Searching for Downey/Kelly/Gilmour

[Cockerpoo Dad]

Need some assistance with my Irish ancestry please - I can't seem to go any further back than my GG Grandfather/Grandmother.

They were John DOWNEY (1845-1908) and Mary KELLY (1843-1904). They married in Kilkeel in June 1865.
They eventually settled in Kilwinning, Ayrshire. Scottish records suggest that John's parents were called John DOWNEY and Helen GILMOUR, whilst Mary's were John KELLY and Margaret GILMOUR.

I assume they're from Co. Down. My Paternal Ancestry DNA specifically pinpoints South Down and Rathfriland.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you 

[CaroleW]

Are the Scottish records you mention their respective death certs?

[shanreagh]

Here is the link to the marriage certificate

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01sw6/

Notable points
1 John is a minor
2 John is a labourer as is his father, also John
3 Mary's father, also John, is a farmer
4 The wedding took place at the RC chapel of Ballymoney. 
5 The townlands/locations/residence (very important when searching in Ireland, along with religion)  are Ballykeel (Clonduff) for  John
https://www.townlands.ie/down/iveagh-upper-lower-half/clonduff/clonduff/ballykeel/
and  Fofannyreagh for Mary
https://www.townlands.ie/down/iveagh-upper-lower-half/kilcoo/fofanny/fofannyreagh/

This is a good place to search for BDM
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

I always look for descendants in the censuses
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

Siblings can be important and I usually use Family Search.

[Cockerpoo Dad]

Yes, from Scottish death records. Surname varies between DOWNEY and DOWNIE.

[Elwyn Soutter]

Griffiths Valuation (1864) lists John Downey on plot 22b in Ballykeel. Next door on 22a was a Patrick Downey, presumably a relative. The properties today are up a lane off the modern Hilltown Road.

https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

John Downey snr’s death in 1881:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1881/06454/4855303.pdf

One of these two deaths may be his wife Ellen (Helen). Ellen & Helen are interchangeable. Helen’s more common in Scotland, Ellen’s more common in Ireland.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1888/06180/4767004.pdf

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1887/06217/4779200.pdf

Patrick Downey death in 1880:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1880/06481/4864951.pdf

There’s a John Kelly in Fofannyreagh on plot 57. Note there may have been more than 1 John Kelly in the townland as he has an agnomen (nickname) of Owen. That was to distinguish him from other John Kellys. You can search the irishgenealogy site for the Kelly family in Foifannyreagh. Note that the 1865 Scottish marriage will tell you whether they were alive or dead on that date. Death registration only started in Ireland in 1864 so if they died before that, there’s no record to find.

[Cockerpoo Dad]

Thank you Elwyn, I will take a look at those links.

Both fathers, John Downey (Snr) and John Kelly would appear to be alive judging by the marriage certificate of John and Mary in 1865 at Kilkeel.

When John Downie died in 1908, the Scottish record lists his father as deceased and occupation as Fireman - which makes me think he may have also been involved in the Iron industry (like his son) somewhere in Scotland or England, but haven’t found a record for that hunch.

[Kiltaglassan]

...judging by the marriage certificate of John and Mary in 1865 at Kilkeel.

As Shanreagh pointed out (in reply #2), they married in Ballymoney RC Church which is in Kilcoo village (and a long way from Kilkeel). The Superintendent Registrar's District was Kilkeel, Registrar's District - Bryansford
https://www.townlands.ie/down/iveagh-upper-lower-half/kilcoo/fofanny/ballymoney/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4595882#map=16/54.2316/-6.0292