NIMMO

Edith,

Birth registration only started in Ireland in 1864 so James birth is too early for that. We might find his baptism if we knew precisely which church he was baptised in, but there are 50 or 60 possible churches in Belfast. Without more information that would be challenging. Most of the likely records will not be on-line.

Death registration also started in 1864. I searched the deaths 1864 to 1921 and found just 1 Andrew Nimmo anywhere in Ireland. He died in 1890 aged 71, in Leitrim, parish of Drummaul, Co Antrim. That’s a townland outside the village of Randalstown and about 25 miles from Belfast. The age would allow him to be the father of someone born around 1860. Occupation was “iron turner” which is an engineer type skill. So it might be the correct person. Informant was nephew John Nimmo of same townland. Andrew was a widower.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1890/06108/4743319.pdf

I then searched for a Margaret Nimmo death. 1864 to 1890. Again I found just one anywhere in Ireland. She died in Belfast on 7.1.1867 aged 40. So that fits reasonably well. That certificate is not viewable free. Certificates for 1864 to 1870 are pay to view still (the authorities haven’t got around to putting them on-line free yet). So if you want to view it, it is pay to view on the GRONI website. You have to register on the site and buy some credits and it will cost you £2.50 (sterling) to view it.

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

Marriage registration started in Ireland in 1845. I searched the marriage records for a marriage between Andrew Nimmo and Margaret McCulloch 1845 - 1865, but without success. I would guess therefore that they married just before 1845. So to trace that you would need to know where and when they married, and to hope that the records still exist.

The above is the only Andrew in Ireland in the time frame you need. I suspect it may well be your ancestor. I would guess that he was born in nor near Leitrim and then  went to Belfast for work. Then after his wife’s death he moved back to Leitrim to stay with his brother. Check and see whether he was the informant for the 1867 death, and what his occupation was. That should help determine if it’s the right man.

Spotted this probate abstract, relating to a James Nimmo of Leitrim:

Probate of the Will of James Nimmo late of Leitrim County Antrim Farmer who died 16 March 1897 granted at Belfast to Francis Haire of Aughalaughin and Samson Robinson of Aughnamillan House both said County.

The will itself is on-line and mentions sons James & Andrew and Mrs Haire (who appears to be his married daughter).

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/willsSearchResultsDetails.aspx

Mrs Haire’s marriage in 1871:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

James Nimmo was 85 when he died in 1897, so contemporaneous with the Andrew who died in 1890. So that all fits with them being brothers.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

This looks to be the Leitrim Nimmo family in the 1901 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Randalstown/Leitrim/919791/

and in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Randalstown/Lei…

In 1911, Leitrim consisted of 12 houses and a total population of 85 people. Of the 12 houses, 1 was the above Nimmo family and 4 were Nimmons. Experience suggests they are likely to be related to the Nimmo family at some point in the past.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Randalstown/Leitrim/

Without exception all were Presbyterian which points to Scottish ancestry, probably in the 1600s.

There are numerous Nimmons probate abstracts on the PRONI site, both in Leitrim and Randalstown itself. Some of the pre 1901 wills are on-line. For later ones you need to go to PRONI in person to look them up.

Ballymena Observer of 3rd July 1959 mentions that the Rev D. Nimmo, son of the late Andrew Nimmo had emigrated to Canada in 1925. He had graduated from the Presbyterian College in Montreal in 1929 and was recently appointed moderator (ie head, for one year) of the Presbyterian church in Canada. He lived in Wingham, Ontario. He had visited Randalstown last year (ie 1958) and attended Randalstown 2nd Presbyterian church, his old church. So there’s a clue that your family attended Randalstown 2nd (which is still a functioning church in the town).  Your own Andrew Nimmo may be buried there. I would guess that the Rev D. Nimmo was the D. Herbert Nimmo in the 1911 census.

https://www.facebook.com/2ndRPC/?locale=en_GB

Death notice in the Belfast Witness 31st July 1936 reported that Elizabeth Nimmo widow of the late Andrew of Leitrim, Randalstown had died on July 25th 1936 at 730 Indian Rd, Toronto. So I would guess that after her husband’s death she had gone to live with or near her son in Canada.

Northern Whig 11th Sept 1886 records John Nimmo of Leitrim welcome a speaker from the Irish Temperance League to 2nd Randalstown Presbyterian congregation. The lecture was “interspersed with temperance songs and recitations.” Sounds to have been a fascinating evening, I am sure. (I presume that’s the same John Nimmo, nephew, who was the informant for Andrew’s death in 1890. This may be him in the 1901 census and his death in 1910).

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/St__George_s_Wa…

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1910/05414/4513000.pdf

Randalstown 2nd church was established in 1774 but it only has marriage records from 1845 and baptisms from 1850. I live about a mile away. I will have a look in Randalstown 2nd's graveyard over the next few days for any likely Nimmo gravestones.

Death cert for Andrew Nimmo 30/04/1890

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Marriage of Mary Nimmo and Francis Haire

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I had a look in Randalstown 2nd’s graveyard for Nimmo gravestones. The only 1 that I could find is attached and was for Mary Nimmo who married Francis Haire. She is in the Haire family grave, rather than a Nimmo grave.

Presbyterians generally don't keep burial records (in the 1800s anyway) and so if there's no gravestone there's often no other record of where someone is buried. The family would have known but obviously when they left or died that knowledge was lost.

2 other pictures of the church and graveyard included for general information.