RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Fermanagh => Topic started by: KMurray on Monday 08 June 09 16:25 BST (UK)
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I am new to the site and would love to find some information or connect a few dots about any of the extended family. I will list the information that I have. This information comes from her death certificate.
Katherine Blakeley b. about 1798 in Fermanagh Ireland. Her father was Thomas (possibly William) but her mother's name is unknown.
Katherine married William Armstrong, also of Fermanagh about 1820 and he died in Ireland before 1859. We believe his father's name was also William.
Katherine went to Australia in 1859 with her two sons and died in 1868 in NSW. I only know of her sons going to Australia, but perhaps some of her daughters did as well. There was talk of an "Aunt Tessie" but we are not sure which daughter that was.
The children of Katherine Blakeley and William Armstrong are Isabella b. 1820, Mary b. 1822, Catherine b.1825, William b. 1834, and Thomas b. 1836. They also had one other daughter and one other son that we assume died as infants.
The Blakely's of interest were from Irvinestown and the Armstrong's were from Enniskillen.
I am a descendant of William (born in 1834). We would love to find a connection with information on Katherine's family and William's family in Fermanagh. I would also love to find out more information on their daughters and son Thomas, who I believe lived in the Victoria or the southern area of NSW Australia.
My ancestor William Armstrong married Caroline Carr in NSW in 1868. He died in 1882 and she came to the United States in 1888 with their six children.
Thank you for any direction or information that you can offer.
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I am hoping to find more information about the following two lines.
Katherine Blakely born c. 1798 of Irvinestown, father Thomas (possibly William), mother's name is unknown. She went to Australia in 1859 and died in NSW in 1868.
She had married William Armstrong c. 1820 of Enniskillen, father's name believed to be William as well. He died in Ireland in before 1859.
Their children Isabella b. 1820, Mary b. 1822, Catherine b. 1825, William b. 1834, and Thomas b. 1836. There was also another son and daughter that died as infants.
Both sons went to Australia too, but we are unsure if any of the daughters went as well.
Thank you for your help.
Kathy
Moderator's Note: duplicate topics merged
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Here is a little more information that has come to light.
Catherine Blakeley's parent were Thomas and Jane Blakeley (Bleakley). Her husband William Armstrong died before 1851.
Catherine had a brother Thomas who was married to Margaret. Their daughter Rebecca Bleakley (born 1835) went to Australia on the Earl Grey in 1851. Both families seem to be primarily associated with Lowthurston and Derravullen.
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Hi,
You mentioned the ship "Earl Grey". This was the first ship to carry orphan girls from the Irish workhouses to SW Australia in June 1848 under the Earl Grey (Colonial Secretary at the time) scheme to relieve the Irish workhouses of the expense of keeping them during the Great Famine and also to attempt to alleviate the gender imbalance in Australia at that time. Nothing to do with your question, but an interesting thought.
Regards
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I have heard of the bounty program to bring women to Australia. Did the Earl Grey still function as such in 1851? Should I assume that the two female cousins (Isabelle "Jane" Armstrong and Rebecca Bleakley) went of their own accord, or were they "encouraged" as part of that program?
Thank you for the insight.
Kathy
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Kathy,
No, the program was stopped in 1850 because adverse comments in some Australian newspapers whipped up some animosity against these girls. However in the two years that the scheme was in operation some 4200 young Irish girls,(15-17 years old) were shipped to Australia.
Regards
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Information on Earl Grey scheme on this post Ireland- Resources board)-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,235139.0.html
And link here in Donegal Resources (under Workhouses)
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,383512.0.html
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Hi K Murry
I haven't looked in here in awhile BUT your post suddenly interested me...First let me ask...Do you have any further info on your William Armstrong? For instance dob? Or Dod? Are you positive he was from Enniskillen?
Let me explain...
