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Looking for family Donnelly/ Burns

Armagh

Hello from Canada !

I don't know any family in Ireland yet but I have visited . I would love some help locating anyone who may also be related to my Great Grand parentsWilliam and Mary Donnelly ( maiden name Burns) who were my Grandfather James Donnelly parents, James was born in CO Armagh in 1907 ." I have a BallyMartrim..Terreskane" on a old piece of paper. My Grandpaimmigrated to Canada when he was 28 years old leaving his family behind( he may have had a brother called Patrick)
My grandfather James married my grandmother here in Canada when he was 31 ,her name was Jofferiene ( Jones) she was 22. They got married onSt Patrick's Day in Southern Ontario March 17, 1939in a town called Thamesville , Ontario ( I often wondered if my Grandfather chose St Patrick's Day so he would feel he had a little bit of his Ireland with him as he was alone that day with no kin to witness his big Day

Thank you , in advance I am 2nd generation Canadian so hoping I may have some cousins to reconnect with. Posted a pic of my Grandfather James takin in the 60's and his Birth certificate ( I just ordered a new one, this one is pretty beaten up)

IrelandXO member

10 replies

The birth certificate indicates the father was William Donnelly of Ballymartrim, who was  a farmer. I think this is him in the 1901 & 1911 censuses:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Ballymartrim/Ballymartrim_Etra/1011698/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Ballymartin/Ballymartrim_Otra/325580/

If tracing his roots, note that William was born in Scotland.

William Donnelly’s wife was Mary Burns. You’ll note that in 1907, James was born in Terraskane. That appears to be where Mary’s family lived. Here she is in 1911 with son John. Your James wasn’t there on census night. Don’t know where he was. According to the census, Mary married around 1895 and had 2 children, both of which were alive in 1911.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Ballymartin/Terraskane/325668/

Family in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Ballymartrim/Terraskane/1011793/

According the land Valuation Revision records there were 4 Donnelly farms in Ballymartrim Otra around 1901 (James, Patrick, Thomas & Henry but no William listed), and I cannot see clearly which was William’s. However in Terraskane I can see that Sarah Burns had plot 15, which was a 10 acre farm. That farm today is on the Ballyscandal Rd, a few miles west of Armagh. Ballymartrim Otra is a few hundred yards away from that on Tullysaran Rd. You might need to knock on a few doors in that area to see if anyone knows of the families today. Donnelly is clearly a very common surname in that area so it might be tricky finding the right ones.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I find this interesting, and a bit baffling as in 1911 my grandfather would have been 4 years old according to his birth certificate, James could it possibly be my GGGrandfather , Williams father, prior to him Marrying Mary Burns..I'm very much interested in who Thomas and Partrick Donnelly were. if rlated at all, as stated Donnelly is a common name and they still reside on Tullysaran rd,  Edwyn mentioned to present day ..

IrelandXO member

I think the James Burns born in Scotland is not Mary’s child. I think he is the son of one of Mary brothers who went to Scotland to work (as huge numbers of people from Ulster did). And it was common to send the children back to stay with the grandparents, so that father and mother could both work in Scotland.

Mary is recorded as having just 2 children. One you already know was your James Donnelly born 3.5.1907 in Terraskane. The other was John Donnelly who was born 22.8.1902 in Terraskane. See:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1902/01903/1738423.pdf

James Burns is not Mary's child. He’s her nephew.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Elwyn, again, jeez I have quite the imagination eh? well That makes sense, James was a very common name too. I guess my great grandparents only had the 2 boys  John being the oldet. I did find Donnelly's living present day in the very area, on the roads you previously mentioned. I plan on sending a letter to Inquire as to whether or not they have great grand parents or great great or may even be the direct children to John. I will be doing this once I figure out a way to word my letter.

Fingers crossed they wonder about , what ever happened to John's Brother as we do them.

Thanks.

Rhonda

IrelandXO member

Hi from Florida,  Researching I believe the same family.  Henry ("Harry") Donnelly born about 1780 Ballymartrim Otra married to Sally Smyth.  Their children:  Owen born 1797, Mary 1799, John 1801, James 1803, Patrick 1806, Sarah 1808 and Michael 1810.  All born Ballymartrim.  Oldest son Owen married Rosanna Lennon (father William) married 1820 Moy, Tyrone.  Rosanna also born Ballymartrim.  1864 Griffiths shows:  Owen Donnelly, Lot #8 Ballymartrim, Alice Donnelly (widow), Lot #9, Henry Donnelly Lot #9; 10 and Owen Donnelly SR - Lot #9; 11 along with sub-tenants Owen Burns, John Williamson, etc.  Landlord Robert Knipe.

Other records show a Patt Donnelly of Ballymartrim married Alice Cullen in 1807 and a James Donnelly married Alice McCuddon/McCaddon in 1806.  This Patt and James are probably brothers of Henry Donnelly.

Rose-Marie Whitam,  email:  IrishRose23002Aol.com 

 

IrelandXO member
bensyd@bell.net

Hi folks, I'm from Scotland, have burns ancestors in Dumfries/Borders area. Intrigued by mention of the name donnelly as l have dna matches showing that name. Would be delighted to share info. Email elainegr
Elaine ay2010@hotmail.co.uk

elainegray2010…

Dear R. Donnelly: 

I'm delighted to see the feedback from others as well as our volunteer, Elwyn with your query.  You might also consider upon arrival to the area, a trip to the local parish priest.  It may be helpful to have him or his staff make a local phone call if they know the family that you are looking for.  Please keep us updated here on your upcoming trip or please email me at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com 

Kind regards, 

Jane

jhalloranryan@…

 

Hello everyone,

i am also researching the donnellys of ballymartrim in armagh, n.Ireland. They are on the maternal side of my family. 
 

i am also from armagh and live here myself, I have been working on my family tree just over two years and I have also done the DNA testing. 
i live a few short miles away from ballymartrim so I'm happy to help anyone if I can. 
 

also interestingly my maternal aunt is married to a donnelly and they both live on Tyra/Teeraw road and own land on terraskane road also. 
 

this was just a quick message to see if this thread is still active, look forward to hearing back from someone. 
 

Kind regards

Deborah 

 

fidgeter@hotmail.com

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