Re: ROLLESTONS OF BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
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In reply to:
Re: ROLLESTONS OF BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
Emmy Joba 6/28/09
Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain when Eire, the remainder of Ireland became independent in 1922. That's not the same as being English. The UK contains the English, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish, all as separate countries but under the rule of the British Crown. Only the English would consider themselves as English, but they are all known as British.
Your Rolstons could have originated from Nth Ireland, perhaps county Armagh and gone to England for work or to join other relatives, either that same generation or 1 or 2 generations earlier. They may have returned to Belfast for family reasons. There were quite a number of the wider family living in Belfast. Check into any Belfast apprenticeship records as well.
Alternatively, they could have originated from one of the many minor branches in England. Around the Liverpool area there were quite a few Scots Ralstons as well as English Rollestons derived from the Midlands counties. Liverpool is just a hop and a step from Belfast, many people made the crossing, in both directions. Also from Glasgow in Scotland, which was Ralston country.
Sorry to confuse the issue in this way, but there are so many possibilities. You definitely need some more clues to help pin them down.