Hi all,
I'm hoping someone can help with ideas for searching for Irish Ancestry or with records themselves. I presume that many people are having issues searching as a lot of the Irish census records have been destroyed and I'm finding other Irish records to be less available than English, Welsh, Scottish and New Zealand records.
I'm searching for information on a husband and wife, John Rea and Mary Jane Rea nee Shannon.
What I've found so far, a Belfast Newsletter (dated 17th January 1840) a marriage notice (attached). 15th January 1840 - Mr. John Rea, of Castlenaven (County Down), to Mary Jane, only daughter of Mr. John Shannon, of Drumalig (County Down). -- So I know that date they married and also Mary Jane's Father is named John Shannon.
Also attached, is a screen clipping from the RootsWeb Ros Davies page - John Rea husband of Mary Jane Shannon; father of John MY DIRECT ANCESTOR, who ended up in New Zealand bpt. 6 Aug 1850 & James bpt. 30 Jan 1853 & Elizabeth bpt. 30 May 1858 & Sarah bpt. 20 May 1860 & Agnes bpt. 24 Jun 1862 at Killaney Presbyterian Church.
Killaney (County Down) not to be confused with Killarney. So from this information I have their children's names and baptism dates. I link my ancestor John Rea as John and Mary Jane's son by his second New Zealand marriage and have attached the marriage certificate clipping, please note that the spelling of his surname has changed to Rae on this certificate, on his first marriage certificate it was spelt Rea.
The last attachment I have attached is a possible Will of John Shannon, Mary Jane's Father. It is a strong possibility this is the same John Shannon as it says he was from Drumalig in County Down. Died 4th August 1858 with two Executors, Samuel Shannon (son?) and John Gibson (son-in-law?).
Thank you for reading, I have been searching this line of my family tree for years and it has been the most unproductive, however the most intriguing. Anything you can help me with?
Many thanks, James Mackenzie