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Looking for Mortland

DonegalLeck (Donegal)

I do hope someone can help.  I am looking for information on my great grandparents and their ancestors.  My great granfather was Samuel MORTLAND.  He was born about 1845 in Leckin.  My great grandmother was Eliza Mary ORR (or Mary Elizabeth ORR - she used both versions).  She was born about 1856 in Castlebane.  They married on 08 Aug 1872 at Letter Kenny.  They emigrated to New Zealand with their children Emily (aged 3 years) and John (aged 1 year).  They departed on the ship "Opawa" on 26 Sep 1877 and landed at Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 03 Jan 1878.

Samuel's younger brother Alexander was born about 1852.  He had already emigrated to New Zealand where he married Sarah BOYD in about 1886.  He emigrated to New Zealand on the ship "Tintern Abbey" which left Ireland on 07 Jan 1875 and arrived in New Zealand on 03 May 1875.

I believe Samual and Alexander's father was named John MORTLAND but I am not sure.  All the information I have comes from the birth records of Samuel and Eliza's younger children who were born in New Zealand, or from their death certificates - which may not be accurate.

I have included a photo of Samuel, Eliza and their children.  I would love to find parish or civil records that reveal more infomation on my forebears.  I hope someone can help.  Thank you so much if you can.

 

Louise Mortland

2 replies

I see an Orr family still in Castlebane in the 1901 census. So this might be Eliza Mary?s family. They married c 1868, acc to the 1911 census, so they can?t be her parents but I?d expect there to be some connection:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Castlewray/Castlebane/1187805/

and in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Castlewray/Castlebane/497834/

The family were Presbyterian and so I would focus on those records. The rootsireland site has 2 Eliza Orrs born c 1856 in Donegal. (Pay to view) You might want to explore those.

Griffiths Valuation has a William Orr farming in Castlebane in 1858. Perhaps that?s Eliza?s father? He had plot 3 which was a farmhouse and 25 acres of land. That?s on the north east outskirts of Letterkenny today. Easy enough to find, should you ever wish to do so.

For the Mortland family, I can?t find a Leckin in Co Donegal, though it does seem to exist. Here?s john Mortland?s will, which gives and alternative spelling of Lackin as the placename. The abstract (summary) mentions Larkin but that doesn?t exist either:

Full Abstract :

The Will of John Mortland late of Larkin County Donegal Farmer who died 3 February 1881 at same place was proved at Londonderry by the Reverend Robert Beattie of Convoy in said County Presbyterian Minister the sole Executor.             Effects ?97 15s.

You can read the full will on this link:

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm

The 2 children Joseph and Ann Jane Mortland (mentioned in the will) seem to have left Ireland by the time of the 1901 census.

Rootsireland has a Samuel Mortland baptism in 1843 in Co Donegal. You might want to pay for it. Searching on John as the father 1845 plus or minus 20 years, and with no childs name, gets 10 matches for children, including Alexander, so you may be able to get the siblings from that source.

If any of the records provide an alternative townland name, let me know and I?ll see if I can find the farm for you in Griffiths Valuation.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

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