greetings, I have for many years trying to find my ancestors. Understand many records were lost. However, maybe this forum can give me further direction. Listed below is what I have been able to prove (with certificates) -
My GG Grandmother ELEANOR/ELLEN MOORE nee BRADLEY (abt 1825-1915) travelled out to Australia in 1875 with her children, after the death of her husband, WILLIAM MOORE in 1868. Eleanor’s death certificate says she was born in Carrickfergus. Eleanor married William Moore on the 1 April 1850 in the Townsend Presbyterian Church, Belfast. Marriage certificate says Eleanor’s father was James Bradley - Bookeeper (have also noted occupation as Accountant). William Moore’s occupation is listed as a Brushmaker. William’s father Thomas Moore occupation is listed as a staymaker.
Eleanor’s mother is listed as Jane Neill. We’ve calculated Eleanor’s parents birth years as circa 1799/1800 period we are also assuming the family lived in the Belfast area. We have also confirmed Eleanor had a sister Margaret. Also Eleanor’s mothers death certificate says Jane Bradley nee Neill was a widow at the time of her death in 1864?
Additionally, what on earth would have happened for Eleanor to pack up her children and head for Australia- alone? Just sounds a bit drastic to me? So there it is. Hope it all makes sense. Thank you all. Pen
PennyElaine
Monday 7th Nov 2022, 01:56AMMessage Board Replies
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If Ellen/Eleanor was born in Carrickfergus, but married in Belfast and her mother died there, then it looks as though the family moved into the city sometime between 1825 and 1850 when she married.
The population of Belfast expanded dramatically in the 1800s. In it’s early years it was largely Presbyterian (being dominated by Scots who had moved to Ireland in the 1600s). The population of Belfast in 1800 was about 20,000. In 1901 it was 349,000. The establishment of the shipyards, 50 linen mills and countless support industries led to a huge influx of workers from the surrounding countryside who were looking for better paid jobs in the city.
Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so you can probably assume that Eleanor was Presbyterian. If you are looking for her birth/baptism then I’d suggest searching Presbyterian records in Carrickfergus. The following church records might be worth searching:
Carrickfergus 1st Presbyterian which has marriages & baptisms starting 1823 & Carrickfergus Congregational which has baptisms from 1819 and marriages from 1824. I don’t think either set of records is on-line anywhere but there are copies in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net
Note that though the name Eleanor is found in Ireland, Ellen is much more common and so that’s probably what you are searching for (I note she was Ellen when she married and is Ellen in her husband’s will). When folk named Ellen from Ireland move to Scotland they often become Helen there, so presumably the change is to accommodate the norm in the new location.
Sadly Townsend St Presbyterian church just closed a few weeks ago (population changes in that part of the city). It has a preservation order because it is very impressive inside, so not sure what it’s future will be.
If Ellen’s mother was a widow in 1864 then it follows that her husband died before that. Death registration only started in Ireland in 1864 so there probably isn’t a record. Presbyterians rarely kept burial records. I searched the 1843 & 1852 Belfast street directories for a James Bradley a bookkeeper or similar but without success. William Moore, brushmaker is listed at 10 King St, Belfast in 1852:
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/1852names3.htm
In 1861 William was listed at 56 North St, and was a brush & trunk maker:
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/alphanames1861M2Q.htm
William’s probate abstract:
The Will of William Moore late of North-street Belfast County Antrim Hardware Merchant deceased who died 25 August 1868 at Belfast aforesaid was proved at Belfast by the oath of Ellen Moore of North-street Belfast aforesaid the Widow and sole Executrix.
The will itself is on-line on the PRONI site and mentions daughters Agnes Jane Jamison Moore, Elizabeth Moore, Ellen Neill Moore & Sarah Isabella Moore, each of whom inherited 2 houses apiece in Arkwright St, Belfast (house numbers 37-42 inclusive). Son Jamieson Moore was to inherit the shop in North St upon reaching age 25. Wife Ellen was to get the rental income from the properties and she was also given a piece of land in Arkwright St.
Birth registration only started in Ireland in 1864. I searched for children to William & Eleanor’s marriage 1864 to 1868 but did not find any so assume all were born between 1850 and 1863. If so, you would need to search church records for their baptisms. Most of those records are not on-line. If the family was Presbyterian I would start with Townsend St’s records and also look at Rosemary St which is very close to North St where they lived latterly, but there are about 40 Presbyterian churches in Belfast. Quite a lot of records to go through in PRONI.
You wonder what made Ellen/Eleanor leave Belfast in 1875. If married in 1850, I assume her children were in their late teens or early 20s – that’s a peak age for emigration – and one or more of them took the notion to emigrate for economic betterment. They would not have wanted to leave her behind so probably persuaded her to come with them.
Marriage here for Margaret Ann Bradley, aged 23, to George Graham (Brush maker) in 1851, again in Townsend St Presbyterian:
There’s a tree on Ancestry showing Margaret Ann as dying in Belfast in 1868. Husband George is shown as dying in Ballymena in 1896 but that man was still married, so either he remarried or it’s not the correct George.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 7th Nov 2022, 06:02AM