Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Garner/Johnston Belfast

AntrimAntrim (Antrim)

I have the marriage record for James Garner/Gardner and Elizabeth Johnston. They were married 6 Oct 1868 in Belfast. His father is Edward Gardner, tailor. Her father is James Johnston, block printer. James is also listed as a tailor. They had 11 children, 1 died as an infant. The eldest Mary married William (Bill) Brown they had two daughters. Next Edward moved to Carlisle, England and married there and had 9 children. James married Mary Adair they had at least 3 children. Agnes married John Shearer (died young), they had 3 daughters. Agnes and daughters moved to Canada. William married Lucy Williamson and had a daughter, they moved to Canada. Ann married Samuel (Sam) Morrow, they had at least 4 children. Charles married in Ireland and moved to California, USA, they had two children. Andrew married Anne Moffett, he was also a tailor and I believe he stayed in Belfast. Elizabeth, I have no information on her. Robert the youngest moved to Canada and was married there and had 5 children. I would like to find out more onJames Garners parents, his fatherEdward and who his mother was. Elizabeth Johnston was born in Scotland. I would also like to get in touch with any descendents of the children that stayed in Ireland. Jeanne

IrelandXO member

2 replies

The 1852 street directory has an Edward Garner, tailor & spirit dealer at 53 New Lodge Rd, Belfast. Might be your ancestor.

http://streetdirectories.proni.gov.uk/media/3HkY1UiK8jAt-qyijy55tw..a?ts=AUdWSNVc27U8wKYf9Sqg1A..a

I assume this is the family in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Clifton/Oldpark_Road/146623/

You?ll need to rely on church records to try and find James Gar(d)ner?s birth.  Since they were Methodist, you would probably need to go through the Methodist church records at PRONI in Belfast (and perhaps also the Church of Ireland, since they will originally have been that denomination. The date when Methodists started conducting their own baptisms varies according to several factors including which type of Methodist they were eg Primitive, Wesleyan etc).

I can see that Andrew Garner married Anne Moffett on 29.8.1913. It?s easy enough to find what children they had in Belfast, but the records are not on-0line and a visit to the GRONI office in Belfast is required to search for them. (Only birth records 100 years or over are on-line).

I found this probate abstract:

Probate of the Will of James Garner late of 333 Oldpark Road Belfast Tailor's Cutter who died 2 May 1916 granted at Belfast to James Johnston Printer. (Retired) Effects ?444 7s. 6d.

The full probate file is not on-line but can be viewed in PRONI. (Or they will send you a copy for a fee).

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm

Here?s William & Mary in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Clifton/Old_Park_Road/962679/

They married on 31.10.1891. Sarah was born 6.9.1896. You could search forward to look for their 2 childrens marriages using GRONI?s records. But Sarah & Lily Brown are both fairly common names. You might have to pay to view quite a few to find the right ones.

I couldn?t immediately see Ann & Samuel Morrow in the censuses, but the names are very common. Same criteria apply though., A trip to GRONI to serach for the children's eventual marriages is probably required. (Assuming they stayed in Ireland).

 

Elwyn

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for the information and quick reply.  Jeanne

IrelandXO member

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.