Looking for a possible marriage - James McCANN and Rebecca RICE

[M_ONeill]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with trying to track down a marriage record for my great-great-grandfather, James McCann.

James McCann is listed as the father of the bride in my great-grandparents' marriage record at the church of Drummullen in 1898. His daughter was a Mary McCann who married a Hugh Bell.

I have found a baptismal record in 1876 for a Mary McCann, daughter of James McCann and Rebecca Rice of Drumads that I think is the most likely candidate (though I'm still not 100% sure - my knowledge of NI parishes is still pretty poor).

The thing is, I can't find a marriage record between James and Rebecca. Of course, it's possible they never married - but they are also listed as having had another daughter, Bridget, in 1882 in the parish of Ardboe.

If anyone has any advice as to how I can confirm whether or not this Mary Ann McCann is indeed my great-grandmother, or any other marriage/birth records I may have missed, I would be very grateful.

Many thanks!

[glensman]

If you look at this pension form which searched for entries in the 1841 and 1851 census you will see a Rebecca Rice with father McKeown and mother Rice:

http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/reels/c19/007246701/007246701_00013.pdf

If you then search for a McCann marriage to McKeown you will find one on 19 March 1874 registered in Cookstown.  I found it here:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

but if you have access to rootsireland it may be available there.

[glensman]

Here are a couple more possible children:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG6Q-373

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGNV-Z66

[M_ONeill]

Heya Glensman,

That's really interesting - I'd seen the records for a Rebecca Rice and a Rebecca McKeown but had assumed they were different people. The records make a lot more sense now!

Is there any particular reason why she would have been listed with both surnames?


Thanks for all your help.

[aghadowey]

It's quite simple. In 1916 Rebecca McCANN put in a pension application- her name had been Rebecca Rice, her parents were Henry McKeown & Bridget Rice and that she was living with her mother in the 1851 census.

[kingskerswell]

Hi.
 The 19 Mar 1874 marriage of James McCann and Rebecca McKeown took place in Stewartstown Roman catholic Church, Cookstown District.

Regards

[M_ONeill]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. I suppose she may have been an illegitimate daughter of Henry and lived with her mother. Her maiden name seems to switch dependent on the record.

I also guess I should try and find her on the 1901 and 1911 censuses. I already know her daughter Mary Ann was married and living in Coagh.

Thank you for all your help, everyone!

[M_ONeill]

Thanks to all your help I've now found James/Rebecca's family in the 1901 census - and I've learnt that James was actually born in Antrim. That's a new lead for me.