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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: Themassons on Tuesday 12 January 16 22:51 GMT (UK)
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My great grandfather Thomas Fulton who died in Port Glasgow, Scotland in 1949 was born in Turnarobert townsland, Antrim in 1865 to a Thomas Fulton of Alcrossagh and a Mary McMullen of Turnarobert, I have lots of info on the Fultons of the area (although if anyone has anymore I'd be interested to know) but Mary McMullen has me at a dead end. I cannot find a marriage certificate so it appears they did not marry, Thomas died in 1886 (I have his will) but no idea what happened to Mary. Does anyone know anything of any MCMullens of the area, I much appreciate any help, thank you
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Hi,
The Griffiths Valuation records show a John McMullan living in the town of Armoy but renting land in Turnarobert in the early 1860s
Regards
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Here's birth extract for Thomas Fulton (1865)-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FR92-HVV
This is this only Thomas Fulton d.1886 Will that I can see in PRONI's Will Extracts-
The Will of Thomas Fulton late of Altrossagh County Antrim Farmer who died 1 April 1886 at same place was proved at Belfast by Hugh Fulton of Armoy in said County and John Fulton of Altrossagh Farmers the Executors.
The only death in GRONI database for a Thomas Fulton in 1886 is a Thomas Fulton, age 56, died 8 Apr.1886.
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Hi, thank you, yes I saw him on the griffiths and wondered if he was possibly her father, did it have an address noted in Armoy?
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Armoy would have likely been the 'address' but you can check Griffith's yourself to confirm that.
There are LOTS of McMullans in that area so don't be too quick to assume anything (after about 20 years I still haven't sorted out our McMullan connection there completely).
Can you confirm whether or not the Thomas Fulton (d,1886) that I found is yours?
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Thank you
Yes that Thomas Fulton is mine, his father was Hugh Fulton, grandfather John Fulton, I have all their wills
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My query, before I post anything else, is whether or not this is your Thomas Fulton who died in 1886-
Can you confirm whether or not the Thomas Fulton (d,1886) that I found is yours?
Here's birth extract for Thomas Fulton (1865)-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FR92-HVV
This is this only Thomas Fulton d.1886 Will that I can see in PRONI's Will Extracts-
The Will of Thomas Fulton late of Altrossagh County Antrim Farmer who died 1 April 1886 at same place was proved at Belfast by Hugh Fulton of Armoy in said County and John Fulton of Altrossagh Farmers the Executors.
The only death in GRONI database for a Thomas Fulton in 1886 is a Thomas Fulton, age 56, died 8 Apr.1886.
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Hi, yes he is, I'll attach his death certificate, and also the birth certificate of Thomas who dies in Port Glasgow
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Sorry, I can't seem to get the certificates to upload but yes he is definitely mine, I have photos of the graves also
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Re the will, both Hugh and John mentioned are brothers of Thomas, the full will goes on to mention other brothers along with sisters also, Bessie signed his death certificate, she is a sister, she owned land in Cromaghs, I have most of the death certificates
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You can only post a small portion of the certificate for deciphering purposes but are allowed to transcribe it.
GRONI lists Thomas Fulton's age as 56 (born c1830) so age looks good to be the father of Thomas (born 1865), Which means that he would have married after 1845, so if it was a non-Catholic or Registry Office ceremony it should appear in the civil registration index. Two other possibilities come to mind (besides no marriage having taken place)-
1) a Catholic ceremony in which case the bride was likely the Catholic partner (since registration of Catholic marriages didn't start until 1864)
2) marriage took place outside Ireland (Scotland is the most likely option)
Now to the Will of Thomas Fulton-
The Will of Thomas Fulton late of Altrossagh County Antrim Farmer who died 1 April 1886 at same place was proved at Belfast by Hugh Fulton of Armoy in said County and John Fulton of Altrossagh Farmers the Executors. Effects £976 15s. Will mentions bequests to sisters- Mrs. Martha Kelly of Stroan, Mrs. Jane Fulton of Canada, Margaret Fulton of Altrossagh and Elizabeth Fulton of Altrossagh.
No mention of wife or children.
