I am looking for a Morrison ancestor (maybe William) who was reportedly a wealthy shipping magnate with land in Killala during the late 18th and early 19th C. He apparently owned Morrison's Acres, which appears to be associated with the 1798 rebellion. I believe it was the estate taken over by the British during that event and was where they hanged the rebels. He later drowned at sea. His daughter Ellen also lived in Killala and inherited his estate. My information, with the exception of the 1798 connection, comes from an 1891 newspaper article in Buffalo, New York that interviewed my 2nd great grandmother about her late husband's family (attached below). Any information about this man or the family would be greatly appreciated.
Ann McCarthy
Saturday 4th Nov 2023, 09:15PMMessage Board Replies
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Ann:
I checked the 1901 census and did not find Charles Gore. I did find two census records in Killala where the surname contained Gore.
Roger McDonnell
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Mayo/Killala/Killala/1592765/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Mayo/Killala/Killala/1592598/
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Ann:
Looks like Charles Gore died December 22 1890.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Thank you, Roger. That's very interesting. Maybe the reason he didn't seem to be working on the case was because he was ill. I wonder what happened to the property.
Ann
Ann McCarthy
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Ann:
I checked the 1855 Griffiths listing for the parish and there were no Morrison records. There was an Ernest Gore who had land in seven different townlands. Likely he was the ancestor of the two Knox-Gore families in the 1901 census.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Attached FilesMorrison - Margaret - Baptism 1771.pdf (275.32 KB)Gore - Catherine - Death Killala 1766.pdf (80.14 KB)
McCoy
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Ann,
The Slater's Directory for 1847 does not show the Morrison Family nor does the Directory for Ballina. The Knox Gore family is in both.
Slater's Directory of Ireland 1846-Killala, Mayo (celticcousins.net)
Slater's Directory of Ireland 1846-Ballina, Mayo (celticcousins.net)
Information on Knox Gore Family
Western People — The family who built Belleek | Western People
Wikipedia suggests Owen Morrison held land in Killala in 1798.
I know this doesn't lead you to the money but provides some history. There are trees on Ancestry, primarily Cynthia and her family.
Regards- Mary
MaryTV
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Ann,
William Morrison was on the 1880 census for Buffalo. The trees on Ancestry suggest he died between 1880 and 1885. When he came to New York in 1829 he showed 19 as his age. Later censuses suggest about 1800.
I found this death record on Ancestry for an Ellen Morrison. Perhaps there is a will?
NameEllen Morrisson
Estimated Birth Yearabt 1791
Date of Registration1871
Death Age80
Registration districtBallina
Volume4
Page11
FHL Film Number101585
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I found this record on RootsIreland for an Owen Morrison
Name:OwenMorrisonDate of Death:13-Jan-1882
Age:65Parish / District:KILMOREMOY DISTRICT
Address:Hill St BallinaCounty:MAYO
Status:Bachelor (Previously unmarried)Denomination:Roman Catholic
Occupation:FARMERSex:Male
GraveyardInformant
Graveyard:Relationship:Head Of Household
Parish:Name:Daniel Madden
County:Address:Hill St Ballina
Notes:
BRONCHITIS, ONE MONTH UNCERTIFIED, NO MEDICAL ATTENDANT
Regards- Mary
MaryTV
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Thank you, Mary! I wonder if this Owen is Ogie. I'll have to look more closely at Ellen.
The confusing part of this is that I believe that William and his siblings were born in Belfast. I have found a baptism record from St. Anne's in Shankill that matches--August 1801 to James and Jane Morrison. I also found other siblings, including the one who traveled with him to New York. They departed Ireland from Londonderry, so Ulster is where I assumed they were from. Only this article suggests a Mayo connection. I am trying to bridge the information (and misinformation) gap.
My tree on Ancestry is the Morrison-Sinclair Family Tree. I have been researching the family since 2001, before records on Ancestry were searchable. The other trees are based on my research, so some of their misinformation came from my hypothesizing. William has been my biggest mystery. I know quite a bit about the family in the U.S., but crossing the Atlantic has been tricky. I greatly appreciate your assistance.
Ann
Ann McCarthy
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Ann,
I think Owen b. 1817 might have been a relative. Since your William was born between 1800-1810, his father, Aunt Ellen, and Ogie jr. probably were born in the 1700s.
Ogie is such a unique name. Sources on the internet confirm it is Irish. I have not found any records with the name. Since he was a shipping magnate and had extensive land holdings, his main property might not be in Killala.
Regards- Mary
MaryTV
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Attached FilesWilliam Morrison Will.png (308.25 KB)
Yes, I overlooked that birthdate. Couldn't be Ogie. I have been told that Ogie is a nickname, synonymous with Junior. I think the uncle may share a surname with his father. One theory is that they are both Owen. Another is that they are William. I have no evidence for that except knowledge of the Irish naming pattern.
Although I did not find a will for Ellen, I happened on the attached. It caught my eye because it had some matching details. It may just be coincidence. If this is him, it is interesting that he only left 90 pounds.
Ann McCarthy
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Ann,
This might be William Morrison from the will? On one tree I saw Captain after his name. Not sure how Mountpottinger, Down connects?
From Ancestry
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SpouseEllen Davison
FatherJohn Morrison
MotherEllen Morrison
ChildrenRev Samuel
Birth1834 Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland
Death9 Apr 1887 Runcorn, Cheshire, England
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NameWilliam Morrison
GenderMale
Marriage Date18 Nov 1853
Marriage PlaceCarrickfergus, Ant, Ire
FatherJohn Morrison
SpouseEllen Davidson
FHL Film Number101347
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RootsIreland
Date of Marriage:18-Nov-1853
Parish / District:CARRICKFERGUSCounty:Co. Antrim
HusbandWife
Name:WilliamMorrisonEllenDavidson
Address:CarrickfergusCarrickfegus
Denomination:PresbyterianPresbyterian
Occupation:SAILOR
Age:Full Age (Over 21)Full Age (Over 21)
Status:Bachelor (Previously unmarried)Spinster (Previously unmarried)
Husband's FatherWife's Father
Name:JohnMorrisonMatthewDavidson
Address:
Denomination:
Occupation:FISHERMANFARMER
Husband's MotherWife's Mother
Name:
Address:
Denomination:
Occupation:
Witness 1Witness 2
Name:DavidMorrisonJanePark
Regards- Mary
MaryTV
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It's hard to tell how or if these people are related. These dates are quite late.
Ann
Ann McCarthy