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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: MegP on Monday 18 April 05 21:23 BST (UK)
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I have received a photocopy of the marriage registration of my gggrandparents, David White and Jane Orr, married Broughshane, 1862. I am having trouble deciphering one of the signatures of the witnesses. What do others think it says? I have tried unsuccessfully once before to load the image, but here goes...
Megan Phelps
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James Meber or Meben.
Nell
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Hi James Mehan Derry Waterside Colraine, Distillery, Bridge St & two names for Orr as well. 1852.
There is one name for Mehan Ballymena can't find anymore, so i will have a wee look later on.
Anthony
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Mabin is a local name so very possible....have a look at the following Griffiths info for the Parish of Racavan (Broughshane being part of same):
http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/antrim/racavan.htm
Tha actual signature does seem to read Meben/Meber though.
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Thank you Scotsmum,
I have been looking for references like this without success. Interesting the number of Mabin's in the right area, but no James. What do you think about the "misspelling" - could Meben be Mabin? 1862 seems rather late to be being liberal with family name spelling?
Interstingly there is a John Mabin listed in this 1861-2 Griffiths index with property at Roogan and a John White, also with property at Roogan, but White is a common name in the area.
Cheers
Megan
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Hello Meg,
I agree with Scotsmum, Mabin being the local name is possible.
What are your thoughts on the name of the guy coming after the Mabins, i.e James Macken ?
Best Wishes,
Christopher
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Dear Christopher
Thank you for your thoughts. I thought a couple of things about James Macken.
Could the signature say Macken? Hard to imagine.
Could Macken be a mistranscription of Mabin/Meben in the index? A possibility, I guess.
Also, was he a regular witness? It would help to see the rest of the page and other pages.
Why wasn't Jane's father a witness? As she was a minor (20 years) her father would have had to give his permission, i imagine.
Intriguing!
Regards
Megan
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Hello Megan,
I apologise for not putting all my thoughts down the first time. I have been having another look at the signature.
It can be difficult to get a name when only two words are written.
There is so little to work on - two or three sentences would give a much better chance.
I wondered, as a result of my second look at the signature were there any short names starting with Mc.
They are there - James McIver and James McLean.
Best Wishes, Christoper
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Megan, if they were married in church, could you post which one...this may help me check a few more possibilities as I also have ancestors from the Parish of Racavan and have some other documents I can refer to.
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Thanks Christopher and Scotmum,
David White and Jane Orr were married 17 October 1862 at Broughshane. I have a vague idea that it was the Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church, but I don't recall where this piece of information came from.
Here is a larger image from the registry entry:
cheers
Megan
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The minister's first name was Archibald. Not sure if 1st or 2nd Broughshane.
What I have for local area still seems to favour 'Mabin'. Looking at the handwriting, it seems to be in the one hand. I suppose the person writing same could genuinely have assumed 'Meben' was what he was hearing and so wrote it as such.
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Hi there,
I think its Mehan, looks Irish to me.
GL2U
Jim.
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This is the first time I've posted images, so I'm a bit uncertain how best to do it. That's partly why I started small with just the witnesses' signatures. I'm interested in Scotmum's comment that it looks like the same hand. Shouldn't the individuals have made their mark if it is not their signature?
Should I post the whole register entry for people to see? The file is currently 470 KB.
Megan
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Hello Meg, did you get any further with this one?
Agree, writing should probably not be the same but just thought it did look like the one hand.
Here is some more food for thought. I have a loan of a County Antrim 1888 directory at the moment and noticed that in Broughshane, there were farmers or residents who had the following spellings of their surname:
Meban
Mebin
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hi Meg
It looks like Mahar/Maher to me
Steve
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Hello Scotmum and Steve
I haven't made any progress with finding out who this witness was (but I haven't been trying very hard). I have been trying to find out a little more about Knowehead, the property given as the place of residence of David White on the certificate. It was owned after 1867 by the Wilson family. I am hoping this track may lead me to David's family or the reason why he and Jane emigrated to Australia.
Regards
Megan
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Hi Megan,
I'm just back from holidays. I have managed to find out a bit more about Knowehead and who the present owners are. I will be sending you a photograph of the house as soon as I receive it.
Regards Jena :) :) :)
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Thank you so much, Jenna. I look forward to receiving it. I have not been following up on this recently and will begin to concentrate on my Welsh family as I will be visiting Wales for the first time in December,
cheers
Meg
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Don't know if this has been resolved yet, but it looks like McIver to me.
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Hi,
I know this is an old thread, but I've just come across it whilst on one of my searches.
Meg ,
My gg grandmother is Elizabeth White (her daughter is Mary Elizabeth McNeill who married John Purdy) and I'm wondering if your David White is my Elizabeth's brother:
Elizabeth Married in 1862 in Buckna Presbyterian Church Racavan to Andrew McNeill- Elizabeth's father was a Robert White , occupation farmer.
Regarding the witnesses on your cert - The witnesses on my Elizabeth's marriage cert are a David White and John White :)
Elizabeth was born abt 1842 , on her marriage cert in 62 she was listed as a minor. She died in 26 March 1893 age 51( her will is online at Proni if you want to read it) .
Her address at time of marriage was LISNAMURRIKIN ( which I believe knowhead was around there?)
I haven't been able to get back further on this family, and have been trying for many years to locate a mother for her and to find more out about her father Robert and family
Kind Regards