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When was he born

AntrimDrumbeg (Antrim)

 

I haven't done any research in Ireland as yet.

My great, great grandfather William John Mullin(s) was born in Drumboe, c.1831. His father was Joseph Mullin, a weaver. I would like to find out a little more about William John's parents and siblings.  I believe they were Catholics.  I first found Private William John Mullins aged 20 in the British Census of March 1851 , stationed in HM 30 Depot in Walmer, Kent.

The previous day, 29th March 1851, he married Catherine Flynn in the Congregational Chapel in Deal, Kent.. Both their ages and Catherine's surname are incorrect on the marriage certificate.

Catherine Mullins and her daughter Mary Jane, born Deal 10/8/1850, are shown in the 1851 census, living in The Strand, Walmer, Kent.

William John Mullins transferred to the 65th Regiment (Private #3001) and on 15/8/1852 he & his wife & daughter sailed for New Zealand on board the troop ship "True Briton", with troops from the 58th and 65th regiments. 

It is believed their second daughter Frances was born on board the "True Briton" but no records have been found.

William John Mullins fought in the Maori land wars throughout New Zealand.  He took his discharge on 16/12/1863 and lived the rest of his life in New zealand.

He died in Wanganui on 23/8/1890.

Any help with researching in Drumboe would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Margaret Diggelmann

 

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Hi Margaret,

Thank you for your message.

Drumboe is actually a townland in the civil parish of Duneane.

http://www.logainm.ie/Viewer.aspx?text=Drumboe&streets=yes

I have forwarded your message to one of our volunteers in Duneane who hopefully may be able to advise or assist you.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

 

 

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Margaret,

Statutory registration of births only started in Ireland in 1864 so you won?t find a birth cert for William John. You might find a baptism but to do that you do need to know the religion and place of birth.

In addition to Drumboe in the parish of Duneane (Co. Antrim) there are 6 other places named Drumbo in Ireland, in Counties Cavan (where there are 3), Fermanagh & Monaghan. So the first question I would ask is whether you have any information that indicates your ancestor definitely came from Co Antrim? Could he have come from one of the other Drumbos?

If he did come from Drumboe in the parish of Duneane, and was RC, then the parish records only start in 1834 for baptisms and 1835 for marriages. (Earlier records have either not been kept or have been lost). However you might still find siblings born from 1834 onwards. There is a copy of the parish records in PRONI, Belfast but they are not on-line anywhere as far as I am aware.

The townland of Drumboe in Co Antrim is 79 acres and in 1862, according to Griffiths Valuation there were 4 farms there. There is no mention of a Mullin(s) but weavers sometimes did not make it into Griffiths due to their cottages being below the ?5 rental threshold which Griffiths used.

In 1901 there were 3 farms there. No Mullins, but weavers moved around a lot so it doesn?t mean they weren?t there in the 1830s.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Cranfield/Drumboe/

There are 2 RC churches in Duneane parish, at Cargin and Moneyglass. If your family lived in Drumboe they probably attended Cargin, as that is the nearest and are more likely to be buried there than Moneyglass. RC churches don?t keep burial records but obviously there may be a family gravestone (though with a weaver that is less likely as most weavers couldn?t afford a gravestone). But you never know.

 

 

Elwyn

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

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