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Erwin and Rainey of Ballymena

AntrimKirkinriola (Antrim)

My great grandparents John Erwin (Irwin) (b 1860 (location ? d 1934 in Ballymena) and Jane Rainey (b 1866 location ? d 1950s in Scotland) were married here at 1st Presbyterian in 1886. They had 13 children. Jane was the daughter of John Henry Rainey and Mary Jane Nisbet. John was the son of James Erwin.

John was a Colporteur and he moved his family accross the North of Ireland - but started and ended in Ballymena. Boyle, County Mayo,Corralinnen (Enniskillen Rural, Fermanagh)

He is listed as having relatives of James (flax dresser) and Hugh (ship joiner) living in Belfast on Syringa Street - I found this in their wills.

I have hit a wall of sorts on this research. I am trying to locate his fathers parents names and other relatives. I think he was born in Ballyeaston - but I am not sure. I also have no information on the Rainey side and only a small bit on the Nisbet side. Anyone who might have connections - I would love to hear from you.

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Hi Lindsay
There is a record of the marriage of John Erwin to Jane Rainey in Ballymena co Antrim 2 Jan 1886 on www.rootsireland.ie/ (a subscription site)
They are both from Ballymena & both over 21 years old; he was a Millworker
Fathers James Erwin & John Rainey
John's baptism record is there too: 4 Jan 1857 Ballymoney C of I Antrim; address at the time Castle St Ballymoney, father was a Dealer; mother Margaret.
Jane Rainey is there too: born 1 Jan 1868 Ballymena (Kirkinriola) Antrim R C. Father John mother Jennifer Park.
Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

I am with you on the marriage record.  I am not so sure on the baptsim records - particularly for Jane.  When John died in 1934 his death cert put his birth in 1860.  I know in genealogical terms that doesnt mean anything really.  Your info does put him closer however to a known DNA match for his YDNA line. So I will take that info and work with it.

As for Jane I think we have a miss.  Her father was listed as Henry Rainey on the death cert (known as John Henry Rainey) and her mother was Mary Jane Nesbit.  I have that confirmed for sure with DNA, a paper trail and a family trip. 

THeir first few children were born and baptized at the same church as they were married.  Then they headed west for a while and returned around the late 1920s and lived on Prince's street in Ballymena untl he died. 

I was working on the premise that John was born in Ballyeaston for no other reason than he seemed to name his first few boys after prominent clergy in his life.  His one son was Edward Simpson Erwin, and Edward Simpson was the man who married Jane and John. Another son was William Raphael Erwin - and William Raphael was the minister at First Pres Ballyeaston around the time John was born.  There was also a John Erwin born there in 1860 - but the siblings listed don't match the ones I have in the Will data.  I know Raphael is a name in the Ballymena area. 

I am going to work with the Baptism for John you provided and see where I can take that.    Thank you so much for taking the time to investigate for me. Its a bit frustrating being so far away - I know I could do more if I could just walk to a chuch or gov office and spend a few hours. 

 

IrelandXO member

No birth record for Jane I'm afraid.

I'm not sure which sites you know about but geni.nidirect.gov.uk is a good for Northern Ireland records but you need to purchase credit.

I notice the Nesbitt public member tree on ancestry (owner Debbie Nesbitt) has John W Rainey born 1833 in USA (no parents names given) married Mary Jane Nesbitt also born USA.

Her line goes back to a Thomas Nesbitt born in Ireland 1757 died Limestone Alabama 1835.

There are a couple of birth records of Thomas Nesbitt around that year from Cavan and Antrim on Family Search (free site).

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

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