McMullen of Turnarobert townsland 1865

[Themassons]

Re the will, both Hugh and John mentioned are brothers of Thomas, the full will goes on to mention other brothers along with sisters also, Bessie signed his death certificate, she is a sister, she owned land in Cromaghs, I have most of the death certificates

[aghadowey]

You can only post a small portion of the certificate for deciphering purposes but are allowed to transcribe it.

GRONI lists Thomas Fulton's age as 56 (born c1830) so age looks good to be the father of Thomas (born 1865), Which means that he would have married after 1845, so if it was a non-Catholic or Registry Office ceremony it should appear in the civil registration index. Two other possibilities come to mind (besides no marriage having taken place)-
1) a Catholic ceremony in which case the bride was likely the Catholic partner (since registration of Catholic marriages didn't start until 1864)
2) marriage took place outside Ireland (Scotland is the most likely option)

Now to the Will of Thomas Fulton-
The Will of Thomas Fulton late of Altrossagh County Antrim Farmer who died 1 April 1886 at same place was proved at Belfast by Hugh Fulton of Armoy in said County and John Fulton of Altrossagh Farmers the Executors.    Effects £976 15s. Will mentions bequests to sisters- Mrs. Martha Kelly of Stroan, Mrs. Jane Fulton of Canada, Margaret Fulton of Altrossagh and Elizabeth Fulton of Altrossagh.
No mention of wife or children.

[aghadowey]

   The Griffiths Valuation records show a John McMullan living in the town of Armoy but renting land in Turnarobert in the early 1860s

The Valuation Revision Books show 'Turnarobert- Town of Armoy'
The 1st one (1864-1878) shows 2 entries for John McMullen- land & garden in one lot but (#20) house, office, yard so that's probably where he lived. Circa 1876 the properties all seem to change to James Donnelly.

[Themassons]

Thank you, yes on his death certificate he is noted as a bachelor, this is the only Thomas Fulton of the area of the time so has to be the one, I'm not sure why he didn't mention his son in the will but as my great grandfather was noted as a postman on his marriage certificate I'm assuming it's because he didn't want to be a farmer and may then have not kept the farm in the family, all assumptions but the only one to make sense.  I have had a look at the griffiths revisions but have only had a brief chance, this was my project for February

[aghadowey]

I really didn't think that Thomas Fulton (d.1886) was the father of your Thomas Fulton (b.1865) and now that you say the 1886 death certificate lists him as a bachelor I'm even less inclined to think so (although if he didn't marry Mary McMullen then he could have been a bachelor).

It's not uncommon for people in that period to go to Scotland and work at various occupations in cities there.

So, perhaps if we can start with the birth certificate for Thomas (1865). Exactly what details are on the certificate?

[Themassons]

Transcribed his birth certificate reads

2nd August 1865 @ Turnarobert, Armoy
Thomas, male
Father - Thomas Fulton, Altcrossagh, Farmer
Signed - Mary McMullen, Mother, Armoy

[aghadowey]

Person who registered the birth?

[Themassons]

Mary McMullen, the mother

[aghadowey]

Think I've figured some of this out. GRONI database (index) has the birth listed as Thomas Fulton 2 Aug.1865 Ballycastle district but under mother's maiden name nothing is listed.

Therefore, it seems that the parents weren't married but that the father attended the birth registration (and thus appears on the certificate- and with a separate residence).

So, the 'bachelor' Thomas Fulton who died 1886 could indeed be the father. Possibly there was no contact with the son (especially is Mary McMullen married after 1865) which could be why he isn't mentioned in Will.

Added- also possible that mother Mary died when Thomas was young and he was raised by some of her family.

It's possible church records will show other details (some clergymen liked to record the father's details (or details of alleged father). School records might also help (PRONI has many of the old school registers).