Carroll Family in Belfast

[aghadowey]

kptz- I moved the thread to Co. Antrim since that's were Belfast threads belong and Belfast was in your title. It's long been a problem that some records say Belfast, Co. Down and others Belfast, Co. Antrim.

[kptz]

Hello aghadowey ~~

When I first posted in this forum, I was a true newbie as how to frame my queries.  I am getting better as I delve more into learning about genealogy.

Is Belfast divided in terms of county boundaries - is part in Antrim and part in Down?  Or is it all in one county?  Is the determination of county dependent on historical context? 

thanks for the help,
kptz

[akanex2]

The River Lagan was the ancient county boundary so all "Belfast" east of the Lagan is in historic Co Down.  Belfast originally was all in Co Antrim in the parish of Shankill and Ballymacarrett was a separate village on the other side of the river.  As the city expanded it went beyond the parish (and indeed county) boundary.  Eventually it was made a County Borough in its own right, as was the city of Londonderry.  In both cases the cities have now spread beyond even these limits and, in any case, counties and county boroughs have no administrative existence any more.  Another anomaly is "the county of the town of Carrickfergus" which was at one time separate to the surrounding Co Antrim and can be found referred to in some land records.

[TF13]

...as is lisburn. one side of the lagan is county antrim and the other county down. another example would be newry,county down, but some certs would show newry county armagh,depending on which part of the city the event took place.

it adds to the difficulty of finding any information.

tony

[kptz]

Thank you akanex2 and Tony for the historical perspective.  It seems that I need to cast a wider net with my searches to include Antrim as a location.

I have just located my GGM on the 1911 census for County Down. 

She had moved after her husband died from Mount Pottinger Road to Arran Street. 

She was also creative
       with her stated age - on this census she was 49 however on the 1901 she gave her age as 35.   
       with her place of birth - on this census she said she was born in Belfast.  In 1901 she gave England.

Historical detective work  is interesting!

kptz

[kptz]

A new wrinkle - perhaps a kind soul can help

I am looking into the birth information for my GGF john CARROLL. On the 1901 census, he gave his age as 35.  I have his death certificate.  In 1904, he died at the age of 39.

I checked birth indexes at the FHL and found a birth registered in September qtr 1865 which would fit the time frame.  I ordered the certificate which gives his birth in Ballymcarrett, County Down on 10 September 1865 and gives mother and father (margaret CARROLL nee MCMULLAN and thomas CARROLL).  I got the name of his father from his marriage certificate.

I have learned of a baptism at St. Matthew's RC church 22/June/1865, with the above parents but with the notation that the parents were not married at the time.

However, I discovered on Ancestry in One World Tree of john CARROLL, b 10/Sept/1865, parents as listed above and married in 1866.  It is a user submitted tree with no contact information and when clicking for more information find someone had all baptized, etc. in the Mormon temple.

I am a little confused - is it possible a birth would occur and not be registered until 2 months later?

Any guidance appreciated.
kptz