Blair family from Tyrone - all help appreciated please!

[RobertsH]

Hi everyone

I'm researching my family history and am struggling with the Blair family from Tyrone.

Elizabeth Ann (sometimes called Eliza) Blair was born in approximately 1859 (going by her age listed in the 1911 census) and was born in Tyrone. She married Robert Henry in 1881 at Newmills in the parish of Tullyneskin in County Tyrone and her place of residence on the certificate is listed as Killymurphy (Donagh something? Possible Donagheady or Donaghenry). Her father is listed on the certificate as John Blair (a farmer) but that's as far back as I seem able to go with the Blair line.

I would appreciate any help anyone can offer. I've looked on ancestry and findmypast but have been unable to find anything helpful so far so would appreciate any help anyone can give. I don't know any siblings for Eliza Henry and can't access her birth records online as she was born pre-1864.

Thank you!

[eileenwilson]

Griffiths Valuation:

Occupier:   John Blair
Lessor:   Frederick Harris
County:   Tyrone
Barony:   Middle and Upper Dungannon
Parish:   Donaghenry
Townland:   Killymurphy
OS Page Numbers:   39

In the first revision of Griffiths, John's name is not shown, but there is a Jane Blair as a tenant of Frederick Harris, so perhaps his wife.  In 1893, Jane's name is struck out and replaced with John who is likely the son and brother to your Eliza.

[eileenwilson]

The earlier Tithe Applotment books of approx. 1828 show a Samuel Blair in Killymurphy who may be John Sr.'s father.

Also:
https://www.cotyroneireland.com/churchrecord/1ststewartstown.html

[gaffy]

Hello and welcome.     Can I ask on the off chance and in order to eliminate red herrings, does the following birth have any resonance for you in family lore (just stirring the pot on the name John Blair and the Killymurphy location, albeit that John in the following registration record is described as gardener rather than farmer)?
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1865/03577/2318205.pdf

[eileenwilson]

Marriage of the above couple in 1852:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1852/09430/5416064.pdf

[gaffy]

Hello and welcome.     Can I ask on the off chance and in order to eliminate red herrings, does the following birth have any resonance for you in family lore (just stirring the pot on the name John Blair and the Killymurphy location, albeit that John in the following registration record is described as gardener rather than farmer)?
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1865/03577/2318205.pdf

And I also wondered about this marriage of a Mary Blair to John Newell...?

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1876/11155/8086333.pdf

Just suggesting possibilities... 

[Kiltaglassan]

Welcome to RootsChat 

Elizabeth Ann (sometimes called Eliza) Blair was born in approximately 1859 (going by her age listed in the 1911 census) and was born in Tyrone.

Here's Eliza with her family in the 1901 census. She is 41 so born c1859-1860.

Residents of a house 9 in Church St. (Cookstown, Tyrone)
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Cookstown/Church_St_/1728475/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001188211/

All her children, apart from the youngest two, born at Drumnaglogh.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/dungannon-upper/kildress/drumnaglogh/

.......listed as Killymurphy (Donagh something? Possible Donagheady or Donaghenry).

Killymurphy in the civil parish of Donaghenry, SE of Cookstown.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/dungannon-middle/donaghenry/killymurphy/

.......and can't access her birth records online as she was born pre-1864.

.

Civil registration of births in Ireland started in 1864. So, before that date, church records (if they exist) will need to be found. She was married in Newmills Presbyterian church. PRONI has baptism records.
Newmills Baptisms, 1850-1952; marriages, 1846-1923   MIC1P/295
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Guide-to-Church-Records-October-2019.pdf

KG

[aghadowey]

Marriages usually take place in bride's church, which may or may not the the groom's church, so that would be the place to start searching for her baptism and those of siblings, etc.

Burials are a different matter. For that you'd probably need to check both Newmills & th local Parish (Church or Ireland).
Probate of the Will of the late Hannah Newell, Killymurphy, Co. Tyrone, Widow, who died 28 March 1919, granted at Armagh 3 July 1919 to John Newell, Farmer, the son. Effects: £83 10s.
In addition to son John, daughter Eliza Jane and grandson Herbert Newell, Hannah mentions "have my name and date of decease suitably cut or engraved on my late husband's tombstone in the Graveyard attached to Donaghendry Parish Church."
Birth of Herbert, illegitimate son of Eliza Jane Newell-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1902/01915/1742359.pdf