David Bruce of Ballybay [1847]

[norvals]

In a letter written in 1847 it is stated that David Bruce, my great-great-granduncle, was Supervisor of Excise, Cappa Hall, Ballabey [so spelled in the letter], Monaghan.

By 1870 he was Collecting Supervisor of Excise, residing at Kirkwall, Orkney, in Scotland.

He was born in Watten, Caithness, Scotland in 1809.

How would I go about finding out how long he lived in Co. Monaghan?

He was apparently married to a cousin born in Clones, Sarah Gunn [born around 1805], whose father William Gunn was also from Watten, but whose mother was apparently Elizabeth Whiteside from Co. Monaghan.

Any further information would be very welcome.

Norval

[Christopher]

Hello Norval,

It looks as though there are two possible sources to find out more about the length of time David Bruce was in employment with Customs and Excise in Co. Monaghan.

HM Customs & Excise National Museum which is located in the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool holds the National Collections of HM Customs & Excise. The other source for records for Ireland and Northern Ireland is the Public Record Office in Belfast. The relevant record series are CUST 20, 39, 47, 110, 111, 112 and 116.

Christopher

[norvals]

I was able to find the details of David Bruce's marriage on a free download:

Irish Genealogical Research Society
Dr P Smythe-Wood’s Irish Newspaper Index
Customs & Excise Officers & their families,
Also Inland Revenue officers

https://www.irishancestors.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Smythe-Wood-Customs-Excise.pdf