My ggg grandparents were:
William Armstrong b 1764 in Dumfries, Scotland. He married Jane Montgomery b 1774 < I believe born on or close to Inishmore Island. Inishmore island is an island located south east of Enniskillen. It is surrounded by the upper Loch Erne. William and Jane had "18" children...of which I have definite info on 8 of them and possible on 3. There are certain names that I do not have but feel SHOULD be included simply because of naming patterns/family etc.
William and Jane lived on Inishmore as did some of their children. Some immigrated to US from 1839-1854 . One moved to co Tyrone by 1856...and my gg grandmother Nicholina Armstrong married Hugh Copeland and lived in Enniskillen. She and her family immigrated to US in 1848 after Hugh's death. Her step children (6 of the 7) went with her to US then on to Australia by 1856.
William and Janes Children were born from 1795 - 1812 < possibly further but last one I have was 1812. There names were:
Hugh ?
Mary
Jardine
John
Nicholina
George
Alexander
Georgina?
Jane
William.......*****
Montgomery
As far as William....I only have a death date which as of yet I need to confirm. It's Nov 10th 1849....very close to the possible date you mention. I have found no other info on him. Family story was perhaps he immigrated BUT if that was the case I have no clue as to why "my cousin in Ireland" would have gotten his death date. Do you see why your info interests me?
Another thing....certain names were passed thru families. Two names of those 18 children that I think are missing are James < this was Jane's father's name AND Isabella/Isobel. The reason WHY I believe there WAS an Isabella is because that was one of William's sister's names and the name has appeared down the line of a few of the children listed above!!! I notice YOU have an Isabella !
As I said earlier I have no definite info....BUT your post has me very intrigued. I just thought I would post....and if you come across any new info that might connect to anything I said ,..please keep me in mind. "IF" it connected I do have A LOT of info on this family and some of the descendents and am in contact with descendents of 2 of the above brothers and 1 sister. I will check further into where the death date came for "my" William.
Sue in NY
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Thank you for the insights and possible connection. I haven't checked in for awhile, so I am sorry if this was left hanging. I am hopeful of finding more information now in
Australia that might point a little more to their ancestors. I will share this with my sister and as things come together I will most definitely let you know what I have found and if there hope. There are very vague things that have come down about the family and we are still in the connect the dot mode.
Kathy
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Sue,
I have some clarification faster than I thought I would. We do know (from my grandfather who died 67 years ago) that the family was in Ireland during the plantation period, perhaps earlier, so that would exclude your link. The question is moot now, but we have no DOB or DOD on this William. So far we only known when he wasn't alive according to his children's passage to Australia, and his birth would be an estimate. It is evidently also a long line of William's that begat William's.
It was such a good try. Thank you for jumping in with the information.
Kathy
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Hi Kathy
Ok ...you mean 1640s? Well I was sending the below post but your reply came up before I got the chance. I am still going to post it "just in case". You see...Back in the 60s someone wrote a genealogical Armstrong book. In it though they said "my" William was born in Fermanagh. His info was wrong and I have since disproved it. Sooooo...just in case , because I know that years back mistakes were made whereas today info can be more available...I am still sending my post. lol Can never hurt! lol
That is fine. No problem.....just please if you do find something let me know. I too will try contacting my "Irish" cousin to see where exactly the William info came from. I was told by another cousin that he had possibly immigrated to America...but have had little luck looking...especially since the name "William Armstrong" was so common. And many immigrants only put "from Ireland" on their records. As I said I DO have info on this line back to Scotland....and on some of the descendents.
Your info intrigued me...though possibly just coincidence...can always hope right? lol As I said there are "other" names that I feel are missing. And since 3 of these siblings (that I know of ) immigrated to America, and some to Australia,...I know families tended to follow each other...many times settling in or near others, even cousins or in-laws. The Copeland I mentioned prior went to Melborne , Victoria, Australia. They ended up living in/near Warragul....just out of curiousity...where did your Catherine end up living? Oh....Derryvullan is a parish where some (I believe) my Armstrongs were christened and/or married. Another clue perhaps? lol
Are there any other "middle" names? Surnames? Odd first names? Let me explain....
