Find Ancestors

James Jackson c1829 born Antrim Ireland.( later a Grocer)
Married Catherine McDonnell Brighton Melbourne 1857?
came to New Zealand c 1862.
Looking for James's family in Antrim area.
I have no further details on his family and as he is a Great grand father I would appreciate info if possible, could be a catholic but not sure.
Love some help,
Jill NZ

Hi Jill, There is an Irish research wizard which intrigues me. I have entered all your information (with some wild guesses on my part as to some dates) into it and this is what it comes up with. Now don't get excited because it doesn't tell you much and take a lot of words to do that. What is interesting is that it tells you what other information you need in order to find out what you want. By the way "merchant" was the closest occupation I could find to "grocer". Here goes:

"James jackson was born a Roman Catholic in Antrim around 1829 but you don't know precisely where
He didn't marry in Ireland.
He was a merchant.
Some of his children were born outside Ireland, but you don't have details.
He left Ireland
He went to in Australia in about 1850.
Married Catherine McDonnell Brighton Melbourne 1857

First, you should keep in mind that there are at least 2 variant spellings of jackson - Mac Siacais, Jackson, - and records of james jackson may be listed under any (or all) of these. However, Irish (Gaelic) spellings are rare in records before 1900.

Most Irish record sources - parish records, land records, census returns - are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Antrim, it will be difficult to do anything more with these records.

Griffith's Valuation (1847-1864) records 53 jackson households (with this precise spelling of the name) in 25 civil parishes in Antrim in 1856-7. jackson households (with this precise spelling of the name) in Antrim in 1856-7. With these numbers, it will be difficult to narrow down the relevant area from Griffith's. If you would still like to see a list of all of these parishes, along with the number of jackson housholds in each parish, click here, (paying).

Although you know that james jackson was a merchant, merchants did not possess much property. Without the kind of records produced by property, it is unlikely that you will be able to find out more unless you can find out his location of origin. If you would like to browse a listing of sources for merchants in any case, click here.
With the information you currently have, the biggest problem is that even if you came across records directly relating to james jackson, you do not have enough information to identify him. What such information needs to be can vary, but includes such items as parents' names, siblings' names and order of birth, placenames, or an unusual surname connected to the family in some way.
Before you can start detailed research in Ireland, you will have to uncover identifying information. "


Now having read all of that. You may also like to try Teresa's Irish Thread which will give you lots of other options for searching all things Irish. The thread is on the TIPS BOARD and is called INFORMATION ONLY etc. I have nudged it for you so it will be on the first page.

Of course if you have any more info you can share please let us know. Good Luck

EDIT - By the way this is the address of the Wizard if you would like to put in info yourself and try it out. I think it's a great little resouce.

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/research/assessment/index.cfm?UserID=

And yes he married in Victoria Australia in 1857. Here is the registration number for that:

Surname Given Name(s) Event Sps Snm / Father Sps Gvn / Mother Year Reg. No

MCDONNELL Kate M JACKSON James 1857 542

Not able to find record of children born in Victoria Australia between 1856 and 1862.

using www.bdm.govt.nz you can see there are these children for a Catherine & James JACKSON: there maybe more as earlyer nz records
don't show the parents names.
________________________________________________________
B:1875 Francis John D:1957 82 years
B:1877 George Charles Stuart JACKSON
________________________________________________________
NZ MARRIAGE:
Year 1939
Folio 13490
Surname JACKSON
Given Names Francis John
Sex M
Spouse MARTIN Olive Ruth B:31 January 1915/ B: 1981
_________________________________________________________
I can't find anymore deatails on George Charles Stuart JACKSON, he
may have only used 1 or 2 of his names to get married ? and when he died ?

Thankyou for info We do have the NZ line in place but not James Jackson In Ireland. As I said only info is that he was a Grocer. Born Antrim.
Will check cousin for more details and get back to you.
Jill NZ

Hi
I have since found out that James Jackson died NZ 1891 .
He had one sister only Margaret Jackson.
Parents were James Jackson and Jane Jackson nee Mcdonnell. from Larne Antrim.
Jane Jackson died in her 100th year at her daughters place in Pahran Victoria. Margaret Trail nee Jackson ( have looked up cemetery"s but no luck)

On the Blue Jacket 1855 unassisted Port B 093- 002
I found James Jackson 52
Jane Jackson 54
James 20( letter said born Belfast)
Margarete 26
no other Jacksons mentioned this looks like the likely family by deduction.
Letter said that young James had returned to the UK before he married in 1857/8

I have been to the Larne website but will check it again.
I know that Irish Records are Hard to come by.
Jill NZ

Jillian, Did you find Mary Jane Jackson burial 27 Sep 1943 Springvale Cemetery Melbourne. I don't know if Jane had a middle name.

What was daughter Margaret's age. There are also 4 margaret Traill burials in the same place.

http://www.deceasedsearch.com/index.php

Hi Found them in St Kilda Cemetery Jane Jackson the Mother died in her 99 th year in 1888. And James Jackson 1864 aged 62 Margaret Traill my cousin has found as I couldn't tell which one she was.
You are very helpful, Thanks.
Jill NZ

Just doing a follow up. Have you sorted out your next questions or where you wish the search to go. Let us know when you are ready.