Hello a number of my husband's Gt Gpa's family lived at 24 Hatfield St., Cromac.
The Bell family had a farm in Comber yet by 1901 a number of Gt Gpa's siblings were living at this location and into the 1950's a sister Lizzy and her husband Wm James Smyth were still living there. I have often wondered why or when they moved to Hatfield Street and when the family finally left that home.
Could you pls check to see if Wm James & Lizzy Smyth are living at this location in 1959. Is there any such thing as a 1890's directory?
Thank you so much.
Newspaper references to Hatfield Street (corroborated by street directories) indicate that it was built c. 1891. In addition to the Lennon Wylie website, PRONI has a number of street directories online, including reasonable coverage of the 1890s:
http://streetdirectories.proni.gov.uk/No. 24 was vacant in the 1899 directory and was then occupied by Wm. Bell, collector, in the 1900 directory, collation of directories was typically 6 - 12 months before publication. You can see from the directories on the Lennon Wylie website when they then first appeared in no. 22, here are a few newspaper references to no. 22 that may be relevant:
Northern Whig, 3 April 1933:
BELL - April 1, at her late residence, 22 Hatfield Street, Mary, eldest daughter of the late Robert and Mary Bell, of the Cattogs, Comber. Funeral from above address to-day (Monday), at 2 o'clock, to Comber Churchyard. Friends will please accept this (the only) intimation. "At Home with the Lord." Deeply regretted.Belfast News-Letter, 3 July 1944:
McKEOWN - July 1, 1944, at her brother-in-law's residence, 22 Hatfield Street, Esther, widow of Thomas McKeown. Funeral to-day (Monday), at 2-30 p.m., to Comber Churchyard. Deeply regretted. The Northern Whig, 30 July 1953:
NOTICE OF CHARITABLE REQUEST In the goods of Sarah Wilson Duncan, formerly of "Glenburn," Shore Road, Greenisland, County Antrim, and late of "Thorn Cottage," Shore Road, Greenisland, aforesaid. Widow. Deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN [etc. etc. etc. ... ... ... ]
AND NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that Probate of said will was on the 22nd day of May 1953, granted forth of the Principal Registry of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland Queen's Bench Division (Probate) to WILLIAM JAMES SMYTH of 22 Hatfield Street, Retired Corporation Official (Brother of Testatrix) ...
[From PRONI Wills: Duncan Sarah Wilson of Glenburn Shore Road and of Thorn Cottage Shore Road both in Greenisland county Antrim widow died 27 March 1953 at Smiley Hospital Larne county Antrim Probate Belfast 22 May to William James Smyth retired corporation official and William Aubrey Burns solicitor's apprentice. Effects £1252 9s. 1d.]
The Northern Whig, 11 November 1957:
SMYTH - November 9, 1957, at Hospital, Elizabeth, dearly loved wife of William Smyth, 22 Hatfield Street. Funeral to-day (Monday), at 2 p.m., to Kilbride Burial-ground. Deeply regretted by her sorrowing Husband. "At Home with the Lord."