Pheniy family in Hillsborough, Co Down in 1892

[elderone1]

An Isabella Pheniy wrote to "Cousins John & Mrs. Kelly" from Hillsborough, Co. Down 29/3/92, reaching them in Skerry East, Co. Antrim. Details in the letter suggest the writer may be Isabella Kelly, born Co. Down about 1840, and registering by examination to Newtowncrommelin Presbyterian Church, Co. Antrim in March 1863. May have had a daughter Jane Kelly, born 17 June 1865 in Clough, Co. Antrim. Any information linked to a Pheniy family may help determine if this Isabella is part of my Tree, and its related family roots in Co. Down.

[aghadowey]

Are you sure the surname is actually 'Pheniy'? I did find Phenix in Hillsborough area, including several Isabellas.

[elderone1]

Here is her signature. Her script is all very well formed throughout her letter, with zero spelling anomalies. Her surname could only be different if she was unclear what it was?

[aghadowey]

Thanks for posting Isabella's signature. Not sure if it runs to the edge of the page but as I suspected it is PHENIX (with a poorly formed X at the end) not Pheliy.

There are 2 women named Isabella Phenix in 1901 census (in all Ireland)-
1) Isabella Phenix age 26 living in Co.Down with her siblings-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballymaglaff/Ballymaglaff/1253595
same household in 1901 although Isabella's has only been increased by a few years-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ballymaglaff/Ballymaglaff/262568

2) Isabella Phenix age 14 born & living in Belfast-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Court_Ward/Springmount_Street/947218

1911 census introduces a third Isabella Phenix age 10 with middle name of Fleming living in Hillsborough area-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Hillsborough/Ballykeel_Artifinny/249774

Will post more information which I found after teatime.

[elderone1]

Thank you for your input. I had looked over surnames in Down and Antrim previously, and like you, found no "Pheniy", but a number of Feeney, Phenix, Phoenix, etc. However, neither of the two Isabellas you identified were of an age likely to have written this private letter. It was most clearly from a middle-aged (in 1892) person writing to her younger cousins and little ones upon their embarkation forever to America.
I'll have to explore other alternatives.

[aghadowey]

I didn't say that any of the women in the census records were the Isabella Phenix that you are searching for but merely that they are the only ones listed in all Ireland for that period.

This looks like the birth registration for Isabella in Ballymaglaff- not that her mother is also Isabella- https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F5X5-QLY

So, am wondering if this could possibly be Isabella's mother and the writer of your letter?
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FT86-66L

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   Following on from Aghadowey's findings. Mathew Phenix married Isabella Irvine in Lisburn Civil Registrars Office in 1858. The children of this marriage which I can find are:-
Elizabeth 26 May 1864 Anahilt Co Down
Mary       2 Aug 1866      ..           ..
Male Child 14 Mar 1870    ..           ..
Male Child 7 Mar 1871      ..           ..
Isabella    29 Jun 1874    ..            ..
James      21 Jul 1878 Ballykine Co Down

Regards

[elderone1]

The writer of the letter, Isabella Pheniy, is writing to her "Cousin John and Mrs. Kelly". If we look at this being a "1st cousin", then John is the son of Isabella's father's brother. John's father is David Kelly (documented) born in Co. Down. Don't know who Isabella's father is. However, we do know that an Isabella Kelly arrived in Newtown Crommelin in 1863, registering with but not an immediate family member with said David Kelly (my 3rd great grandfather). We also know that an Isabella Kelly was witness to the marriage of Maria Kelly (full age spinster) on 22 Apr 1865 to John Stuart, teacher, in Newtowncrommelin Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. Malcolm Orr (documented original). Said Maria Kelly arrived and registered with said David & Mrs. Kelly in March 1863 at Newtowncrommelin Presbyterian Church. So....the original letter, in Kelly family archives, connects an Isabella Pheniy to a David Kelly from County Down.

[elderone1]

I look at Isabella's signature, including with a good magnifying glass, and there is no way I can confuse that last letter with a distorted "X". If it is not "y", then it might be "g" or "q", but not "x".