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Damien's Ancestors * Ardkeen records * Headstones * Ballyphilip registers
I’ve recently been home (Kircubbin, Co Down) on holiday and took the opportunity to spend a little time at PRONI (Public Records Office for NI) to try and fill in some gaps in my research. The following is what I knew BEFORE I went plus the information I managed to collect while there. Perhaps someone out there will be connect with some of the information I have and help confirm the information I have to date and possibly fill any gaps. As far as I know there are THREE distinct sets of Braniffs living in the lower Ards Peninsula and I find it a little hard to believe that they’re not connected if you go far enough back but we’ll see!
I also checked the Griffiths Valuation records and the earlier Tithe records and now know the family have been on the same land since at least 1834!
In addition, as quite a few of those on the list had posted requests re Braniffs from Portaferry I briefly scanned the church records for Ballyphilip church in Portaferry and noted any Braniffs that appeared. This information is also included and I hope it will be of use to some of you.
First of all what I thought (most of it confirmed!):
Generation 1 (my g-g-grandfather)
James Braniff born circa 1800 in Ballygraffin (townland). Wife, possibly Ginny Flynn – not been able to confirm this.
Children of James Braniff:
John Braniff m Margaret Gilmore
Hugh Braniff m Mary McKee (??)
Jane Braniff m William Brown
Generation 2
John Braniff (born 1844, died 1910) married Margaret Gilmore
Children of James and Margaret:
Patrick John
James married Ellen Thomson
Margaret married Edward McGrattan
Hugh Braniff married Mary McKee (??)
Jane Braniff (born 1839(?) , died 16 June 1905) married William Brown
Children:
Hugh
James
Jane
Ellen
William
Mary
Generation 3
Patrick John (born , died 25 March 1962) married Hannah Caughey
Children:
John (1902 – 1937) not married
David (1904-1961) married Kathleen Hamilton
Patrick (1908-1961) not married
James (born 1918) married Eilish Ross
James Braniff married Ellen Thomson
Children
Nellie married Bob Hastings
Lily married Bobby mcNamara
Annie married somebody called Fogharty in the US. Had at least 2 chldren, James
and Ellen
James – died in the US (teens?)
Generation 4
James Braniff (born 1918) married Eilish Ross
Children
Partick married Teresa Roddy
Geraldine married Richard Roddy
Noel married Anne Morrison
Damien married Jane Carr
This is as I collected the information (excluding generation 5!) from talking to relatives (what/who people remembered). It now seems that Hugh Braniff wasn’t the son of James Braniff but a nephew. It seems that James had at least two brothers with children so that opens some new avenues of research.
When I went home I checked the local graveyards and spent a day at PRONI. The following is the information I got from the Ardkeen parish registers.
The following I think may be related though I need to do some more work to tie them all in with the information I already have.
Note: There is a gap in the registers equating roughly from 1838 to 1852.
Jan 13 1828 Patrick Braniff married M Ginnity (not sure of name as not easy to read)
Jan 12 1829 Patt Braniff married Ellen Lambert (Rubane), witnesses John and Robert Loughlin (apparently big landowners at the time and, according to my father, the original owners of our house and land)
Feb 2 1829 Ann Braniff baptised. Parents John (Ballygraffin) – mother not named. Sponsors James Braniff and Mrs Dorrian.
Feb 23 1832 Hugh Braniff baptised. Parents Patt (Ballygraffin) – mother not named.
Dec 26 1835 Hugh Braniff married Mary Fitzsimmons, witnesses McDonnel and O’Prey
May 7 1858 James Braniff married Jane Gilmore, witnesses Bernard McConnel and H McGraw
April 28 1863 William Brown married Jane Braniff
Jan 21 1866 John baptised. Parents Hugh and Mary Branney, Sponsor Thomas Gilmore.
Feb 10 1866 James Braniff married May/Mary Robinson. Witness Andrew Doherty and Hugh Braniff
March 11/18? Pat baptised. Parents James and Jane (Gilmore), Sponsors Hugh Gilmore and Ellen ??? (name unreadable)
Oct 26 1869 John Branney married Margaret Gilmore. Witnesses Pat Ritchie and Jane Gilmore
Nov 27 1869 Partick John (my grandfather) baptised. Parents John and Margared (Gilmore). Sponsors, Pat Ritchie and Jane Gilmore
June 30 1872 Margaret baptised. Parents John and Margaret. Sponsors Hugh Gilmore and Rose O’Prey.
