Gilmore Family from Carrickfergus Parish

Re: Gilmore family

Found a baptism record for daughter Anne Gilmore baptised on the 2e November 1851 in Randalstown parish, parents James Gilmore and Sarah Murray, parents address Antrim

Also a son Bernard Gilmore baptised 22 September 1850 in Randalstown Antrim, parents address at the time Templepatrick county Antrim about 30 minutes away from Carrickfergus

Son James baptised 31 July 1845 in Randalstown, parents address Tannaghmore at the time

Daughter Ellen baptised 24 August 1848 Randalstown, twin of John

Son Hugh baptised 1 August 1854 in Randalstown , parents address Templepatrick

Son John baptised 24 August 1848 in Randalstown, twin of Ellen

Daughter Margaret 12 Feb 1860 baptised in  Carrickfergus (family has moved by then)

Daughter Mary  baptised 27 April 1862 in Carrickfergus

Son William baptised 11 April 1864 in Carrickfergus

Hope this helps,

Kind regards

Anne Marie

Dear Anne Marie, thanks for all the fantastic information you sent me.  This is very, very helpful.  If you don't mind, I have a few questions:  (1) Is there no baptismal record for Patrick Gilmore (born sometime between 1856-1858)?  He is my great-grandfather and the only one missing in the information you sent.  (2)  Am I correct in assuming that these are Roman Catholic baptismal records?  With reference to the entry for Anne (baptised in 1851 in Randalstown), the parents address is Antrim.  Is this the town of Antrim? Many thanks and best wishes,  Maura

Maura,

Statutory birth registration started in Ireland in 1864, so William Gilmore’s birth just scrapes in.  That’s good because you get more information from most birth certificates than from most baptism records. So I see that William was born on 25.3.1864 at St Bride Street, Carrickfergus. His father James registered the birth. He was a railway porter at the time, so he is likely to have worked at Carrickfergus station about 50 yards away from St Bride St. You can view the birth cert free on this site:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/

If James worked for the railways, that may account for why the family moved about a bit. The current railway station in Carrickfergus was opened in 1862 (replacing one on a different site which opened in the 1840s). So if you want, you can go and see where James worked in 1864. The station is still in use for commuter trains between Larne & Belfast.

The railway through Randalstown only opened in 1856, so James’ occupation prior to that seems unlikely to be rail related. Probably a farm labourer, especially if he lived somewhere like Tannaghmore which was (and still is) largely agricultural land. (I live nearby).