Smyth, or Armstrong-Smyth, Lizzie

Yes, thank you.   This IS the Lizzie I am searching for, living with Annie Armstrong, who, from Census record was a cousin .   Lizzie was married on 04(?) August 1904 to Andrew O'Connor.   Also known as Elizabeth or Mary Elizabeth.    Father's name given as William.   Birth believed to have been in "Belfast City" and in view of 1901 Census naming her age as 27, birth is likely to have been 1873-4.   Any further help re her parents, etc., especially a name and status of her mother, would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi, picking this thread up a few years late, so don't know if it's still active, but ...

Lizzie Smythe, born about 1873, was listed in the 1901 census in the Railway Hotel, Lisburn, the home  of her cousin, Annie Armstrong. Annie's about 20 years older than Lizzie. Subsequently, Lizzie married Andrew O'Connor, described as a shop-keeper from Stranraer. They married 8 August 1904, the record is on the Irish genealogy website. Her father is given as William Smyth, deceased - not a great deal of help as this leads to multiple possible Lizzie Smyth's born in Belfast. Subesquently, the couple moved to Galway and later to Cork, where their daughter Lucy Ita was born

'Cousin' may be a wide term, but ... one of the witnesses at the marriage was Annie Maguire, almost certainly Ann Josephine Maguire born in Monaghan 25 Feb 1881 (Clones registration district) to Patrick Maguire, died 1896, and Emily Armstrong, died 1908. Ann and her mother moved to Lisburn after the death of Patrick, it's very likely the mother Emily was cousin to Annie Armstrong, who was 'cousin' to Lizzie Smyth. Other names associated with Annie Armstrong: her stepmother was Mary McLaughlin, there were Heaney cousins in Glenavey, her brother James married Margaret Ferris, whose mother was Ellen Brady on 28 Aug 1878, and her half-brother Michael married Catherine/Christina O'Hara 19 Jan 1880. Most of this info is on the Irish Genealogy website (births/marriage/ deaths), Ireland Census, newspaper archives (name of Annie's stepmother), and on the wills/probate info for the will of Christina Armstrong, nee O'Harepa, on the will calendar search, public records of Northern Ireland.
Hope some of this helps, Maureen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi MaureenN: I appreciate your reply.  Many thanks for your trouble in seeking out information.  Much of it tallies with what our family already knew.  A main focus of your information is Annie Armstrong, who could have been an aunt rather than a cousin of Lizzie Smyth. Our interest is mainly in the direct line, but, as you have pointed out, on Lizzie's marriage certificate her father William Smyth - a very common name - is listed as deceased.  I plan to share your information with others.  Out of interest, Maureen, do you come from the perspective of a researcher or do you have a personal connection with the family in question (our family), please?  Renewed thanks for your interest and information.  Anne Adams.

 

Hi, 

It's a family connection. My grandfather was James Joseph Brady, born Lisburn 1884. His mother and younger siblings all died when he was a child, when he was 10 his father remarried. At this point, he went to live with Annie Armstrong at the Railway Hotel, where he grew up. She was described as an 'aunt', we've always understood on his mother's side, turns out to be some sort of undefined cousin, don't know the exact details.

All the family stories are about her, not my grandad's biological family. We've found out info about his paternal ancestors, very little about his mother, and researched Annie hoping to find out more through her. About Emily Maguire nee Armstrong, I did rather hope she'd be a link as my grandfather's mother was also Maguire, but haven't found anything to substantiate this so it's more likely not the case. I'd think it's unlikely that she's sister to Annie, the only siblings I've found that survived childhood were her brothers James and Michael, though there were other Catholic Armstrong's in Lisburn in the same trade, who may well be relations. 

It might simply be a case of trawling through the birth certificates of all the Elizabeth/ Lizzie Smyth's born around that time in Belfast to William - sorry, can't think of anything else!

Maureen

 

Hi Maureen, 

Thanks for your very quick reply.  I share your frustrations when reaching roadblocks!  I think you are right that I shall have to increase the trawling (latterly through church records) - not made easy with such a common name and variations of it.  I'm sorry I can't throw any light on your grandfather.  Thank you again for trying to help me in my own search.

Anne