Early Tree Pre-1919 | Willighan | Willighan Family History in Ulster

The Willighan Tree from 1842

MARY-ANN WILLIGHAN - born circa 1842, had a son (Thomas) in 1875, but the birth certificate does not state the father's name.

It does not even mention the child's christian name. I believe Mary-Ann came from Sion Mills or Castlederg in West Tyrone.

It is unclear why she left this area and moved to Belfast - theories on why are on the Tyrone page.

Mary Ann died on July 19th 1900 and was living at 62 Hooker Street at the time. Link here to the year street directory where she is named as Mary Ann Milligan. Her death certificate states that her son, Thomas, is living at number 16. Note the house is vacant on the street directory, which must have been taken earlier in the year.

The certificate also states she was a widow of Abraham Willighan -a theory on Abraham is in the Tyrone page of this site.

Mary Ann was buried at Belfast City Cemetery (plot M200) on 21st July 1900 aged 58 years.

Cemetery records show the plot was bought by her son Thomas and she is buried with grandchildren Margaret-Jane (5 months)

and Richard (4 months).

Also in the plot are Eliza Jane Burns (33) buried 16 February 1910 and William John Burns (54) buried 18 April 1902.

MARY ANN WILLIGHAN'S DEATH CERTIFICATE OF 1900

THOMAS

He was born on November 27th, 1875 at the Belfast Workhouse (now the site of the City Hospital).

Thomas was thought to be in the Navy in the 1890s before he married Margaret Burns (also below).

On Thomas's marriage certificate of July 11th 1898, his father's name is stated as Abraham.

THOMAS WILLIGHAN'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF 1875

TOMMY AND MAGGIE'S WEDDING CERTIFICATE 1898

They had 10 children: Mary Ann, Robert, Thomas Jr, Esther, Margaret-Jane, Isabella, Richard, Elizabeth, Hugh and Evelyn.

Not all children survived to reach adulthood.

Thomas lived in Hooker St for a short time with his wife Maggie, before they moved to 86 Cambrai St. He worked in the Crumlin Road mill until his death (died suddenly of pneumonia) on November 15th, 1950, aged 74.

Maggie died three years earlier on April 17th, 1947 aged 68. Tommy and Maggie are buried at plot E5 145 of Dundonald cemetery.

Also in this grave is a one month old baby called Hugh Crawford Willighan (son of Hugh Snr and Ivy) - buried 21 February 1953.

Tommy Willighan as a young man, an older man and Maggie, his wife