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John Downey (1795-1850) and Bridget Mooney (1805-1865) in Bally Castle 1826 - 1831?

AntrimRamoan (Antrim)

Ireland Reaching Out - www.irelandxo.com

I'm seeking information about my 3rd great-grandparents:

John Downey
born abt 1795, Balinasloe, Galway 
died 20 January 1850, Hulme, Lancashire, England

Bridget Mooney 
born in Ireland about 1805 according to 1841, 1851, and 1861 English census but her death certifcate age indicates she was born in 1812.
died 4 August 1865, Hulme, Lancashire, England

John's British Army service record indicates that when he was discharged with pension in June 1826 he had a wife and was planning to reside in "Bally Castle, County Antrim".

Civil records in England indicate John and Bridget had two children born in Ireland:
William born about 1829 and Mary born about 1831.

Were William and Mary born in Bally Castle?
Was Bridget from Antrim?
Did John Downey serve at the Army Detachment in Bally Castle and meet Bridget there? Were they married in Bally Castle?
From his army record he served with a Capt Hill and Lieutenant Myland at "Mullenford [or Mullenjed?]". Is there such a place near Bally Castle? I've uploaded a transcript and inserted the image refering to this place.

Their daughter Jane (1845-1906) was married to Peter Connor at St. Wilfred's Roman Catholic Chapel in Hulme, Lancashire on 21 April 1866. Jane and Peter emigrated to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1883.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

Chris O'Connor

IrelandXO member

3 replies

There certainly were some Mooney families in Ballycastle. The 1901 census has 1 couple in Ann St and 3 or 4 families in Castle St. So Bridget could be related to them.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

From your timescale, the family probably lived in Ballycastle during the years 1826 to 1841 at the latest, with the 2 children born in 1829 & 1831. Unfortunately the RC baptism and marriage records for Ramoan only start in 1838 so neither the 2 baptisms nor the couples possible marriage there can be verified from those parish records.

I don?t know of any Mullenford near Ballycastle, nor can I see one anywhere in Ireland on the usual townland websites. (I wonder if the place is Mullingar ? a town in Co. Meath?).

I can?t immediately think of any line of enquiry that would help you get the information you need.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for the info.

Can you tell me the source you used for "RC baptism and marriage records. ... only start in 1838". Can I look that fact up somewhere? For other parishes and counties?

Chris O'Connor

IrelandXO member

Chris,

Sorry, I meant to put my source on my message. Careless of me. Yes it will give you details of all RC parish records throughout Ireland.

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/

Be aware that some of the on-line sites don?t have all parish records on their databases. It?s worth checking to see whether they have the parish you are interested in, and also whethe they have both baptisms and marriages. (Sometimes they only have one but not the other leading you to think thta negative result meant the event didn't happen there). Many parish records are still only available in paper or microfilm format and you often have to go to either PRONI in Belfast or, for RC records, the National Library in Dublin to see them. Not all genealogical records are on the internet ? especially in Ireland.

 

 

Elwyn

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

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