James Annesley of the Shankill

[gaffy]

... Rachel's death registration:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1918/05189/4433153.pdf

Again on the theme of the interchangeability of this surname, the informant who registered the above death of Rachel Annesley in 1918 was 'Rachel Gordon Grand Daughter'.  A possible candidate for Rachel Gordon is this one born in 1874, her mother's name recorded as Sarah Jane Ensworth:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1874/03140/2151543.pdf

Rachel Gordon's parents married the previous year, the bride was recorded as Sarah Jane Annesly, daughter of James Annesly a landsteward (born c. 1853):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1873/11283/8139482.pdf

[Elwyn Soutter]

Though most of the pre 1901 Irish censuses have been destroyed, a few fragments still exist, including the 1851 census for Ballyrobin, parish of Killead. This looks to me to be James & Rachel Ainsworth:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Lower_Massereene/Killead/Ballyrobin/31/


Another Ainsworth nearby in Ballyrobin in the 1851 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Lower_Massereene/Killead/Ballyrobin/11/

There was a Samuel Ainsworth living nearby too:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Lower_Massereene/Killead/Carmavy_Grange_of/32/

It looks as though the Magee family were Presbyterian but the Ainsworth/Annesley family were Church of Ireland. Killead parish has two Ch of Ireland churches. Gartree lost it’s early records in the 1922 fire and now has nothing earlier than 1899. Killead also lost some records in the fire but has baptisms from 1838. Not early enough to record James’s baptism though as he was evidently born c 1826 (he was 25 in 1851) but it might have Thomas's c1851-1860.

Ballyrobin is where Belfast International Airport is situated.

[gaffy]

More bits and bobs...

I was trying to track Rachel Annesley back in time via street directories and found this entry for Bristol Street (off Agnes Street) in 1890:

124. Annesley, Mrs.

Intriguing therefore to find the following death notice in a Belfast newspaper on 16 September 1889: MAGEE - September 13, at his sister's residence, 124, Bristol Street, Belfast, Richard Magee, aged 62 years.  His remains will be removed for interment in Mallusk Burying-ground, tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, at eleven o'clock.  Friends will please accept this (the only) intimation.

Death registration:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1889/06135/4752495.pdf

A Richard Magee of Dunanney townland, Carnmoney, married a Mary Montgomery in Carnmoney Church of Ireland in 1846, the groom's father was recorded as Thomas Magee:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1846/09303/5368389.pdf

That is some way from Ballyrobin, but interestingly, a couple called Richard McGee (a sawyer) and Mary Montgomery had a son Thomas baptised in Muckamore Church of Ireland on 21 December 1851, their address was recorded as Ballyrobin (Killead).

Also, following on from reply #9 about Sarah Janes Ensworth having a daughter Rachel Gordon in 1874, having previously married Robert Gordon in 1873, I've just noticed a birth registration for another child to this couple - James Henry Gordon born in 1877, the mother's name recorded as Sarah Jane Annesley and the informant of the birth registration... one Rachel Ensworth, living at the same address - so there one can see the two quite different versions of that surname cropping up in the same record! :
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1877/03014/2104398.pdf

Another possible connection turns up in a birth registration for a Sarah Jane Gibb, born in Agnes Street in 1870, parents recorded as Robert Gibb and Sarah McGee, the informant recorded as Rachel Answorth:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1870/03363/2233369.pdf

Robert Gibb married Sarah Magee in Belfast in 1860, both resident in Carnmoney, and there's that name again for Sarah's father - Thomas Magee, a farmer:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1860/09585/5475588.pdf

Rachel Annesley also turns up as the informant in a number of birth registrations for which I haven't chased the family connection (note: there may not be one, she may have been acting as a 'handywoman' and in one case, the folks may have been boarding with her):

- David Magill in 1882:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1882/02785/2022437.pdf

(BTW, the informant's address of 124 Agnes Street in this birth registration doesn't exist in street directories of that time, I wondered if it was actually 124 Bright Street which is off Agnes Street, as mentioned at the top of this post, also note that the 1884 Belfast street directory for Bright Street shows the following entry: 124 Anslea, Rachael)

- Francis Morrison Rea in 1894:
(couldn't see image on 'irishgenealogy' website - transcript gives parents as William Rea, a butcher and Sarah Morrison of 1 Derry Street - same address as Rachel)

- Sarah Elizabeth Birkmyre Gault in 1901:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1901/01968/1758790.pdf

- Agnes Birkmyre Gault in 1905:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1905/01787/1701750.pdf

I'll pause for now, while these posts have a lot of information to consider, it is ultimately circumstantial, based around the original premise of there being several Annesleys in Derry Street in that 1901 census - that's not to poo-poo it, for on balance I do think the Ballyrobin folk may be the correct ones, but hopefully something here will generate a further lead for more conclusive information to rule it in or eliminate it - as Sinann said at reply #1, it's all about 'lots of little clues'. The only other speculative thought I had, in the complete absence of finding anything about James Annesley, is that he may have died early, say the late 1850s or early 1860s, when the children were young (which could explain the 'looseness' in occupation for the James mentioned in various records posted in this topic thus far), but it's just a guess, nothing more, I'm just trying to make it all work. 

[gaffy]

Another speculative punt...

