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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Down => Topic started by: teenybash1980 on Friday 14 September 12 02:06 BST (UK)
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I just recently decided to start tracing my family tree so I can pass it down to my little boys when they get older. I only have my mum and dad to help me get started and there knowledge is pretty slim lol. On my mother's side I have my grandad john burns nelson his mother Rachael nelson and her father possibly grandfather Hugh nelson who was the captain aboard the lifeboat that saved people during the 1953 princess Victoria disaster. I have no idea what to do next and very much aware that I have a lot of loose ends. Can anyone please help guide me or give me any info you might have. It would be truelly appreciated
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Hi teenybash!
Welcome to rootschat! :)
I have only recently started my family research too. Luckily my uncle managed to trace back all lines to about the 1820's on my mother's side, so I have had to start fresh on my father side.
I began by getting dates, stories, photos, and certificates that relatives have.
I then wrote it all up, organised it all, so I could then start looking at censuses.
I have found rootschat an amazing site, with so much information, and so many great members willing to give you a hand when you think you have hit a brick wall.
So good luck with the research, sorry I couldn't be of more help, but hopefully someone else will be able to give you a more detailed way of moving in the right direction! :)
Chris
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A quick Google discovered this http://www.donaghadeelifeboat.co.uk/history.html
1953
A Bronze Medal and the British Empire Medal were awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson for the courage, skill and initiative shown during a service to the car ferry Princess Victoria which sank during a storm on 31 January. Donaghadee lifeboat saved 31 people but sadly 133 people died. Lifeboats from Portpatrick, Cloughey and Newcastle were also involved in the search for survivors.
:)
Kevin
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A quick Google discovered this http://www.donaghadeelifeboat.co.uk/history.html
1953
A Bronze Medal and the British Empire Medal were awarded to Coxswain Hugh Nelson for the courage, skill and initiative shown during a service to the car ferry Princess Victoria which sank during a storm on 31 January. Donaghadee lifeboat saved 31 people but sadly 133 people died. Lifeboats from Portpatrick, Cloughey and Newcastle were also involved in the search for survivors.
:)
Kevin
And this, which suggests birth / death details:
http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/Donaghadee.htm
Now armed with a birth date in or around 1890 and the fact he was in the 1910 Donaghadee lifeboat crew - meaning that he must have lived in or extremely close to Donaghadee (think about it, when the call goes up to launch the lifeboat) - you may want to have a look at the 1901 / 1911 Ireland censuses to see what you can find. For example, here is a possible candidate of approximately the right age in the right place in the 1911 census...
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Donaghadee_Urban/Shore_Street/264902/
Added: Same family in 1901...
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Shore_Street/1255528/
Added: And if this is the right family, then from the 1911 census (if you click on 'show all information' in the census record) you will see it show that William George Nelson is 32 years married to wife Martha, so now you're looking for such a marriage in or around 1879 with those names. For example, there was a William George Nelson married a Martha Fullerton in Donaghadee Church of Ireland in 1880.
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Teenybash1980, apologies by the way, I should have answered your question rather than run away off to Donaghadee :)
There is loads of help and guidance on the forum, in the beginners section in particular, here is one example, someone else reading this may point you towards more / better links:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,480454.0.html
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Hi Teenybash,
I've attached a link to the Public Records Office NI which lists a series of information sheets on tracing your family. See here (http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/research_and_records_held/catalogues_guides_indexes_and_leaflets/information_leaflets.htm#yourfamilytreeseries)
Mags
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fantastic thanks folks. does anyone know how to access death records? ive noticed that sarah nelson was in the 1901 cencus but she isnt in the 1911 one and id really like to know what happened to her. ive been searching for ages but everything keeps taking me to america. thank you again :)
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Hi Teenybash,
Looking at most of the other births registrations they all appear to be in Newtonards.
