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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: Rosniak on Wednesday 13 July 16 22:01 BST (UK)
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I have undertaken a project to link up all Melvilles in Northern Ireland into families and have made some great progress so far. I ultimately want to connect all the paperwork (births, marriages, deaths, wills, census records) and have managed to do a lot of that already. I hope that eventually I am able to prove more connections through DNA testing.
I'm not just looking for people who are called Melville but also those who descend from a Melville down a female line. Also photos can help if resemblances can be seen across the various families.
So far I have found three major families in Belfast, one that moved to Carrick/Larne and another two in County Down - in Banbridge and around Donaghadee/Bangor.
I would particularly like to hear from any descendants of Andrew Melville who started off the undertaking business in Belfast, I have managed to trace his line as far as the 1911 census but that's my major stumbling block at the moment.
So if you can help me at all with this project please get in contact!
Thanks!
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Hi Rosniak, Good luck on your project. Melvilles in Ireland/Northern Ireland. The best source I could find is http://www.GenesReunited.co.uk because they will show relationships join if you are not a member
There are 164 matches for Melville Northern Ireland from 1800 to the present. Several Melville tree holders are listed, the member with the most is a “Martin”. Several show the female links you seek. However there are also 14 matches for Melvin in Ulster starting 1790 with no ‘Martin’ entries.
Ros Davies County Down website including part of Belfast http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies
see Melvill, Melville,Melvin,Melvine etc showing families existed in the following civil parishes Down, which includes Downpatrick, Inch nearby, Killyleagh, Kilmore, Loughinisland, Magheradrool,Newtownards, Saul nr Downpatrick
she has an entry Melvin came over from Scotland as part of 1607-1633 Plantation of Ireland. I didnt find confirmation of that in http://www.billmacafee.com
Street Directories for Belfast
see http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/ see also PRONI below
1877
Melville, Andrew, posting establishment and funeral undertaker, 89 & 91 Townsend Street
Melville, Samuel, brass founder and gas fitter, 39 Divis Street
Melville, Wm., mechanic, 10 Woodstock Street
Melville, Wm., gardener, 183 Woodstock Road
Melville, Wm., baker, 30 Peter's Hill
The Ulster Historical Foundation ‘s website http://www.ancestryireland.com has
Melvill Irish Birth/Baptism Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 201 results
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Marriage Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 154 results
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Death/Burial Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 40 results
Pay-Per-ViewNorthern Irish Gravestone Inscriptions 6 results
Pay-Per-ViewBiographies of Members of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 1 results
Melville Irish Birth/Baptism Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down has 192 results for Melville
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Marriage Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 151 results
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Death/Burial Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 40 results
Pay-Per-ViewNorthern Irish Gravestone Inscriptions 6 results
Pay-Per-ViewBiographies of Members of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 1 results
Melvin Irish Birth/Baptism Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 83 results
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Marriage Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 45 results
Pay-Per-ViewIrish Death/Burial Records – Co. Antrim & Co. Down 8 results
Pay-Per-ViewNorthern Irish Gravestone Inscriptions 6 results
etc.
currently Melville & Co. Ulster’s largest independent funeral director, and has been assisting families across three centuries. 21st, 20th,19th now appears to be part of the Morgan family company The company was renowned for being family friendly try them direct.
