I have discovered new information re. Alexander Murphy and Jane Allen since I first posted in April, which may be helpful. Jane was Irish but I'm not sure if she was also from Carrickfergus. She and Alexander married in 1817 and came to Canada in 1819. Alexander established a dry goods (linens) store that same year - Murphy's of Notre Dame Street in Montreal - and it remained in business for decades. I am wondering if there is any record of a similar family business in the Carrickfergus area with the name Murphy or perhaps Allen attatched to it. Perhaps the Murphy or Allen family held land deeds or other deeds. Perhaps there are church or school records. I know that Alexander's family was Presbyterian. I do not know about Jane's family, their names or their religion. I would be grateful for any assistance that you are able to provide.
With thanks, Jane Hamilton
Thursday 23rd May 2013, 02:46AM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Jane,
Thank you for your message.
Presbyterian registers are held in three main locations:
- in local custody
- in the Public Records of Northern Ireland (PRONI) http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
- at the Presbyterian Historical Society http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com in Belfast.
PRONI has microfilm copies of almost all registers in Northern Ireland and also lists of records held by the Presbyterian Historical Society.
You could check Griffith?s Valuation (1848-64) which was a property valuation survey to see if there is any record of Murphy?s or Allen?s owning or renting land:
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
There are also some directories that you could check for the Murphy/Allen name:
Pigot & Co's Provincial Directory of Ireland 1824:
http://www.failteromhat.com/pigotu.htm
Slater's Commercial Directory of Ireland 1846
http://www.failteromhat.com/slateru.htm
Some other websites that you may find helpful are:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm
Family Search: www.familysearch.org
Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/antrim/index.html
It may also be an idea to contact the Ulster Historical Foundation for some assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email:
Please be patient - as our programme has only begun to rollout across the island of Ireland and volunteers in some areas may not yet be organized.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
Thursday 20th Jun 2013, 11:56AM -
Here?s a link to the 1824 street directory for Carrickfergus which I think is the earliest one available. There?s a Murphy who was a baker but no other Murphy and no Allen.
http://www.failteromhat.com/pigot/0091.pdf
PRONI have registry of deeds records (which are not on-line) which might contain leases for your family in Carrickfergus. You can also search their on-line catalogue for references to the families. They also hold copies of the relevant church records but again these are not on-line and require a personal visit.
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/ecatalogue.htm
I think it very unlikely that any school records from that period will have survived. (The national school system which led to widespread public schooling only started in the 1830s. Prior to that it was church schools and the odd private establishment).
Ahoghill Antrim
Friday 21st Jun 2013, 08:57AM