Looking for GGGrandparents,James Rice

[Ochsenkopff]

My Great grandfather William Rice was born in 1844 to James Rice and Elizabeth Topion (not sure about spelling).
Both William and his brother Robert (b) 1848 came to Australia in 1862.
I would love to know if there were other siblings and when James & Elizabeth got married.
They came from Gilford, Co. Down.
Can anyone please help me with this family.
Sandra

[TheWhuttle]

Sandra,

Can't help specifically, but can supply some generic input.


The name RICE is likely to drive from the Welsh REES.

[I conclude this from studying the PRICE surname - deriving from ap-REES.]


There was a Welsh colony in South Down, fostered by the TREVORs [later HILL-TREVOR], Barons Rostrevor.

Jock

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Gilford is the civil parish of Tullylish, useing Ros Davies website
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/F/FosFoy.htm#fow
possible clues to the family in the area are
Henry RICE . Tullylish of Chapel Row, Lawrencetown in 1910 POD
Miss. Rose RICE . Tullylish married Pierce Dynes 6 Apr 1845 IGI
This last one suggests trying www.familysearch to exhaustion, good luck, Jim

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Checkout Topping surname as the more likely spelling used for Toppion
Good luck , Jim

[Ochsenkopff]

Hi Jim
Thank you for trying to help me, I do not know much about my Rice's in Ireland.
I do know that they were Presbyterians.
William built a church for presbyterians on the north coast of New South Wales in the early 1900's.
Thanks again
Sandra

[millymcb]

I have a Jane Rice born 1826 in Ireland and her father James Rice. Jane was a cotton weaver and  married John Smith in 1847 in Manchester. James was also a cotton weaver.  I don't have any more details but thought I'd post the info here for good luck