Halliday from Belfast area

[shikenu]

I am looking for information on Maxwell Halliday, my great-great-grandfather

I know nothing about Maxwell except that he was a labourer at the time of the marriage of his son, David Halliday to Elizabeth Burrows on 11th December 1882 at St Anne's in the parish of Shankill, Co Antrim.

David and Elizabeth were both 20 years old at the time of their marriage and their residence is given as 24 Norton St, Belfast. David was a bugler in the Royal Irish Rifles. I'm not sure if this was the residence of Maxwell or David. Next door lived Samuel Halliday according to the 1880 Belfast Street directory.

There are several Maxwell Halliday's although the one I am drawn to is Maxwell who married Jemima Cunningham on 9th December 1848 in Dromore, Co Down. They had a son, Samuel John Halliday born 29th March 1868 in Ballymacarrett which is the area where my Hallidays lived. The length of time between their marriage and the birth of Samuel suggests a large family. This Maxwell had a brother Samuel, and they were the sons of Mercer and Alice Halliday.

I thought that Maxwell would have been an easy name to follow up on, but I have found Maxwell Halliday's scattered throughout the 1800's and 1900's. The problem is finding mine!!

I would be very grateful for any help.

[aghadowey]

The first name of Maxwell might have come down through several branches of a family if there an ancestor married a Maxwell.
The address on the marriage certificate is the residence of the broom (and bride) at the time of the marriage which may or may not be where their parents lived or where they were born.

[shikenu]

Thanks, I thought the residence was most likely for David and Elizabeth when they married. The house they lived in was next door to one of two houses owned by Samuel Halliday. I wonder if it was just coincidence that they were in the same street as Samuel Halliday since the Maxwell I am drawn to had a brother Samuel??

Perhaps the way forward is to look for a Halliday and Maxwell marriage way back (of course there may not be any records that far back), and then work forwards.

It is so frustrating not having census records!!

[BallyaltikilliganG]

My instinct is to follow the least common name Halliday in the following and see how they work out.
These are volume references for the named family trees as follows CUNNINGHAM 1p130 Church Hill, 14p209, 15p45, 24p28 Macedon, 52 Down Armagh, 54.HALLIDAY 7p171, MAXWELL 17n, 43T, 79 Waring, 91. The volumes are in Blackwood Family history manuscript trees in LinenHall library, Belfast.
I suggest you ask them for photocopying estimates if they think your knowledge relevant and be prepared to pay the extra for post and packing. However if the material is really relevant when you get it, I suggest a further donation to this unique library that is always needing extra funds. Linen Hall Library,17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT15GB, Northern Ireland, Telephone: +44 (0)28 9032 1707,  Fax: +44 (0)28 9043 8586, Email:info[at]linenhall.com.
Good luck, Jim

[shikenu]

Thanks very much for the helpful suggestion, I will certainly follow up with the Blackwood Family manuscripts, something I hadn't thought of doing. Thanks for going the extra bit and giving me all the contact details for the Linen Hall Library.