Thomas Bristow Catherine Dillon

AntrimBelfast (Antrim)

I've recently discovered, thanks to the wonderful world of DNA, that Thomas Bristow c1857 is my Great, Great Grandfather.

The information I have is he married Catherine Dillon 14 Sept 1879 at St Matthew's Church in Ballymacart, Belfast, Antrim, Ireland.

In 1880 he was a Hairdresser in Belfast. Some time after this he migrated to Scotland where he passed away 22 Nov 1929.

I also have information that says he was a Coal Miner in Scotland.

I have very little information about both Thomas & Catherine's parents.

I'm hoping for anything & everything, fingers crossed for photos one day. Birthdates, hopefully a little article in the papers or something.

Thomas' parents I have only names, John Francis Bristow & Ann Breslin.

Catherine Dillon I have being born 1859 in "Ireland" and passed away 31 Aug 1922 in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Parents names are Francis Dillon & Sarah Lennon. I do have they had another daughter Rosanna born 23 Sept 1864 who was baptised at St Matthews Church, Ballymacart.

Thank you all for anything information you can help with.

Kylie :)

KJGlynn

6 years ago

2 replies

Kylie,

The part of Belfast where Thomas & Catherine lived at some point is Ballymacarret (not Ballymacart). It’s on the east side of the city near Harland & Wolff’s shipyard.

Here’s Rosina Dillon’s birth certificate, which shows that her father Francis was a servant in Ean Hill, Holywood. Holywood is a posh suburb about 4 miles east of Belfast city centre. Francis was a servant, so he may have been working in a Belfast merchant’s house or similar.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1864/03598/2326951.pdf

I don’t see any other later children to Frances & Sarah so perhaps Rosina was the last.

The 1879 marriage certificate tells you that John Bristow was alive then, and that he was a labourer. It ‘s not a very common name. I searched for deatsh in the Belfats area 1879 onwards. I only found one that seems to fit:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1891/06057/4726685.pdf

John normally lived in Mustard St but died in the workhouse. (The workhouse had an infirmary attached and people who were seriously ill often went there, so it’s not that unusual). John’s wife was still alive and the informant was Mary Jane Williamson, his daughter.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1891/06057/4726685.pdf

Here’s Mary Jane’s marriage in 1872:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1872/11321/8154392.pdf

Mary Jane and family in 1901 & 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Shankhill/Beres…

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Shankill/Beresford_Street/150399/

This is probably Francis Dillon’s death in 1887. Sarah had pre-deceased him in 1881. Informant was his daughter in law Nellie Dillon.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1887/06227/4782168.pdf

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1881/06453/4854937.pdf

Son Frances Dillon married Ellen Savage:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1882/10972/8011185.pdf

Francis & Ellen in 1901: