Trying to find parents of Rev. Robert Mathews

[wyseass]

Rev. Robert was Headmaster of the Diocesan School, Ballymena, Co. Antrim (now called Ballymena Academy), from 1829-1847.
He was born circa. 1798.
I would love any information as to who his parents were?
Anything would be helpful.

[scotmum]

Have you contacted The Academy to ask if they hold any archives for the timescale? Or perhaps the Local Studies Department at Ballymena Library - details of same at http://www.familia.org.uk/services/ni/northeast.html.


I understand the school was Church of Ireland in that timescale, have you tried their archives?

[wyseass]

There is a portrait of him at the school, that is about it they don't know anything about his parentage.

[aghadowey]

Diocesan Library apt to be difficult to search even when you know they are supposed to have a particular volume.
Ballymena Library (Local Studies collection) is best place to start. Librarians are all very helpful there and if they can't find something they might be able to suggest another source to try, however, it may be that the information you are looking for will not be available anywhere.

[scotmum]

At least it is fortunate that a portrait of your ancestor exists when sadly so many portraits/photos of our ancestors were lost over time.  As aghadowey says, it may be that his parents remain unknown.

[wyseass]

Thank you for your help.  I suppose if it was going to be easy to solve this, then my Uncle would have done so when he was doing his research.

[rmburke]

February 27 1866

February 22, in St. Kevin's Church [Dublin?], by the Rev. J. Patton, DR. J. IRWIN WELSH, only son of JOHN WELSH, ESQ., M.D., Ballyshannon, county Donegal, to SUSAN MARY, youngest daughter of the late REV. ROBERT MATHEWS, A.M., Ballymena, county Antrim

August 21 1857

On the 11th inst., at St. Patrick's Church, Ballymena [Co Antrim] , by the Rev. William Reeves, WILLIAM HENRY, Sub Inspector of Constabulary, Ballyshannon, to KATE, eldest daughter of the late REV. ROBERT MATTHEWS, Ballymena

Kate Matthews after her marriage to MR. William Henry, Esq, back to where he lived; Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Ireland -- where they also were found to have children as found online:

Daughter born June 27, 1859
Son born October 28, 1860
Son born November 19, 1861 (see below, this is Robert Beresford Henry)
DIED son named Robert Beresford, aged 9 months. Date of death: August 14, 1862

Here is the link I found above on:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/kilbarronbmdnotices.htm

There might be "Henry" information found that can bend back to the Rev. Robert Mathews family found in Co. Donegal - just sharing what I found in my search for info about this Rev who married my GGG Grandfather in Ballymena. I am not related to the Matthews family. I am not related to the Mathews family.

Michelle

[akanex2]

From the marriage notice of his daughter he appears to be  a Master of Arts (A.M.) so will have a University education. Matriculation and graduation registers have been published for all UK universities operation at that time (Trinity Dublin, Oxford, Cambridge and several Scottish universities).

Trinity College Dublin is the most likely as the only University then in Ireland and a Church of Ireland foundation. The only Robert Matthews graduating from Trinity College with an MA that early was from Co Tipperary, son of John Matthews ("Musicus" by profession) and educated by Mr White. He entered TCD 6 July 1812 aged 15, graduating with a BA in 1817 and an MA in 1820.

Looks like you man.

[scotmum]

Just adding a link to help reference the above:

http://www.igp-web.com/tipperary/alumni.htm