Belfast - Jonesboro Park area - 1902

[cam12]

Hello from Canada! ... hoping to get some help with Belfast geography.

The family I am researching had a member who was born & raised in the Newtownards area, however after she married, appears in the 1901 Census as living on Clara Street, Belfast (and later in the 1911 Census nearby on Castlereaugh Road).

One of her brothers stated on the Birth Registration of his first child (July 1902) ... which took place near Newtownards ... that his address at the time of the birth was "Johnsborough St.".  I have not been able to locate this street ... but it seems very coincidental that (today) a "Jonesboro Park" is by Clara Street. I have assumed that the brother had left Newtownards and gone to Belfast seeking work (he was a Labourer), and that was why he was away from Newtownards in July 1902.

Could it be that there was a "Johnsborough Street" back in 1902 that is part of today's "Jonesboro Park"??  Further, I was wondering if there was any particular industry or factories in that area back in 1902?

Thanks for your help! Hope all are staying safe!!

[gaffy]

Hi, can you provide a few links, for example, to the relevant Ireland 1901 and 1911 census records?

[Kiltaglassan]

Hello,

Firstly here's the current location of Clara Street in Belfast, with Jonesboro Park off it.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01q1d/

Have you been onto the PRONI Historical Maps Viewer https://apps.spatialni.gov.uk/PRONIApplication/

There's a 1900-1907 Belfast map that shows Jonesboro Street at right angles to Clara street. Copyright doesn't allow it's posting here but you can find it by opening the viewer. There's a large brickworks beside it.

One of her brothers stated on the Birth Registration of his first child (July 1902) ... which took place near Newtownards

Can you provide a link to this birth record, please?

Further, I was wondering if there was any particular industry or factories in that area back in 1902?

The main industries in Belfast in early 1900's - shipbuilding and linen manufacture.
See https://www.rootschat.com/links/01q1e/

KG

Edited to add:
Here's an interesting guide to East Belfast- CCG Industrial Heritage Trail
https://www.communitygreenway.co.uk/sites/default/files/Connswater%20Industrial%20Heritage%20Trail%20WEB.pdf

[cam12]

Hi Gaffy & KG - thanks for responding  - sorry - I'm not sure how to do links.

When I Googled "Johnsborough Street, Belfast" nothing came up, but when I looked up Clara Street and saw a current-day map of the area, that is when I saw that "Jonesboro Park" is so close to Clara Street & Castlereagh Road.

KG - Thanks for the info that back in 1901 - 1907 that there was a "Jonesboro Street" at right angles to Clara Street ... much as "Jonesboro Park" is today.

It may have just been a recording error on the 1902 Birth Registration of "Johnsborough St. Belfast" and should have read "Jonesboro Street".

Regarding the Census:

1901 Census: David & Magdalena Beattie - lived at 8 Clara Street (Co. Down)
1911 Census: David & "Medeline" Beattie - lived at 26 Castlereagh Road (Co. Down)

Magdalena's maiden name was Walsh ... and her brother from the Newtownards area was William Walsh.

Regarding the Birth Registration (found on irishgeneaology.ie)

Child's name: William Walsh
Date: 27 July 1902
Place: Crescent, Comber
Father: William Walsh, "Johnsborough St. Belfast", Labourer
Mother: Alice Walsh formerly Quinn
Informant: Eliza Quinn (this is Alice's mother, and the birth took place at the home of Alice's parents).

I was just trying to figure out why the father, William, was living away from the Newtownards area at the time of the birth, and I had assumed that he was doing so for work. If "Johnsborough St. Belfast" was just a recording error on the Birth Registration, & it should have read "Jonesboro Street" ... then it just adds some detail to the chronicle that William was living near the home of his
married sister, Magdalena (Walsh) Beattie in Belfast.

Interesting that there was a brick works very near by ... who knows ... perhaps William Walsh worked there!?

FYI - by the time of the birth of his next child in 1906, William Walsh was back living in Newtownards with his family.

Thanks for your help!

[Kiltaglassan]

.....then it just adds some detail to the chronicle that William was living near the home of his married sister, Magdalena (Walsh) Beattie in Belfast.

You may have this, but just linking the marriage in 1888 of David Beattie and Magdalena Walsh in Dundonald Presbyterian Church.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1888/10764/5925558.pdf

David residing in Ballystockart townland.
https://www.townlands.ie/down/castlereagh-lower/comber-castlereagh-lower-portion/ballystockart/

Magdalena residing in Lisleen townland.
https://www.townlands.ie/down/castlereagh-lower/comber-castlereagh-lower-portion/lisleen/

KG

[gaffy]

Newspaper articles of the time (1902) indicate that, regardless of which was correct, the street was referenced both as 'Jonesboro' and 'Jonesborough'.  The 1901 street directory for Clara Street on the Lennon Wylie website shows that 'Jonesboro' Street intersected with it between nos 14 and 16:
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ccomplete1901_2.htm

In the very same directory, the listing for the street itself was referenced as 'Jonesborough' (running from Ravensdale Street to Isoline Street):
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ijkcomplete1901.htm

This area was right in the thick of industrial activity at that time, apart from shipbuilding and ancillary works, there were a great many other endeavours on the go, from engineering works to distilleries, coal depots to rope works, various types of mill etc. And there was some serious building of houses on the go as well.

[cam12]

Thanks to you both - Gaffy and KG.

I did have the information regarding Magdalena and her husband, David Beattie (Thx) ... but I was not familiar with the Lennon Wylie web site - great to have another resource!