Search Help Emerson/Greer

[Testudinae]

I found researching my Mayo ancestors to be a breeze, but I am struggling with Antrim.  I am grateful for any tips on this family:

Mary Ann/Anna Emerson married Greer (seeking marriage info & husband's given name)
children born in Antrim (seeking birth/christening):
1. Martha Greer 1803
2. Robert Greer  1806
3. Ann Jane Greer 1807-1808
4. James Greer 1809
5. Richard Greer 1810
6. Mary Greer 1811
7. Margaret Greer 1814

In 1826, Mary Ann/Anna Greer emigrated to the US with all of her children and lived with her brother-in-law, Alexander Greer in Maryland for two years before settling in Ohio.  She never remarried, and she held property in her own name until she died. Her husband had probably died before they left Ireland. (seeking husband's name and DOD)

[Jon_ni]

Early for Ireland, people rarely find things a breeze in those decades.
Only certain church registers are transcribed on RootsIreland (subscription site) others are offline on microfilm only in PRONI, some denominations may have never maintained a record (R.C. and Presbyterian) and others did but may have been destroyed 1922 (Church of Ireland).
As you have neither a Townland/Parish within County Antrim and no religious denomiation all you can do is search RootsIreland, you have 7 children to match and confirm the church/locality with.
Had you known the Parish you could have consulted PRONI's Guide to Church Records (pdf) to see coverage dates.

Only the Church of Ireland maintained burial registers then and they are name and date, often without even their age. You are most likely to establish husbands forname from the children's baptisms, which probably won't document Mary's maiden surname.

https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/irish-church-records.html

[aghadowey]

Family tree on Family Search (would need to all be verified) has lots of information and gives Mr. Greer as a Robert Alexander Greer-
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L8TK-D8F
You might want to try contacting person who submitted the details.

[Jon_ni]

Family tree on Family Search (would need to all be verified) has lots of information and gives Mr. Greer as a Robert Alexander Greer

See especially the Alert notes on Mary Anna Emerson https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/KCTN-7QV and the research Notes to the right on both her and Robert Alexander Greer. "Current living family members believe her husband's name was Robert Alexander Greer"

There are no Irish sources for Mary or her children and she is stated as thought to have been born County Londonderry reason: From arrival ship manifest, family biography in notes and private family research.

Sources commence with the passenger list where she is listed as Anne Greer [indexed as Green] aged 50 a Baker [dittoed from above, but perhaps occupation should be none] from Ireland, destination Maryland https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6L-GTD3?lang=en
and on the next page James 19 & Richd 14, Farmers with destination Ohio.

On the FS tree at least I see no evidence of where in Ireland any were from from the census records or Naturalization linked. Mary Anna Emerson is Anne Greer in all the Knox, Ohio Land Tax records, Anna Greer in 1830 census.

[Testudinae]

Naturalization documents may be the key.  The three sons may have formally become citizens.  I'm off on that trail. . .

Thank you to all.

[Jon_ni]

Naturalization documents may be the key.  The three sons may have formally become citizens.  I'm off on that trail. . .

Son Robert's 1864 + James' 1875 are cited in the FS tree. No useful additional info in the images as I mentioned (natives of Ireland). Richard's not linked.

[Testudinae]

I saw the immigration notes.  I'll hunt for the DOA.

[shanreagh]

Have you followed back the records of Alexander Greer, the brother in law,  to see how far you can go with his genealogy?

As well the Irish had a naming pattern for the names of children.  From my experience they did not follow it as slavishly as say the Scots but it can be useful. The key to making the best use of this is to make sure you have the names of ALL the children born to a couple, even the ones who may have died in infancy.  Some families used the name of a child who had died, others did not.

From Wiki

A traditional naming pattern was often used by Irish parents until the later 19th century:

First son usually named for the father's father
Second son usually named for the mother's father
Third son usually named for the father
Fourth son usually named for the father's eldest brother
Fifth son usually named for the mother's eldest brother
First daughter usually named for the mother's mother
Second daughter usually named for the father's mother
Third daughter usually named for the mother
Fourth daughter usually named for the mother's eldest sister
Fifth daughter usually named for the father's eldest sister.


Looking at the list there seem to be gaps and these may be where infant children have died.

Possible gap but we don't know when they married.
1. Martha Greer 1803

Gap

2. Robert Greer  1806
3. Ann Jane Greer 1807-1808
4. James Greer 1809
5. Richard Greer 1810
6. Mary Greer 1811

Gap

7. Margaret Greer 1814  (It may pay to find the exact date of birth)  The father may have died before Margaret was born, or any time really up until 1826 though although fertility declined, it was usual to see some children though often more spaced out.   


TIP: 1 if are not doing this already collect all the variations of the surnames that you come across

ie Greer
Grier

Emmerson
Emerson
Hamerson

2 every database or record in Ireland/world, no matter how unlikely you feel it may put the names & variations you have collected and search


This is a useful website with links to other websites. 
NB the Intro
'Bill retired from updating this website in 2018. The website has been taken over by the Glens Of Antrim Historical Society. They will not be adding any new content to it but keeping it as an archive. In June 2023 the website was updated to refresh the design, add a search feature and make the site mobile friendly. If any regular users find any issues with the site you can email: webmaster@antrimhistory.net but please do not ask for help with research. If you are looking help with research about ancestors in Antrim please check out the Antrim History Forum."

https://www.billmacafee.com/

If you look on the Tithe applotment records for Co Antrim there are these Greer/Grier/Greere males listed
William Twice
John  four
Benjamin once
Thomas twice

These may be the same people with multiple holdings

You can read about Tithe applotments here
https://www.billmacafee.com/182030stithe.htm