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Seeking info on Ezekiel Greer (Grier) b. around 1802

Looking for Grier/Greer family in most likely Northern Ireland.  I reach a dead end with Ezekiel Grier/Greer.  Ezekiel was listed as the father of John Greer (03FEB1840-05JUN1909).  John went to River Hebert, NS, Canada via Australia in the 1860's.  He married Sara Taggart in Minudie, NS, Canada on 02DEC1867.  In the marriage record, John lists Ezekiel (occupation: shoemaker) as his father and Anne as his mother.  I found unconfirmed information that an Ezekiel Greer died in Ballymoney in 1882 at age 80; and Anne's maiden name may have been McAleese.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

rgreer244@gmail.com

2 replies

Here’s a link to the 1882 death. That Ezekiel was a shoemaker so given the comparative rarity of both name and occupation, I’d suspect it’s the right man.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1882/06416/4842680.pdf

He was a widower, lived in Ballynaloob and the informant was Martha Greer, of the same townland.

I searched for Ann Grier’s death 1864 to 1882 but did not find it. So it’s possible she died before 1864 which is when death registration began.

This might be Martha in 1901. If so her age would make her possibly Ezekiel's daughter:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Killagan/Drumadarragh/944425/

She is lodging with John Greer & his wife Jane Stewart. Their son Stewart was born in Ballynaloob in 1895:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1896/02186/1827119.pdf

John Greer’s father was William Greer, so no direct link to Ezekiel but given they were in the same townland, I suspect there’s a connection:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1883/10938/5997239.pdf

This looks to be Ezekiel Greer’s daughter Sarah who married in 1867:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1883/10938/5997239.pdf

Sarah was living in Ballyoglagh, parish of Billy, at the time. This looks to be her in Ballymena in 1901. She’s probably been a little economical with her age:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballymena_and_Town_and_Urban_District_of_Ballymena/Clonavon_Place_S_/925858/

Same family in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ballymena__No__2__Urban__In_34_files_/Clonavon_Road/117409/

They had 4 children all of whom were alive in 1911. Birth registration only started in Ireland in 1864 so you won't find birth certificates for Ezekiel, his wife or their children. You might find baptisms  but to do that you would need to know which church they were baptised in. The records are mostly not on-line. The most complete collection is in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast but there's a lot of churches in the area around Ballynaloob.

 

 

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwyn,

I apreciate the quick response.  I'll run with what you provided. 

Thank you,

 

Rich

rgreer244@gmail.com

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