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Hello

 

I am trying to find any information on the background of my late grandfather William Edward Colbert (b1906) his father William Henry Colbert (b1864) and mother Mary Paisley (b 1875 thereabouts).  Mary Paisley (mother Mary Conn) from Tullyvanon married William Henry Colbert in St Louis, Missouri 1904 then they returned to Aughnacloy - family story says Mary Paisley was disowned by her mother/family following her marriage to William Henry Colbert.  William Henry has a sister Evelyn thought to have married a Hirst in USA.  William Henry also has a brother Eddie (a farmer) and brother George (carpenter).  Following William Henry Colberts death, Mary and children relocated to New Zealand.  2 boys William Edward and 'Jim' were sent on a ship earlier to the boys Dilworth school in New Zealand, rest of the family relocated following.

I am visiting Tyrone next May2016 with my mother Ireen, for the first time, we would love to find anything we can on our family history and hopefully visit any addresses of interest to the family. 

Any help greatly appreciated.  So excited to be coming to visit next year.

Thanks

Angelina

Monday 23rd Nov 2015, 04:59AM

Message Board Replies

  • Angelina:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    I think I located the 1911 census record for the William Henry Colbert family. It looks like your grandfather was the 5 year old Edward. I don't see a Jim on the census record unless he was born after March 1911. I also located a 1916 civil death index record. The registration district was Clogher which tells me that the family moved west within Tyrone after March 1911 since the registration district was Dungannon in the census but Clogher for the 1916 civil death index record.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Roger McDonnell

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Ballymagran/Ede…

    First name(s)William HenryLast nameColbertBirth year1869Age at death47Registered year1916Registered quarter/yearApr - Jun 1916Registration districtClogherVolume3Page71

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 23rd Nov 2015, 04:53PM
  • Hi Roger

     

    Many many thanks for the info.  From the 1911 Census info you linked to, how would I trace to an actual street address for William Henry & Mary.  Church of Ireland noted on the census - how would I find that church?  How would I also find out what cemetery William Henry Colbert was buried at in Clogher?  Also any other information on Mary (Paisley) from 1911 to 1930 which is apparently when she relocated to NZ to be with her children.  Would you recommend Aughnacloy as a base for me to stay at in May2016, seems a central point and from there could drive out to Killeeshill, Clogher, Tullyvannon to visit any addresses of interest?

    Regards Angelina

    Tuesday 24th Nov 2015, 04:05AM
  • Angelina:

    Just to clarify, the Clogher registration district comprises at least six parishes and parts of three other parishes in Co. Tyrone and part of one parish in Co. Monaghan. William would have lived within that area but without getting a copy of the death record, you would not know the exact townland.

    I'm not sure of the exact location for where the family lived in 1911. There is another volunteer who must be away for a few days who is an expert on Northern Ireland. Let me wait until he gets back and ask him about the location and possibly the church.

    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 25th Nov 2015, 10:45PM
  • Aughnacloy does seem a reasonable base for your visit to this area.

    Edenageeragh is in the parish of Aghaloo. The parish appears to have been subdivided at various times, so the church records are complex. As far as early records are concerned, PRONI in Belfast has the following Church of Ireland records:

    CI Aghaloo or Caledon

    Baptisms, 1791-5 and 1801-76; marriages, 1792-5 and 1800-45; burials, 1792-5 and 1800-1939; confirmation lists, 1840-72; vestry minutes, 1691-1807.

    C.I. Brantry (Armagh diocese)
    [Formed out of Aghaloo, Carnteel and Clonfeacle parishes]

    Baptisms, 1791-5 and 1801-76; marriages, 1792-5 and 1800-45; burials, 1792-5 and 1800-1939; confirmation lists, 1840-72; vestry minutes, 1691-1807.