The following are from the same registers but these I don’t think are related:
Jan 9 1853 Ester Eliza Braniff baptised. Father William, sponsor John Fitzsimmons
Jan 11 1879 Henry Braniff married Mary Small
June 12 1881 William Braniff baptised. Parents William (Glastry) and Laurie (??) Braniff. Sponsors John McBride and Lucy Braniff
Feb 17 1882 Patrick John baptised, Parents Henry (Ballycranmore) and Mary Small. Sponsors Pat Gilmore and Ann Smyth
May 11 1895 Henry Braniff married Margaret Smyth
If you can relate to any of the above I’d like to hear about it – maybe help me fill in some gaps, eliminate erroneous lines of research.
Following information is from Gravestones in St Josephs RC church and the earlier Lisbane church (graveyard here is still largely overgrown so there may well be more hidden in the brambles).
Erected by Edward Braniff of Ardquin in memory of his son John who departed this life 1838 aged 39
Erected by Hugh Braniff in memory of his daughter Margaret died 24 Oct 1883 aged 23. Also his wife Margaret died 10 May 1906 aged 83. Also above Hugh died 15 July 1906 aged 84.
Erected by Hugh Braniff of Echlinville in memory of his daughter Mary died 10 Nov 1869 aged 12 and daughter Jane died 6 November 1882 aged 18. Also Hugh (above??) died 1 June 1934
Erected by Henry (of Ballycranmore) in memory of his father Patrick died 28 April 1810 aged 87. Mother Mary died 7 April 1819 aged 83. Henry’s beloved wife Margaret died 30 Jan 1880 aged 40. Son James Henry died young (at birth?). Son Hugh died 16 Nov 1930 Aged 42. Henry (above) died 14 Feb 1907 aged 86
The following is the information obtained from the Ballyphilip registers (Portaferry). This covers not only the town but surrounding townlands as well. Townland indicated where shown on records.
April 2 1843 William (Ballyblack) baptised. Parents William and Fanny Braniff
April 16 1848 Eliza baptised. Parents William and Elizabeth Braniff
18 June 1843John Smyth baptised. Parents John and Alice (nee Braniff)
May 7 1844 Eliza baptised. Parents James and Mary Braniff
June 4 1844 Funeral Mary Braniff
Mar 15 1884 Funeral Widow Braniff
17 March William baptised. Parents William and Elizabeth (Ballyblack)
22 March Funeral of Edward Braniff
20 July 1844 Catherine baptised. Parents Thomas and Ellen
11 Nov 1844 Patrick baptised. Parents John and Eliza (Portaferry)
4 Feb 1845 James baptised. Parents Thomas and Catherine Braniff
18 July 1845 ????? baptised. Parents William and Frances Braniff
14 Oct 1845 Alexander baptised. Parents James and Anne Braniff
5 Feb 1846 Henry Lennon married Hannah Braniff, witnesses Thomas and Margaret Braniff
16 Feb Pat Mason (??) married Mary Braniff
20 Feb James McKeating married Ester Braniff. Witness Ed Lennon and Catherine Braniff
8 Feb 1847 James Braniff married Susanna Braniff
8 Apr 1848 James baptised. Parents William and Elizabeth Braniff
27 May 1849 Daniel baptised. Parents John and Eliza Espy (nee Braniff)
22 July Bernard baptised. Parents William and Fanny
16 Oct 1859 John Wiley married Rose Braniff. Witnesses Thomas and Eliza Braniff
1 Sept 1851 John Caher married Sara Braniff
10 Jan/June?? Rachel baptised. Parents John and Rose Wiley (nee Braniff)
22 Oct 1857 Nicholas McNally married Rose Braniff
23 Oct 1859 Dan Magean married Marianne Braniff
25 May 1869 Ellen baptised. Parents Alexander Shanks and Mary (Braniff)
4 Sept 1870 Margaret Ann baptised. Parents Pat and Margaret Braniff.