CLOSE Family - EDGAR Family

[Sharon Close]

I’m searching for any family members of the CLOSE or EDGAR families. My grandfather was John Close and he and my nan , Robina Agnes Edgar Close, had one son, John (Jackie) Close. They owned a sweet shop in Belfast in 1940s to early 1950s.
Robina Agnes Edgar -Close  born 1907-09? Antrim
John Close was born 1912
Son John was born 1934
I’m from Australia and trying to research my family history so any help would be very appreciated.
Thanks so much. 🙂

[Sharon Close]

The shop was next to The Elephant and Castle Pub on the corner of Florence Place.

[CMcG]

Is this Will Calendars index entry from the PRONI website relevant?

Close, John McComskey of 23 Barford Street Speers Point in the State of New South Wales Australia labourer died 8 August 1954 at Mater Misericodiae Hospital Edith Street Waratah Probate Belfast 6 January to Robina Agnes Close the widow. Effects £1276 12s. 7d.

[Sharon Close]

Hi CMcG,
Yes, thanks so much. They stayed at that address for a while when they arrived in Australia. Well, my Nan, Robina and her son, John Close stayed there. My grandfather, John Close,  sadly died within weeks of arriving in Australia. I don't recall the name McCloskey. I wonder if it was a middle name.   Thank you once again for taking the time to help me.

[CMcG]

Is this Will Calendars index entry from the PRONI website relevant?

Close, John McComskey of 23 Barford Street Speers Point in the State of New South Wales Australia labourer died 8 August 1954 at Mater Misericodiae Hospital Edith Street Waratah Probate Belfast 6 January to Robina Agnes Close the widow. Effects £1276 12s. 7d.

This from the Belfast Telegraph on 10 August 1954:



The Belfast street directories available on the Lennon Wylie website show the following entries for Old Lodge Road:

1939: 187. Close, John, newsagent
1943: 187. Close, John, newsagent
1951: 187. Close, John, newsagent

https://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/index.htm

If you look at the immediate surrounding area in any of those directories, you will see that no. 187 was the middle of three properties facing onto the Old Lodge Road between Bradford Street and Florence Place, 'x' marks the spot here:

[Sharon Close]

Thank-you. It's so great to see where their shop was.

[CMcG]

... I don't recall the name McCloskey. I wonder if it was a middle name 

John McComisky Close was born on 24 June 1911 at 82 Snugville Street Belfast to parents William John Close, a labourer, and Mary Agnes Kerr, the civil birth registration is free to view here:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1911/01521/1617526.pdf

This was only about 12 weeks after the 1911 Ireland census was taken, so it reads back nicely to this family at no. 82 Snugville Street:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Shankill/Snugville_Street/152946/

[CMcG]

William John Close married Mary Agnes Kerr on 30 September 1901 in Trinity Church of Ireland Belfast, the two fathers were recorded as William John Close, a machinist, and James Charles Kerr, a cashier:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1901/10315/5754870.pdf

[CMcG]

For the moment, my best guess is that Mary Agnes Kerr was the daughter born on 6 February 1883 at 112 Bristol Street Belfast to parents James Charles Kerr, a clerk, and Eliza Hamilton:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1883/02752/2011099.pdf

She was one of twin daughters - look at the next entry at the above link, showing a daughter Alice Amelia born on the same day at the same address to the same couple.

If I'm right, I think the mother Elizabeth (a.k.a. Lizzie) died on 15 January 1895 at 48 Bann Street ...
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1895/05944/4688710.pdf

... leaving the family like this in 1901 (Minnie = Mary):
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Shankhill/Carnan_Street/947979/

Then the father James Charles Kerr died a few weeks after this census was taken:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1901/05730/4617200.pdf

James Charles and Elizabeth Kerr were buried in grave Q 294 of Belfast City Cemetery, note the other grave occupants (including Alice Amelia Kerr, Mary Agnes' twin sister):
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialSearch.aspx?GraveSection=Q&GraveNumber=294&CemeteryName=City%20Cemetery

Alice Amelia Kerr's death in 1891:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1891/06074/4732171.pdf

[CMcG]

William John Close married Mary Agnes Kerr on 30 September 1901 in Trinity Church of Ireland Belfast, the two fathers were recorded as William John Close, a machinist, and James Charles Kerr, a cashier:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1901/10315/5754870.pdf

I imagine this must be a possible candidate for William John Close and his parents and family some months earlier in the 1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Court_Ward/Foreman_Street/964575/

The couple in this census return were William John Close and Ellen Farley. Son William John was born in 1879:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1879/02922/2070712.pdf

[Sharon Close]

Hi CMcG,
You are so amazing to have found so much information for me. I have so much to read now and catch up on the links you have provided. Hopefully someone can help me with my Nan, Robina Agnes Edgar's side of the family, as well. Thanks so very, very much. I hope you and your family are all doing well and keeping safe.

[CMcG]

When Mary Agnes (Kerr) Close died in 1946, the local death notices included one from John Close, 'her sorrowing Son, Daughter-in-law and Grandson, wee Jackie, 187 Old Lodge Road':



Mary Agnes Close is buried in grave Q1 246 at the Belfast City Cemetery, note the other grave occupants:
https://dof.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialsearch/BurialSearch.aspx?GraveSection=Q1&GraveNumber=246&CemeteryName=City%20Cemetery%20-%20Glenalina%20Extension

[CMcG]

... Hopefully someone can help me with my Nan, Robina Agnes Edgar's side of the family, as well. Thanks so very, very much. I hope you and your family are all doing well and keeping safe.

Likewise, the one thing for sure is that is has to come to an end at some point.

Anyhow, John McComiskey Close married Robina Agnes Edgar on 4 April 1931 in St. Anne's (Church of Ireland) Cathedral Belfast, 20 year old John from 82 Snugville Street was recorded as the son of William John Close a labourer, 21 year old Robina from 12 Argyle Street was recorded as the daughter of William Edgar a labourer.  Which reads back to this possibility in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Clifton/Linwood_Street/145958/

The Robina in the above census return was born on 30 August 1908 at 9 Ewart's Row to parents William Edgar and Isabella Campbell:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1908/01647/1657942.pdf

William Edgar married Isabella Campbell on 23 February 1903 in Trinity Church of Ireland Belfast, the two fathers were recorded as William Edgar, a labourer, and Thomas James Campbell, a labourer:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1903/10221/5720485.pdf

[Sharon Close]

It will, my friend. This too shall pass. You are most kind to have helped so much with my search. I wish the world was full of people as kind as you.

[CMcG]

No problem, have a look at this in 1949...