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Simpsons

LeitrimMohill (Leitrim)

Hi Folks,

I am searching my Simpson ancestors from Mohill. James Simpson (b 1802?) and Mary Sherrit (b 1809?) m about 1830. They were Methodists. Had 8 kids: Wensley, Francis, Anne, James, Catherine, Elizabeth, Jane, George.  Wensley killed in the Crimean War, Jane died (we think), Anne married a James Woods; the rest emigrated to NZ, 2 in 1863 rest in 1865. I will be in Mohill this Tues Wed (13-14 Oct). Would love to talk with anyone who can tell me more about the family. Thanks, Mikhal Stone (Mike)

Mikhal

8 replies

If you would like to meet a local volunteer, please complete the “Meet and greet” request on our Home Page. (It may be tricky to arrange at such short notice.)

You will likely need church records to trace these ancestors.

It’s worth understanding a little about Methodism’s origins. John Wesley (a Church of England Minister) wanted Methodism to supplement the teachings of the Church of England/Ireland. He originally advised holding services on Sunday afternoon, so the congregation could still attend the Church of England/Ireland in the morning. He didn’t want it to be a separate denomination, though eventually it did become one.

Methodism took a lot longer to become established in Ireland as a separate denomination than in England. In Ireland there was considerable resistance to separating from the Church of Ireland. In 1816 the main body of Irish Methodists (the Wesleyans) took the decision to allow baptisms in their preaching houses or chapels, but it was a practice that was only gradually introduced so that it wasn’t until the 1830s or 1840s that it became fairly standard. Because of continuing loyalty and other factors, many - including Primitive Wesleyans - continued to use the Church of Ireland for years after this and it was 1871 before all Methodists routinely performed their own baptisms.

For Methodist marriages, the earliest I am aware of date from 1835 (Belfast Donegall Square, the first Methodist church in Ireland). However in the mid 1800s there were only a few Methodist Ministers (Methodism relied heavily on lay preachers). That shortage led to the continuing practice of marrying in the Church of Ireland. In addition, in the early years, many Methodist Meeting Houses were not licensed for marriages so that too contributed to marrying in the Church of Ireland.

So to summarise, you are unlikely to find many Methodist baptisms before 1829. Few marriages before 1840s and only a handful for many years after that. If there are no Methodist records in the location you are researching, try the Church of Ireland records instead as that’s the most likely place to find them.

Not many Methodist Meeting Houses have graveyards and so many are buried in public or Church of Ireland graveyards instead.

In Mohill’s case the local Methodist church has no records earlier than 1882 suggesting that the congregation used the Church of Ireland for baptisms and marriages until then. Mohill Church of Ireland has baptism, marriage and burial records from around 1785 onwards. My guide to church records says they are in the RCB Library in Dublin, and that some years are also on the Rootsireland site (subscription).

NON RC marriages were recorded in the statutory Irish marriage records from 1845 onwards. I did search for Ann's marriage to James Woods 1845-1865 but did not find it.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Mikhal:

As Elwyn indicated records for the Church of Ireland parish of Mohill are on Roots Ireland. There are some records in the late 1700s and records from 1802-1814. However, it appears that there are no baptismal records from 1814-1831 and no marriage records from 1814 to 1832. I did not locate the marriage record for James and Mary or the baptismal record for Wensley. I did locate the baptismal records for the other seven children.

Francis 1834 Anne 1838 James 1840 Catherine 1842 Elizabeth 1845 George 1850

There are some death records for Mohill C of I parish including a James Simpson who died at 75 in 1866. Maybe not your James if he was born in 1802.

Griffiths Valuation records from 1857 for Mohill civil parish show three James Simpson records in the following townlands: Corlea, Corboghil and Gortavocan. I assume your James is one of the three. It is also possible that he was leasing land in all three townlands.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

MiKhal tree shows Ann's husband as Joseph. Both her parents moved to NewZealand.

SpouseJoseph Woods
FatherJames Simpson
MotherMary Sherritt
Birth3 Jun 1838 Leitrim, Ireland
Death25 Jan 1900 Longford, Ireland

@@

NameAnne Simpson
GenderFemale
Marriage Date23 May 1855
Marriage PlaceMohill, Leit, Ire
FatherJames Simpson
SpouseJoseph Woods
FHL Film Number101369
Reference ID2:3LFHT9W

mtvrdk@gmail.com

The Simpson baptisms on rootsireland indicate the family lived in Carboghil. See https://www.townlands.ie/leitrim/leitrim/mohill/bunny-beg/corboghil/

Church Baptism Simpson Francis 1834 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson Ann 1838 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson James 1840 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson Catherine 1842 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson Elizabeth 1845 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson Jane 1847 Co. Leitrim

Church Baptism Simpson George 1850 Co. Leitrim

glanvil3@aol.com

The Tithe Applotment Books show  two Simpsons in "Corbohill" in 1834.

William Simpson

1834

Corbohill, Mohill, Leitrim

Francis Simpson

1834

Corbohill, Mohill, Leitrim

glanvil3@aol.com

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