RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: Peg12 on Tuesday 28 July 09 22:35 BST (UK)
-
Hi Everyone
My great great grandparents were George Porter b1844? (father James - Farmer) and Sophia Small b1841? (father Hugh - Engraver). They were married in the Railway Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn 12 February 1866.
They were both two of the original teachers in 1865 at the Lurgan Infant Model School. George went on to become the School Master of Coleraine Model School around 1880, he passed away in 1882. I have an original copy of a Algebra book he wrote in 1882!
I'd love to confirm their birth dates as I can't find them in the Antrim area. I'd also like to find out more about being a teacher back then. I gather you would have had to come from a well educated family.
Any help would be sincerely appreciated!
Leanne from New Zealand
-
Hi
I am not sure if you have seen this there are 2 wills on PRONI for him and also one for Sophia. There should be more details behind this at PRONI at some point they are meant to be attaching a PDF of the will on line suggest you check with them
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars/wills_search.htm
Helena
-
Hi there, Leanne/Helenar just seen your email from last year about George Porter... I am going through old photos and , yes , I have one of him with "Headmaster Coleraine Model School , written on the back !) I followed the PRONI link and saw that his wife.. who was unknown to me before, left their estate to Annie Livingstone .. I have a Photo of her too. I know she had a daughter Nancy , who used to live in Donaghadee.. I met her when I was a child.. I remember her as "cousin Nancy" .. as referred to by my Grandmother Molly Byrne. I dont have any of the proof you ask for but can give you an update in the modern direction. If you are interested . What is the NZ link ?
I have newly registered with Roots CHat just to reply , so I don't know if I am limited in my guest membership ... we'll see but please get in touch asap
-
Hello!!!!
Oh my goodness, you cannot believe my excitement to hear from you AND see a photo of my great great grandfather! There were even tears of joy believe me! I have been researching my Irish family for years and have struggled to find any information on George and Sophia Porter.
My email address is (*). I would really love to hear from you, there is alot to catch up on! I have many photos I can share with you too.
Best Regards
Leanne
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
Leanne - I'm really pleased to have brought you good news. I see that I need to make 3 postings before we can exchange emails by the PM system (I'll look at the link later) In the meantime, can I point out that according to family wisdom the Porters came from Jerretspass , which is between Banbridge and Newry - so Co. Down ( I presume) rather than Co. Antrim - if you are researching further. This is more consistent with the fact that they were teachers in Lurgan in 1865.
My records show George had 4 daugthers ... - I attach a photo of them together Left to Right Annie , Harriet , Elizabeth , Mary.
Date unknown but I guess maybe mid to late 1890's as Elizabeth was born in 1870 and looks to be in her twenties, maybe ?
I believe Annie had only 1 child Nancy (d.sp) and Elizabeth had two (including my maternal grandmother) who stayed in Ulster ... so I assume you belong to the Harriet or Mary lines .. ?
-
Hi there (Sorry I haven't caught your name yet!)
What a wonderful photo of the Porter sisters! I also have individual photos of them and their two brothers, James and George.
Sorry about the email thing, I didn't know the rules, my mistake!
It looks like we are third cousins! My great grandmother is actually Annie, and she had seven children all together, not just Nancy. The youngest child was Henry, and he's my grandfather. Annie married James Livingston in 15/6/1892 in Antrim.
I have alot of information about the Malcomson's. From what I understand they were very close to my great grandmother, Annie. I also have a couple of photos of Elizabeth, Albert, and their children which you may be interested in.
I have connections to other cousins which I'm sure you would like to know about. One is actually a Byrne too.
I'm looking forward to being able to swap more indepth notes soon!
Take care
Leanne :)
-
Hi Leanne - I was really surprised to learn that Nancy wasn't an only child !! I knew she worked for a tea importer in Belfast but she died when I was relatively young. I got the impression that she and her mother were close to the Malcolmsons - my mother and grandmother called her "Auntie Bickie" . I have a photo from ca 1921 with Annie and two children a boy of about 10 and a girl of maybe 15, it appears that the Malcolmsons may have been living in Bangor Co. Down , at the time. I'll see if I can send that when we get a PM option
the Byrne connection comes from Molly marrying an Edgar Byrne (she must be the Byrne cousin you refer to) ... and having three children including my mother (Joan) who married a Walsh in 1952. I have an Uncle (Rodney Byrne) in Portrush who was born at the start of the war - so he must remember Bickie and her family. There is also another uncle (Gary) born in the mid 30's - so there must be stories to be told.
I'll update my tree with the Livingstone and Porter info. - did Henry move to NZ or was that later on ?
More soon - maybe by PM
-
Frankson,
From some work I did for a cousin's wife some time ago I now have an Edgar Owen Byrne born Jul-Sept 1893 possibly in Ballycastle Co. Antrim in my extended family tree. Does this ring any bells?
-
Absolutely- his birthday was 16th Aug 1893 ( he died in April 1966) I know the family were based at Ballycstle and extended to 11 children to John Byrne (1847-1910 d. Ballycastle - originally from Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow) and Mary Ann Andrews (part of the Mr. Andrews of the Titanic fame) - ca 1861-1906 (died Ballycastle)
what's the connection to you cousin's wife ?
-
Hi,
One of Edgar's brothers, Aubrey Oldfield Byrne married Caroline Annie Best in 1920 and their daughter is my cousin's wife. She is aware of a family story that she has connections to the Andrews family but other than her Grandmother's maiden name I could not find the connection.
As my cousin's wife was an only child she will be delighted with this news. Unfortunately my cousin and his wife are of an age where they do not use a computer.
Regards
-
This sounds consistent with what I have... Aubrey Married Carline Best (from Dungannon?) .. two sons and one daughter ... yes ? I need a time out to gather info on the Andrews connection
I have Mary Adeline parents being James Andrews (of Eden Cottage Newtownabbey) a Belfast solicitor who's oil painting may hang in the Law Society offices at Belfast ... died after 1874 ? and Mary Anne Thompson of Drumavoley Ballycastle also died ater 1874...
this will be hand notes from various pre computer databases .. so take as indications rather than facts
Moderator's Note: Edited to remove details of possible living people in accordance with RootsChat policy of not publishing details of people who may still be living. This is to protect all concerned from spam, identity abuse, internet abuse, etc, etc.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
-
Hi,
I have sent a PM but as I am using my daughter's transmission system I am not sure if you will recieve it.
Regards
-
Hi Leanne,
My name is Mike and y best school friend was Rodney Byrne who I see when I go back to Northern Ireland. I have history on his family as they were my next door neighbours when I lived in Portrush. I knew Rod's mum and dad.
Any iterest to you.
Regards,
Mike