Sarah Nelson Birth (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FBV2-Q68)
Sarah Nelson Deceased (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FTXQ-QPL)
David Nelson 1911 (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Donaghadee_Urban/Shore_Street/264899/)
Another Sarah Nelson birth registered for Belfast may be for another family as a number appear in 1911 census either born in Antrim or Belfast.
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Hi 'teeny...' and welcome !
As you are just starting doing your tree can I give you some tips that I wish I had of had at the start.
1. Take you time
2. Get paperwork to back everything up
When I started doing my tree I was like a mad woman trying to get it as big as possible as quick as possible and it's terribly addictive, and of course doing it this way was silly as I made a LOT of mistakes.
Start with your children's baptism certs
Then you obviously have your marriage cert
Then (going up your own tree) add your birth cert
Then get your parents marriage certs
Then get your parents birth certs
Once you are happy that you have the foundation of your tree correct, add some nice pics and stories to bring each person to life. Add in siblings and what information you want to on them.
As you are happy with each generation, then you can go back another one.
It can be very tempting to jump to the interesting ancestral members of the family but get your basics correct first.
Enjoy it as it's great fun !
Tara
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thank you all so much, gaffy you were spot on with your finds and i cant thank you enough ;D
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Teenybash1980, there is a grave in Donaghadee Church of Ireland containing a William G. Nelson and making reference to daughter Sarah who died in 1901, wife Martha who died in 1942, and several other relatives. Hugh (of the Princess Victoria rescue) isn't in the grave. If this is the correct William G. Nelson, it would appear that tragically, he accidentally drowned in 1917.
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Sarah died as a baby.
There were 2 Sarahs born but both died young, only1 is listed on headstone in churchyard
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Hi Teenybash1980, I sense you don’t live in Donaghadee, otherwise a visit to the St Patricks Church of Ireland or 1st or 2nd Presbyterian Church etc could solve a lot. You only have to find a couple of generations and you may find you link up to existing trees connecting to the 1901 or 1911 census which will be so useful for you. and if you stay interested then as you get deeper into it you may help them in return.
I made notes, finding my earliest references from Ros Davies website start with
John NELSON . {b before 1773} Donaghadee leased land in Donaghadee in 1789 from Mr Delacherois FR
William NELSON . . {b before1773} Donaghadee leased land in Donaghadee in 1789 from Mr Delacherois FR
she has much more
then
seeking Donaghadee or Ballycross District
1834 Tithes Applotment books
from http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/down/tithe-applotment-books/donaghadee-parish.php#.Vp1gJUvBEYU
Nelson, Frans. Townland: Donaghadee Year: 1834
Nelson, Robt. Townland: Ballyhay Year: 1834
Nelson, Robt. Townland: Ballynoe Year: 1834
Nelson, Robt. Townland: Donaghadee Year: 1834
Netson, Robt. Townland: Donaghadee Year: 1834 transcription enumerator error?
1863 Griffith-Valuation from http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Nelson John Down Donaghadee Carrowdore
Nelson Jane Down Donaghadee Shore St Map Ref 99 Plot18
Nelson Jane Down Donaghadee Warren Rd 99 5
Nelson Andrew Down Donaghadee New Road 99 4
Nelson Sarah Down Donaghadee Church Lane 99 7
Nelson Jane Down Donaghadee Meeting House Street 99 26;27 then
1901 census 1911 census which give addresses and most importantly relationships too bulky for copying here
I picked through familysearch, emerald ancestors and ancestryireland finding very few Donaghdee. Sometimes bmds are registered in Newtownards and Belfast rather than Donaghadee
I believe a split approach in your time immediately, is your best plan eg one hour certificate finding, one internet hour checking for shortcuts in case they exist. Seeking has anyone done work on your family or preferably your family name in one small location say a civil parish like Donaghadee. if you haven’t found same named people in the area after a short time, try it again say once a month. Accepting and even checking somebody elses work still leaves you filling in your own knowledge and what you gather and possibly discovering their errors etc.
I have just one paid subscription to a family history website, which is GenesReunited { £44.96 GBP for a 6 month Platinum membership and extra payments for certain details.}.
