All we know about my g.g.grandmother (my grandmother's grandmother) is that her name on my g.grandfather's birth certificate is Sophia Smyth Doran, that she had auburn hair, had brothers, her family was not Catholic, and that she possibly lived in the Banbridge area. My g.grandfather, James Alexander Doran, was born to Jamas Doran (a laborer) and Sophia Smyth Doran on November 30, 1913. James Alexander Doran was given to foster care arranged by a parish priest at St. Peter's. Sophia, according to limited oral history, was given the opportunity to return to her family (who were less than pleased with her relationship) but only if she did not bring her child, because he looked too much like his father.
James Alexander Doran was raised by three sisters by the name of Hutchinson on Sevastpol St. in Belfast from approximately age three on. When the three sisters died, their niece took over raising the three, abandoned children (Angela Brown and Mary O'Neil) in her home on Dunlewey St. I only know the niece as "Granny Kearney."
We can find no marriage records between a Sophia Smyth and James Doran. There were a few Sophia Smyths we have found records for, but two of them were born to two brothers, and one died at age three. The other we can find no other records for. A third Sophia seemed like a possible match, considering she had a close family member (possibly her father) who was a minister in a non-Catholic church.
We are road blocked by the lack or records or other information. "Granny Kearney" was a "dealer," which I understand to mean she sold antiques. We've been told that James Alexander was taken to Banbridge Market at a very young age, and they spoke with a woman who had auburn hair and made remarks about his seemingly small size compared to her brothers who were tall.
If anyone has any information, we would greatly appreciate knowing who she was and what happened to her.
