Small: Hugh, Cornelius/Peter- Belturbet / Drumlane

Welcome to ireland Reaching Out

Have you tried to find out if the National Archives in Kew knows any more about Hugh Small, perhaps an army record would assist you? I haven't been able to locate anything more than you seem to already know.

Can you let us know what evidence you have that he was married to Bridget and that it was the same Bridget married to Cornelius?

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support

Thank you Clare for your reply.

I do have Army records for Hugh stating he was from Drumlane Cavan.  Death certificates for Hugh & Bridget show they were husband and wife.  The marriage certificates of Bridgets children show either Cornelius/Peter Small or Hugh Small as being the father. (Thats why I wondered if they were brothers or cousins)

Hugh, Bridget and children came to Australia, so I am presuming Cornelius/Peter died sometime between 1860-1864? The only record that seems remotely close are records relating to a 'Neil Small" (abbreviation of Cornelius?).

Any suggestions - greatly recieved. thanks

Ok, I am going to throw my tuppence worth into this.  I agree that Cornelius, was probably known as Neal, (the middle part of his name) was Peter a second name or a first name?  I see one of the children has the same name.  Based on my own family, I know that a brother would have married his brother's widow, for possibly a number of reasons, if the son that died was the eldest, he would have inherited the land & I know in my family they would not have wanted the widow to marry another and take the land to another family, the family would also have been concerned that the children would have been well taken care of.  As there was no divorce the first husband would have died before the second marraige.  I think you need to find the second marriage cert on it it would give the fact that Bridget was a widow and she may have needed dispensation to marry her brother-in-law.  You also need to find the death of the first husband.  I searched Roots Ireland for the second marriage, under the name Fallon & Small and the first names of Bridget & Rose but with no result.  In looking for the death of the first husband, while not your man, I came across the following in the will calendars: 

Deceased Surname Small

Deceased Forename John

Primary Beneficiary/Executor Ellen Small

Date of Death 12 Jun 1908

County of Death Cavan  

You can look at this for free at http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/search/cwa/details.jsp?id=…  This man's death record stated that he was a victualler in Belturbet, so there may be more family in Belturbet that may hold the answers for you.  His widow then died and I am guessing an unmarried daughter Ellie Small.  You could contact the National Archives and ask for a copy of it.  I have sometimes found more information that may reveal more about your family.

Deceased Surname Small

Deceased Forename Ellen

Primary Beneficiary/Executor Ellie Small

Date of Death 19 Feb 1916

County of Death Cavan.

I also looked up the civil records, they are available for free at https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie

I found this one  Name PETER SMALL Year of Death1864 Group Registration IDN/RSR District/Reg Area Cavan Deceased Age at Death 56 Returns Year 1864 Returns Quarter 4 Returns Volume No18 Returns Page No 61 all the images are not loaded up yet, but you can keep returning to the site and perhaps it will be available.

You could also put your story in the local paper The Anglo Celt, you can contact the editor at linda@ anglocelt.ie  You could also contact Cavan Genealogy, at  cavangenealogy@eircom.net they may have records that are not available online, the Library in Belturbet may be another place to contact, they may know local people that may be able to help you, as I live about 50 miles from Belturbet.  What religion were your family, you could also contact the church as there may be headstones in their cemetery and the family may have donated artifacts to the church or be included in some of the memorials.

 Do let us know how you got on.  Regards Carmel

Thanks Carmel, appreciate you getting back to me.

Clare

Genealogy Support

Hi Carmel & Clare,

thank you for the great advice, I am excited to try these new leads.  I will let you know how i get on 

Kind regards.  christine