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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Antrim => Ireland => Antrim Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: draarcy on Sunday 10 July 11 08:26 BST (UK)
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I am looking for information on Margaret Townsley born 1870/71 whose father was Robert. I think they lived in Lismenary. Her Mother's name is unknown as well as date of birth.
Thanks
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Hi,
I can find a birth for Margaret Townsley who was born on 24 Apr1870 to Robert Townsley and Margaret Hill. The birth was registered in Doagh, Co. Antrim.
Regards
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Hi,
A little more. Robert Townsley married Margaret Sarah Hill in Ballynure Presbyterian Church on 24 May 1854. They had several other children,
30 Dec 1857 William
11 Dec 1859 Catherine
27 Jun 1861 Robert
28 Apr 1865 Mary Jane.
Regards
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PRONI has a will that might interest you:
Probate of the Will of Margaret Sarah Townsley late of Lismenary County Antrim Widow who died 8 January 1897 granted at Belfast to Robert Townsley of 15 Longview-street Belfast Shop Assistant and Maggie Townsley of Lismenary Spinster. Effects £171 2s. 6d.
You can see the will itself on the PRONI site. It mentions her children Robert, Maggie & William Townsley, as well as her grand-daughter Mary Fletcher.
http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/WillsSearchResults.aspx
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Thanks, I'll look into some of these. Do you think the Margaret Hill may be the Margaret Sarah Hill?
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It looks likely.
Here's Robert jnr in the 1901 census:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Woodvale_Ward/Lawnview_Street/986800/
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Thanks for all the help. It all is great. Margaret Townsley (born 1870) and William Andrew McGookin were married on 28 April 1897 at the Larne 1st Presbyterian Church, witnesses were Samuel McGookin and Annie McClintock. This date fits with the date of death of Margaret Sarah Townsley ( Jan 1897). So now I am chasing Robert Townsley's (father) date of death. Also would it be mentioned on the marriage records as to whether her father was deceased at the time of marriage?
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As far as answering your question about whether a marriage cert would show whether a father was deceased, the answer is that it sometimes does give that information, but not always.
However in this case you know from the will that he was dead by 1897 and that he was the father of a child born 1870. Therefore it follows he died between 1870 and 1897, does it not?
There are 2 possible deaths in that period, in Co Antrim, on the LDS Beta site:
Robert Townsley born 1803, death regd April – June 1883, Belfast, Volume 1, page 266.
Robert Townsley born 1825, death regd Larne Jan – Mar 1894, Volume 1, page 543.
I’d say the Larne one was the more likely of the two.
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Yes, I agree the will does show that Robert was dead by 1897, however I was after another piece of evidence to support that the Margaret Townsley I was after is the Margaret Sarah Hill mentioned. I looked back through my information and found the William Andrew McGookin & Margaret Townsley's first daughter was Margaret Sarah. So it looks as though it is the correct Margaret Sarah Hill. If I could get people's thoughts on why William McGookin from Ballycor (family from Ballynure Pres. Church) would marry Margaret ( from Lismenary) at 1st Larne Pres. Church. The minister was the Ballynure Minister. Could it have to do with Margaret's parents been dead and special permission required or perhaps William the older brother is in Larne? Meanwhile I'll try and track where Mary Fletcher fits in.
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Hi
Most likely as to why William and Margaret married in Larne is that Ballynure church could have been closed for Building work or something.
I have seen marriages of members from First Ballyeaston taking place in Ballynure, Ballylinney and even 1st Larne with the minister of First Ballyeaston taking the service so it looked common practice.
Don't think it would have anything to do with Margarets parents being dead or special permission.
John
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It was traditional to marry in the wife's church, so possibly she was living in Larne at the time of marriage. Alternatively if the Ballynure church was unavailable for some reason (renovations), then that might require an alternative venue. For Church of Ireland it used to be a requirement that one of the couple live within the parish. Not sure whether the Presbyterian church, with its Presbytery system, had a similar obligation. Others will knwo, I am sure.
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Hi i dont suppose you've come across any information for a Margaret Townsley born about 1852, father George Townsley. She is my gg-Grandmother and i am stumped going further back. She married William McKillen at 3rd Ballymena in 1870 and died 1925.
It's the townsley line, rather than her persay, i am interested in as you can see i've got almost all her info.
They lived on the Doagh Rd (what is now Tully Rd) and hoped there might be some link to your line or you have found some info during your searches.
Regards,
David
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Sorry, have not got any information to assist you.