Robert Gregg-Co.Antrim

[StevieP]

Hi there,

I have previously posted a topic regarding Robert Gregg of Co.Antrim and have still found no new information regarding his further family. I have, however discovered more information of a second marriage that I would like to include in a new post.

Robert Gregg was born somewhere in Co.Antrim, Ireland between 1882 and 1886 to Robert Gregg, a farmer, and an unknown mother.

He is included in the 1901 census listed as a servant to John Gillespie:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballyconnelly/Corbally/924447/

He married Ellen Connor in Gracehill Moravian Church in 1902 and lists his father, Robert Gregg, as dead and they can be seen here in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ahoghill/Lisnafillon/115314/

His marriage to Ellen Connor lasted until February 1924 when Ellen died from tuberculosis and they had 11 children:

John Connor Gregg B: 17 March 1903
Jean Gregg B:23 September 1904
Minnie Gregg B: 12 November 1905
Robert Gregg B:2 August 1907 D:13 October 1942 Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein
James Gregg B: 10 December 1909
Priscilla Gregg B:12 May 1911
Thomas Gregg B:16 February 1915 D:1 June 1940 Dunkirk
Ellen Gregg B: 7 August 1917
Margaret Gregg B: 7 August 1917 Died in 1918
Kathleen Gregg B: 13 July 1919
Margaret Gregg B: 12 September 1921

Robert married again after his wife's death to Eleanor Nevin in September 1924 and had at least one more child;

William Nevin Gregg B:1926 D:2014

Robert died on the 13 February 1972 at the listed age of 89 in Bentham Street, Belfast.

I am currently searching for Robert's father (Robert Snr) but have found no such match. Robert Snr was dead before Robert Jnr's marriage in 1902 but I have not found any match in Ballymena that would fit. I have discounted the Robert Gregg that died in Ballymena on 13th February 1898 based on the fact he was an unmarried bachelor. I have searched for Robert Junior's birth certificate and have discounted the following mothers as matches due to the wrong father's name:

Elizabeth Linton
Sarah Waide
Rosetta Erwin
Jane Curry


All of this information is currently listed on Ancestry.com under the name Purdy family tree.

I would be grateful if anyone could shed any further light on the matter as I have had no success in locating a potential Robert Gregg in Co.Antrim where he was listed as being born.

Many thanks,

Stephen

[aghadowey]

No need to start a new topic- you'v got at least 2 previous ones with lots of information already posted.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=690293.msg5341897#msg5341897
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=469018.0

Have you considered the possibility that the father's details on the marriage certifiate were made up?

[StevieP]

Yes, I'm aware of the previous 2 posts, they are however quite disjointed and this post is obviously the most up-to-date and will contain the newest and most information.

I had not considered the possibility of made-up marriage details, though I cannot see why that would be necessary in the first place. What would be the reasoning behind making a father's information up? And if so, why continue the lie for over 20 years? I think it would be unlikely, especially given his profession as a labourer.

[greeneyedgirl]

Hi, a couple of things that may be useful (hopefully)......

Birth of Robert Gregg:

Robert Gredd
born 11 May 1890
bap 7 Sept 1890
district: Letterkenny, co Donegal
Presbyterian
father: Robert Gregg
mother: Martha Burroughs

Robert Gregg
born 5 March 1883
registered: Ballymena
mother's surname: Steele

Robert Gregg
born 17 August 1886
registered: Belfast
mother's surname: Delap

Robert Gregg
born 6 Oct 1880
registered: Magherafelt
mother's surname: Stewart

Robert Gregg
born 5 June 1876
registered: Belfast
mother's surname: McBurney

* the last 4 are from GRONI which is a pay per view site that you can search.

also on Groni I found these deaths for Robert's father Robert between 1882-1902 from around the general co Anttrim area.

Deaths for Robert Gregg Sr:

13 Feb 1898   age:48  registered:Ballymena
8 Sept 1897   age:75  registered: Belfast
10 Jan 1896   age:61  registered: Armagh
15 June 1888   age:88  registered: Magherafelt
21 June 1890   age:64  registered: Magherafelt

If I may make a recommendation. When looking for your Roberts do not assume that they may not have come from another county or that they are all in the one place. In my own research of my family from Antrim, I have found information in counties Derry, Tyrone & Donegal. Also, I found many Robert Greggs in 1700's in co Donegal so they may have originated there. Hope this helps and I I can help further let me know, Kim 

[lyndo]

Hi blemdookie,

I was interested to read your post as I have family moving from Antrim to Glasgow around 1860 or a bit before.

What is GRONI?
Can you post a link for this, please. I would like to use it myself.

Thanks 
lyndo

[lyndo]

Sorry guys,

I put groni in google and found the site.

None the less, thank you for talking about it in your post as I wouldn't have known about it.
It also poked my conscience about not reading the beginner resource posts for Ireland.
So I went and read them too!!
cheers
lyndo 

[aghadowey]

Yes, I'm aware of the previous 2 posts, they are however quite disjointed and this post is obviously the most up-to-date and will contain the newest and most information.
If for some reason you must start another threads (and in this case you reall didn't need to do so) then you should post a link to previous one so that people trying to help can easily see what's already been discussed and not waste their time.

I had not considered the possibility of made-up marriage details, though I cannot see why that would be necessary in the first place. What would be the reasoning behind making a father's information up? And if so, why continue the lie for over 20 years? I think it would be unlikely, especially given his profession as a labourer.
The most common reason for making up father's name on certificate is illegitimacy and in these cases the father's first name may be that of the matenal grandfather or some other male relative who raised the child. It could also be a combination of real father's first name and mother's maiden name/stepfather's surname.

However, sticking with the possiblility that the details ar correct there are several ways to go about looking for more information.
- check marriages for a Robert Gregg then see if that couple did have a son Robert aound the right time
- check LDS extracted Irish births for more details
- check PRONI Will Extracts to eliminiate some of the Robet Gregg deaths mentiond earlier

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   A further possibility is Robert Gregg and Bessie Forsythe. They married in Ballymena Third Presbyterian Church on 23 Apr 1884. The fathers' names were William Gregg and Thomas Forsythe.

Regards