Author Topic: McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley  (Read 2839 times)

Offline shikenu

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McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley
« on: Saturday 13 October 07 15:18 BST (UK) »
Is there anyone out there researching McNeill or McNeil families from Moyraverty? There is one particular family I am trying to trace but I would guess that the McNeills of Moyraverty would all be related one way or another.

My grandmother was born Edith McNeill / McNeil in August 1890 (as far as we know). Her father was Robert McNeil a weaver according to her marriage certificate. I don't know the name of her mother but it might have been Letitia. Robert was killed in a hunting accident on Boxing Day, possibly 1892, when Edith was two years old. Her mother, and baby sister, Agnes died a couple of years later and Edith was brought up by two aunts in Moyraverty.

I can't find her birth certificate or one for Agnes, even with the help of a researcher. I can't find the birth, marriage or death of her parents, however, with the help of a kind researcher in the US, I did find Edith in the 1901 census:

Sarah McNeil 35  and Esther 28  both cambric weavers and Edith niece  11

They lived next door to another aunt and her husband: Alexander Uprichard  50 and  Lizzie 40. Alexander was also a weaver.

Alexander and Lizzie were married on 21st January 1878, from the marriage certificate I was able to find out that her father was John McNeil, a weaver, and that they were from Moyraverty, Parish of Knocknamuckley.

The same lady who helped me with the census information found a John and Mary McNeill of Moyraverty who had Mary Jane 1849, John 1852, Sarah 1857, Esther 1862 Thomas 1865 and Malcolm 1867. I haven't been able to find a family with an Elizabeth, Sarah, Esther and Robert in it.

I would be very grateful for any help or suggestions

Thanks









Offline aghadowey

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Re: McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 13 October 07 15:36 BST (UK) »
The same lady who helped me with the census information found a John and Mary McNeill of Moyraverty who had Mary Jane 1849, John 1852, Sarah 1857, Esther 1862 Thomas 1865 and Malcolm 1867. I haven't been able to find a family with an Elizabeth, Sarah, Esther and Robert in it.
Might be the above family?: according to IGI (www.familysearch.org) John McNeil m. Mary McKerr/McGerr and had Thomas (1 Aug.1864) & Malcolm (1 Apr.1867). Both births registered in Portadown district.

Is there anyone out there researching McNeill or McNeil families from Moyraverty? There is one particular family I am trying to trace but I would guess that the McNeills of Moyraverty would all be related one way or another.
My grandmother was born Edith McNeill / McNeil in August 1890 (as far as we know). Her father was Robert McNeil a weaver according to her marriage certificate. I don't know the name of her mother but it might have been Letitia. Robert was killed in a hunting accident on Boxing Day, possibly 1892, when Edith was two years old. Her mother, and baby sister, Agnes died a couple of years later and Edith was brought up by two aunts in Moyraverty.
I can't find her birth certificate or one for Agnes, even with the help of a researcher. I can't find the birth, marriage or death of her parents, however, with the help of a kind researcher in the US, I did find Edith in the 1901 census:
Sarah McNeil 35 and Esther 28 both cambric weavers and Edith niece 11
Are you sure Edith's parent's were married? If not, possibly the two girls were registered under mother's maiden name. Or possbly Edith was registered as female (without a first name chosen) or Edith is a middle name and she was registered under something like Mary, Anne, etc.
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!

Offline shikenu

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Re: McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 13 October 07 16:14 BST (UK) »
I am not at all sure that Edith's parents were married. I have looked for illegitimate female births over a 10 year period but nothing fits and but not spent much time looking for an alternative name so that is something I must do.

It is strange that I can't find Edith or Agnes or the deaths of her parents. I did wonder if Edith was perhaps the daughter of one of the two aunts who brought her up. According to my mother, the oldest sister could be hard on Edith, but the youngest one spoiled her when the older sister wasn't around. Lizzie and Alexander who lived next door were very good to her.

I also find it odd that Edith wasn't brought up by her mother's family unless of course her mother didn't have any or she was a McNeill. My grandmother knew nothing of her parents apart from being told that her father was shot in a hunting accident on Boxing Day and that her mother and baby sister died about the same time a couple of years later.

Offline aghadowey

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Re: McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 13 October 07 16:53 BST (UK) »
Lots of possiblities here as you know. Maybe Edith's mother and/or father died somewhere outside Ireland (like Scotland). I'm actually working on a similar mystery myself with a boy raised by 'aunts' (possibly great-aunts) with a different surname. He married in Scotland and gave names of parents but can't find a marriage for these people in England, Ireland or Scotland...
Have you tried looking for the family in any church records?
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!


Offline shikenu

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Re: McNeill from Moyraverty, Knocknamuckley
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 13 October 07 17:09 BST (UK) »
Yes, looked through several church records but need to widen the area. My grandmother was brought up as a Methodist but I don't know if her parents were Methodist or if her parents were married in the Methodists.

Thanks for all the suggestions. One thing I haven't had a chance to do yet is to look through Lurgan / Portadown newspapers for the 1890's to see if I can find the death of Robert McNeil.