Not experienced in Irish research - please help!

[hunkyhywel]

I have found Wilson McKeown in 1901 census (solicitor b.1852 Antrim. Married to Susan Gray Cooney) but there's a big gap the 1851 census and I can't find his family there.

Wondering how to find his parents or any earlier records?

[CaroleW]

Eldest child in 1901 was aged 15 but may be older ones who have left home by 1901.  Susan b 1858 so assume marriage late 1870's early 1880's perhaps

[CaroleW]

Did you look for a marriage on Family Search?  Copy of the cert should give fathers names

Wilson M'Keown
Event Type    Marriage
Event Date    Oct - Dec 1884
Event Place    Ballymena, Ireland
Registration Quarter and Year    Oct - Dec 1884
Registration District    Ballymena
Volume Number    1
Page Number    137

Name    Susan Cooney
Event Type    Marriage
Event Date    Oct - Dec 1884
Event Place    Ballymena, Ireland
Registration Quarter and Year    Oct - Dec 1884
Registration District    Ballymena
Volume Number    1
Page Number    137

[gortonboy]

Father is William.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1884/10914/5987041.pdf

[familyroutes]

Marriage of William and Susan

copyright image removed by moderator

[aghadowey]

I have found Wilson McKeown in 1901 census (solicitor b.1852 Antrim. Married to Susan Gray Cooney) but there's a big gap the 1851 census and I can't find his family there.
Wondering how to find his parents or any earlier records?

Only a small portion of 1851 census survives. Sometimes there are clues in names of children, etc.

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballymena_and_Town_and_Urban_District_of_Ballymena/Georges_Street/926100
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ballymena__No__2__Urban__In_34_files_/Brocklamount_Urban/117059/

Children born Mount St.-
William Wilson (15 Sept.1885) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1885/02628/1969402.pdf
Richard Bryan (2 Oct.1887) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1887/02541/1940536.pdf
children born Pentagon House-
Hessie Gray (31 May 1890-1890)- GRONI indexed birth as Kessie
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1890/02433/1905708.pdf
Hessie Gray (25 Aug.1891) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02381/1888335.pdf
Robert Francis (29 Sept.1893) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1893/02285/1857594.pdf
Norman Edward (8 Nov.1894) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1894/02242/1844164.pdf
Amy Wilson (16 Aug.1898) https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1898/02076/1792266.pdf

[aghadowey]

Just in case you don't have this-
Mackeown, Richard Bryan of 32 Bramham Gardens Kensington London S.W.5 died 23 December 1961 Probate Peterborough 13 April to Martin Graham Clarke Mackeown advertising designer. Effects in Northern Ireland £356 15s. Re-sealed Belfast 21 June.

There was a Captain Richard Bryan MacKeown served East Lancashire Regiment in WWI.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29277/page/8540/data.pdf

Connection?
Belfast News-Letter, 29 Aug.1933: In the Goods of JAMES SINCLAIR BAXTER. K.C., late of 110, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, Deceased. All persons having claims against the Estate of the above Deceased are requested to furnish particulars of same in writing forthwith to R. BRYAN MacKEOWN, Solicitor
Baxter James Sinclair of 110 Eglantine Avenue Belfast K.C. professor of law died 24 August 1933 at The Causeway Hotel Bushmills county Antrim Administration (with Will) Belfast 9 January to Susan Baxter the widow. Effects £429 19s. 4d.

[aghadowey]

I have found Wilson McKeown in 1901 census (solicitor b.1852 Antrim. Married to Susan Gray Cooney) but there's a big gap the 1851 census and I can't find his family there.

Wondering how to find his parents or any earlier records?

Can't see that Wilson McKeown was a solicitor until fairly late in life-
1884 (marriage) solicitor's assistant
1885-1887 clerk (living Mount St.)
1890-1891 house and land agent (living in Pentagon House)
1893 agent
1894 auctioneer, etc.
1898 auctioneer
1901 Notary Public Commissioner for Oaths and Apprentice Solicitor
1911 solicitor and Notary

Also seems to have been an immigration agent until at least 1914

[hunkyhywel]

Guys, thank you so much for this!
Wondering whether you'd have any advice on where to go next? I'd really like to break behind 1901. I only have their fathers' names from the marriage cert...