Author Topic: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast  (Read 5268 times)

Offline EBMCG

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« on: Saturday 12 August 17 00:36 BST (UK) »
I have traced my Great Grandfather James McGreevy to 1901 census living in Belfast (His age is stated as 40 but my Father said he was born in 1846.  There is a family history about him owning a Tug Boat called the Vesta. It states he is a Tug boat Master on the census record.  I have found a man called Richard McGreevy in Wylies Street directory for Belfast 1861 living in 45 Pilot Street Belfast it states he is Captain of the Vesta.  I also found an advert for sale of the Vesta in the Belfast Telegraph archives 1881 stating to apply to the owner Richard McGreevy at 44 Ship Street Belfast. How can I confirm if he is my Great Great Grandfather? Or any relation to James.


Offline iluleah

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,049
  • Zeya who has a plastic bag fetish
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 12 August 17 01:25 BST (UK) »
Hi and welcome to rootschat ;D

From the Extracts from Register of Deceased Seamen 1914-1918
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~econnolly/register/regni1914_18.html

McGreevy    J    Fireman    Belfast    20 Moffett St., Belfast    19/10/1917    Drowned    at sea

In the 1880 Belfast / Ulster Street Directory McGreevy, Richard, sea captain, 44 Ship Street

and............ James marries Mary Ann Holme 31 May 1886  James father is Richard occupation Captain)
............... Sinann has beat me to it ;D
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend

Offline Sinann

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 10,813
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 12 August 17 07:57 BST (UK) »

Richard McGreevy 9 New Dock St. (James' address on census)
Retired Captain died 1900, informant Mary Ann McGreevy daughter in law
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1900/05755/4625529.pdf


Offline EBMCG

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 12 August 17 12:58 BST (UK) »
Thank you so much everyone this is matching the information I researched and has given me some excellent leads to try and find more of my family.
I now know that My Father James McGreevy (Born 1940 - died 2015) had a Father Charles (born in 1896 died 1973) and his Father was James McGreevy (Sea Captain) born approx 1861 and I think died 1909) although not sure if this is right as Daddy said his Father told him that James McGreevy died when he was 9 years old (Although this could be family error as it may have been he died in 1909) - I found this but the ages don't match correctly
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1909/05463/4528870.pdf
It states James is 46 in 1909 but in the 1901 census he was 40 and on his marriage record to Mary Ann Holmes he was 25 in 1886.  Could this be the same man? Just the age recorded incorrectly it looks like a nephew recorded the death.  If this is him I may be able to trace my great grandfather's brother.
I am so delighted that I can now confirm that my Great Great Grandfather is Richard McGreevy born  1817 and died 1900.
Just one other lovely fact that I want to share with you all Richard McGreevy my Grandfathers brother who you found the birth record for was a Trimmer on Titantic when she sailed from Belfast.  He got off in Southhampton probably did not want to leave his young family to go to Americia at that stage.  Here's the link I found and it must be him as I cannot find any other Richard who would be 26 born in Belfast at that time.  Its great to confirm he was born 1886 as it matches the record.
https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/richard-mcgreevy.html
My Father had told me that my Grandfather Charles did a tour on Titantic before she left Belfast - you could buy tickets to go on board.  Daddy had no idea that his Uncle worked on the ship.

Can anyone advise me how I would find a birth or marriage record for the Richard McGreevy born 1817?

Thank you again for all your help.

Kind regards
E.McG

Offline iluleah

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,049
  • Zeya who has a plastic bag fetish
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 12 August 17 13:27 BST (UK) »
When the Titanic sea trials started in Belfast many trades people were still working on the ship and so continued throughout those and same goes for when it left Belfast to go to Southampton, so many made the trip to Southampton, then returned to Belfast.

 So it is likely he was working on the ship still and just looked he was a Trimmer, so was part of the Belfast Engine crew, which changed at Southampton for the Atlantic crossing, so with his job the Titanic wouldn't have gone very far without the engineering crew to take it.
Southampton has a statue dedicated to the Titanic Engineers
http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/visit/history/titanic
https://www.123rf.com/photo_12926413_detail-of-the-titanic-engineers-memorial-in-southampton-uk-the-titanic-sank-on-it-s-maiden-voyage-fr.html

There is a forum which specialises in the Titanic should you want to find out more http://www.titanic-titanic.com/forum/index.php
PRONI have a Harland and Wolff Archive D/2805 [/url]  "It consists of about 2,000 files, 200 volumes and 16,000 documents 1861-1987." https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/introduction-harland-wolff-papers
and this is a great site https://nmni.com/titanic/Design-Build/Harland---Wolff/Belfasts-Titanic-Shipyard.aspx

In so far as birth registration 1817 is too early for birth certs, you would be looking for a baptism record
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend

Offline Sinann

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 10,813
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 12 August 17 14:25 BST (UK) »
Don't get too caught up with ages, death certs in particular are often incorrect but it's often the case that people simply didn't know their own age so all records must be considered to possibly have incorrect ages.

James did die between the two census, and that death cert looks good but the address is bugging me as Mary Ann is still in Dock St in 1911. Perhaps he didn't die at home.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Duncairn_Ward/New_Dock_Street/132419/
Don't get put off by the numbers on the census, they are form number not house numbers as can be seen here, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001395978/
Mary Ann is living in house number 30.

Offline iluleah

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 3,049
  • Zeya who has a plastic bag fetish
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 12 August 17 14:58 BST (UK) »
Don't get too caught up with ages, death certs in particular are often incorrect but it's often the case that people simply didn't know their own age so all records must be considered to possibly have incorrect ages.


I completely agree with Sinann, ages on death certs is secondary information, same goes for census, the only primary 'birth' age is from a birth cert and the next best is the approximate birth year on a baptism.

My grandmother was the informant on her mothers death cert, she also organised the gravestone both say she was  85yrs old when died, looking at her marriage cert and all the census all give different ages, she was born before birth cert registration so the only record is her baptism record and that would be primary and meant she was 20 years younger  than what is written on all the secondary records ........the reason I can only assume is that she married a  man who was 30 yrs older than her, so lied about being older
Leicestershire:Chamberlain, Dakin, Wilkinson, Moss, Cook, Welland, Dobson, Roper,Palfreman, Squires, Hames, Goddard, Topliss, Twells,Bacon.
Northamps:Sykes, Harris, Rice,Knowles.
Rutland:Clements, Dalby, Osbourne, Durance, Smith,Christian, Royce, Richardson,Oakham, Dewey,Newbold,Cox,Chamberlaine,Brow, Cooper, Bloodworth,Clarke
Durham/Yorks:Woodend, Watson,Parker, Dowser
Suffolk/Norfolk:Groom, Coleman, Kemp, Barnard, Alden,Blomfield,Smith,Howes,Knight,Kett,Fryston
Lincolnshire:Clements, Woodend

Offline Sinann

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 10,813
    • View Profile
Re: Tracing McGreevy (Sometimes spelled McGreevey)Family in Belfast
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 12 August 17 16:37 BST (UK) »
There is a marriage 1885 of Sarah McGreevy,25 Ship St. father Richard Master Mariner
A possible sister of James
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1885/10872/5970857.pdf
Note the church is St. Malachy's, might prove useful