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Ellen Byrne

Donegal

Several years ago, I started researching my Irish ancestors, but was unable to continue. I did receive some info from other members, but have since lost their email addresses.

I believe mygrandmother, Ellen Byrne,was born In County Donegal in 1901. There is a 1911 census showing a house at 24 Kilcasey, with a father, Patrick Byrne, and a mother, Margaret, as well as 6 sisters and 1 brother. I dont know if this is actually my grandmothers family, but would like to find out for sure.

My grandmother, Ellen, became a servant in the home of my grandfathers uncle in county Armagh. My grandfather was William Alexander, and was Protestant. Ellen was Catholic. I believe Ellen emigrated to Canada in 1924, just after the birth of my father in Derry.

My parents separated when I was 3, and I didnt find my father again until I was 19. I did not get much information from him, and cannot prove he was my father, because I was adopted by my mothers second husband, making my original birth certificate invalid, or so Ive been told.

I would love to find any information I could about the Alexanders and the Byrnes.

Deborah Alexander

12 replies

If you were formally adopted in Northern Ireland after about 1927 I am fairly sure you have a right to see your original birth certificate, which may contain your father’s details. Looking at the Govt website for England & Wales you need to fill in an application for “Birth certificate Information Before Adoption” (BIBA) service if you don’t know your birth details. Which application form you fill in depends on whether you live inside or outside the UK. The website says that applicants who were adopted in Northern Ireland should contact GRONI in Belfast. Contact details for ringing or e-mailing GRONI:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/contacts-az/general-register-office-northern-ireland

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you.  No, I was born and adopted in Canada.  I recently divorced, and tried to go back to my birth name.  I was told it was not a valid name, and that all records were null and void because of adoption.

Deborah Alexander

Does your original birth certificate exist? I don't know anything about adoption law in Canada. Is there not a similar service for people who have been adopted like the one detailed by Elwyn ?

Did your grandmother marry in Ireland or in Canada? Her marriage certificate should have her father's name. Was there any information about her family in her immigration records?

 

questor37@gmail.com

You have two threads running in your search for these families which makes things a bit confusing. Wm Alexander married Ellen Byrne in 1924, registered in Stranorlar. On that marriage cert, Ellen’s father was William Byrne, labourer.  You have said that you think you have found Ellen’s family in Kilcasey in the 1911 census. That family has Patrick as head of household. So given that her marriage certificate says her father was William, I’d say the Kilcasey family is not the right family.

You seem to know that your father was born in Derry in 1924.  You should be able to obtain a copy of his birth certificate from GRONI. It’s not on-line but you can order it from them on the net.

Did Ellen die in Canada? If so, what parents names are on her death certificate?

I can see an Ellen Byrne who was born in Carrick, Donegal on 16.5.1897. Parents were William Byrne and Eliza McElhinney.  Sister Catherine born there 2.3.1899. And possibly Daniel 25.11.1894.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Name:William AlexanderBirth Date:12 mai 1885 (12 May 1885)Death Date:21 nov 1955Cemetery:Westminster Memorial ParkBurial or Cremation Place:Toronto, Toronto Municipality (Toronto), Ontario, CanadaHas Bio?:NURL:https://www.findagrave.com/mem...

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There is a tree on ancesty.com, Alexander Family Tree, owner user name: shOHalleran(exactley how written) 

Hope this can help Maggie May a bit..I looked up since I,too have Burney name..GRGRGrandma Catherine Burney married Wm McCain(and variations) with son Wm B came to Philadelphia,Pennsylvania abt 1837 since a daughter Catherine born on the sea. Family listed in 1840/1850 census as McKean...   Lois Butler

lois223b@yahoo.com

Thank you all for your replies.  This helps a lot!  I now have something to go on!

longlost

Thank you all for your replies.  This helps a lot!  I now have something to go on!

longlost

GRGRGrandma Catherine Burney married Wm McCain(and variations) with son Wm B came to Philadelphia,Pennsylvania abt 1837 since a daughter Catherine born on the sea. Family listed in 1840/1850 census as McKean... 

 

PER 1850 USFederal census in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania William McCain(and variations) born abt 1815, wife Catherine

born abt 1819 and son William B. born abt 1834 all in Ireland(we were told Northern Ireland)  There are birneys in Philadelphia

related and connected to my female dna, but cannot prove Catherine a sibling, as no parents listed. We do not know when

William ;and Catherine(parents ,died annd/or where) Thank you Lois Butler

lois223b@yahoo.com

where do I start a new thread on the message boaards? I don't know parish, just northern ireland TYLois

lois223b@yahoo.com

There isn’t a board for Northern Ireland. You can do a specific county or even just Ireland but there’s no facility for Northern Ireland itself.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi:  you can start a new thread or create a message by going back to the message board.  Here is the link:  https://irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/message-board.
If you have any questions, please let me know on this thread.

All the best,  

Jane 

jhalloranryan@…

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