In my previous post..I wrote....
William and Janes Children were born from 1795 - 1812 < possibly further but last one I have was 1812. There names were:
Hugh ?
Mary < William's sister's name
Jardine < William's mother's maiden name
John < William's father's name
Nicholina < William's mother's first name was "Nicholas"
George < William's brother's name
Alexander <?????
Georgina? < feminine form of George?
Jane < Jane the mother's name
William.......*****< William the father's name
Montgomery < mother Jane's maiden name
See where I am going?Also names that married into this line, "brother-in-laws" whose names were used by descendents and can be clues.....Moore, Bracken, Copeland, Johnston, Buchanan, & Richey.
Scott was a cousin's last name as was Wright. If any of these were used by your line would be VERY interesting.
Well TC Good luck.....Keep me in mind!
Sue
PS....Oh well...if anything was a good try! lol TC
Well....please just keep me in mind.
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Catherine was living in one of the suburbs of Sydney, possibly Ashfield / Concord area. I am in the process of ordering transcripts that might give me some more clues from Australia, but it is evolving daily.
I will keep all of your information at hand and watch for any possible connection and if not mine maybe I will find something that is relevant to your kin. My grandfather went back to Australia and notes in his diary that he spent a day in 1898 talking to his aunt about family history, but did he write any of it down?
And the last conversations with his daughter was 70 years ago, long before anyone was really paying attention to the details. I guess my point is, like you imply, anything can happen.
Thanks again for all of your information. Have a good weekend.
Kathy
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My ancestors were Armstrong/Irvine from Enniskilen, Fermanagh, Philip Armstrong md Margaret Irvine, of BALLYHILL. One of sons was JOHN ARMSTRONG who, in turn, had a son WILLIAM.
Maybe connected? Lorraine
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Armstrong is a very, very common Fermanagh surname, Lorraine. Perhaps if you could post dates (or even approx. dates) it might help.
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K.MURRAY ......... This might be of some help. 1767/1845 St.Mary's Church Ardess marriages.transc. Geo.Armstrong.
1801 ANDREW BLEAKLEY/BLAKELY to JANE ARMSTRONG. Go to Fermanagh GOLD members Genealogy page hit online database Fermanagh. Type in Armstrong. Lots of Armstrong marriages. Possibility this Bleakly is yours?
Lorraine/Lorc
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hi
I have come across your posting and you mentioned a James Armstrong was missing in your names could any of the following information on a marriage cert. be of any link:
James Armstrong (GameKeeper) wife Jane McNight
Daughter Margaret Armstrong married 1852 age 22 at
Enniskillen. Her address: Castle Archdale
Husband Irvine Cheaney
Witness at wedding - Thomas Armstrong & John McDonagh
Arrived Australia (NSW) 1855 on Rajastan
Son John died during voyage
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Lorraine,
Thank you for the direction, I will look in to it asap. I haven't visited this site for awhile, so sorry for the delay in responding.
KM
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Jamey,
Thank you as well. It doesn't sound like it fits but I will keep the information on file just in case.
KM
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hi KM
thanks for reply. I made a mistake with Jane her last name was not McKnight, unknown at this stage. Her husband James Armstrongs sister Prudence married a McKnight.
Jamey
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Hi, My William Armstrong was born c. 1793. He was charged in Dublin with stealing along with his father, also William Armstrong, and Mary Binks. William jnr. was convicted, the others not. William was transported to Australia for life, arriving here 31st August 1835. He was assigned to assistant Surveyor William Wedge DARK. He later met & married Eleanor Hall nee Jobling and had several children. I have their info but the court records state William Jnr. was married with two sons & one daughter. Of these four we have no information at all. would love to know when/where William was born, who his mother was, when he married & to whom & the names & dates of birth of his 3 children who were born in Ireland.
All & any assistance would be great.
Cheers from sunny Australia
(Mrs) Faye Chapman nee Armstrong