Gertrude Connolly

[aghadowey]

Harriet J. Connolly in 1901-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Dundrum/Ballylough/1226925/

From www.proni.gov.uk:
Might be aunt Catherine Gracey- Probate of the Will of Catherine Gracey late of Ballylough County Down Spinster who died 10 November 1914 granted at Belfast to Robert Campbell Farmer

Possibly Margaret's sister? Administration of the estate of Charlotte Gracey late of Ballylough County Down Spinster who died 4 January 1900 granted at Belfast to Margaret Gracey Spinster
and (1916) Administration of the Unadministered Estate of Charlotte Gracey late of Ballylough County Down Spinster who died 4 January 1900 granted at Belfast to William J. Connolly Workman.

Another relative? Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Francis Gracey late of Ballylough County Down Mechanic and Grocer deceased who died 2 March 1882 at same place were granted at Belfast to Margaret Gracey of Ballylough Spinster a Sister.

[aghadowey]

Harriet Connolly's parents?
Miss Harriet GRACEY, daughter of John Gracey, married William John Connolly 7 Jan 1861 at Church of Ireland (Kilmegan).
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/G/Gracey.htm

[aghadowey]

Just a few comments on some things from your original post.

4. According to her death record she was born 12 July 1902. However I was told by a family member she was born 23 June 1901 in Newcastle in Ireland. Another record suggests she may have been born in Galway.
Ballylough is only about 5 miles from Newcastle, Co. Down-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballylough

5. She is supposed to have had a sister called Ruby.
In Northern Ireland Ruby is quite often a nickname for Rebecca.

6. There was a legal battle over a farm. Gertrude or her mother had to sell the farm to pay the legal fees (I presume this means they won the case or it wouldn't have been theirs to sell).
This might be the place the Graceys had at Ballylough- note the late (1916) administration of unadministered estate.

[aghadowey]

Family tree filling out a bit now 

John Gracey (c1800-1868) m. Janet Mason (d.1881).
1. Francis Gracey (c1832-2 Mar.1882), mechanic & grocer.
2. Margaret Gracey (c1836-9 Feb.1909), unm.
"Probate of the Will of Margaret Gracey late of Bally[lough] County Down Spinster who died 9 February 1909 granted at Belfast to Samuel McDo Farmer." Missed this earlier since townland was incomplete but Will mentions Harriet Jane and daughter Gertrude (may be part of property dispute)
3. Catherine Gracey (c1838/c1841-10 Nov.1914), unm.
4. Charlotte Gracey  (c1847-d.4 Jan.1900/1899), unm. Note: death reg. is 1899.
5. Harriet Gracey m.(7 Jan.1861) William John Connolly.
Marriage: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGX2-ZGB
     1. Harriet Jane Connolly (8 Dec.1865 Ballymacarrett dist., Belfast, Co.Down-1940 Hull).
           1. Gertrude Connolly (1901 Downpatrick dist.)
6. Eliza Gracey m.(1854) William Miller. Australia.
?7. Mary Jane Gracey m. Samuel Magowan.

No sign of a sister Ruby. Online civil registration index only goes up to 1921 for Northern Ireland counties.

Be sure to look up Margaret's Gracey's Will on www.proni.gov.uk

new information added in red

[heywood]

This has really developed  - what good news, Ilona, you must be thrilled 

[aghadowey]

Family tree just got even bigger! might be a living relative for Ilona to contact-

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups=#!topic/soc.genealogy.ireland/AFDOS7XQWcY

[aghadowey]

Kilmegan Church of Ireland-
http://www.geolocation.ws/v/E/2165422/the-church-of-irelands-kilmegan-parish/en
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/PHOTOSwords/KilmeganAll.htm#don
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16132340@N07/5107532238/
http://www.geograph.ie/photo/2165429

Notes on Kilmegan Parish-
http://www.genuki.eu/DOW/Place1091.htm

Map showing townlands of Kilmegan Parish-http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/MAPS/KilmeganTownlands.htm

A number of years ago I stayed in a townland adjoinging Ballylough and the area probably hasn't changed that much since Graceys lived there.

[Stanwix England]

Thank you to everyone for the additional help you have given me. This has grown in a way I couldn't have imagined.

[Stanwix England]

Margaret Gracey's will is really interesting. I wonder what actually happened with her bequest, because my great grandmother ended up living in Hull. Perhaps she rented it out?

Well I will keep searching and perhaps I will find the answer.

Thank you again to everyone who has helped, this really does mean a lot.

It seems like they really stuck together and looked after each other. It's nice because you imagine the fate of women who have illegitimate children was to be shunned but that doesn't seem to have been the case with Harriett Jane.