James Kilpatrick from Armagh or Armar

Virginia,

There’s nowhere in Ireland named Armar and I’d say it’s fairly safe to assume that’s an error for Armagh. (Which is pronounced Arma, and is in Ulster).

Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick are interchangeable names in Ireland so you should keep both versions in mind when searching any Irish records.

James’ father was a farmer. Most farmers in Ireland were listed in the tithe applotment records which cover the period 1825 – 1839.  Assuming the family are from Co. Armagh, here’s a list of James Kilpatrick/Kirkpatricks who were farming in that county in the 1820s/1830s. The list gives their townland (address), parish and the county. One of them might be your James’ father.

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland : Ballygrubany Year: 1834-Mullaghbrack-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland : Charlemont (Borough Of) Year : 1828-Loughgall-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland : Derrynaught Year: 1834-Mullaghbrack-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland : Markethill Year: 1834-Mullaghbrack-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland: Ballygrubany Year: 1834-Kilclooney-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland: Derrynaught Year: 1834-Kilclooney-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-- Townland: Markethill Year: 1834-Kilclooney-Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-T: Cullermoney Lower Y: 1826-Leckpatrick-Tyrone and Armagh

Kilpatrick, James-Townland: Killylea Townland Year: 1827-Tynan-Armagh

Kilpatrick, Jas.-- Townland : Clonmain Year : 1828-Loughgall-Armagh

Kirkpatrick, Jas. T: Drumcart Y: 1833--Clonfeacle-Armagh

Kirkpatrick, Jas. T: Moy Y: 1833--Clonfeacle-Armagh

Hello Virginia,

At rootsireland, there’s a transcription for the 3 Dec 1796 marriage of George Trelford and Jane Dobbs. Parish of Loughgall, COI. “Recorded in Ardress townland.”

For info on location of this townland, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardress,_County_Armagh

Rootsireland shows a few baptisms of children of a George and Jane (no surname) Trelford in Cavan.

It also has a baptism for Elizabeth Trelford of Ardress, born 2 Sept 1810, baptized at age 4 on 5 Sept. 1814 in Loughgall, COI, in Armagh.

It's possible you might find a Cranwell or Fitzpatrick married to a descendant of George and Jane.

I hope this is helpful.

Hello Elwyn and Patricia, It is absolutely so exciting to receive your replies - and so quickly. Thank you! Perhaps I should have included that an old family tree penned by my great aunt Irene, a sister to my grandmother Mabel, listed her grandfather James Kilpatrick's birthday as 22 June 1820. I totally agree with Elwyn that the stonemason from Avoca, Victoria who inscribed the headstone as Armar, did so phonetically, with no idea of the spelling of Armagh! I can definitely say that our family are not the Kilpatrick family of Market Hill after a DNA comparison of the data by George Sims revealed no relationship. The same DNA evidence applies to the Kilpatrick family from Kildarton, Ardagh, with no match there either. I did see that there were some Kilpatricks listed in a Census from Coleraine, but I am not sure if that is in Armagh. However the news from Patricia with a link with the Kilpatrick and Telford families to Loughgall is very exciting. It might be that George Telford had a sister who married into the Kilpatrick family or his mother came down the Kilpatrick line. Due to the baptisms of the Telford children of George and Jane, I don't think this is my James Kilpatricks direct line as they would be too young. But possibly from the generation before. The fact that the Telford family migrated to America and had a large family and many enthusiastic researchers may account for the large number of matches in common with this Telford line. The DNA science is incredible and the matches are very compelling and just perhaps your wonderful replies have helped to locate Loughgall as the place I should concentrate my research. I am not sure if there are any records surviving for baptisms and marriages for the Kilpatricks of Loughall. One other think of interest is the fact that James and Eliza Kilpatrick named a son Alfred Hayes Kilpatrick and another George Frederick William Kilpatrick. Two other sons seem to have names from their maternal Cranwill side. Sadly none of their sons survived childhood in Avoca after a disastrous Diptheria epidemic raged through the town in 1864. The Kilpatrick family lost two daughters, Caroline and Jessie Evangeline as well in the space of three dreadful weeks in a tragedy that is unimaginable today. Only three daughters survived and no Kilpatricks were left to carry on the family name, so perhaps this is why we know so little about this part of our ancestry. I have placed a family chapter on my website about the Cranwill and Kilpatrick families at www.relativesmatter.com - I am so grateful for you kindness and help. Sincerely Virginia

Virginia,

Kilpatrick/Kirkpatrick are very common names in Ulster. In the 1901 census there were 938 Kilpatrick & 1239 Kirkpatrick. 146 Kilpatrick in Co. Armagh alone. So the family in Coleraine (100 miles away and in Co. Derry) is probably unconnected. It’s just a common name here.

Most of the Kilpatricks in the 1901 census were Presbyterian with a significant number of Church of Ireland. So I’d suggest they are the 2 denominations to focus on in your research.

Loughgall Church of Ireland has baptism, marriage & burial records from 1706 onwards (with gaps). Loughgall Presbyterian church (Cloveneden) has Baptisms, 1842-1965; marriages, 1819-22, 1826-8, 1845-79 and 1881-1925.

Copies of both the above sets of records are held in PRONI in Belfast. If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

Keep an open mind on the Kilpatrick/Kirkpatrick spelling aspect. Just because they were perhaps, always Kilpatrick in Australia doesn’t mean it was like that in Ireland. Families here switched between the 2 all the time. (And there are many other interchangeable surnames here eg: McDowell & Madole, Robertson & Robinson, Nogher & Connor, Patterson & Pattison, Faulkner & Falconer, McConnell & McDonnell, Kerr & Carr, Stewart & Stuart, Stevenson & Steenson).  So Irish records may contain either version.

Good luck with your search, Virginia, and thank you for your kind words.

Thanks so much Elwyn, I take on board about the names Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick and lament that the names are so common in Northern Ireland, which makes research just that bit more difficult. Thanks so much for your help. Virginia