John Torley

Hello Maureen, there is a county Down website here and under surnames there is a lot of Torley names listed and a reference to also look at Turley, https://rosdavies.com/ This is a site about County Down and I an not sure about how active it is, there were a few sites about the area and then went down again but this one has reappeared a couple of years ago and while you can look I am not sure it is active.

The IRB were a fore runner of the IRA and came out of the 1860s Fenian rebellion. There is no mention of the name in the Bureau of Military Archives from the 1920s.

You could also try the PRONI website which is based in Belfast in Northern Ireland now. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ire…;

I looked at Roots Ireland and there are no Torley listed before 1820, the 1780 on gives a lot of Gourley and all Church of Ireland (Anglican) the first Turley appears around 1815 and in no case is the mother listed in the baptisms, I did not look at the marriages, only thing that might assist was one was listed the father was a butcher and you mentioned they, ran a store. Torley appears in 1820 in Newry as in that spelling. RC church records are probably not available pre 1800, as in most cases and rarely for the 1700s as Catholics were not encouraged. You can see the parishes here and the dates but not all records are on this site, the subscription site Roots Ireland often has more but in a lot of cases they do not exist. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0455 Baptisms in Newry commence in 1818 and marriages in 1820. 

In the Flax Growers List if 1796 there is a Michael Turley in Newry, but that is all, two other Turley in County Down. 

I know there is a County Down Facebook page for DNA matching which is active and there are probably at least one for general history and genealogy, these would be private and you apply to join, usually very well moderated and people who are interested in the area, you could also see what records the local library has in Newry.

Regards

Pat

Maureen this is just for interest, a well known journalist was murdered here over 20 years ago and was married to a Turley, she was mainly a crime reporter who was reporting on drug crime, just a link to an article about her husband.

Pat

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/graham-turley-to-have-been-veronicas…

Hi Maureen,
Your family tree connects to mine.
Your grandfather and my grandfather were cousins. Not sure if you can pm me on this site but you'll find me on ancestry.co.uk where I have an extensive family tree.

Gerard McCartney

Sorry great grandfather

Your John Torley is the brother of my Felix Torley, my Great Great Grandfather

Maureen, I am a grandson of John Lawrence Torley. Just before my father Denis died, he gave me a copy of a commemorative poster that the local community in Duntocher had made for the passing of John Torley. My father said that a few copies had been taken but I can’t remember who has the original. It might well be in America. 
John Lawrence Torley’s last remaining child Ann is still alive  in Canada and her husband David Kilgour has a great interest in genealogy and may be able to help. I can get you a copy of the above of you don’t already have it?

 

Denis - So sorry for the delay in responding. I don't come on here very often, and with the holidays, I wasn't on at all. I would love a copy of the commemorative poster if you are able to provide that. I did know Ann was still alive and living in Canada. David and I have exchanged information over the past several years and has been very helpful. This is the information I have for your family - if you could confirm, I would appreciate it. Parents: Denis Torley 1931-2014 Helen Isabella Kelly 1933-1997 Spouse: Lynne Forsyth Sproull Child: Charlei Parker 2009 Siblings: John Joseph 1961 (I do not have a spouse for John) Helen Imelda 1963 (I have Alain Delongchamp as her spouse) And then you: Denis Aug. 24, 1965 Thanks for any additional help you can be.

Gerard - I have several John Torley's on my family tree. Can you give me the birth dates of the family members you are talking about? I don't have anyone by the name of Felix as a brother to anyone named John Torley on my tree so I would be interested in finding out if I'm missing him. I think you might be referring to one of the following: John Torley 1814 - 1891 Parents: Daniel and Mary Burns - I don't know the dates for either of these Siblings: Daniel, Mary and Rosanna John Torley 1851 - 1897 Parents: John 1814-1891 and Mary 1818-1885 (don't know Mary's last name) Siblings: Ann, Margaret, Patrick, Elizabeth and Catherine Any additional information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. By the way...I'm not on this site very often, but will try to be on it more frequently in the future.

Hi Maureen, I have an extensive tree done on ancestry.co.uk. You'll find me at gerard_mccartney and be able to message me directly there. Or let me know if you can't and I'll try here. Daniel Torley and Mary Burns had a son called Felix Torley, who married Maria Boyd. They a son Daniel Torley who married Mary Ryan. They'd a son Michael Richard Turley (spelling change) who was my Grandfather. Gerard

Felix Torley b.1818 had a twin sister called Catherine Torley and the other siblings you mentioned with her. I really recommend you do a DNA test through ancestry.com and load up your tree. I found more in last few years than last 40yrs searching records and graveyards. Gerard

Hi Gerard - Thanks for all the info. It will fill in some of the empty spaces I have. Do you by any chance know who Daniel Torley (1780-1835) parents were. I've only been able to go back as far as Daniel. I do have an extensive family tree on ancestry, but as of right now, I've kept it private. I've been thinking of making it public ...just haven't gotten around to it. Can you tell me your grandmother's name (Felix's spouse), and your parents' names so that I can add them, and you, to my tree? Thanks again for all the help you have been. Maureen