    Looking at the revaluation records for Edenageeragh, I see that W H Colbert had plots 10 & 11 in the townland (the farm comprised a total of 25 acres, 3 roods and 30 perches, so just under 26 acres).. He acquired the farm in 1912 from Joseph Mayne and in 1914 it changed to James McGowan. (Griffiths dates can be out by a year or two). The farm was up a lane near the modern Glencrew Rd. (You will have to look at Griffiths maps to see exactly where).  There’s a B & B not too far away called Valleyview at 35A Rehaghy Rd, Aughnacloy, BT69 6EU. It’s in Edenageeragh townland.

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

    http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

    I see that by the time of his death William Colbert had moved to Killeeshil. (Spelling varies). See this probate extract:

    Probate of the Will of William Colbert late of Killeshill County Tyrone Farmer who died 10 May 1916 granted at Armagh to John Colbert Farmer and Reverend Thomas Adderley Clerk.

    The will itself is on-line and mentions daughters Jane, Minnie & Margaret, wife Mary, as well as sons John & Edward. (As you know Edward inherited the farm. That's in the will).

    http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm

    The local church for Edenageeragh seems likely to be Carnteel, but you may need to enquire locally to confirm that’s the one the family might have attended in 1912 - 1914. See:

    http://www.ireland.anglican.org/information/dioceses/parish/10130

    However Killeeshil is in a different parish (Killeshil). With a different churchyard. 

    Regarding burial places, there’s no requirement to record where someone is buried in Ireland. For members of the Church of Ireland it can be the churchyard for the church you attended, but families did move around like yours and often had family plots some distance away which they continued to use. And by the 1900s there were also municipal graveyards.  Again I think you may need to enquire locally. Aughnacloy Historical Society may be able to help with a list of all graveyards in the area, and details of any headstone transcription work that may have been done:

    http://www.aughnacloy.org/historical-society/

    The farm in Killeeshil is shown in Edward’s name in the revaluation records. It was plot 28 and comprised 8 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches. It remained in his name until at least 1929 (when those records finish). Plot 28 is on the modern Killeeshil Rd, just to the west of Killeeshil Rectory (off the A4 near Ballygawley).

    Be aware that until the 1960s there were no street names or house numbers in rural areas in Ireland. Your townland alone was sufficient to identify you, or get a letter delivered. The postman and anyone else who mattered knew where, within each townland, every person lived.  Any modern postal address associated with these farms would not have been in use in the 1920s or earlier.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 29th Nov 2015, 08:21AM
  • Hi Elwyn

    Thank you so much for the information.  Will do some more searching to see what I can come up with.

    Again really appreciate your help and guidance on this.

    Regards, Ange

    Monday 30th Nov 2015, 04:10AM
  • Hello Angelina,

    Did you come to visit in Ireland? If you did you where so close as I am one of those Colbert.

    I have a few pages of a letter written by the 2 boys who went to new zealand

    I will check this conversation to see if you get back to get in touch.

     

    MC

     

    1.9.16

     

    Would be great to get in touch,

     

     

    Thursday 1st Sep 2016, 03:59PM
  • I heard my father talk about the paisley of tullyvannon, and the story where the family disowned their daughter

     

    MC

    Thursday 1st Sep 2016, 04:02PM
  • Hi MC

    Thank you for your message.  Wow this is so lovely to hear from you!

    Yes I did visit Ireland in May this year.  I spent 10 days all up, but as I ended up travelling alone in the end, I didnt make it to see the area's where my grandfathers family had lived, it became too difficult to look at with driving etc and being alone.  I was initially in Dublin and then did a Northern Ireland Tour for 3 days with a group to Belfast,Sligo,LondonDerry.  First time visit to Ireland and absolutely fell in love and felt so at home :-}  Definitely have future plans to return for a much longer visit one day and hopefully my daughters will also be able to make that trip with me, so we can spend time visiting my grandfathers places. 

    I would love for you to get in touch by email if you would also like.

    My email address is angelina.colbert@stevenson.kiwi.nz

    Hope to hear from you

    Best wishes

    Ange

    Wednesday 14th Sep 2016, 04:50AM

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