I entered its search engine for Nelson Donaghadee and to my astonishment the result was list of 92 entries covering births between 1781 and 1997. Many are the same person duplicated with different tree owners. A rough estimate is more than 50 different individuals are listed. These entries are in trees belonging to 23 members, the largest tree being that of a member called Shirley. To see her tree or any of the others you would need to join for six months. The no means you don’t need prior contact before asking that tree holder for permission after you join up. I cant do that for you.
edited sample for ‘Hugh’ to 1935
Hugh Nelson 1852 Donaghadee, Down, Ir... No Rose Ann
Hugh Nelson 1882 Donaghadee County Do... No Shirley
Hugh Nelson 1890 Donaghadee County Do... No Shirley
Hugh Nelson 1932 Donaghadee County Do... No Iain James Mackenzie
Hugh Nelson 1932 Donaghadee County Do... No Shirley
so Hugh Nelson 1932 might b one of the crew Hugh Nelson jr
Sometime go on the internet and find www.nelsonsboats.co.uk/contact-us/ make one phone call or send an email to Quinitin Nelson in case he has already the family history you want. You will find he is a 4th generation Nelson associated with boats in Donaghadee. Before you do so, I would advise you to clarify your information if you can on your mothers side because I couldnt work out whether Rachael Nelson being someone of the same maiden name or a Rachael x who has married a Nelson
In case it crops up The Sir Samuel Kelly lifeboat crew members in 1953 at the time of the Princess Victoria disaster included six Nelson, out of ten ie Hugh Nelson (coxswain) Alec Nelson, Frank Nelson [b1910] , Hugh Nelson Jnr, Samuel Nelson William Nelson plus James Armstrong, Samuel Herron, George Lindsay, John Trimble. All would be living in or very close to the lifeboat station. That crew saved 36 of the 44 survivors. Astonishing bravery. But you need to find the right one if indeed your Nelson was a crew member at all.
However you recently asked about Sarah out of the blue I presume you meant William George Nelson daughter and you were lucky enough to have a reply from a new member Shirleyc153. That name is a name associated with the above website Genes Reunited. Shirleyc153 is very welcomed anyway but if she is also the GR member you are very fortunate to have an experienced family historian on board.
I stop here.
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it is my tree on Genes Reunited. Hugh Nelson SNR is buried in Ballyvester Cemetery. He is my grandfather
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Shirleyc153, I am very pleased you have added to your first message to this website, and that leaves me worrying that perhaps I should not have placed you in the position that I had noticed your similarity to teenybash 1980’s Query seeking guidance. If it turns out awkward in any way to you, my apologies are offered now.
teenybash1980 . Wow that reply by Shirleyc153 has never happened so quickly in my many query replies on many message boards. The advice given to you earlier by Chris, Gaffy and Maggietag and taramcdsmall, all apply, you are so lucky to have a likely SHORTCUT confirmed to the most likely connected family history available.
This leaves you steadily working backwards from yourself with birth marriage etc to say even Rachael’s generation but preferably one before , then all relationships may all become revealed. Perhaps reporting here your progress {without references to the living} if you don’t know how to do this , tell us asap. If things don’t progress , and your are connected to some other Nelson line don’t give up, tell us here and I for one will try to guide you as best I can.
Alternatively if your line hasn’t lived in Ireland for years, perhaps we could look for another shortcut
Anyway if you haven’t been to Donaghadee yourself, plan a wee holiday treat, preferably around August for the annual Lifeboat Festival. It has more local history than many a place.
Good luck on your quest Jim ie BallyaltikilliganG
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I would just like to thank everyone for all the help and guidance given to help me advance in my search for family. I have been successful and it was all down to your hard work and helpfulness. I have lost a few years due to other commitments but aim to start up again soon. I hope no one believes I was ignorant regarding non corrospondence but again this was due to life getting in the way. I'm sure it has happened to everyone on the very difficult task of finding our roots.
Thank you all again for helping this newbie find what she was looking for xx