French family research

[Fiz]

Looking for information on the French family.
Only information I have, courtesy of 1911 UK census is that my Grandfather named Thomas French was born approx 1880 in Rathmore, County Antrim.
He had two brothers, names not known. I believe all three brothers left home around the same time, two went to England and one to USA. Their father's name was Alexander, mother's name not known.
Thomas married my Grandmother in 1911 in Derbyshire, he was then aged approx 31yrs.

[corisande]

Irish Birth Index you can get off LDS site

http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#start

Rathmore itself does not seem to be unique in Antrim/Belfast

[Fiz]

Rathmore is a Townland in the Parish of Donegore to the East of Antrim itself, just fields and hedges and a few modern homes. I'm told that there are several 'Frenches' living in the area, maybe they are distant relatives, another line of enquiry for me to pursue.
Thankyou for your interest.

[aghadowey]

1911 census for Co. Antrim has a French family in the townland of Rathbeg that might be related-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search
PRONI have Thomas French, Rathbeg listed in Will extracts (www.proni.gov.uk)

[audrey]

found 2 marriages a bit early but you never know

Alexander French to Jane Moore civil Reg at Belfast 4/9/1854

H/F father William French
w/f/ William Moore

Alexander French to Annie Smith civil Reg. at Drummaul Antrim 1/7/1862

H/F John French
W/F/ James Smith

audrey

[Fiz]

Thankyou Audrey, much appreciated.   

[SIMW]

Have you tried getting a copy of your grandfather's birth certificate ? There should be one if he was born about 1880.
You can order certificates on line from the General Registry of N.Ireland. It would indicate his mother's name and his place of birth.
Have you checked the 1901 census for Ireland for French's living in Rathmore at that time. Unfortunately, at present I think the census is only available on microfilm.

[aghadowey]

You can check index to civil registration for Thomas French's birth (if at Rathmore it comes under Antrim registration district.
See here for hints on getting best results from your searches-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,357532.0.html
And here options for ordering certificates-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,383526.0.html

There are quite a few Frenches in IGI (www.familysearch.org) including a submitted, not extracted, record for Thomas French, son of Thomas and Jane (Irvine), born 1849.

[Fiz]

Thanks, but Thomas' father was called Alexander. Have tried birth records to no avail.