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Thank you so much for your interest, Aghadowey. I had already accessed the marvellous resource in the Wills images now online. In fact , through the wills images I found the answer to the puzzle of the two Isabella Donaldsons mentioned in an earlier post. In fact, the two were one and the answer was that there were two James Bradfords. One married Isabella Donaldson and left her widowed and she then married James Bell. The other married Isabella Napier and that Isabella obligingly left a will that supplied the explanation!

Rosndel

Hi June,

Thank you for all your help. You have actually put your finger on my source of frustration with some of the information you have provided! Making use of the civil records now available,I had begun to work forward from my gggrandfather Hugh Bradford who is listed in the Tithe Applotment Books in 1834 (with a number of his sons James, John, Robert, Samuel, and Wiliam) on Islandmagee.  Hugh Snr had  a younger son, Hugh, who married Eliza/Elizabeth Donaldson and was my ggrandfather. (He came to Australia so I have quite a lot on him.)

The Isabella Donaldson who married James Bradford was born abt 1808, came from Gransha, and you have provided the information that her father was John Donaldson.

The Isabella Donaldson, born about 1816 who married James Bell was first of all the wife of one of the Bradfords - perhaps John or Robert. She married as Isabella Bradford, widow, of Ballydown where the Bradfords were living, and her father was John Donaldson (from her marriage certificate)

My ggrandmother Elizabeth was the daughter of John Donaldson and Elizabeth Wright and she was born at Gransha (from her Australian death certificate)

There was a witness with the name of Wright at the wedding of Isabella (born 1808)  and the Isabella born 1816 gave the name of Wright to some of her children.

They must both belong on the branch somewhere but which is my greatgrandmother's sister!

You have kindly provided the list of graveyards on Islandmagee. Is there also a list of churches? Are there parish records which might help unravel the mysteries? I would appreciate hearing of any source that can be accessed from afar.

Rosndel

Oops! Sorry, I knew he married Martha not Mary. I have their wedding certificate and I am interested in any gravestone inscription in the hope that it might give me Martha's death date. Thank you for the quick replies.

Rosndel

Hi Jean,

Thanks for looking for my Thomas Dean. Another mystery to remain unsolved!. Thanks for your time.

Rosndel

Thank you very much, Darlene. This is much appreciated.

Rosndel