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The Griffiths Valuation records show a John McMullan living in the town of Armoy but renting land in Turnarobert in the early 1860s
The Valuation Revision Books show 'Turnarobert- Town of Armoy'
The 1st one (1864-1878) shows 2 entries for John McMullen- land & garden in one lot but (#20) house, office, yard so that's probably where he lived. Circa 1876 the properties all seem to change to James Donnelly.
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Thank you, yes on his death certificate he is noted as a bachelor, this is the only Thomas Fulton of the area of the time so has to be the one, I'm not sure why he didn't mention his son in the will but as my great grandfather was noted as a postman on his marriage certificate I'm assuming it's because he didn't want to be a farmer and may then have not kept the farm in the family, all assumptions but the only one to make sense. I have had a look at the griffiths revisions but have only had a brief chance, this was my project for February
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I really didn't think that Thomas Fulton (d.1886) was the father of your Thomas Fulton (b.1865) and now that you say the 1886 death certificate lists him as a bachelor I'm even less inclined to think so (although if he didn't marry Mary McMullen then he could have been a bachelor).
It's not uncommon for people in that period to go to Scotland and work at various occupations in cities there.
So, perhaps if we can start with the birth certificate for Thomas (1865). Exactly what details are on the certificate?
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Transcribed his birth certificate reads
2nd August 1865 @ Turnarobert, Armoy
Thomas, male
Father - Thomas Fulton, Altcrossagh, Farmer
Signed - Mary McMullen, Mother, Armoy
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Person who registered the birth?
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Mary McMullen, the mother
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Think I've figured some of this out. GRONI database (index) has the birth listed as Thomas Fulton 2 Aug.1865 Ballycastle district but under mother's maiden name nothing is listed.
Therefore, it seems that the parents weren't married but that the father attended the birth registration (and thus appears on the certificate- and with a separate residence).
So, the 'bachelor' Thomas Fulton who died 1886 could indeed be the father. Possibly there was no contact with the son (especially is Mary McMullen married after 1865) which could be why he isn't mentioned in Will.
Added- also possible that mother Mary died when Thomas was young and he was raised by some of her family.
It's possible church records will show other details (some clergymen liked to record the father's details (or details of alleged father). School records might also help (PRONI has many of the old school registers).
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Yes that is my assumption too, I had been told also that a father had to attend a registration to be mentioned on the certificate.
I have double checked the Scottish bmds and there is no mention of either of them here (I live in Scotland). Is there any way to trace church records fro. A distance? And also are the school registers available online do you know.
Thank you for your help
One other detail that on Thomas Fulton (1865) marriage certificate to my great grandmother Isabella Lannigan, the father Thomas Fulton is mentioned again and as a farmer, Thomas Fulton (1865) states his age is 25 (think he told a wee white lie) and he stated again his residence as Armoy. Isabella was a domestic servant so another reason why he may not have inherited as most other family members married into other farms, his death certificate gives his correct age in Port Glasgow, they moved to Port Glasgow in Bt 1896, and the rest is history, hope that all makes sense, it confuses me sometimes lol
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My first cousin once removed also remembers as a child in the 1940s visiting "a farm" in Armoy, it has to either belonged to Fulton or McMullen descendants as the Lannigans came from the Stranocum/Dervock area, so my great grandfather kept in contact with whoever had brought him up but nobody can remember exactly who!!!!!!
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Haven't come across a marriage for Mary McMullen (tried different surname variations but could still be hiding there somewhere).
When I checked the Valuation Revision Books earlier for McMullen, Armoy the name John McMullen seems to disappear c1876 (possibly died shortly before?).
Unfortunately school registers are not online. PRONI do have lots of church registers but most Presbyterian & Church of Ireland ones may not be online anway. The Catholic registers are (not saying that Mary McMullen was Catholic but it's still a possibility).
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0386
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She is evading capture certainly.
I did find a death certificate of a Mary McMullen in 1866 aged 26 in Armoy, an Ann McMullen was the witness. The Fulton's were Presbyterians and after my great grandfather came to Port Glasgow they attended the Episcopal church there, I will check the catholic registers though. Interestingly on my great grandfathers death certificate the parents were noted as Thomas Fulton and Mary Fulton nee McMillan (spelling change) but I'm wondering if it was just assumed they were married as she had died??????
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I will search for a John McMullen's death certificate on GRONI for around that time, at least it narrows down my search window