Margaret BRUCE

[Jaznjjj]

My ancestor was Scottish in origin according to family oral history.  His name was Richard Bruce and he was married to Maria Parkinson - date unknown.  Their first child, Margaret Ann Bruce, was born approximately 1829 in County Antrim though this is not definite.  He enlisted at Paisley in the 11th Regt Devonshire Foot in 1831 and was with the regiment all over the world, including Ireland, until he signed off at Sydney about 1846. He had another child, Maria, born Belfast in 1832 and Ruth born Belfast in 1834 as well as other children born elsewhere after that.  Robert and his wife had left Margaret behind, supposedly in Ireland. I am particularly trying to find out about Margaret left behind in Ireland and would appreciate any hints about how to do this.  If there was (and I don't know whether there was) a census while she was a child that might give me a clue.   Any help greatly appreciated!  Thanks, Jennifer

[aghadowey]

It will be very, very difficult to find any information about Margaret & her family. Civil registration of births started in 1864 and the first complete census is 1901. To start looking for any surviving church records you need to know both the family's religion and where they lived (parish if not actual street/townland).

Have a look at Introduction to Irish Records and My Ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?.

[Jaznjjj]

Thank you.  That was quick!   Yes, it is a difficult quest - one of the reasons I had put it aside for so long.  I can try to track down the travels of the regiment more precisely and where the soldiers resided.  I don't know whether Margaret was left in Ireland as a baby, or later when the family left the U.K.  I can also try to locate the addresses linked to the births of Maria and Ruth in Belfast.  I could also look at marriages of Margaret Bruce in Ireland and hope I can zero in on the correct one.  I can also hope that descendants of Margaret Bruce are searching for her family and that we might link together.  Thanks again.  Jennifer

[rathmore]

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~garter1/bruceric.htm

[flower123]

Margaret Anne Bruce was my GGgrandmother, born approx 1829, father Richard Bruce. She married William John Crowe on 26 07 1856. I know of only one daughter Ellen DofB 04 01 1861. Married James Watson 25 02 1882. Ellen and James had 11 children w ith 9 living. All male.
Hope this helps. The families were CofI and all the marriages took place in Christ Church. Derriaghy.

[flower123]

Children Of WmJohn Crowe and Margaret Anne Bruce.
Ellen DofB 14 01 1861
Richard     21 o2 1864
WmJohn    23 031866
Ruth         14 09 1868
Thomas     23 03 1866
Jane         13 11 1871

1901 census Margaret Anne is living with son Richard and family, but has died before 1911.

[Jaznjjj]

Miracles do happen!   I notice that half the children are named after three of Margaret's siblings (Richard, Ruth and Jane - the children's aunts and uncles) which might suggest that Ellen, William and Thomas are named after her husband's siblings or other relatives. I am descended from the last child, of Richard and Maria, Elizabeth.  I have had no success despite much effort finding the birth of Margaret's father Richard, her mother Maria or their marriage - but I have pieced together the travels of that family.  It looks like we are parallel in generations, Margaret was your GGgrandmother, Elizabeth was my GGgrandmother, which makes us distant cousins.  I have a photograph of Elizabeth Phillips nee Bruce possibly taken in the 1880s if you would like a copy - it would be interesting if you have photographs of Margaret or Ellen to see what family resemblance is evident.  I would be delighted to communicate further and would be happy if you used my email address if you wish (*) which would suit me better for sending attachments etc. 

Rathmore.  Thank you - I had also found that source after I had done the hard yards doing the research myself. It would have saved me a lot of effort had I come across it in the first instance years ago.  Just note that the numbering of the children is confusing.  Children are Margaret, Maria, Ruth, Richard and Elizabeth and the other names in that list are spouses etc.  I can also add to that information if anyone else is researching.  Your post is extremely helpful because it reminds me I need to contact Bev Nairn again and update her on Margaret Bruce. 

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[Jaznjjj]

Personal message sent separately.

In the meantime - another researcher found reference to Richard Bruce being a native of Ayrshire, where we'd been looking for him in Renfrewshire. 

Also Margaret Crowe died Belfast? Oct-Dec 1906. 

[aghadowey]

Also Margaret Crowe died Belfast? Oct-Dec 1906. 

The civil registration index only lists 1 Margaret Crowe who died 1906 in Belfast registration district/all Ireland- volume 1 page 256 and her age is less than 1 year.
The following details match this death record:
Margt Crowe, age 16 Days, 34 Montreal St., died 9 October 1906 and buried the following day Belfast City Cemetery - Public Ground.
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialrecords/search.asp