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Reilly's of Shankill, Antrim

AntrimShankill (Antrim)

I have beenresearching some family history, and we are planning a family trip to Belfast this September. I have been researching many sites, and have accumulated a lot of information. However, it seems I've come to a standstill. We would love to connect with any living relatives still in the area, but I am unable to find any more information. My great-grandma Sarah Reilly was Baptized in the Church of Holy Cross, Ardoyne, Belfast on the 17th of January 1892, immigrated to Canada in 1912 by herself, and married Sam Fonger in 1924. I believe her parents names were Thomas Reilly and Mary Ann (Campbell) Reilly. They had 6 children: Ellen Jane, Thomas Henry, Corneilius, Mary Ann (maybe went by Margaret, or Molly?), Sarah Ita Josephine, & John. Thomas and many of the children worked in a spinning mill, but I'm not sure which one. One of the sons immigrated to the US, but I'm not sure which one either. One of the girls married a Jacob Moore, we believe, who may have been in the military. I believe they had two girls, Maureen (Mollie?) Moore (a nun), and Joshephine Moore. I founda census in 1911, where Margaret Reilly lived on Leopold Street in Shankill, Antrim, with her grandmother Maragaret Campbell, and a Thomas McGarry. We would love to learn anymore information about the family, wherethey are buried, and any information on Sarah's siblings, and if there are any living relatives in the area. I have attached the only pictures my Grandma has of the family. My Grandma, Sarah Reilly's daughter, is still living, and would love to know any information she could! Thanks

IrelandXO member

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I assume this is your family in 1901:

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Shankill_Ward/Bray_Street/984000/

 

It lists 7 children.

 

I had a look for the childrens births on the GRONI site.  I found the following, which may relate to your family, based on searching parents surnames Reilly & Campbell:

Ellen 10.6.1877 registered Banbridge

Margaret 31.3.1878 Banbridge

Mary 9.3.1880 Banbridge

Lizzie 25.1.1881 Belfast

Cornelia 8.7.1886 Belfast (female)

Mary 14.3.1889 Belfast

Mary 30.11.1893 Belfast

There may well have been more than 1 couple with the 2 surnames. However Banbridge registration area includes a fair bit of Co Down which we know is where some of the older children were born, so that might be right.  There’s several Marys but if a child died it was the custom to reuse the name so that’s quite feasible.

The marriage between Mary Ann Campbell and Thomas O’Reilly was registered in Banbridge on 14.8.1875. (The O & Mc prefixes in Irish names are detachable and are often added or removed at whim. They are not regarded as an integral part of the surname).

I didn’t see Thomas or John’s births. Presume Thomas and Mary Ann (the parents) died between 1901 & 1911. Possibly buried in Milltown cemetery.

You can view the original certificates on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

I looked for a marriage between Jacob Moore and a Campbell but did not see one in Ireland, up to 1921.

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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