their history at PRONI includes D3881/1 Dates : 1 June 1886
Description : Copy of Partnership Deed of Andrew Melville & Co., funeral undertakers, Townsend St., Belfast. Under this agreement the daughters of Andrew Melville - Elizabeth Armstrong, Sarah McClure, Jane McLorie, Rosanna McClure, Margaret Melville and Olivia Melville - agree to become equal partners in the company and set out the terms by which the firm would operate. This includes the equal sharing of all necessary outgoings and expenses; the maintenance of proper accounts; the management of the firm; share prices etc. in 1870 he has a brother David Melvin [Melville], Centre Hill, White County, Arkansas, USA, see T3772/1 also in Proni. Proni needs exhausting eg wills,
in their street directories isAndrew Melvill contractor for cleaning streets 23 Peters Hill
I discovered http://www.melcarson.com/william-melville-the-real-james-bond-007.html ‘Briefly– William Melville (of ‘M’ fame) son of James Melville and Catherine Connor (both born in Templenoe, Kerry), . descended from William’s parents, James Melvin (Melville- see reason for name change in previous posting) and Catherine Connor, both from Templenoe and later Driminabeg, then later still, Sneem, who married in Sneem in 1849( the year the potato famine-‘the great death’ became less severe but was by no means over). They had 3 sons, 4 daughters.William(MI5 fame) George( Met police) Richard(never married, remained in Ireland) Catherine (Sullivan) Bridget (Lyne) Mary Ann (Egan) Elizabeth (O’Connell, Boston)-married names shown in brackets.’
from http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/ there are two
entries
Melvin-Michl-Rossacussane,Ponlacoppul-Templenoe-Kerry-1840
Melvin-Willm-Rossacusane-Templenoe-Kerry-1840
both pay £9 pa rent. that’s a lot.. The website is useful showing some 90 Melvins with the main area Sligo, there are also 1 Melville and 1 Melvill.
to my surprise http://www.failteromhat.com/flax/antrim.php has none
the same flaxgrowers in Co Down had
Melvin James Kilmore Down
Melvin John Dromara Down
Melvin William Newtown Down
Good luck consider joining NIFHS
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My mother had a friend named Elizabeth (Betty) Melville. She lived in North Belfast. She was married to Victor Parker from Lisburn in the 1950s. Betty and Victor died a few years ago.
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from the Irish Genealogy Hub WEBSITE
for the Irish Tithe Applotment Books i apologise for apparent duplicates
Melville, Henry-Townland: Ballyblagh Year: 1833-Shankill-Armagh
Melville, Henry-Townland: Ballyblagh Year: 1833-Shankill-Down
Melville, James-Townland: Drumcaw Year: 1828-Loughinisland -Down
Melville, James-Townland: Listooder Year: 1833-Kilmore-Down
Melville, John-Townland: Crossgar Year: 1833-Kilmore-Down
Melville, John-Townland: Knockneshane Year: 1833-Shankill-Armagh
Melville, John-Townland: Knockneshane Year: 1833-Shankill-Down
Melville, Phoebe-Townland: Lurgan Town Year: 1833-Shankill-Armagh
Melville, Phoebe-Townland: Lurgan Town Year: 1833-Shankill-Down
Melville, Saml.-Townland: Drumcaw Year: 1828-Loughinisland -Down
Melville, Saml., Jr.-Townland: Drumcaw Year: 1828-Loughinisland -Down
Melville, William-Townland: Ballydian Year: 1833-Kilmore-Down
Melville, William-Townland: Creevyargon Year: 1833-Kilmore-Down
good luck
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Thank you both very much for your replies. Plenty to be working on!
I have recently heard that a member of the Melville undertakers family may be taking an autosomal DNA test so the results of that may start to piece the families together.
Re. Betty and Victor Parker, yes, I have their a small tree of their family drawn up. Betty's grandfather was Alexander Marshall Melville, a lithographic artist who was born in Scotland and who didn't move to Belfast until the early 1900s. I think Betty also had a sister Jean who may have married an Alan McCormick, though I haven't been able to confirm that yet.
By the way BallyaltikilliganG, the Genes Reunited people you correctly located were on my tree! :D
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If you explain to me how to contact you privately I can give you more information on Betty and Victor and Jean as I know their daughters.
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Thanks Heather,
I will send you a private message with my email address.
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Hi, my g-grandfather William Beveridge Melville moved to Belfast in the late 1800's. His first wife had died (probably in childbirth) and he had a daughter (I have the details but not with me at the moment). He married again (in Stockport, his 2nd wife born in Liverpool - my g-grandmother - again I do have some details).