Griffith's Valuation for Ballyrobin (local print date 1862) shows a Thomas Magee senior and junior occupying a house, office and just over 9 acres land in Ballyrobin, the third person mentioned in the same map reference was a James Annesley leasing a house from Thomas Magee junior. So in the context of what has been posted so far, maybe related.  The Valuation Revision books for the townland can be accessed here:

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/Val12B/Search.aspx

[Elwyn Soutter]

Another speculative punt...

Griffith's Valuation for Ballyrobin (local print date 1862) shows a Thomas Magee senior and junior occupying a house, office and just over 9 acres land in Ballyrobin, the third person mentioned in the same map reference was a James Annesley leasing a house from Thomas Magee junior. So in the context of what has been posted so far, maybe related.  The Valuation Revision books for the townland can be accessed here:

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/Val12B/Search.aspx

Thomas Magee senior & junior in the 1851 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Lower_Massereene/Killead/Ballyrobin/25/

[GaryTJ]

Hi Elwyn, Gaffy

Apologies for the late reply.  My laptop of over 10 years went on the blink and it was not fun using my phone on the forum so I had to wait for a replacement laptop to arrive and then try to get my head around all the information that you have posted. 

In short, I did notice the Rachel Annesley (who I also know was a member of the Quaker Society - probably not really relevant to be fair).  I also knew this Rachel died at 1 Derry Street as the widow of James Annesley, a gardener.  I also noted the Grand-daughter by the surname of Gordon.  My problem is joining the dots up.  I did think to search against the Mountainview address (the grand-daughters address, presumably) in a Street Directory for the year to see who lived there in the hope it might yield some clues or evidence however I was unsuccessful.  I also noted the fact that Thomas Annesley (James son) had a daughter named Rachel, who could have possibly been named after this older Rachel but again its joining up the dots and proving or disproving the potential link.

In terms of Samuel, John, etc in Derry Street - again my issue boils down to proving or otherwise potential links.  I can certainly hypothesize but proving or knowing how to prove it would be the issue.

I also noted there was a James Annesley in Ballyrobin when I was searching for my James Annesley but AGAIN I dont know how to prove or disprove any link.  I was certainly intrigued reading about the search you did reference the Gordons/Magee/McGee's/Ensworth etc.  I will have to print it all out and read through it all to try to get to grips with it but in the end I agree regarding this information being circumstantial, I guess its trying to find something concrete to confirm this all.  If I could prove the Ballyrobin/Killead folk were the right family I would be over the moon!

Again, I would like to thank you Gaffy, Elwyn and everyone else for taking precious time out to help.  I feel slightly hopeful again!

I will now TRY and get my head around your helpful posts.

Thanks

Gary

[GaryTJ]

Hi everyone

I was doing a little more digging and came across a death record for a James Ensworth on the IrishGeneology.ie

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-perform-search.jsp?namefm=James&namel=Ensworth&location=&yyfrom=&yyto=&type=D&submit=Search&sort=&pageSize=100&century=&decade=&exact=&ddBfrom=&ddMfrom=&ddDfrom=&ddPfrom=&mmBfrom=&mmMfrom=&mmDfrom=&mmPfrom=&yyBfrom=&yyMfrom=&yyDfrom=&yyPfrom=&ddBto=&ddMto=&ddDto=&ddPto=&mmBto=&mmMto=&mmDto=&mmPto=&yyBto=&yyMto=&yyDto=&yyPto=&locationB=&locationM=&locationD=&locationP=&keywordb=&keywordm=&keywordd=&keywordp=&event=&district=

He died in 1865 although I am unable to view the record itself.  He is down as 40 years old which would put his birth at c.1825, the year we assume that potentially James Ainsworth in Killead was born.

I then went to Belfast Burials on the city council website and pulled up the "enhanced record" hoping it might give the informants name but in there it gives the informant as the County Antrim coronor's name and cause of death.  The one other piece of information it does give below the date of death (28/09/1865) is the place Greencastle (presumably the area near Whitewell)? I wonder is it coincidental that this place isnt far from where Richard Magee and Mary Mongomery got married in Duncairn, potential relatives of Rachel? Would purchasing the death certificate itself surrender any more info or would it repeat what's on the enhanced electronic version?

Wondering if any of you guys think this is the same person as James Ainsworth that married Rachel Magee in Muckamore and then the same James named as father James Annesley in Thomas' marriage to Margaret Wilson?

Any thoughts on what can be checked next?  I think I will need to go to PRONI when it opens and see if I can see Thomas and Samuel's baptisms e.g. St. Catherine's COI in Killead.

Would gratefully recieve any thoughts, advice and guidance from any of you lovely people!

Many thanks

Gary

[Elwyn Soutter]

You can view the 1865 death certificate on-line on the GRONI site for £2.50. The death certificate will contain: Date and place of death, full name, (usual address if different to place of death) sex, marital status, age, occupation, cause of death, length & duration plus whether certified by a doctor, the informant’s details and the date the death was registered.

The address appearing in the burial record is usually the person’s’ home address. It may not be where they died.

In this particular case you say that the Coroner’s name is given, so he will be the informant. That indicates there was an inquest. Usually because of a sudden or suspicious death. Could be suicide.

PRONI might have the Coroners files. They certainly have some but whether they cover 1865 I don’t know. I did look in the newspapers as many inquests are reported there but could not find a report for this death.

[GaryTJ]

Hi Elwyn

Thanks for the reply.

I will see if I can get the certificate, I just wasnt sure if getting the certificate would tell me anymore than the enhanced version I purchased.

It did say that he died of "Epilepsy. Many Years.  Sunddenly"