Here are my notes. I hope they fill some gaps.
1843-ish. Born in County Down, but where? Possibly Newry, where the family later moved?
1862 marriage record gives Roney as the surname for him and his father George. Both Presbyterians. His age is given as 22 and his bride's (Isabella Foster) as 21. His profession is printer. The witnesses were John Hannan and Mary McCracken. The ceremony was at Townsend Presbyterian Church.
1864 record of birth for daughter Eliza gives an address of Cupar Street. William John’s profession is printer. The 1864 Belfast and Ulster street directory lists Cupar Street as off Falls-Road, with only five named people and 'Thirteen small houses'. It was in one of these latter places that the Roney's probably lived, too insignificant for the directory to record, though there was at 18 Cupar Street a William Pollock block printer.
1866 record of birth (church baptism) for second daughter Margaret gives an address of 29 Hutchison Street. At this stage, William is called a railway guard. Wife's name given as Isabella Foster. Should the address be Hutchinson Street?
1868 - birth record of another son of his, William John junior. Same father's details - railway guard of 16 Beggs Street, Belfast 4. Beggs Street no longer exists, but it was 'off Linfield Road to Railway Street'. One record - the baptismal record gives the mother as Annabella Foster with the DoB being 4 October and the registration done on 14 October. Another record - the Civil Record - says the mother is an Isabella McLarnon and gives the DoB as 2 November with the registration on 20 November via Margaret White of 45 Durham Street. The 1868 Trade Directory gives the name of the resident there as Margaret Hawthorn The same Margaret Hawthorn is also called a 'spirit grocer' at no 49, two doors down.
NB marriage on 4 August 1855 at Townsend Presbyterian Church (same as William Roney and Annabella/Isabella Foster) with the bride being a Mary Foster (19) and the groom Samuel Potts (22). No addresses alas. The bride's father is William Foster (coachman), the same name as Annabella’s. The witnesses were James McKee and Isabella McClarnon. Is Isabella is related to both the ‘Foster sisters’?
1870 Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory has at 16 Beggs Street W.J. Rowley railway guard.
1877 Address is Church Street, Newry on daughter Annabella's birth certificate. William called a printer.
1886 The address of Lindsay Hill appears on his son Samuel's papers for enlistment in the army.
1889 called a printer on son Samuel's marriage record.
1898 no sign of him in the Newry Directory for this year
1899. Was attacked in Newry by a local butcher Henry Curran, according the 'Newry Reporter' newspaper. This is from the 24th July (page 3)
"At early hour yesterday morning, William John Rowney, a letterpress machineman, was seriously assaulted at Carlisle Entry, off Water Street. It appears that a quarrel was proceeding there between Henry Curran, a butcher, and his brother, Mr. Rowney advised the disputants to retire to their house and cease fighting. It alleged, without further provocation, Henry Curran rushed the would-be peacemaker and knocked him down. Rising, Mr. Rowney threatened Curran with proceedings, whereupon Curran struck him another blow and felled him. In falling, Rowney's head came came in contact with a car wheel and an extensive wound was caused, and, the blood flowing freely, the prostrate man soon soon became unconscious. Constables M'Namtra and Osborough shortly afterwards appeared on the scene and secured the services of Dr. M'Cartan, who kindly attended to the man, who was subsequently removed to the Fever Hospital, where he is progressing favourably under Dr Beamish's skilful attention. Curran is in custody, and yesterday Mr. Turner, K.M, took Rowney’s deposition."
NB The only H. Curran in Newry was called a victualler in North Street in the 1898 directory.
1901 Irish census. William John Rowney aged 58 of 4 Lindsay Hill, Newry, co. Down. He has a wife Anabella two years younger. He is described as a printer-machinist. She is said to be illiterate. Intriguingly, the name Robert Rooney, is inserted by mistake in the form B.1 House and Building return for head of family. After that, the family moved to Scotland (at least for a while).
1903. Described as a journeyman letter press printer on wife Annabella's death certificate. She died of bronchitis at 202 Possil Road, Glasgow. William John was present. Date of death was 26 January. Aged at death stated as 58, which would put her date of birth as 1845. Her mother's maiden name was given as McLarnon on Annabella's death certificate - McLarnon/McLernon.
1909 Appears on marriage record for son George Foster Rowney to Ellen Elizabeth Patterson (my grandparents) on 2nd January.
1911 Irish census - living as a widower aged 70 with his son George and family at 24 St Kilda Street, Belfast. Called a printer and Presbyterian. St Kilda Street, now mainly demolished, was in the new working class near the Ormeau park. The houses were still being built in 1897 when a decision was made to rename Flinders Street as St Kilda Street.
1911. Called a journeyman printer on marriage certificate of son Thomas in Coatbridge, Scotland.