My grandfather James Melville was born in 1902 in Belfast. I think he was the 2nd youngest but I don't recall. My grandfather came to England around 1930, where he met my grandmother in Blackburn. They were married in 1931 and settled in Heston, where they lived until she died in 1975. My grandfather moved to Derby to be near his son (my uncle) and died in 1996.
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Welcome to RootsChat :)
For others reading, here's your gt grandfather-
1901 census
Residents of a house 31 in Sunnyside Street (Ormeau, Down).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ormeau/Sunnyside_Street/1213466/
1911 census
Residents of a house 82 in The Mount (Ormeau, Down).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ormeau/The_Mount/217877/
Your grandfather James born 1902. MMN Rothwell
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1902/01892/1735448.pdf
Full Abstract :
Melville William Beveridge of Knockbreda Victoria Road Holywood county Down retired engineer died 30 July 1941 Probate Belfast 16 October to Eleanor Melville the widow. Effects £125 0s. 6d.
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearch.aspx
KG
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My grandfather James Melville was born in 1902 in Belfast. I think he was the 2nd youngest but I don't recall.
He was..... the second youngest of five in the second family by 1911.
His younger sister Kathleen born in 1904.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1904/01808/1708562.pdf
However, a further child William born in 1912.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1912/01494/1607710.pdf
KG
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Thank you for the information - it lines up with what I thought.
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Thank you for the information - it lines up with what I thought.
Do you also have this?
From GRONI https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/
Death
Eleanor Melville 16th April 1953 76 Female Belfast
KG
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I wasn't aware of other Melville families in Belfast at the time my gt grandfather moved there. Nor do I know the reason why he moved there. I think he was involved in the railways. I know he was from the Kirkcaldy / Fife area - which is where the Melville name is from. The name dates back to a Norman lord. Whether the family is related directly or adopted the Melville surname we'll probably never know.
His second wife Eleanor Rothwell was only 19 when William Beveridge Melville married her (he was 33) and he already had Bessie. They were married in Stockport near Manchester so it is possible he was working there - or he could have met her in Liverpool. It's entirely possible that he hired her to look after his daughter and then married her.
Maybe the descendants of one of my grandfather's siblings knows more.
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Maybe the descendants of one of my grandfather's siblings knows more.
Here’s the marriage of one of your grandfather’s siblings (via GRONI).
Marjorie Melville to Ernest Ard 24th September 1923 Belfast
Belfast Telegraph - Friday 17 April 1953
Death Notice
MELVILLE – April 16, 1953, Eleanor Melville, 15 Comber Road, Dundonald, widow of William B. Melville. Funeral from her son-in-law’s residence, 2 Ardgreenan Crescent, to-morrow (Saturday), at 10 a.m. to Holywood Cemetery. – Deeply regretted by the Family Circle.
1951 Belfast Street Directory
Ardgreenan Crescent (at 3 Campbell Park Avenue)
2. Ard, E. J., sheet metal worker
https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/acomplete1951_2.htm
1911 census.......Ard
Residents of a house 35 in Ravenhill Avenue (Ormeau, Down).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ormeau/Ravenhill_Avenue/216528/
KG
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Hi,
I am looking for info on James Melville, his daughter Wilhelmina (Minnie/Mina) Melville- my great grandmother married into Connolly family- or other relatives. Her dates are app 1879-1966. Census data shows she lived in Hardinge St. Around the dock / duncairn area of Belfast. He was possibly of McCleery/ McCleevy St & died sometime before Nov 1900. I'm hitting a dead end with this particular branch of the family, so would love any further ideas! Thanks,
Denise
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I am looking for info on James Melville, his daughter Wilhelmina (Minnie/Mina) Melville- my great grandmother married into Connolly family- or other relatives. Her dates are app 1879-1966. Census data shows she lived in Hardinge St. Around the dock / duncairn area of Belfast. He was possibly of McCleery/ McCleevy St & died sometime before Nov 1900.
