Hello, I am researching Curley families and need help finding what happened to James Curley [born Curlie] in Glasgow, Lanarkshire in 1888 to Alexander and Rebecca. In 1901 and 1911 James is living with his parents and siblings at 485 Lisburn Road, Windsor, Antrim. In 1956 James was the Honorary Secretary, Belfast Branch Inniskilling Association. In 1959 he was living 505 Lisburn Road and was awarded an MBE. The last newspaper article I can find is July 1976 with James celebrating his 90th birthday. I have not been able to find a record of death or burial. I do not know if James married or had any children, or if like his siblings, did not. His brother was Lieutenant Francis Curley who died 25 September 1915 and is buried in Loos-en-Gohelle, France. His parents and siblings are buried in the Belfast City Cemetery. Any help is much appreciated. Dianne
Dianne
Monday 15th May 2023, 11:36AMMessage Board Replies
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Dianne,
GRONI in Belfast should have James death. Deaths within the past 50 years (such as his must be) are not searchable on-line. You can go into the GRONI office in Stranmillis, Belfast and search there or you can contact them and pay for a search. They will do a 5 year search for £7 and if they find a matching certificate you can purchase it for £8, coming to a total of £15. It will be posted to you a few days later. You pay over the phone using a credit card. You type your number in on the phone keypad. They don’t know what it is. They won’t deal with these searches and orders by e-mail or post because they need you to type the credit card number in yourself.
Phone: 0300 200 7890 (+44 300 200 7890 from outside the UK)
Obviously his death certificate should tell you whether James was ever married. The informant’s details may also help if it was a relative.
It’s quite possible that James left a will. Again that’s too recent to be on-line but if you go to PRONI in Belfast you can search the will calendars to see if he did, and if so you can order it up and copy it. If you can’t get to Belfast yourself you could pay a researcher or you could pay PRONI to search for it.
I have a hunch James may have married twice. Possible marriage to Ellen Clegg on 26.8.1925 in Belfast. Death of Ellen Curley 25.6.1929 aged 26, in Belfast. Marriage to Sarah Curran 14.7.1930 in Belfast. But you would need to view the certificates to be sure it’s the correct family.
All of those certificates are viewable on-line on the GRONI website. You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate:
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 15th May 2023, 12:01PM -
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I can add a little more information. James died 11.4.1979 at the UVF Hospital in Belfast. His estate was worth £25,228. Copy of his will attached. He appears to have been a career soldier. Last rank was Captain in the Inniskillings.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 16th May 2023, 04:17PM -
Many many thanks Elwyn! I have been struggling with James.
From what I have found, Dr Ethel E Maitland was his only niece and as far as I know did not have any children.
I will see what information on Dorothy Stewart and Elizabeth Stanley I can find - may be they can help me with the family. I think James' father was a brother to my great great grandfather. The search continues for proof.
Thanks again for your help.
Dianne
Wednesday 17th May 2023, 11:29AM
