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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Louth => Topic started by: Rice mix on Saturday 08 April 17 14:06 BST (UK)
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I am going to Ireland in June and would love to find the cemetery mentioned in this family letter. Any help, any leads, is appreciated. Thanks to all in advance and sorry the excerpt is long--didn't know what info would help the most!
From a letter written in 1957 by Anne Ellen Coxen, sister of Thomas Frederick Rice (my great-grandfather)
“I will try to describe the old burial ground, it is called Ford (may be a word similar?), and it is top of a small mountain. All the neighbors go to a funeral, certain ones are selected to go up and open a particular grave. They have to be in line, by descent or relatives. There are no paths on this rugged cemetery, one just steps on up and down over rises or boulders. But there are some flat places and these are spacious and five families of Rices have buried there.
Our grave is a large one and five families bury in our grave. I knew them all, half are cousins and distant cousins all around Bellurgan Point. But what amazed me on my first visit there, it was Uncle Peter’s funeral, it was so high up, no carts could come to the last few hundred feet. We had to leave the carts and horses and walk up. And when we reach the top, there are no real paths, we follow the footsteps of all who have gone before us.
And each family knows where their own plot is. On our grave there is old slate stone. The writing on it is nearly worn away, next to us and over there is a large family and one of their boys is Owen Rice, oldest son and a school master. I'm told we came from the same family tree, but so far back that it was lost. They didn't bury in our grave, but quite near, on the next level piece of ground. He told me the first name on the old slate slab was Owen Rice of Bellurgan a lot more detail.
I can't write now, but to be born in a large city like Liverpool, it was quite impressive. But it is a quick changing world, will scatter all these memories. They have built a new cemetery near Dundalk and the prelates advertising the young generation to bury there. It is progress I suppose but the old folk want the old burial ground.”
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Hello and welcome.
I just did a search and think it might be Faughart - there is a graveyard and shrine there for St Brigid.
There is quite a lot of information and photos if you search - here is one page
http://irelandsholywells.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/saint-brigids-shrine-and-well-faughart.html
I hope this is it. :)
Heywood
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Google Maps http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jvv/ if it is Faughart
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I think it is right i see Owen Rice
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=2551291&GSfn=&GSln=rice
Alphabetical list
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSsr=41&GScid=2551291&
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Thank you for the information on Faughart cemetery. The Owen Rice listed at space #84 for Faughart does not say he was the oldest son, nor a school master, so I am not sure. Also, Faughart does not provide any clear way to tell if my family's area is NEAR Owen. Their site states that "the numbering commences at the east end of graveyard where most of the older stones are to be found"
Faughart does have a William "Patrick" Rice 1845, died 16 January 1907, but I found my 3rd great uncle Patrick Rice in the Irish Census of 1911 living with his wife, Margaret and niece, Mary Ward so I do not think that grave is a match.
So close, yet not definitive... ???
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From the list Michael Rice born 1827 died Dec 1911
possibly
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Faughart/Roskeagh/574973/
1901
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Faughart/Raskeagh/1556928/
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images not available at the moment but includes Michael above Calendar of Wills
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jvw/
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Hello Rice Mix,
Re your doubts - do you mean that you doubt the cemetery or that the grave of Owen is not the schoolmaster's?
Heywood
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Hello Rice Mix,
Re your doubts - do you mean that you doubt the cemetery or that the grave of Owen is not the schoolmaster's?
Heywood
Heywood: I doubt that the grave of Owen is not the school master referred to in my family's letter.
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???
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newry_Rural/Cloghanramer/255664/
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???
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newry_Rural/Cloghanramer/255664/
That's why I couldn't find him in Bellurgan ;)
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http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan/579435/ Residents of a house 39 in Bellurgan (Ballymascanlan, Louth) include Orsilla as head of house. She was married to Peter, the one mentioned in the family letter. Also living at that address in 1911 is the family historian and letter writer, listed as Ada (Anne) Ellen Coxen, with her son, William.
Still trying to find the graves... >:( and not giving up!
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???
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newry_Rural/Cloghanramer/255664/
That's why I couldn't find him in Bellurgan ;)
Patrick married Margaret Edgers from Newry and I am guessing after his mother, Sally Keenen Rice passed, they moved from Bellurgan to Newry.
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On both 1901 and 1911, Patrick states he is born in Co.Down ???
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On both 1901 and 1911, Patrick states he is born in Co.Down ???
May be a different Patrick, then...the fun of common Irish names!
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It would seem that he is not your 3rd great uncle after all. There are a few Patricks in 1911 including one in the same household as Ada.
There is an Owen, schoolmaster here
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan_Ballyboys/1562743/
1911 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan/579434/
Ada/Anne says he is a distant relative but far back.
Unfortunately, some Irish record sites are down at the moment but you may be able to find his death later when they are online again. It may help if you have a year of death.
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When did uncle Peter die
is this him if so possibly died 1910
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan_Ballyboys/1562777/
i presume Ada was a Ward
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSXQ-719
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Hi dathai,
Ada Ellen was the daughter of Owen James Rice, Master Mariner, (deceased) according to her marriage in 1900.
Her mother then seems to have married Mr Ward.
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more info here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057726399
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Well at least we are in the same place and providing similar information ;) ::)
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Hi dathai,
Ada Ellen was the daughter of Owen James Rice, Master Mariner, (deceased) according to her marriage in 1900.
Her mother then seems to have married Mr Ward.
Correct--Owen James Rice (1841-1874) died at sea. His wife, Anne Jane Reid (my 2nd great grandmother) married a Ward, and then a George Barton, July 13 1896 in Liverpool, before she passed in 1939
I've always said the Rice family was a hoot! The stories, oh the stories...
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:-[Well at least we are in the same place and providing similar information ;) ::)
It was suggested I post my query on this site as well. If that was a "faux pas" please excuse my ignorance... I am new to this method of tracking down information. I must say, the response has been simply amazing!
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I think it often happens ;)
I think on the other site it was suggested that you might not find the exact grave but at least you have the cemetery to explore. As Aunty said- the family connections stretch back and there are lots of Rice names in the area.
I am sure it will be a great experience anyway.
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It would seem that he is not your 3rd great uncle after all. There are a few Patricks in 1911 including one in the same household as Ada.
There is an Owen, schoolmaster here
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan_Ballyboys/1562743/
1911 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Ballymascanlan/Bellurgan/579434/
Ada/Anne says he is a distant relative but far back.
Unfortunately, some Irish record sites are down at the moment but you may be able to find his death later when they are online again. It may help if you have a year of death.
I will try when the sites are up again. I do not have a year of death.
In looking at the 1901 and 1911 census, the family lived at house #71 then house #39. Did the numbering change, or did the family move?
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The numbering indicates the enumerator's route. It could vary in the next census so not reliable. Comparing the neighbouring houses in the censuses can sometimes help.