John Doran married Elizabeth Campbell on 17 April 1900, at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. The same church is now called St. Peter’s Cathedral. When I received the death record for John Doran’s mother, Ellen Little Doran, I decided at some future time to try to find out more about the witness, her daughter-in-law, Lizzie Doran, living at 72 McDonnell Street, in Belfast, in 1907. Today I had that time to add another branch to our family tree.

John Doran, was Full Age at his marriage (Over 21), a Bachelor (Previously unmarried), lived at 2 Grosvenor Place, Belfast, Roman Catholic, and his occupation was Fitter. His father was John Doran.

Elizabeth Campbell, was also full age, a Spinster (Previously unmarried), lived at 4 McWilliam’s Place, Belfast, also Roman Catholic, and her father was Bernard Cambell. The two witnesses were Owen Butler and Teresa McCrudden. Noted was that Rev. W McCourt married them in St. Peter’s, and both fathers were deceased [Source: Ulster Historical Foundation (Antrim & Down) accessed at http://www.ifhf.rootsireland.ie on 8/8/2015].

Looking for birth or baptismal records for any children of John and Elizabeth Campbell Doran, led me to a record that confirmed I had the right John Doran for our family. They had a daughter, Mary Doran, born on 25 September 1906, while they were living at 72 McDonnell Street, which was the same address for Ellen Doran’s death record.  Another child, James Doran, was born 11 January 1910, and baptized on 18 January 1910 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Belfast. The family was living at 46 Shore Street, in Belfast. An added bonus from that record, was the note that James Doran married Elizabeth Bannon October 28, 1935 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church [Source: Ulster Historical Foundation (Antrim & Down) accessed at http://www.ifhf.rootsireland.ie on 8/8/2015].

From the 1911 Irish Census I found Lizzie Doran living with her brother, Edward Campbell, and mother, Sarah Cambell, at 4 McMillan Place in Belfast. She was listed as married, Roman Catholic, and born in Belfast. She had given birth to four children with three living: John, age 10, born in Dublin; Mary, age 4, born in Belfast; and James, age 1, born in Belfast. Looking at the 1901 Irish Census, the family was living in Dublin. John Doran was a joint fitter, and his age was 23. Eliza Doran was 24. Baby John was two months old. They were living at Lower Dominck Street, Rotunda, Dublin. The census was taken on March 31, 1901. [http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie ]

John Doran was the brother of my great-grandfather, Bernard Doran. Their father was also named John Doran. We have had a John Doran in five generations of my family. Most likely the name goes back even more generations. Good luck searching for your family records! Happy Saturday!