Kiwi contacting Irish roots

Nanette:

Roots Ireland www.rootsireland.ie has a marriage of a William Bannan in 1853 to a lady named Eliza in the Knockbride Church of Ireland records. Roots is a pay site to view the transcription of the church record. As an alternative, I found the civil marriage index record which is below. Looks like William's wife was mary Jane Jordan. You can write to the General Register Office for a copy of this record which would cost around 4 euros. The marriage record would show the names of the fathers of the bride and groom and where the bride and groom were living in 1853. I provided instructions below the index record.

Roger McDonnell

 Go to this link http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx In the middle of the page there are links for birth, marriage or death certificates. Hit the link for the form you want. You will likely get a screen asking for a User Name and Password. (This is a program bug that the GRO has to correct). Hit cancel and the appropriate form should come up. Print the form and complete the requested information. Also provide the information from the index record--quarter/year of the event., registration district and the volume and page number where the event is recorded. Make sure you ask for a copy which costs around 4 euros. ( A cert costs closer to 20 euros). You can also ask the GRO to e-mail the copy back to you.

Nanette:

I checked the 1901 census and there were no Bannons in Latsey townland. Also, below may be the civil death index record for William.

Roger

Thank you for that. My ancestors were Bannan, not Bannon. My great grandmother was Mary Jane Bannan and her parents were William and Ann Eliza, so it is quite possible that William's parents were William and Mary Jane Jordon. We have the copy of a letter sent from Knocknalosset in 1912 from a John H Bannan who we believe was the brother of my great grandmother. We have found a birthday book of my grandmothers with dates of birth for  : John Hill Bannan B 16/01/1859 ;Margaret Mary Bannan B21/01/1865; William Patrick Bannan B 22/01/1867; John Gilmore Bannan B 2/03/1872; Ellen Jane Bannan B 18/04/1874. I have no idea if these were siblings or maybe cousins. There is also writing of a W.P Bannan (possibly born 1862 but might be the William Patrick B 1867) that was educated at the National school and at age 18 joined the Royal Irish Constabulary. He later emigrated to Australia and became Head of Detectives in the NSW Police Force. I am having a bit of trouble trying to access the websites I was given for births, deaths and marriages but will keep trying to follow that up. Oh how I wish we had asked more questions of our elder generation, but hopefully I can find more information before I come to visit my great grandmother's homeland. Thank you again

Nanette

Dear Nannette,

When it comes to spelling, it is down to who ever wrote the name and also to the transcribers of the documents, so errors can occur made.  I looked up the surname in Cavan and it occurs over 18 times in the 1901 Census, if you look at the DED Corroneary & Knappagh, both places are close to Latsey.  See http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=19…

 For those in the RIC, Jim Herlihy has a book with a list of names & with the details the National Archives have micro fiche where hopefully you can see details of his service.  His book can be purchased at this site http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/product.php?intProductID=273.  

I have a list of the gravestones in Knockbride Church of Ireland and there is one that says

'Sacred to the memory of John Hill Bannan, ex Seargeant R. I. C. died 6th April, 1925 aged 66 erected as a tribute to our dear brother by his sister M. J. Mackey, Ashburton, New Zealand, E. A. Wilson, Christchurch, N. Z., Brother Wm P. Bannan J.P., Sydney, NSW. Edward A. Johnson, Latsey.

Next day I pass that way I will look & see can I find it & when you come hopefully I can meet you & show it to you.

Best Wishes Carmel O'Callaghan

Many thanks for that Carmel. John Hill Bannan is indeed my great, great uncle as my grandmother Mary Jane's married name was MacKay and she emigrated to Ashburton, NZ. He will be the one we have a copy of letter from in 1912. It is very exciting looking into this and hopefully I can track down some long lost cousins that are still over there. My parents did go over in the 1980,s but I am unsure wether they were able to track anyone down.  I would love to meet you when we come over.I am travelling with my sister-in-law who also wants to trace her family but she is still trying to get information together of their whereabouts. In the meantime I will keep researching to find out as much as I can. Thanks once again,

Nanette

Nanette,

I looked up the census for Edward Johnson in 1911 Census, he is not there but his father Allen is there & in 1901 he is aged 6, he most likely is the local relative, how he is related, you would need to find out. do searches on Familysearch.org, it is a free site.  You could also put an open letter by email to the Editor in the Anglo Celt it is the local paper and a relative may answer it, give as much details as possible and a postal address, email address and phone number to linda@anglocelt.ie

Also try Cavan Genealogy,they are at :

1st floor,

Johnston Central Library,
Farnham Street,
Cavan Town,
County Cavan.
Tel: +353 (0)49 4361094
Fax: +353 (0)49 433149  email cavangenealogy@eircom.net

Give them all the information you have on her, they do family searches for a fee, but discuss with them what you want etc.  They have access to parish registers.  I tried to find John Hill Bannan in the 1911 Census but couldnt identify him, RIC men usually were noted by their initials only & did not serve in their own county.

Also look on the message boards here as I feel that there was someone else looking for Wilson or Johnson family, try the Cootehill sites, Shercock & Bailieborough also & connections may be made.

Best of Luck Carmel

Hi Nanette,

Here is a picture of the headstone which I took a number of months ago.

Regards

Laura

Thanks so much for that Laura. Sorry I hadn't got back to you earlier but I changed my ISP and lost all the account info, so has taken me awhile to find my way back. Time is marching on so I really need to delve deeper into this history to try and trace some relatives before I come over there in September. Thanks once again

Nanette

Nantte,

Your letter was in the Anglo-Celt this week, so hopefully you will get some results.  Best of luck Carmel.