Marriage of Margaret Nelson and Gaetano Ponti

[Gandalf001]

Hi there, I hope someone can please help. My Nelson family may have originated in Belfast, the main clue being the possible marriage in around 1867 - 1871 of Margaret Nelson (b 1840) to Italian Gaetano Ponti who was probabaly an Italian immigrant from Milan.  Very soon after their marriage they emigrated to US.

The other Nelsons at that time in Belfast where possibly her father James a painter (if still alive).  Her brother Robert Nelson a stonemason born 1845/6 had moved to Liverpool by 1865 where he was married.  I don't know any Belfast streets etc only their professions and I'm hoping those and the  unusual names will help find some more information about their Irish background.

thanks in anticipation
Pete

[aghadowey]

www.emeraldancestors.com doesn't have any records for surname Ponti and I can't see a marriage for a Margaret Nelson to anyone with the first name of Gaetano (or anything close). Why do you think the marriage would have taken place in Belfast? could it be before 1864 (civil registration of Catholic marriages began in 1864)?

[Gandalf001]

Many thanks Aghadowey for your quick response, much appreciated.
Margaret and Gaetano 's children were all born in Indiana, US.  Word from them and the Mormon Index is that Gaetano Ponti was from Milan (b 1843) unfortunately he does not appear on the Ancestry passenger lists.  Margaret is said by them to have been from Belfast (there is no actual evidencve of this) and that they married "about 1870 in Belfast".

If this is true then they married just before emigrating.

I am really more interested in Margaret and her family's origin.  Her brother Robert Nelson b abt 1845/6 was my g grandfather and certainly married (1865) and lived in Liverpool, possibly emigrating in 1868 to US, he (or someone very like him) appears in the 1868 passenger lists.

Robert Nelson was a stonemason, are there are N Ireland trade directories that might show him or his father James who was a painter around this period?

regards

[aghadowey]

U.S. census records should show Margaret's country of birth. If she appears in 1930 U.s. census it should say whether or not she was born in what became Northern Ireland.
U.S. death certificate often give place of birth (as supplied by informant) and her children's birth certificates might also have that detail depending on when and where they were born.

Most directories for 1860s/1870s list businesses but few tradesmen.

[Gandalf001]

many thanks
Unfortunately she died in 1889 in Indiana and I have little other info from the local libary.  However I will try the 188(1) US Census,
thanks again
Pete

[kingskerswell]

Pete,
        I do not know how accurate your birth dates are but I found the following:-

25 Oct 1826 Baptism of Robert Nelson at Donagheady Church of Ireland Strabane Co.Tyrone.
Father Alexander Nelson mother Martha

6 Jul 1828 Baptism of Margaret Nelson at Donagheady Church of Ireland
Father Alexander Nelson mother Mary

In both cases the mother's surname is not given and in my experience Martha/Mary are interchangable.

Regards

[aghadowey]

1880 U,s, census here (free): www.familysearch.org