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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Antrim => Ireland => Antrim Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: James Swan on Tuesday 17 August 10 11:50 BST (UK)
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Hi Im looking to obtain a marriage record between 1915-1920
for my Great Grandfather and Grandmother. they where both born and married in County Antrim,
probably Belfast. I have tried both the general register office in Belfast and also
the general register office in ireland at Roscommon. Both tell me that they do not
keep marriage records before 1921.
Would appreciate any help on this matter,
thanks.
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Without more information we can only give general advice.
Civil registration index is online (free) and goes up to 1921 for Northern Ireland counties- the index does seasrch for variations in spelling which is helpful.
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails&c=fs%3A1408347
Emerald Ancestors (a pay site)- http://www.emeraldancestors.com/- does allow free searches of it's database and marriages go up to 1920s so you could tak a look there. The free search will give you year, county and spouses first name(s).
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Thanks for that I will try these options out and see how I get on.
I realise without an exact date of marriage it becomes difficult.
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It's even more difficult without names- if you're stuck and don't want to post them online send me a PM and I'll try searching.
P.S. my great-great-grandparents' marriage wasn't in the index either but I had the exact date from family records and knew it was one of 2 churches in the town. Sure enough, it was in the register for one of them on the same date that I had.
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The UHF assiduously recorded the civil records for Cos. Antrim & Down up 1o 1921.
Also many church records.
See their freely searchable indexes at http://www.ancestryireland.com/database.php .
[They charge for access to the detail.]
Northern Ireland Marriages 1922-1959, recorded in registers held at Fermanagh House in Belfast, can be found on LDS FHL BRITISH Films:
232168 (Index v. 1-8 1922-1929)
232169 (Index v. 9-16 1930-1937)
232170 (Index v. 17-22 1938-1943)
232171 (Index v. 23-29 1944-1950)
232172 (Index v. 30-35 1951-1956)
232173 (Index v. 36-38 1957-1959)
The details are on LDS FHL BRITISH Films 232174 to 232471.
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Have done some searching in civil index using all sort of variations but can't find the marriage listed. Think it might have taken place after 1921 and will not be in online index.
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Thanks very much for your help (The Whuttle) im going down to Fermanagh house in Belfast today to see if I can further my cause.
Thanks also to you Aghadowey for your help I intend to follow up a few leads now and hopefully
see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Regards,
James Swan
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Please note Fermanagh House is now the Official Receivers office and you won't find anything on your ancestors unless the were bankrupt. The Registrars office is now in Oxford House on Chichester Street and there is a long waiting list to use the search room which must be booked in advance.
http://www.groni.gov.uk/index/family-history.htm
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Thanks for clarifying that. I think the GRONI has been in Oxford House for a while.
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Thanks akanax2 for the heads up I will follow up that lead and see how I get on.
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James,
Those records were in Fermanagh House, at the time they were filmed by LDS.
You are a brave man, visiting the record offices at this time of year!
[There are many visitors from abroad just now, intensely focussed on their research ...]
To maximise your herioc efforts you could visit the Linen Hall Library, to consult the newspaper indexes of BMD info.
[Top floor, ask for the book-form one that is held behind the desk - it goes in to the 20thC.]
Try to time your visit for late afternoon on a stifling wet day, just as the thrice-rejected folks who have queued all day hoping to get on the Belfast City Hall tour storm in, intent on venting their frustration ...
[The only record office I ever came out of, feeling like I needed immediate hospitalisation!]
Capt. Jock
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Ill keep that in mind thanks for the tip off!!
I suppose between the library and the records office if
i dont find what im looking for i may just forget about it!!
I will keep you posted on my search.
Thanks.
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James
Although the GRONI say they dont actually hold the marriage records before 1921, they can and will search for the marriage details and will then send to the relevant district office to obtain the cert, if it was outside Belfast.
They charge £6 for every 5 year period searched and then £6 for the issue of the certificate.
I have obtained many pre 1921 marriage certs from them without any bother at all.
You can call them directly on 02890 252000 and give payment details over the phone. It may take a week or so but it's definetly less hassle.
Liscoole
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Thanks Liscoole,
since the last post I have actually followed that lead
and have been successful. I paid for the £6 search and now just awaiting on the full cert in
the post. It turned out the info I was looking for was in 1922 and not 1920 as I had thought.
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That's excellent, glad you were successful! ;)