John Johnston's niece Rosetta Hurford, her daughters Eleanor and Irene

[Peggy13]

Today, I received the will of John Johnston who died Feb 12, 1960 in Belfast. In the will, he mentions his wife's niece Rosetta Hurford and her daughters Eleanor and Irene. John's wife was Ellen Meneelly who he married in 1913 in Belfast. Ellen's father Samuel. If I found the correct Ellen, she was born July 12, 1890 in Bangor.
I can't find any of the Hurfords and can't figure out the relationship.  Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks for any help

[CaroleW]

Isn't the relationship obvious?

Rosetta was his wife's niece which means she was the daughter of one of his wife's siblings. 

She could have been a Meneelly if she was the daughter  of a brother or another surname if via a married sister.

At some point Rosetta married a Hurford & had 2 daughters. 

However - Rosetta's daughters probably married so you don't know their married names & you don't know if they are still alive.

You would have to look for a birth for a Rosetta Meneelly & if you find one - then see if you can find a marriage to a Hurford.   Alternatively look for a Hurford marriage to a Rosetta to get her surname & if not Meneelly then you have the task of finding marriages for all Ellen's sisters

Which direct line are you following - Johnston or Meneelly? 

[Peggy13]

Yes, it is obvious that Rosetta is the daughter of one Ellen's siblings. Even I understand that. But I don't find Rosetta's birth or marriage or any Hurfords with names Rosetta, Eleanor or Irene. That part is not obvious or the exact connection to John Johnston. Hoping that someone can find Rosetta on some record or another. thanks for the help.

[CaroleW]

You have no idea of Rosetta's maiden name or birthdate so can't look for a birth or marriage nor can anybody else.   Rosetta could have been born in the 1920's and married in the 1940's in which case her children could possibly still be alive

You don't know when her children were born - only that they were alive in 1960.  They will probably have married.

Basically - all you have is that Rosetta married somebody called Hurford at some time before 1960




 

[CaroleW]

Have you looked on https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

[gaffy]

A John Hurford married a Rosetta Henry on 18 April 1942, the marriage was registered at Belfast, the GRONI website has the record to view.

The Belfast Telegraph of 27 September 1966 carried a marriage notice for a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Hurford of 13 Cliftondene Park, Belfast, this same address was stated as the residence of John Johnston in his Belfast Telegraph death notice of 12 February 1960.

[gaffy]

A John Hurford married a Rosetta Henry on 18 April 1942, the marriage was registered in Belfast, the GRONI website has the record.

The Belfast Telegraph of 27 September 1966 carried a marriage notice for a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Hurford of 13 Cliftondene Park, Belfast, this same address was stated as the residence of John Johnston in his Belfast Telegraph death notice of 12 February 1960.

The 1960 Belfast street directory on the Lennon Wylie website shows the following entry for 1 Tyndale Grove, about a mile away from the above address: Hurford, John H., van driver.

A Belfast Telegraph birth notice in 1943 announced the birth of a daughter at a nursing home in Newport (Wales) 'to ETTA (nee HENRY) wife of J. H. Hurford'. 

[gaffy]

This 1917 marriage registration looks like a strong candidate for Rosetta Henry's parents, the bride's father recorded as Samuel Meneely, Evangelist:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1917/09742/5535228.pdf

Edited to add:
The bride's address of 72 Oldpark Avenue in the above marriage registration matches this 1911 census return:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Clifton/Oldpark_Avenue/146378/

[gaffy]

... If I found the correct Ellen, she was born July 12, 1890 in Bangor.

Is she not more likely the following daughter of Samuel 'McNeilly' and Rose White, born 25 February 1890 at Ballymena?
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1890/02445/2349679.pdf

Which reads across to this 1901 census return:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Clifton/Groomsport_Street/961717/

And this 1884 Meneely-White marriage:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1884/10914/5987027.pdf

And this Rose Meneely death, which took place days before the 1911 census date (note the address and husband's details):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05406/4510302.pdf

BTW, the 'familysearch' website shows a birth in the civil registration indexes for a Rosetta Henry in the July-September quarter of 1921 (registered at Ballymena), it should be viewable on the GRONI website within the next couple of months.