Ward: Belfast Lookup Help Needed 1891

[riverseo]

Hey Sheila,

You can just call me Joe

Im sure you have heard of Belfast's many troubles over the years, it has never been the most peaceful of cities.  Im from West Belfast.  The city is kinda 'ghettoised' as West Belfast is mainly Catholic, North and South mixed (where you may find most trouble happening) and the East is mainly Protestant.  Your grandfather as you have stated was Catholic? That would make it more unusual for him to have come from the mainly Protestant East Belfast, but i myself have an aunt who moved there, and my grandparents on my father's side (That is the Ward family name side) lived fro a short period in East Belfast as in those days it was much more peaceful and less likely to cause tension.  Im not sure what the demographics would have been in those days regarding the proportions of what faith, people followed in those areas but my guess is it would be relatively similar to today as it takes  very long for things to change around here.

My Granda Ward he is called William Ward, i just noticed someone mentioned a William Ward further back, hmm well he was only born in 1934, but im unsure of what his father would have been called, i will check with my dad when he gets back. Hmm your father said something about him being from St Peter's Parish? well there is St Peter's Cathedral in West Belfast.....just wondering could the East Belfast thing be wrong? Just its more likely for a Catholic to be from West Belfast than East....though as i said its far from impossible. Im not as au fait with my family history as i should be, i have trouble enough remembering birthdays All i'm really going on is the area similarity and the coincidence of our families names (which so far has been slightly uncanny i suppose, as familys usually pass down names right?) I hope im being of some help and not just leading you down blind alleys.



Joe

[sheila_mc]

Joe,
Yes, I'm aware of the 'Troubles" - we're Catholic and  my Dad was from Omagh , where we still have many cousins, as well as in the South.  One of my cousins was actually in downtown Omagh with three little cousins when the bomb went off. She said that it really seemed to draw people from both sides together to try and stop the violence.

We also have seen quite a few programs over here about the North as well being able to watch both UTV news and RTE news online. It seems such a shame that in today's day and age people can be labeled and judged just on their name, religion or place of residence. Although, from the sounds of some of the things, a lot gets blamed on religion when in fact it's would be considered 'gang' activities in other places.

We were in Omagh, Belfast and Bangor as well as the South two years ago. We were just briefly in Belfast though - stopped at  the most bombed hotel in Europe and saw many murals. My sister was nervous about stopping, due to all of the reports (and it was early July) about violence at that time, and also, the style for the young men was to have their heads shaven, which we weren't seeing here in Canada at the time, so she thought it  was off-putting. We continued through to Bangor and spent the day out there.  It's such a different part of the country compared to the South - we noticed that there were more "flag wavers" in the North and not as much "Irish" tourism.

I'm not sure of anything about my Grandfather's family. He was killed fairly young  in my Mother's life, so she really didn't have much information about him. Back then, you wouldn't be making many trips back and forth across the 'pond' and from what I've seen, men are not the famous ones for writing.

I do know that Michael Ward (ggf) did live on New Street as well as Woodstock Avenue (which is now a bookstore) and Ardenlee Avenue.  I've seen mention of New Street off David Street near Falls Road, but  I've only seen the other two streets mentioned in East Belfast. On the website for the Ulster Covenant, there are also New Street's  listed in East and South Belfast. I hope to have more information once I can get into the Family History Centre here.
I'm hoping that I can find my Grandfather's sister Bridget Ward and her family, if she had any.  So, if your family knows of a Michael Ward that had two children Joseph and Bridget, let me know. I would be most grateful.

Apologies to anyone offended by my 'off topic' posting.

Sheila
Vancouver

[riverseo]

Northern Ireland is a much more backward quagmire place compared to the south...and you are quite right about it being not so much about Religious doctrine or anything, people are labelled Catholic or Protestant here as a more tribal almost race type thing doesn't matter if you don't follow the faith anymore but if you were born Catholic you are a Catholic likewise with Protestants, its like being black to a racist, nothing can change their hate.

Sorry i wont be able to get much more information until my dad gets back as this would concern his side of the family. My granda died on Friday night and the funeral is tomorrow so i might not be on tomorrow but as soon as i get any info i will be sure to let you know.

Is there any practical way i could help from this end of things i do live in Belfast so i could check records or whatever here though i wouldnt be sure how i would go about it.

Joe

[sheila_mc]

Ochh no Joseph,as me Da used to say - I'm very sorry for your loss of your Granddad and with you so young - be with your family now and listen to the stories that they'll all have to tell. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Sheila

[riverseo]

Hey Sheila

Ahh my granda's funeral was quite lovely really. My grandparents lived in a wee seaside village called Waterfoot about 30 miles up the Antrim coast from Belfast...warm and sunny day and the grave is situated looking down towards the beach and sea....

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers they are greatly appreciated.  I don't really know many of my family on my granda's side.....most of the people there i couldn't recognise...i knew my great uncle and  y great aunt not too well but know them well enough....hmm made me realise my family is bigger than i thought it was...ahh at this moment i dont really have much info to share with you, but if anything comes up i will be sure to let you know.

Thanks again
Joe

[sheila_mc]

Sounds like a beautiful place Joe - he'll be very happy there :-).

Take care now and when I find out about my Grandpa Joe, I'll fill you in.

Sheila

[riverseo]

hmm i asked my dad today whether there have been any Michael Wards in our family and he said that my granda had mentioned a great uncle 'Mickey'...not sure how that fits in with the time frame of things and he is unsure whether he was a Ward or not......my dad's cousin is compiling a family tree though so he may be helpful.

Again thanks.

Joe

[sheila_mc]

Hi Sheila. I was at the UHF today could this be your Joseph

Joseph Ward 2/11/1887 Father Michael Ward Mother Catherine Mc Kenna, St Malachy's RC Church Belfast .

He is the only one on the UHF Datebase with a father called Michael.

                                                              Anthony

Hi Anthony,

You said that the UHF only listed one Joseph with a father called Michael - does that mean for all of Antrim and Down there is only one Joseph Ward whose father was Michael in the 1890's? Do they have 'all' of the records?

I was at the LDS and looked up the registration index for Joseph /and/or Patrick Joseph Ward and have a few possibilities, however, if the UHF has all of the records in their possession, I wonder about the sense of the searches. As they were closing, I didn't have an opportunity to find out if there is any way to see the actual records and the person helping wasn't too sure about the next step to take.
Now I'm more confused!
Sheila

[Anthony]

Hi Sheila. its the only one they have the info they have is from his birth Certificate, I don't think they have all the records.
Where you at the UHF in Belfast if you go back they will run a search for you.
Give them as much info as you can they are very helpfull there, you never know your luck.

They will let you see all the records they have for Ward

When you go to the Door you need to push the Door hard to get in.