James McCoo and Elizabeth Marlay (Marley) research help please

[tillyann]

Hi Everyone,
I have been researching my paternal ancestors and have managed to get as far back as my 3x great grandparents. I would really appreciate any assistance in tracing the McCoos back further. I intend visiting Ireland/Northern Ireland next year and would really like to know what area they came from. Were they from Armagh or did they just marry and settle there? 

James McCoo b. 1824/25 marries Elizabeth Marlay (sic) in the record/ Marley. They marry 16 January 1851 in the Catholic Parish Church, Drumcree, Armagh. They have James, Elizabeth, Francis, Mary, Ann, Bridget, John and Felix -all born in Armagh. The eldest child James is my ancestor, born Oct 1849 and is baptised a Catholic in Armagh on 18 Oct 1849 where it states in the record margin that he is illegitimate.
His father James dies 25 Jan 1900 in Belfast aged 75.
Elizabeth Marley b. 1830 dies 18 August 1878 at Annagora, Armagh, Northern Ireland aged 50. A Sarah Ann Marley is present at her death.

Son James marries Isabella Reilly in Belfast on 20 Sept 1871 - (my 2xGG) and their daughter Mary A McCoo is my great grandmother. Mother of my grandmother Catherine Jane (Kathleen) Lowe who emigrates to Australia and marries in Melbourne.

Thanks again in advance for any help.
Tilly Ann.

[heywood]

Here is the marriage - 16th January 1851 - James McCooe and eluzabeth Marlay/ey
https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632568#page/106/mode/1up

There is a note re a dispensation below it but I don’t know if it applies to that marriage or the one below. Hopefully, someone can advise.

On the same page, there is a marriage of Joseph McCooe - 8th March and at the top of the adjacent page, Felix McCooe, 11th November 1850.

It might be worth noting these, although there are lots of McCoo/e in Drumcree records.

[heywood]

Several children baptised on the same day to James and Elizabeth.
13th November 1873
John, Felix, Margaret - Ruth and Francis

https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632569#page/45/mode/1up

*amended - Margaret -Ruth rather than Margaret,Ruth.

[Kiltaglassan]

Just linking the death of Elizabeth McCoo on 8 August 1878 at Annagora townland (in Drumcree civil parish).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1878/020505/7195733.pdf
https://www.townlands.ie/armagh/oneilland-west/drumcree/breagh/annagora/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/5260723#map=13/54.4241/-6.5018

[heywood]

A possible connection - 1873 death of Francis Marley, widower, Annagoora. The informant is Sarah Ann Marley.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1873/020683/7257221.pdf

[Kiltaglassan]

Adding to the record for others reading-

...and their daughter Mary A McCoo is my great grandmother. Mother of my grandmother Catherine Jane (Kathleen) Lowe...

Mary McCoo marries John Lowe on 26 December 1895 at St Peter's RC Church, Belfast.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1895/10541/5839773.pdf

[tillyann]

Thanks for looking into this for me Heywood.
I have also now seen that there was an Anthony McCooe that married within that short timeframe. Anthony Mc Cooe marries Mary McCann  12 May 1850, Felix McCooe marries Mary Ann McCann 11 Nov 1850, Joseph McCoo marries Elizabeth Clement 8 March 1851. I will see if I can link them in some way. Felix is a possibility as a brother but I'm just considering naming patterns there.
You have also uncovered that James and Elizabeth were cousins hence the dispensation for marriage.
Unfortunately the parish records only go back to 1844 so I can't look up their Baptisms.
Regards
Tilly Ann.

 

[tillyann]

A possible connection - 1873 death of Francis Marley, widower, Annagoora. The informant is Sarah Ann Marley.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1873/020683/7257221.pdf

Sarah Ann Marley is also present at Elizabeth McCoo's death. A possible sibling of either James or Elizabeth?

[tillyann]

Just linking the death of Elizabeth McCoo on 8 August 1878 at Annagora townland (in Drumcree civil parish).

Thank you Kiltaglassan. It does appear that the family have deep connections to the Drumcree area.