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Magiltons in Holywood

DownHolywood (Down)

My grandfather Henry (Harry) Magilton was born in Holywood in July 1876. He had 4 brothers (Thomas, James, Francis/Frank and John) and a sister, Sarah. His parents were James Magilton and Jane (Mcilmail) who were married in Belfast in 1866. Grandfather Henry emigrated to Iowa in 1890, and brothers Thomas and James later joined him. The three brothers married three Patterson sisters who had emigrated with their mother and siblings in 1905.

James Magilton was born around 1841/1842 killed in 1884 during an altercation on Hill Street in Holywood (I have the newspaper accounts). He had at least 2 brothers - Moses and John - who also lived in Holywood. On James' marriage certificate, his father is listed as 'William, labourer'.

I was unable to find any records of the family after 1884, aside from a census record from 1901 showing a brother living with a Mcilmail family. I'm wondering what happened to my great-grandmother Jane (Mcilmail). On the birth record of one of the children, the name 'Ann Mcilmail' is listed as present at the birth, and am wondering if this might be her mother?

I'll be visiting the area in August,and would love to visit their graves. They were Presbyterian, and am assuming they are buried in a local Presbyterian Church. The names were often mis-spelled/mis-transcribed (I've seen M'gilton, Mcgilten, Magelten etc etc, and Mcilmain). Any assistance will be greatly appreciated!

difrizzell@hot…

4 replies

Presbyterians aren’t necessarily buried in a Presbyterian churchyard. They might be, but many Presbyterian churches didn’t have graveyards so their members used the Church of Ireland instead (being open to all denominations). But in the Belfast area people often used the Municipal graveyards eg the City Cemetery, Roselawn and Dundonald (1905 onwards). Some, but not all, burials in the Belfast area are on this site:

http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/community/burialrecords/burialrecords.aspx

Presbyterians don't generally keep burial records so their church is unlikely to have any information on where they are buried.

I looked for James death certificate but could not find it. Presumably due to the way it is spelled. But if you know the date of death, check local newspapers for the 2 days after the death, for a death notice, which will often say where the burial is to take place. Tradition in Ireland is to bury 3 days after death so you don’t need to search over a lengthy period if you know the date of death.

The Belfast Newsletter is on-line on Ancestry so you can search it there.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Many thanks Elwyn - I've only recently discovered how valuable newspapers can be, and will be going through more of them for death notices. I did find a record for James - it wasn't a death notice, but rather an arrest and trial, as he was assaulted and killed on his way home from work (1884). The newspaper report and subsequent trial provided a lot of information, including his brothers' names, as they were witnesses.I will dig further into the Belfast Newsletter, as it may provide a clue as to what happened to Jane (Mcilmail).

Thank you also for the lead to burial records - I'd not looked there as I'd assumed they'd be buried in a church graveyard. It turns out there are 40+ Magilton records - most are from 20th century but there are 2 'Sarah' records, one of which may be my grandfather's sister as she never married. I will pursue!

Regards, Debbie

difrizzell@hot…

I am descended from one of the three Magilton brothers who married three sisters in Iowa. Great-grandparents. Hello from a very distant cousin.

IrelandXO member

Oh my CasserlyMagilton - are you Ann by any chance? Uncle Sam/Aunt Kelly's daughter? Please e-mail me at difrizzell@hotmail.com

difrizzell@hot…

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