I've heard a lot of different news about how they have a difficult relationship. They often had quarrels. Because of this, they divorced. By the way, my sister and her husband had similar problems in their relationship. But, they didn't divorce because of this. They decided to talk first and find out what they were fighting about. After they found out everything, everything was good. In this situation for them helped the https://breakupangels.com/cheating-in-relationships/. Maybe this couple should go to a psychologist, to stay together?

Blake

Blake,

I'm just seeing your reply today.  I'm a bit confused by your reply.  You wrote, "I've heard a lot of different news about how they have a difficult relationship.  They Often had quarrels. Because of this they divorced"  Do you have some family knowledge of these people?  I would truly love to learn the status and what or why things happened.  Please email me directly if you would prefer to communicate that way.  Smhcicala@gmail.com

Cheers,

Susan

 

 

 

slonstedy

Hi there. My brother, Larry Johnston's y-111 DNA is on FamilyTreeDNA. He has a Rainey match and a Raney match at that level of testing. The Rainey gentleman is quite elderly but sharp, and has no knowledge of a Johnston connection, or his own ancestry for that matter. He is in North Carolina, as I recall. The Raney is a bit further back in time, and descends from a Samuel Raney, 1777-1857 born in North Carolina. You might try Family Tree DNA to see who turns up!    Nancy

Nancy Johnston Havermann

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