Norry / Byrnes of Castlederg / Ardstraw / Urney

I don’t see a death for Andrew 1864 – 1876 so I would assume he died before 1864. In that case there’s probably no record, unless perhaps he died in the workhouse. According to this link, Castlederg Workhouse has death records from 1841 – 1934. They are in PRONI in Belfast. They are not on-line.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Castlederg/

If the family isn’t in Griffiths it’s likely because they were either itinerant, lodging with another family or staying in a property of too low a value to be listed.

I had a look for other Norr(e)y marriages in Ireland 1864 - 1890 with father Andrew but didn’t see any.

Hi Elwyn,

Many thanks for this, I have reached the same conclusion that Andrew died before 1864. Based on the fact James appears to an only child I would guess Andrew might have died soon after James' birth.

I did the same searches and didn't find anything. When PRONI reopens I might take a trip to Belfast and see if I can find anything. 

The only other Norry's that we are aware of in Ireland (in Griffith's valuation or elsewhere) are based in or around Derry, so it may be that Andrew was part of that family. 

As I mentioned above, the marriage register of James Norry and Mary Byrne state that they were married in St Brigid's Church, Castlederg. Was there such a place? I can't find a record of it. Also is there any significance in the fact James was baptised in a Church of Ireland but married in a Catholic Church? Presumably this was common? 

Andrew

Andrew,

Regarding James being baptised in the Church of Ireland but married in a Catholic church, tradition was to marry in the bride’s church, so it seems she was Catholic and theirs was a mixed marriage. Common enough, as you say. In some cases the groom might convert to Catholicism (in which case you usually find an adult baptism in the church records, about a month before the marriage) but in others the couple sometimes kept their own denominations. Sometimes the boys were brought up the father’s and the girls, the mother’s. 

I would guess from the names that Andrew & Bridget’s marriage was mixed too. I agree that many of the other Norry/Norrie families in the general area were Protestant. (In fact most were Presbyterian, suggesting Scottish ancestry).

You ask about St Bridget’s church in Castlederg. I don’t know the area well enough. I suspect the church is not there now but don’t know for certain.  The parish is probably Ardstraw West, so you could e-mail the parish office to ask what they know about St Bridget’s.

http://www.castledergparish.com

this Norry family were in Ramelton in Donegal after Castlederg and were tailors living in Church Street 

Many thanks, there is an Andrew Norry born in Scotland whose father was James (which was also Andrew's son's name) that was born in the right period so I am going with the working theory that Andrew himself was Scottish. 

Thanks for the link re St Bridget's, I will give them an email or perhaps head in that direction once things go back to normal.

Re Donegal, yes my grandfather was born in Ramelton, I am pretty confident about the family back as far as James Norry. James and his sons seemed to all be tailors, their business was Norry & Sons. 

Regarding James' mother, Mary Byrne, her parents John and Bridget appear to have lived in Castlederg town. However, according to Griffith's Valuation, the only other Byrnes in that area of Tyrone were in Essan/KIlleter, just outside of Castlederg so, again, I'm working off the theory that Mary's father was part of that family.