McCann Antrim

What denomination was the marriage?

Hi Elwyn, they were RC.

Hugh,

Antrim town is in the RC parish of Drummaul. I had a look at their marriage records but there were no marriages recorded there in November 1846 at all. They go from September to December 1st. So possibly the priest omitted to record a few. RC marriages at that time rarely included parents names so even if you find the relevant entry somewhere, you are unlikely to get the parents names from it.

https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000633168#page/98/mode/1up

Did either of them die in Scotland? If so, you should get the parents names from the Scottish death certificates.

Hi Elwyn, thanks for looking. They did move to Scotland but no trace of them after the 1881 census. They may have moved with some of the family to Alabama and died before the 1900 census over there. Also the Antrim recorded here in Scotland may refer just to the county and not the town.

thanks

If you got the date and place of the marriage from a Scottish birth certificate, then that usually records the parish/town where the marriage took place, rather than just the county.  So I’d expect it to be Antrim town rather than the county. But if the information comes from some other source, then as you say it might mean just the county.

I had a look for Agnes’s death in Scotland 1881-1930 but didn’t see it. (Scottish death certificates record a married woman’s previous name, so it’s an easy check to do). So you are probably correct that they left Scotland.

Hi Elwyn, yes the date and Antrim were from 2 birth certificates. Usually it just says 'Ireland'..so suppose I was lucky to get Antrim at least.

Hugh,

I have seen a fair number of Scottish birth certificates where the parents married in Ireland, and in most cases the Registrar put the date and location/parish same as they would in Scotland itself. I have attached an example from New Cumnock which accurately records a Belfast marriage.

The marriage location information was recorded on Scottish birth certificates in 1855, and then 1861 onwards (so not for 1856 to 1860).  1855 certificates are the best because they contain extra information eg on the parents place of birth, as well as details of living and dead children. That was discontinued after 1855 as being too cumbersome to collect. But obviously if you get one it’s great bonus.

I would check the birth certs of all children born in 1855 and 1861 onwards in case you get any other information.

Hi Elwyn, all the kids of James and Agnes have the same info. Funnily enough New Cumnock is where they are living in 1881 before they disappear.

Hugh,

I’ve looked in the RC marriage registers on Ancestry, which cover all of Ireland.  No sign of the marriage. All I can suggest is that the priest omitted to record it in the Antrim parish register.  There’s a gap there as you can see. It would be very odd to have 2 months with no marriages, and so I suspect that’s the explanation.

Today there are 2 separate RC parishes in the area: Drummaul & Antrim. Drummaul used to be one big parish but as Antrim town expanded, they were split into 2 parishes some time around 1873.  See this link for a map:

https://www.johngrenham.com/browse/counties/rcmaps/antrimrc.php#maps/

Both parishes include a lot of rural agricultural land as well as the towns of Antrim & Randalstown.

Hi Elwyn, I had a look through the link you gave me for Drummaul parish and came across the record for November 1846. They seem to be mixed up. There was no entry for them on that date which makes me feel they had just given the county and not the town. Also didn't come across the names McCann or Moore anywhere else which is strange as you would think there would be other family members in the town.

I live in Drummaul and there certainly are and were both McCann & Moore families in the area. Looking at the RC parish records in a history of the parish entitled “Sweet Drummaul” by John O’Kane, I see mention of a Patrick McCann aged 22, from Lurganwest townland, migrating to Glasgow in 1837. The parish council in 1851 had a Henry McCann senior & junior on it. Arthur, Henry, Bernard, William, Harry, Bernard (Hart) McCann & Patrick McCann, all living in Ballealy & Mountshalgus were mentioned in 1848. So no shortage of McCanns, and nearly all in the one townland.

No Moores in the congregation. But the name is common in the area. I looked at the 1901 census and there were 33 in the immediate area, nearly all Church of Ireland. Could the marriage have been a mixed marriage perhaps? I did have a quick look at the baptism records in case there was an adult baptism (for Agnes changing denomination) but didn’t see one. So can’t say that’s the explanation. But it might be.

Hi Elwyn, Yes that could be the answer. Maybe it's just not meant to be regarding finding them...anyway thanks again for all your help.