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My grandfather, James William Sweetman, was born in Strangford, Co. Down, in 1855, as far as I can find out.

He married Ella Louise Grace Blew in Strood, Kent, in 1899. I have yet to find details/registration of this marriage.

I have been advised that John Patrick Sweetman, a Coastguard Master, was his father. John Patrick Sweetman was married to Mary Ann Ardess.

I am also advised that they ran a hotel in Strangford, but I am unable to get any details of that hotel.

I will be grateful for any information about my grandfather's family. My grandfather served at sea, but I have no information as to when or why he moved to Kent, England.

Many grateful thanks in advance.

JimSweetman

Thursday 24th Oct 2024, 05:13PM

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    Jim,

    Here’s the marriage for John Patrick Sweetman and Maria Ann Ardiss in Downpatrick Register Office in 1852:

    https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1852/09428/5415601.pdf

    Her father was a grocer in Strangford.

    John Sweetman died in 1896 in Strangford aged 77. Coastguard officer.

    https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1896/05910/4677499.pdf

    Here’s the family in 1901. Note that the children were born all over the place which fits with a Coastguard career, where you were moved every few years.

    https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Strangford/Strangford/1233227/

    Marianne was a draper. No mention of any hotel.

    Family were still there in 1944. Probate abstract from the PRONI wills site. The will itself should be in PRONI (in paper format).

    Sweetman John P. of Strangford county Down draper died 4 November 1944 Probate Belfast 3 August to Joseph Fitsimons farmer. Effects £2840 9s. 4d.

    The marriage between James William Sweetman and Ella Blew looks to have been registered in Strood, Kent in Jul-Sept 1899 Volume 2a page 1287 (info you need if you want order a copy from GRO Southport).

    Northern Whig of 9th Feb 1909 reports that John P Sweetman of Strangford had been appointed registrar of births, deaths & marriages for Strangford.

    Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner of 15.2.1896 has a report of John Patrick Sweetman’s funeral. Copy attached.

     

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 24th Oct 2024, 06:02PM

  • Elwyn,

    Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

    I now have work to do following up on this information that you have given me.

    JimSweetman

    Friday 25th Oct 2024, 06:43AM

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