Alexander Morrison of Belfast

Hi,

My name is Jeanette and I'm a volunteer for IrelandXO.

Just wanted to give you some info on the burial aspect. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/death/after_a_death/burials.html Multiple burials in the same plot or tomb is an item that is done all over the world. Space is limited or closeness of family for the departed  is desired by loved ones left behind.

In the United States I have an Uncle who dearly loved his daughter who passed as a young adult. She was brought "home" to the family plot - then when he, many years later passed, was buried in the same plot directly above her.

You don't say what Churchyard they are buried in? But I would expect that the other Morrisons were relatives one way or another. Was there any other information to look from on that aspect? Given the time period you might find http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ww1_soldiers_database.htm of interest.

Let me get some links together for you and I'll post back on your Morrison family.

Take care, Jeanette

Thanks very much for your reply Jeanette.  As for the burial aspect, that is what I expected was the case.  I wasn't sure though because of the wording, "common grave" as opposed to tomb or family plot.  Those are the terms I am more used to hearing.  Thanks for clearing that up.

And thank-you for the links.  

I wondered for years and years about my family, as my parents were not very forthcoming with family information.  They are both gone now, as are all my Aunts and Uncles.  I have been quite surprised at how much information I have been able to find online.

Thanks again,

Ron Morrison,

British Columbia,

Canada

Hi,

Did a little searching and perhaps have a lead for you to work from.

It does look like Robert James? sister Margaret was still in Belfast during 1915. There is a marriage listed in the LDS family search giving a Margaret Stevenson Morrison marriage date for the period Jul-Sep 1915, Registration District Belfast, Vol 1, Pg 248, FHL Film number 101263, Digital Folder 004199365, Image # 00108.

This does not however list the name of the groom. Unfortunately  LDS family search has changed their indexing and record information so that it no longer is cross referenced by groom name (to the public any way), nor does it show the groom. A check at ancestry.com also does not show the groom, but lists other names that are on the page, one of these might be the groom but also may not be. Names listed were:

Agnes Russell

Margaret Stevenson Morrison

William Henry Irwin

Annie Flynn

James Fullerton

Agnes Lewis

Lillie Livingstone

Albert Edward Hall

William Stirling

Normally I would not suggest a ?pay for? site to obtain basic family structure data, however a situation where there are not Grandparents or Great Aunts or Great Uncles known to run questions by, warrants a different method. Ulster Historical Foundation has a site which seems reasonable for what your needs are and they are showing Margaret Stevenson Morrisons? marriage record. This should contain the name of the groom at least and will enable you to further track down this Great Aunt.  I?ll put the long link in as it is keyed to her name and marriage date for the search.

http://www.ancestryireland.com/family-records/marriage-records-co-antrim-co-down/?search1=margaret&search2=morrison&yr=&dropdown=Antrim&spouseFirstname=&spouseSurname=&fatherFirstname=&fatherSurname=

You should also be able to obtain Charlotte and Alexanders Marriage certificate data from the above site as well. Registration was 1876, Registration District Belfast , Vol 11,Pg 366,  FHL # 101252.

Even though an online search may show no further data listed, it is still worth sending for as sometimes there may be small details left out of the actual online index, that show up after receiving the actual record. You might be able to capture a middle initial or middle name which would help determine correct family lines.

It does appear that conventional Irish naming patterns were employed in naming of the children of Alexander and Charlotte (in the first names at least), so the names themselves might just lead to the correct family lines.

Irish Naming Conventions (A variation was fist name became the childs middle name, or middle name was mothers maiden name in at least one child if not more)

The 1st son was usually named after the father's father : John Alexander

The 2nd son was usually named after the mother's father: Robert James

The 3rd son was usually named after the father : William Charles Was Alexanders middle name William?

The 1st daughter was usually named after the mother's mother : Margaret with Charlottes Maiden

Given that Alexander was a Relieving Officer AND Assistant Registrar Belfast for Registrars Office for year 1901 B. M. D.s, I would carefully research the history of the position. Perhaps even contact the GRO directly to see if someone there might be able to assist you in information about ?one of their own registrars?. http://www.groireland.ie/contact_details.htm  They might be able to assist you in determining through what years Alexander was an Asst. Registrar. According to the history here: http://www.groireland.ie/history2.htm  the head was The Right Honourable  Sir Robert Edwin Matheson, Registrar-General 1900 - 1909., Although he could have also been under head Thomas Wrigley Grimshaw, Registrar-General 1 September 1879 - 1900.

