William John Spence (Approx 1830-1919)

[gaffy]

There is a Selina Spence who married Alfred Edward Dinely in St. Annes CoI in 1898 , here they are in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Victoria/Joseph_Street/1222245/

...and 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Victoria__part_of_/Parkgate_Avenue/231519

Is this couple relevant?

[RJP75]

There is a Selina Spence who married Alfred Edward Dinely in St. Annes CoI in 1898 , here they are in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Victoria/Joseph_Street/1222245/

...and 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Victoria__part_of_/Parkgate_Avenue/231519

Is this couple relevant?

Thanks Gaffy, yes its certainly relevant to me as Alfred Edward and Selina would have been my great-grandparents and i'd already seen these entries on the censuses. I am now trying to work back from Selina as i've come across a tonne of information relating to the Dineley clan going way back.
Many thanks.

[MQSP]

Dear RJP75 - My gg grandfather was also named William Jon Spence. He was born in May 1805 in Toberagnee, Co. antrim, and married in 1832 in the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church in Templepatrick. I have to wonder if my William could be an uncle to your William John Spence. Do you have any info on John's siblings, Kingskerwell?
Peggy

Hi Peggy13. I have established a genetic link to the William Spence you referenced in this comment via trees on Ancestry.

I am a Spence, from Belfast! I have traced my paternal line back to Andrew Spence b abt 1860. His two marriage certificates listed his father as William John Spence (farmer). I have been unable to confirm where Andrew came from via online records. I have been unable to visit PRONI because I now live in London.

I understand your william Spence 1805 - 1890 emmigrated to Canada from Toberagnee. I also know his son William lived in Belfast for a short while w/o his wife, she joined him later or went home to give birth. All before they emmigrated.

You can probably see where I am going with this. Given the genetic link, one hypothesis I am playing with is that my Grt Grt Grandfather Andrew Spence was infact illigitimate, fathered by William when he was working in Belfast, possibly seperated from his wife.

You metion in your comment William was called William John Spence. Can you confirm this as I have found no records of William John Spence from Toberagnee, only William.

I would be super keen to hear back from you as this is a significant brick wall for me.

Thankyou.

Mark Spence.

[Peggy13]

I have found his name as William Jon Spence online athough I only have William Spence. What information do you have that he lived in Belfast before emigration? I don't have an Ancestry subscription so curious as to which tree you found a genetic link on.
Peggy

[MQSP]

Hi Peggy,

I have since edited my comment as it is actually the son of William Spence 1805 also William Spence who lived in Belfast. It looks like he and his wife emmigrated later.

Someone on the Ezekiel David Spence line. A son of William Spence.

Another theory I have is that Andrew is a legitimate son of William Spence but chose to stay behind as he was older.

[Peggy13]

I see. Ezekiel David Spence is a son of  William Jr, son of my William. My William was married Mar 27, 1832 and had William Jr Apr 15, 1834. William Jr was married Oct 18, 1855.
Peggy

[MQSP]

Where did you find the marriage record for William Spence Sr?

It would be good to trace back the source of the William John Spence nomenclature. Where did you come across it?

William Jr married before Andrew was born. It could be that William Jr was Andrrew's father but w/o documentary evidence it is difficult to prove. Andrew having been born before births were formerly registered.

[Peggy13]

I originally found the marriage record for William  Sr. on familysearch. I wrote to Proni and after paying them $30 Canadian, they confirmed the marriage date via email. He was married in the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Templepatrick.

[MQSP]

OK. The marriage predates formal registry, was it a church record? Did it mention anything about their parents?