Blackwood and Morris - Newtownards

[jdchisim]

Hello all,

I am stuck with a branch of my tree relating to the birth of this woman:

Mary Ellen Morris:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1870/03363/2233409.pdf

Born 1870 to a William Morris and Sarah Blackwood in Belfast.
These two people both seem to disappear after this date and I can't find out what happened to them or where they could have gone.

They were married however in Newtownards, County Down:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1867/11510/8233202.pdf

in 1867 at St Marks, Newtownards. Parents are Thomas Blackwood and Thomas Morris. However, I cannot seem to find anything about them either which is odd given their specific professions.

There is a Sophia Blackwood as a witness to the marriage.
I am confident enough to say that this is her:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05384/4502709.pdf

This is her in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Newtownards_Urban/Ford_Street/1260233/

I've checked the maps and I note that St Marks Church does not have a graveyard. Does anyone know where people historically were buried in Newtownards?

I can't think of anything else to really look for in terms of tracing either William or Sarah down. It says William is a soldier. I spoke to someone in the Irish Fusiliers museum and they tried looking but there's just too many people of that name and I have no other info.

Does anyone have any other ideas? I would assume given the Blackwood that Sarah Blackwood came from Newtownards herself. The churches earliest records are gone though.

[hallmark]

1911  ??

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newtownards_Urban/Ford_Street/269431/

[hallmark]

Hello all,
 
  William Morris and Sarah Blackwood in Belfast.
These two people both seem to disappear after this date and I can't find out what happened to them or where they could have gone.

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Woodvale_Ward/Cumberland_Street/1006250/

[hallmark]

Found on http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

using this Search

Change age and Search 1911 for him

[hallmark]

1911  ??

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Newtownards_Urban/Ford_Street/269431/

Found using this Search...

[hallmark]

Hello all,
 
  William Morris and Sarah Blackwood in Belfast.
These two people both seem to disappear after this date and I can't find out what happened to them or where they could have gone.

 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Woodvale_Ward/Cumberland_Street/1006250/

grrr...wrong wife's name!   Sorry

[jdchisim]

Yeah, it's quite the conundrum.

I'm wondering if they maybe came from Scotland or something.

I've checked Belfast for gas fitters and carpenters with Blackwood and Morris respectively and can't find anything.

[aghadowey]

Just a few thoughts-
Have you noticed that informant for Sophia Blackwood's death is a son called Robert Baxter living in Scotland?
Have your tried looking for other relatives in Scotland?
Try Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards.

[jdchisim]

Thanks, I'll try that cemetery.

I did look before and found voter registers for a Robert Baxter in Glasgow. I think there may have been issues trying to track him beyond that.

Sophia died in 1911 aged 81 so born 1830.

Sarah I think was born based on her marriage circa 1849.

There was a death of a Sarah Blackwood, widow in 1876, Daragh Lane, Newtownards aged 81. Sophia Blackwood appears as the witness then too at this Daraghs Lane.

So this Sarah Blackwood b. 1795 died 1876 is probably related in someway. Given the common Sophia Blackwood to both and the same forename. The exact relation I don't know unfortunately.

I also note no Thomas Blackwood deaths in civil records for Newtownards. Search goes on. Hopefully gravestones may shed light. Sophia Blackwood is listed as single, living on her own and she is blind. She must have had someone looking after her.

EDIT: Found Robert Baxter in 1911 census based on address, he was born circa 1854 in Ireland and is widowed. Has a son born in Scotland. EDIT 2: His mother is a Margaret Adams, they married in Glasgow in the mid 1870s. Sophia Blackwood is quoted as mother, or Sophia Baxter. Her 'husband' is dead, he was in the army and is deceased as of the marriage.