One question? Did William emigrate from Canada to Illinois, U.S.?

Hope this all helps and let me know if you come across other data that helps, Jeanette

Wow Jeanette, that's amazing.  You've found all that in a couple of days?  It's taken me nearly a year to get the information that I have.  Thanks very much and YES, I have William Charles Morrison as having homesteaded on the same section of land as Robert James.  The two of them arrived in Canada in 1903 and in 1907, William moved to Chicage Illiniois.  In 1911, Robert and my Grandmother and Uncle moved to Chicago to find work, then ended up in Idaho, where my Father was born.  In 1913, they came back to Canada but I assume William stayed in the US.

I have been unsuccessful at finding any evidence of any of them crossing the border between Canada and the US, in either direction.

But anyway, thank-you again for the leads on Margaret.  I am searching the male names on that list of attendees at her wedding.  Maybe I can find her groom that way.  Also, the Irish naming conventions.  Good to know and that helps to confirm that I'm on the right track, as my Father's Brother (the oldest of their children) was named Alexander.  My Father was named Leonard James.  My Grandmother's Father was James. 

This is all very cool stuff.  Thanks again.  I have a bunch of work to do now.  

Oh btw, I do have an Ancestry.ca account and have found most of the information that I have, from that site.  It is a little pricey though and I will probably drop my subscription when the year is up, just because I'm not finding a lot of information on it anymore. 

Cheers!

Ron

Hi Jeanette, I'm curious about the gedcom file that I uploaded.  Do I need to tie it to my account somehow in order for it to be my family tree in my profile?

Also, I found both Margaret's husband and my Great Grandparents' marriage info, including both their Fathers names.  Turns out that my GG Grandfather was also an Alexander.  I'm betting now that both Alexanders had the middle name William, as you suggested.  I would think it unlikely that the Junior would have a different middle name than the Senior, although the Sr/Jr suffixes don't seem to be recorded anywhere.  I do however, have an Uncle Alexander William Morrison. He the first born of my Father's generation.

Thanks so much, you've been a tremendous help.  I'll leave you alone now.  lol

Ron 

Hi Ron,

You are quite welcome! That is such good news that you were able to find the data!

One thing to remember is that the Sr. and Jr. phrases only came about in certain areas of the world and were in use more recently. Quite often, you will see namesakes in the early 1800's in U.S. referred to as Sr and Jr, but they are actually cousins,  uncle and nephew or grandfather and grandchild, rather than father and son, so the term Sr was actually referring to who was the elder of the same name.

My family didn't use those terms, just the name alone, so I had to make very sure to match dates for events and if there was a question of the same date possibly belonging to either, I had to research what the fact was about and history of area and events to match them up.

My DB though, I inidcate by use of McIntyre 1st, McIntyre 2nd, etc... as I found a line that I was indicating as a Sr and Jr actually had 3 more generations of sons with th esame name carrying down. Because of the commmon name usage in multiple lines of the family, I might have 5 McIntyre 1sts listed but the lineage chain coming off each one establishes the correct family placement.

So far as a GEDcom, let me check on this item and I'll get back with you on it. There have been updates to the website and I am not certain if something has changed in that area.

Take care, Jeanette

Hi Ron,

Did check on your question and you just need to add a link to your Gedcom under the area of your profile that states "about me", that will allow others searching for the same families to access your data.

It's great to share our DBs this way as many out there also have very little data to work from what with the many migrations our family lines have made. A good free hosting site for GEDcoms can be found at http://www.tribalpages.com

Many of my own had emigrated from Ireland and Scotland either to the U.S. or Canada, then to the U.S. and branches spread out across the U.S. with no contact between branches until only a couple of us started genealogy. Now we are very connected and have shared histories, data, photos, recipes, old letters and such ~ making us all very rich indeed.

Best of Luck in your further searching! Jeanette