I am seeking Irish relatives of my family from Co. Derry and Co. Antrim; my family name is Mundell, and I know that I have living relatives there still. I am trying to research connections to those, hopefully still living, come from my family line. Any help or hints are greatly appreciated.
I can trace my Irish-Canadian family (with documentation) back to William Mundell (b.1787 d. approx 1840) & his wife Susanna (nee GIlmour, b. 1784 d. ?) from Co. Derry. William was killed by a run-away turf cart; his wife Susanna took their 6 children and followed Wiiliam's brother John Mundell (and his wife Ann (nee Hipson) when they emigrated to Canada some time before 1845. The eldest son of William & Susanna was my 3rd great grandfather Joseph Mundell (b 21 Feb 1807) who I have documentation was born in Derry (see photo of is tombstone in Washburn, Ontario, Canada, attached). I have documentation from the 1861 Census of Canada that Susanna Mundell (Gilmour) was still alive and living with her eldest daughter Margaret and her husband John Ketchem (who was born in Scotland). The census shows she was a widow, consistent with the story handed down over the generations.
I know the family were Protestants as they identify as Presbyterians in the 1861 Cencus of Canada, likely Scots-Irish - but I'm not certain. It is at this link - Joseph Mundell (and his parents Susanna & William) that I get stuck. Can anyone help me?
Thank you
Grant Mundell
grantmundell
Friday 31st Oct 2014, 04:41PMMessage Board Replies
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Mundell is not a very common name in Ireland. In the 1901 census there were just 65 people acorss all of Ireland, and nearly all lived in Co Antrim. With the exception of a couple born in Scotland and one in America, nearly all were born in Co Antrim too. And, in effect, all were Presbyterian, so that tells you with some certainty that they are of Ulster Scots origins. Probably settled in Antrim in the 1600s.
Griffiths Valuation for 1864 only has 8 Mundell households in Ireland. All were in Co. Antrim.
No Mundells in the 1831 census for Co Derry. which seems to place your family in Co Antrim. There were 11 Gilmour households in Co. Derry in 1831. In Macosquin, Templemore and Faughanvale parishes.
The problem you face is that William & Susanna?s births and marriage were well before the start of civil registration (1864 for births and 1845 for Presbyterian marriages). So finding them may be rather tricky. Prior to those dates you need to rely on church records but not all the relevant records have survived. (For example, I notice that several of the families in the 1901 census lived in Randalstown, and I know that none of the 3 Presbyterian churches there has any records earlier than 1845. The churches existed from the 1700s but their early records have been lost for one reason or another).
If you have no other leads, all I can suggest is that you look at the locations of those families in the 1901 census and then search the relevant Presbyterian church records in those areas. However few are on-line, so you would really need to look them up in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. I?d say there?s a fair amount of work involved in doing that. (There are quite a lot of Presbyterian churches in Co Antrim).
Tradition was to marry in the bride?s church, and thereafter she?d attend her husband?s church. So if Susanna came from Co Derry, they may have married there. However if they subsequently lived in Co Antrim, you would expect the children to be baptised there.
Ancestry has the Belfast Newsletter on-line. You could try searching it for a mention of William?s death or his funeral arrangements.
PRONI have a record of a William Mundell dying around 1765, and having his will probated that year. He live din the townland of Duneane (parish of Duneane).
There?s 2 Mundells listed in the current N. Ireland phone book. Both live in Larne. (ukphonebook.com)
Ahoghill Antrim
Friday 31st Oct 2014, 08:13PM