Can't see a birth for Wilhelmina Melville in Ireland. Daughter Wilhelmina Connolly born 1913-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1913/01455/1594290.pdf
Wilhelmina (Mina) listed as age 29 in 1911 & born Belfast- husband's occupation transcribed as 'Robbin Turner' but Bobbin Turner on actual return.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Dock_Ward/Hardinge_Street/136867/
Marriage was in 1900 (Mina)- her address is 55 McCleery St. & father James Melville (deceased)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1900/10360/5771638.pdf
Possibility? A James Melville died in Sept.1900 a few moths before Mina's marriage-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1900/05755/4625550.pdf
Maybe not? a Margaret Jane Melville at same address in 1901 listed as Church of Ireland-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Duncairn_Ward/Cambridge_Street/957025/
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A Minnie Melville born 1870 Millisle, Co. Down with father named James-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1870/03352/2229042.pdf
A James Melville death in 1893-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1893/05989/4703688.pdf
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A James Melville death in 1893-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1893/05989/4703688.pdf
Died at Cottown [sic].
Cotton townland
https://www.townlands.ie/down/ards-lower/bangor/bangor/cotton/
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Thank you for these links & ideas. The Connolly links are definitely my family. I still just can't confirm the parentage of Wilhelmina Melville but I'll keep working on it!
I'd like to rule out a James Melville who married a Mary Kennedy 1872 in Millisle. If anyone happens to have researched this line?
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Thank you for these links & ideas. The Connolly links are definitely my family. I still just can't confirm the parentage of Wilhelmina Melville but I'll keep working on it!
I'd like to rule out a James Melville who married a Mary Kennedy 1872 in Millisle. If anyone happens to have researched this line?
Marriage-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1872/11305/8148196.pdf
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... I'd like to rule out a James Melville who married a Mary Kennedy 1872 in Millisle ...
I don't think you can just yet, for I suspect that this might be one of those cases where details like names and occupations are just all over the place and it could be the right marriage... I'm leaning slightly against it for now, but ultimately my jury's still out. Anyway, see what you think of the following.
In November 1915, a widow called Clementina Donnelly married a Joseph Connor in St. Peter's Belfast, Clementina's father was recorded as James Melville, a labourer, critically, one of the witnesses was a Mina Connolly:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1916/09766/5544884.pdf
Clementina's previous marriage was to a James Donnelly in St. Patrick's, Belfast, in October 1906, her address was 93 Hardinge Street - the exact same address of Charles and Mina Connolly in the 1911 Ireland census - and this time her father was recorded as William Melville, a labourer:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1907/10079/5665969.pdf
James and Clementina in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Smithfield/Mary_Street/186360/
Clementina Melville and Wilhelmina Melville, as names go, are at the more uncommon end of the spectrum and the following two births jump out:
- In April 1886, a daughter Clementina was born to a joiner called William Melville and Eliza Jane Kennedy:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1886/02606/1962340.pdf
- In November 1880, a daughter Wilhelmina was born to a carpenter called William 'Melvin' and Eliza Jane Kennedy:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1880/02854/2046011.pdf
I can also see a son William born to this couple in January 1882:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1882/02797/2026634.pdf
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Thank you! That has given me a further direction to go in. I'm almost certain Clementina/ Clementine was connected to My great grandmother, probably a sister or at least a cousin.
I've also turned up an interesting possible connection with Clough) Dundrum areas of Co Down. A Harriett Armstrong married a David Melville in 1884. She was widowed and remarried James Kennedy in 1895. The name Kennedy linked with Melville in both families is interesting...possibly they met via in laws.
It looks like David had a brother called James and their father was William. So a number of things pushing me in that direction.
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I've also turned up an interesting possible connection with Clough) Dundrum areas of Co Down. A Harriett Armstrong married a David Melville in 1884. She was widowed and remarried James Kennedy in 1895.
Marriages-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1884/10907/5984286.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1895/10533/5836538.pdf
Both in 1st Clough Presbyterian Church.
