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My gt.Grandparents, Arthur Smith and Ellen Armstrong, were wed at St. Matthews C of I, May 11,1889. According to the 1901 census, Ellen was the head of household at 14 Liffey St., mother of three sons. Arthur had joined the reserves(?) and died in 1900. She was dying with TB, and  signed her sons over to to Belfast Barnardo home. Arthur ( jr.) and his brother Robert arrived in Canada in 1907. Since they were both very young when they left Ireland, they did not remember their mother, and since they rarely spoke of their past, we never knew much about their family in Ireland. 

I know Ellen had at least 2 sisters: Letitia (Armstrong)Clifford,   And Lizzie( Elizabeth?)Armstrong, 

Is there anyone who can the find names of Ellen's parents? Also, the Smith lineage?

Thank you in advance for any assistance!

Sincerely,

Maesgirl

Sunday 6th Apr 2014, 04:26PM

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  • Maesgirl:

    Here is the civil marriage index record for the marriage of Arthur and Ellen. If you write to the General Register Office for a copy of the record (around 4 euros), the record will show the names of the fathers of the bride and groom and where the bride and groom were living in 1889. Instructions below the index record.

    Roger McDonnell

    First Name Arthur
    Last Name Smith
    Year 1889
    Registered Quarter/Year Apr - Jun 1889
    Registration District Belfast
    Volume 1
    Page 305
    Potential Spouse Names  Ellen Armstrong

    Go to this link http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx In the middle of the page there are links for birth, marriage or death certificates. Hit the link for the form you want. You will likely get a screen asking for a User Name and Password. (This is a program bug that the GRO has to correct). Hit cancel and the appropriate form should come up. Print the form and complete the requested information. Also provide the information from the index record--quarter/year of the event, registration district and the volume and page number where the event is recorded. Make sure you ask for a copy which costs around 4 euros. ( A cert costs closer to 20 euros). You can also ask the GRO to e-mail the copy back to you.

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 6th Apr 2014, 05:36PM

  • Maesgirl,

    This looks to be the 2 sisters Letitia and Lizzie in 1901 with Ellen.

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Clifton/Liffey_Street/962023/

    Robert Clifford's marriage to Letitia Armstrong was registered on 27th April 1886 in Newtownabbey. If you purchase either of these 2 sisters marriage certs you?ll get the fathers names, plus other information that may help trace the families back.

    2 Possible births for Letitia Armstrong in Belfast 27.4.1864 Volume 6, page 423 mothers maiden name Kearns; also 5.6.1864 Vol 6 p 426, mothers maiden name Espy. That one had a sibling Samuel b 20.8.1868 Belfast.

    Possible birth for Ellen Belfast 1874 Vol 16 p341

    You can view the certs on-line on the GRONI site, or you can purchase photocopies from GRO Roscommon.

    I think this is Letitia in 1911:

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Carrickfergus_Urban/Rodgers_Court/192680/

    I can see a birth to a William Clifford in Belfast 29th Oct 1887, mothers maiden name Armstrong. Likewise Robert born 2.10.1889, registered in Larne. Again the mothers maiden name was Armstrong.

    Elwyn

    Ahoghill Antrim

    Sunday 6th Apr 2014, 05:49PM

  • Letitia Clifford died 4th Jan 1929. Her death was registered in Larne (which covers Carrickfergus so she may still have been living there). You can view a copy of her death cert on-line from GRONI.

    She doesn?t appear to have left a will, or least not one that needed probate.

    Ahoghill Antrim

    Sunday 6th Apr 2014, 06:29PM

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