Hello, my name is Jennifer Grice and I am enquiringly about a great aunt Mary Grealy who I think was born in Clarinbridge 1860. Mary's parents were Patrick, a farmer and Margaret . Mary immigrated to Townsville in North QLD In 1889. In Townsville she married my great uncle Thomas Porter. Any information about Mary would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes Jen.
Hello, my name is Jennifer Grice and I am trying to find out about my great grand father James Toby Porter , who the family thinks was born in Markethill Armagh. His parents were James Porter and I think Susan Morrison. James was born around 1860 and died in Townsville in 1939 aged 78 years. I know that James had an older brother Thomas who lived in Townsville. I am curious to find out if there are birth records for other siblings, especially a Joseph Wilson Porter approx DOB 1868.
Joseph is buried in the family plot in Townsville, but the family have no memory of him. The Porters were Presbyterian/ Church of England family. Thank you for your assistance. Jennifer Grice.
Jennifer Grice
Monday 24th Apr 2017, 10:15AMMessage Board Replies
-
Jennifer,
Statutory birth registration began in Ireland in 1864, so if Joseph Wilson Porter was born c 1868 there should be a record of his birth. There’s no birth in the Armagh civil registration area (which covers Markethill) any time between 1864 and 1874. There are other Joseph Porter births around that time but none near that area, or to parents named James & Susan.
I also searched for the marriage between James & Susan but without success. Those records start in April 1845, so possibly they married before that. Or how sure are you of their names?
For baptisms prior to 1864 you need to rely on church records. Markethill is partly in Kilclooney parish and partly in Mullaghbrack. Kilclooney Church of Ireland records start in 1832. They are in local custody ie the Minister has the only copy, so you would need to write to him for a check. There are Presbyterian churches at Cladymore (records from 1848) and Redrock (records from 1808). Mullaghbrack early baptism records were lost in the 1922 fire in Dublin. 1st Markethill Presbyterian has baptisms from 1843, 2nd Markethill from 1821. Copies of all the Presbyterian records are in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. I don’t think they are on-line anywhere.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 24th Apr 2017, 10:53AM -
Thank you Elwyn. I have checked my information and found that my great grand father James Porter was born on 5/5/1861, in either Market Hill or Portadown. His brother Thomas was born in Market Hill 1847, both I think too early for your records. James and Susan Morrison could have been married before 1847,if Thomas was born in 1847. I think they had 4 children , but only Thomas and James reached adulthood. Thank you once again, perhaps Joseph Wilson Porter is not a relative. Best wishes Jen
Jennifer Grice
Wednesday 26th Apr 2017, 09:03AM