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What follows is continuing the pattern of being all over the place in terms of names, but I believe it could be the same folk as my reply #20. If I'm right, then both Clementina and Wilhelmina Melville converted to Catholicism in 1895 at St. Patrick's in Belfast.
The older Wilhelmina (my reckoning aged 15) was baptised on 16 September (birth year stated as 1880), her address was recorded as 106 Henry Street and her sponsor was a Martha Morgan. The younger 'Clementine' (my reckoning aged 9) followed suit a couple of months later on 29 November (birth year stated as 1884), her address was recorded as 73 Little Patrick Street and her sponsor was an Ann Russell. In both cases, they were described as protestant converts and their parents were transcribed as James Melville and Elizabeth Jane Kernaghan(?).
I can also see a St. Peter's Church version of the 1915 marriage of Clementina Donnelly nee Melville to Joseph Connor and both parents' names are included, transcribed as James Melville and Eliza Kernaghan (both deceased).
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Thanks, that's very interesting. I'll check out the Kernaghan surname instead of Kennedy and see what it throws up.
I found some births for Clementine and her 4th child Charles shows her name as Clementine Gordon formerly Melville. I'm wondering if that is likely to mean anything. Link attached (hopefully)!
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/396d0e0072561?b=https%3A%2F%2Fcivilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie%2Fchurchrecords%2Fcivil-perform-search.jsp%3Fnamefm%3DCharles%26namel%3DDonnelly%26location%3D%26yyfrom%3D1912%26yyto%3D1912%26type%3DB%26submit%3DSearch%26sort%3D%26pageSize%3D100%26century%3D%26decade%3D%26exact%3D%26ddBfrom%3D%26ddMfrom%3D%26ddDfrom%3D%26ddPfrom%3D%26mmBfrom%3D%26mmMfrom%3D%26mmDfrom%3D%26mmPfrom%3D%26yyBfrom%3D%26yyMfrom%3D%26yyDfrom%3D%26yyPfrom%3D%26ddBto%3D%26ddMto%3D%26ddDto%3D%26ddPto%3D%26mmBto%3D%26mmMto%3D%26mmDto%3D%26mmPto%3D%26yyBto%3D%26yyMto%3D%26yyDto%3D%26yyPto%3D%26locationB%3D%26locationM%3D%26locationD%3D%26locationP%3D%26keywordb%3D%26keywordm%3D%26keywordd%3D%26keywordp%3D%26event%3D%26district%3D
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Link attached (hopefully)!
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details-civil/396d0e0072561?b=https%3A%2F%2Fcivilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie%2Fchurchrecords%2Fcivil-perform-search.jsp%3Fnamefm%3DCharles%26namel%3DDonnelly%26location%3D%26yyfrom%3D1912%26yyto%3D1912%26type%3DB%26submit%3DSearch%26sort%3D%26pageSize%3D100%26century%3D%26decade%3D%26exact%3D%26ddBfrom%3D%26ddMfrom%3D%26ddDfrom%3D%26ddPfrom%3D%26mmBfrom%3D%26mmMfrom%3D%26mmDfrom%3D%26mmPfrom%3D%26yyBfrom%3D%26yyMfrom%3D%26yyDfrom%3D%26yyPfrom%3D%26ddBto%3D%26ddMto%3D%26ddDto%3D%26ddPto%3D%26mmBto%3D%26mmMto%3D%26mmDto%3D%26mmPto%3D%26yyBto%3D%26yyMto%3D%26yyDto%3D%26yyPto%3D%26locationB%3D%26locationM%3D%26locationD%3D%26locationP%3D%26keywordb%3D%26keywordm%3D%26keywordd%3D%26keywordp%3D%26event%3D%26district%3D
Fitzy,
Just to note, you can use the RootsChat ShrinkLink to shorten very long links.
https://www.rootschat.com/links/
Here's the PDF for Charles' birth record
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1912/01494/1607606.pdf
Note the asst registrar comment on the right of the page.
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Ah yes, Gordon was the family above! That gets rid of that red herring then- thank you.