Margaret Hunt- Irish Orphan to Australia

Not all the orphans who came under the Earl Grey scheme came from workhouses (and not all were orphans. Some had one parent alive).

I had a look at the 1831 census for Co. Derry and there were no Hunt households in the Limavady Poor Law Union at that time. It looks as though Margaret’s parents might have arrived after that year (her age might make her born after the census was compiled). Hunt is not a common name in Co Derry. There’s only about 6 households in the whole county in 1831.

You can trace forward from Griffiths using the revaluation records. (See link below). They will tell you how long Mary remained at that property.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

If you want to check the workhouse records, they are in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. However judging from this link only the Board of Guardians minutes survive for the period you are interested in, not the indoor admission records. You could get someone to go through the minutes for 1848 & 1849 to see if they record a batch of orphans being sent to Australia, but even if they do I’d be surprised if they name them. The indoor admission books are the ones you need for names.

http://www.workhouses.org.uk/NewtownLimavady/

Death registration started in 1864. I searched from 1864 to 1901 for Limavady and the only adult Hunt death was for Mary Hunt aged 65 on 10.2.1874. So that might be the Mary in the Valuation records. (If she disappears from the revaluation records around 1874, then that’s a clue but the address should be on the death certificate anyway.). You can view the original certificates on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2 (sterling) to a view a certificate.  There’s no easy way of deciding whether that Mary Hunt is Margaret’s mother but you might get some clues from the death certificate, eg her marital status.

Do you know what denomination Margaret was? (To check church records).

Hello from NZ
Many thanks for your helpful suggestions.I purchased the above death image and it could wel be my Mary.She was the right age to have had a daughter born 1834. She was the widow of a soldier in the English Army so I might pursue that hint. Margaret was listed as C of E in the passenger list of the Diadem and she was literate. So interesting but difficult tp prove if Mary d 1874 was her mother.

What was the address on the death certificate?

The address on the Cert. is Irish Green.  Newtown/Limavady.

I have now found a Margaret Hunt born 1831, Buttevant Ireland in the GRO Regimental Birth Indices(1761-1924) 5th Foot Regiment. Guess that Certificate is obtainable which hopefully will tell me it is my 2x Gt Grandmother  !!
Thanks again
Jan

You can order the regimental birth certificate from GRO in Southport, England. 

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp

While you are waiting you could let us know a couple of other details.  What were the names of Margaret's children? Sometimes you can get clues from these names, especially if there are names you cannot fit in elsewhere - she may have had a brother/sister and she may have named one of her children after him/her. The Irish did have a naming pattern. Google this.  It may help to establish her place in her family.  What was her religion?

On her marriage certicate does it show if her parents were living or their birthplace (or just the helpful England or Ireland).

I am intrigued that in the 1901 and 1911 census there is a Richard Hunt aged 60 in 1901 and 76 in 1911 living in 1901 in Irish Green street Limavady.  He has a wife Eliza/Lizzie aged 55 in 1901 and 76 in 1911.  His birth may be around 1841 or 1835.  This perhaps makes him a contender for being a brother of Margaret, especially as his name is Richard.    He is Roman Catholic.

On 5 May 1867 a James Hunt with a father called Richard Hunt married Mary Maginniss in Limavady. Her father's name was William. Maginniss is variously spelled  Megennis, Magennis etc.  Possibly some connection. Born 28/2/1870 and baptised at Drumachose to the above couple is a girl named Margaret. 

Hello again. Answering comments by Elwyn and Shanreagh.! Margaret Hunt married James Bowker in Australia in 1851. Their first born son was named James and their first born daughter Elizabeth. Their was a James Hunt present at death on the Cert. for Mary Hunt of Limavady (1874). This could be the James m. Mary Maginess 1867.and their child named Margaret a possible neice of my Margaret. I purchased the birth Cert of Margaret Hunt b 1831 Buttevant on the GRO Regimental Index but the parents were John and Margaret Hunt .The only evidence of parents names I have are from her Death Cert and I am aware that they are frequently incorrect. However with records showing Richard, James , Margaret and Mary in the area at the appropriate times I have the feeling that they are all connected.. Complicating things further is the fact that my Margaret called herself Mary throughout her Australian life but her Death Cert. reverts to Margaret. It has been an interesting journey and my Australian cousin has much pleasure in attending the annual commemoration of the arrival of the Irish orphans. Margaret Hunt's name is etched on the Memorial Wall in Hyde Park Sydney.