Will of Jacob O'Donnell and Finding the Family

[Revolution]

Hi

My ancestor Jacob O'Donnell died in Ballylough in 1842. I havent been able to find where his will is to go to try and source it. If it survives where would it be housed?

Im hoping it wasnt lost or burnt like so many other records.

My ancestor William O'Donnell 1837-1884 was Jacobs son. We have no idea who Jacob married, whether there were other children or if they had been long term residents of Co Down.

We have not been able to go further back in our history than the marriage of William to Jane Eliza Campbell in Tullish, Co Down on 10 Feb 1854. Williams father and William were weavers as was Jane Elizas father William Campbell. William and Jane had 5 children we think in Belfast but again dont have the records to show them

[Elwyn Soutter]

Where wills do still survive they are either in PRONI in Belfast or National Archives in Dublin, depending on where the probate application was originally lodged.

The name doesn’t appear on the PRONI website for pre 1858 wills. I’d therefore suspect the will was originally stored in the Public Record Office in Dublin. Consequently it is likely to have been destroyed in the 1922 fire. (Very few pre 1900 Irish wills and probate files have survived).

[Revolution]

Thanks Elwyn

Ill have to try and work out some other way of finding more about the family.

[gaffy]

A couple of speculative baptisms for children of Jacob...

The Ulster Historical Foundation website 'AncestryIreland' has an 1830 County Down baptism for a William O'Donnelly, father's name Jacob.  By playing around with the search index, the mother looks like a Hanna Harrison, the actual record content is pay to view.

A possible sibling to William is Jane Donnel, an 1836 County Down baptism comes back for her when giving parents as Jacob and Hannah.

Records of this era tend to contain little information, but if they indicate anywhere near your Jacob's Ballylough location, that would strengthen their potential relevance.

[gaffy]

Also just found on the same  'AncestryIreland' website a County Down baptism for an Isaac O'Donnell in 1833 to parents Jacob and Hannah, must have had a senior moment searching before. Maybe a sibling to William and Jane.

From my outstanding free searches of the RootsIreland website (it has recently moved to  subscription only) the baptisms in question relate to Seapatrick Church of Ireland.

PRONI has various records for for this church, including baptisms from  1802 - 1995, marriages from 1804 - 1845 and burials from 1810 - 1879.

[Revolution]

Thank you Gaffy

This church doesnt seem to far from where I think Ballylough is. A good lead.

Im still working on how I find anything using PRONI

[Elwyn Soutter]

Im still working on how I find anything using PRONI

Only a few of PRONI's records are on-line. For the majority of what they hold, including church records, a personal visit is required.

[Revolution]

These records are from the Seapatrick Church of Ireland. The name variants are still in the allowances for variants of O'Donnell.

I should add my William O'Donnell had 5 children in Ireland. Some were reportedly born in Belfast.

James who died in infancy
Lizzie
Isaac b Jan 1857
Jane b abt 1862
Jacob b Dec 1858

What do people think about whether they would be my Jacob O'Donnell?

Name: William O'Donnelly
Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 15:06:1830
Date of Baptism/Registration: 20:06:1830
Father's First Name: JACOB
Father's Surname: O'DONNELLY
Mother's First Name: HANNA
Mother's Surname: HARRISON
Comment 2: Other possible spelling: JACOB DONNELLY Minister/Priest: BURROWS FRANCIS.

Name: Isaac O'Donnell
Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Sex: Male
Date of Baptism/Registration: 24:03:1833
Father's First Name: JACOB
Father's Surname: O'DONNELL
Father's Occupation: WEAVER
Mother's First Name: HANNAH
Comment 2: Other possible spelling: JACOB DONNELL Minister/Priest: DICKINSON D.

Name: Jane Donnel
Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Date of Birth: 19:02:1836
Date of Baptism/Registration: 02:03:1836
Father's First Name: JACOB
Father's Surname: DONNEL
Father's Occupation: WEAVER
Mother's First Name: HANNAH
Comment 2: Minister/Priest: DICKINSON D

[Revolution]

Ive read that the Seapatrick burial records for the years 1810-79 are kept by PRONI.

Does anyone else have any other areas I should contact PRONI about when I contact them. Im assuming that a PRONI lookup by someone would involve too much time without more concrete references.