James McCaughan in Belfast, married to Margaret Lynas

[mwysocki]

Hello everyone,

This is my first posting on RootsChat and I am excited, if not a bit overwhelmed...

I am looking for information about my great grandfather, James McCaughan (c1857 - 28 Dec 1898) who lived in Belfast.  The death date is a firm one, based on his probated Will.  In that Will, it states he had three pieces of property at the time of his death in Belfast: one on Linfield Road, one on McCalven Street, and one on Railway Street.  He lived at 2 Spruce Street with his family for years and years. After doing some investigation I found the location of Spruce Street and I'm wondering if he sold that property before his death. (He made his Will 5 days before he died)

My question is this:  How do I go about finding records of the three pieces of property his Will states he owned at the time of his death?

Secondarily, family oral history states he was born in Scotland, as was his wife Margaret Lynas.  Not sure where in Scotland or how to retrieve emigration documentation from Scotland to Ireland.  Any direction on this would be outstanding.

Thanks everyone!

[diddymiller]

Hi Welcome to RC!
irish records can be tricky as not a lot available - more coming all the time.

I have found the marriage if you don't have it on Roots ireland:

http://www.rootsireland.ie/

you will need credits to see the full record. this may help if it has fathers names - you could then search SP:

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

for baptisms in scotland.

Diddy

[jim1]

The Scotland censuses don't have anyone called James McCaughan born c.1857.

jim

[gaffy]

James McCaughan married Margaret Lynas in 1871, might suggest his DOB was earlier than you stated.  His father was William, hers was James.

[gaffy]

PRONI will states died 27th December 1898, as does Belfast City Council burial record which can be found here (presumably wife and 2 children (edited: children not Margaret's) with him?):

https://ssl.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialSearch.aspx

[gaffy]

mwysocki, just posting some info immediately available, it provides backgound and 'hooks' for people reading your enquiry.  Several Children:

Robert:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F5DH-72Y

James:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F5JP-9RL

Charles Henry:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGNN-FP1

John Lynas:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FGJ7-GJF


Edited to add:  BTW "emigration documentation from Scotland to Ireland" isn't worth pursuing, there was regular / continuous undocumented to'ing and fro'ing between Scotland and Ireland on a daily basis...

[mwysocki]

WOW - I am unbelievably impressed!  I did find their marriage record (thanks Diddy) and yes, James died on 12/27, buried December 29th.  James was buried in the same plot as his wife, son and daughter. 

Gaffy:  Aren't those dates a mystery?  The cemetery records state he was 52 when he died, making his DOB somewhere around just around 1846.  His marriage record states he was over 21, making his DOB somewhere around 1850.  Guess I'll have to find his birth record to resolve the conflict.

I have quite a bit of information on their children, including all the ones you listed, Gaffy. 

Thanks everyone... this is so exciting!!!

[gaffy]

Not to detract from your central question about the Belfast properties and the Scottish roots, are you aware that Margaret was killed in a burning accident in 1893?

Edited to add: Just thinking out loud, but why would a linen lapper have several properties, did he come into family money?

[mwysocki]

Gaffy:  Just learned yesterday about the 3 properties... which raises ALL kinds of questions.  I'm trying to chase down the answers to some of those questions - hence the property question.  I'm not sure where the money came from... very intriguing.