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I have been doing this interesting hobby now for about 4 years and loving it! My main two family lines are English and Northern Irish/Scottish. I have done pretty well with the english side, records are resonably good, I am back to the 1730's with the help of newly found relatives Wendy, Dirk, Peter!!!! My Northern Irish side is proving much more difficult. This is not because of burnt records (I think) its because of family legend. Anyway, I hope you can bear with me on this............
My grandfather James Carney was born in Argyle street in the shankill area in 1926. He had other brothers and sisters most of which I have birth dates and places for, except the oldest sibling Henry (I'll call him junior)He married a Catherine Fitzpatrick in St Annes in 1944 and they later lived in Paris Street, Belfast. I have Henry's death certificate, incidentally he was killed after getting involved in a fight in the Rinkha dance hall in Larne in 1948 aged 29, so I know roughly his age. This would have him born circa 1919. I cannot find his birth certificate so do not know where and when he was born. I had someone check the Scottish records in Edinburgh for a Henry carney during this period turning up nothing, I have also checked the GRO in Belfast, turning up nothing.
Couldnt find them in the census either.
Now his father was also called Henry Carney who was ACCORDING to my late grandfather, Scottish. This Henry (senior) married a Margaret Ogilby at St Annes, Belfast in April 1920, he was 27 and she was 26. I have a photograph, which according to my late grandfather was this Henry. He is dressed in Army fatigues and my grandfather always insisted that he was in the Scottish Black Watch. I had the photograpgh looked at professionally but unfortuneately that whilst the photo is in good condition, whatever way the subject is standing the regimental cap badge is hidden. The best guess from the identifier was the Scottish Cameronians, although I cannot be certain. I cannot even be certain that this is indeed that Henry, I just have to go by what I have been told. I have serached the National Archives in case he was awarded medals but unless I am not doing something right it has not beared fruitation. This Henry died in Belfast, 54 Lisburn Road (hospital?) in 1943 aged 49 at this time the Carneys were living in Walton Street in the Shankill. He had a partner or wife called Mary, I do not know her maiden name or where she was from, or whether they even married but she died a Mary Cotter in 1945 aged 73 after marrying a Robert Cotter from the Shankill area (dont have any info on this person or events). Henry (junior, I think) is on her death certificate as her grandson)
Anway the story carries on......this Henry (senior) also had a father called Henry, when born? where born? I do not know. Scotland? Possibly. I have checked Scotlands people online but with the information that I have, I wouldnt even know if I found him if it was right under my nose!!
It is all so confusing. This is my mile high and 10 mile wide brick wall and its driving me insane!!
PLEASE, Please CAN SOMEONE HELP, I'm GOING MAD!!!!!!!!!!
Living in hope!
Gary!!!
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