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James Browne b.1853 Rockcorry

MonaghanEmatris (Monaghan)

I am researching the family history of my great grandfather James Browne and his Irish ancestors. James was born on 22 December 1853 in Rockcorry, Monaghan and baptised on 19 March 1854Parish Ematris, County Monaghan. James was the son of Adam Browne (died 13 September 1863) and Adam's second wifeLouise Frances Josett Reymond(18151884). Louise died in Cootehill in March of 1884. Adam and Louise had married on 23 April 1849 at St John's Kilcrow (Ematris). Family tradition has it that Adam was a gardener and Louise a ladies maid on a big estate. I have found an Adam Browne in Griffith's valuation as a tenant for the townland of Boyher under Immediate Lessors Lord Cremorne.

Adam Browne was the son of Isaac Browne and Jane (?).

James Browne may have had a brother or a stepbrother named Anslem, who ended up immigrating to the United States.

I visited Cootehill and Rockcorry a couple of years ago but was unable to find any gravestones in the local cemeterieswhich might have been related.

That is about as much as I know. I would love to know more about James' family, first wife etc. and if there are still any decendents of James Browne and his first wife or of Isaac and Jane Browne stillliving in Ireland.

slevans

6 replies

What was Adam's occupation and townland (address) on the 1849 marriage certificate?

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn 

I don't have Adam's actual marriage certificate - the information comes from an index only record Civil Marriage Records, , Misc, Ireland FHL Film Number:101305, Reference ID:2:1VLXL4G. and from the Ireland, Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1845-1958 Volume:4, Page Number:341, FHL Film Number:101242. The Church Marriage record I also found in rootsIreland lists Adam's occupation as farmer and the address as Rockcorry, Parish Of Ematris, Co. Monaghan. I guess the next step may be to see if I can get a copy of the original marriage certificate?

slevans

You can order a photocopy of the certificate from GRO Roscommon for €4 (euros).  http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx

You have to download and print off the form. Then either post or fax it back to them. You can’t e-mail it to them. However if you want them to e-mail the cert to back to you, they will do that, so tick the relevant box.

Put the reference details on the form (anywhere). Don’t worry about leaving some boxes blank. As long as GRO have the location, name(s), year, quarter (where there is one), volume and page number they should find it.

Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church which should be on the certificate, (unless it was a Registry Office marriage). That church may be the place to look for her baptism and that of any siblings.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn

I've manged to get a copy of the marriage certificate but it is not all that helpful it records Adam Browne's residence at time of marriage as Rockcorry, Parish of Ematris, Co. Monaghan, his occupation as farmer, and his status as widower. His wife, Louise Raymond's address is recorded as Glen Burnie (which I have assumed is in Scotland, unless there is an estate in the area which had that name ?) and her occupation is not listed. The two witnesses are a H. Browne and a Clement Read. 

I also have the marriage certificate of Adam's farther Isaac Browne who's address is recorded as Lisnasaran, Drumgoon Parish, Co. Cavan, occupation farmer, status bachelor and his wife Sarah Hopper, residence Ematris Parish, Co. Monaghan, occupation not listed, and status Widow. The two witnesses are a James Timlin and a Robert Harper.

Both marriages are recorded as having taken place at St John's Kilcrow (Ematris). 

I'll see if I can access the records for St John's Kilcrow next, but any further suggestions welcome....?

slevans

I looked in Griffiths Valuation for 1858. Adam Browne is listed in Rockcorry. He is shown as renting plot 46 which was a house, outbuildings and a small garden (1 rood) in the village. That small property would not really equate with his description of himself as a farmer on his marriage certificate unless he had land elsewhere. However that does appear to be the case. Griffiths lists an Adam Browne with land only (ie no house) on the townland of Glen, where he had plot 9 which was almost exactly 9 acres. He is also listed in Boyher where he has plot 2 which is just over 2 acres, again without a house. So it looks as though he lived in Rockcorry and then farmed these 2 separate pieces of land.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

You can use the revaluation records in the Valuation Office to trace these plots of land forward to see who took over after Adam’s death in 1863.

Not sure where Glen Burnie is. It does sound Scottish, and might be there, but I doubt it was in Scotland because when someone came from Scotland or even a different parish, that was usually mentioned specifically on the marriage certificate. (There are plenty of Glens in Ireland too. Indeed Adam had land in one). I’d expect it to be local to E-matris.

I see from the NLI Wills site that Adam died intestate and that Louisa was appointed his executor. The probate file itself will have been destroyed in the 1922 fire.

According to my Church of Ireland catalogue, E-MAtris baptism and marriage records start in 1766 (burials 1811) so you may be able to get back a little further. They are kept in the RCB library in Dublin (and not in the parish). PRONI in Belfast only has a copy from 1811 onwards, so the RCB seems to offer the best prospects.

I looked for Isaac Browne in Drumgoon in the tithe applotment records for the 1820s but did not find him. Nor was there any sign of Adam in Monaghan.

However the 1849 marriage certificate and Griffiths in 1858 both seem to suggest that Adam was a small farmer (typical of the time) rather than a Gardener. Though of course he may have done a bit of both.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn 

I wonder in that case if there is any way of following up the other family story of James's mother Louise Frances Josett Reymond  (born about 1815–DEATH MAR 1884 • Cootehill, Ireland) being a ladies maid ? I know it is a long shot but Would there be lists of servants for any of the big estates around Rockcorry at that time?

regards

Sherrie 

 

slevans

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