Seeking help establishing a family relationship (via marriage record)

[floppyslater]

I am seeking help identifying the relationship between the bride, Mary Devlin, and Witness #2 - Ellen Devlin.  Ellen Devlin may be a cousin or aunt.  There is not any record indicating that she is Mary's sister.  Mary's mother was Bridget Burk.  This Ellen Devlin is also not Mary's sister-in-law since the wives of her two brothers have been identified.  Both brothers also married a number of years after this wedding.

I know this is a long shot at getting resolved.  This Ellen Devlin simply doesn't show up in any other family records.

Here is the information:

Civil Marriage Record
Date of Marriage: 27 May 1882
Parish/District: Roscrea
County: Tipperary

Husband: Thomas Hurst
Address: Benamore
Occupation: Carpenter
Status: Bachelor

Wife: Mary Devlin
Address: Birchgrove
Occupation: Servant
Status: Spinster

Husband's Father: William Hurst
Wife's Father: Peter Devlin

Witness 1: Richard Purcell
Witness 2: Ellen Devlin

Edwd Oleany P.P. (Priest)
Married in Roscrea Church

[Katharine75]

Hi. Have you had a look to see if there is a marriage for an Ellen Devlin in that era?

Also have a look at the 1901 census (online) to see if there are any Ellen Devlin's around. I would estimate that as a witness Ellen wouldn't have been any younger than say 15/16, so you might search for an Ellen that is mid 30s or older.

Might give you some clues.

[anniedwyer84]

On www.rootsireland.ie, there is a Mary Devlin b.1854 in Roscrea (Roman Catholic) with the father being Peter Devlin, but I couldn't find any Ellens...I presume the Ellen is a sister of Mary

[floppyslater]

Thank you for your help - sorry I have been out of the loop for sometime with work.

I do not believe Ellen Devlin was a sister to Mary.  I believe she was either an aunt or cousin.  The Devlins were first generation Roscrea.  The father of Mary, Peter, came down from Ulster (probably County Down - perhaps Banbridge or Belfast - not sure).  This is the only time an Ellen Devlin pops up in any of the records I discovered.  I suspect she may have come down for Mary's wedding from the North but I just don't know.