Porter/ Bleakley ancestors.

Hi Sarah-Louise,

Thank you very much for your message. I hope that someone with information makes a connection and helps you with your research.

It will make your search much easier if you can narrow down a place of origin to a specific parish. Most Irish record sources- church records, land records, census records- are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Ireland, preferably a parish or placename, it may be difficult to do anything more with these records.

Do you have any documentation pertaining to the family that mentions any place names at all? This can include wills, marriage/death records,census records, letters, diary entries etc.

There are some places where you can search online, however it may be difficult to discern whether the results are relevant to your family or not without more information:

www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.

www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.

If any of them were born after civil registration came in in 1864, you should be able to find a civil record of their birth which would help narrow down place of origin. Civil records are available from the General Register?s Office. Here are their contact details:

General Register Office

Government Offices

Convent Road

Roscommon

Ireland

Tel:+353 90 663 2900

Locall:1890 25 20 76

Fax:+353 90 663 2999

Homepage: http://www.groireland.ie/

Some other websites that may be helpful are:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm

Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/

Alternatively you could try contacting the Ulster Historical Foundation for some assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

Hi Sarah,

John Bleakley is my 2nd Great Grandfather as well.  I believe he was born in Co. Down, Ireland around 1840.  I found them in the Griffith's Valuation, 1848-1864 residing in the Parish of Drumgath/Townland is Tullyquilly, near Rathfriland in the Co. Down; then they moved on to Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. I'm not sure when they moved there, but it would have been between 1887 & 1901, when I found them in the scotland census.

Their son Joseph Bleakley (1868-1954) is my great-grandfather.  He first married Rachel Brown in 1896 (1868-1913) , and then Elizabeth Jane Halliday m. 1914  (1881-1955). I do show Joseph's sister, Sarah Bleakley, married to Samuel Porter on 20 Oct 1897.

I also show additional children of John and Sarah McKee being James b. 1877, Alice abt.1883, John abt. 1885, and William abt. 1887.

Joanne

Hi,

I have an ancestor Gr Gr Gr Grandfather John Blakely living in the Letallion area County Down.. who had a son Francis Bleakly/Blackly/Blakely.. the spelling was not always correct. Francis was born 1838 and married Jane Loughlin...

I was just wondering if this was the same John Blakely? Do you have anymore information on John Blakely?

Louise

Hi Louise,

Francis doesn't appear to be a name in our Bleakley branch. John Bleakley married to Sarah McKee also had a Father named John and his mother was Sarah (unknown last name). This was found on John's death record (27 Jun 1917, in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland) obtained from Scotland's People.

I haven't found much more about them at this time.

I do see your ancestors in the 1901 Census here:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Tofanny/Letalian/

and the 1911 Census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Fofanny/Letalian/

I also looked at the Proni Valuation Revision Books and in 1864 to 1868 Joseph Blakely was living at house 8a, which was formerly occupied by a Margaret Blakely.

1879 to 1883 Joseph Blakely was living at house 8a.

1884 to 1898 Jacob Blakely and Francis Blakely were living at house 8a.

I hope this helps you out a bit!

Joanne