THE PASSMORES

in NORTHERN IRELAND

I can trace my family back to my Great, Great Grandfather, Francis Passmore 1851 - 1876 but no further. The Passmore family is not a large one in Northern Ireland but I suspect that Francis, who lived in Belfast, or maybe his father were somehow related to a family of Passmores who lived in Armagh. They in turn, many generations beforehand, came from England. I know my uncle suspected otherwise as he discovered a William Passmore who lived in Carrickfergus in 1199. Carrickfergus is the site of a major Norman castle in Northern Ireland.

Francis apparently had a number of  brothers or sisters who left for North America in the 19th Century. One was possibly called James, who settled in Canada and another, brother or sister who settled in the U.S. although these facts are vague. What I do know is that My Great Grandfather, also called James, went to live with his uncle John in McKeesport, Pennsylvaniia,  after a family disagreement. He is also rumoured to have lived with another uncle in Canada at one time. He returned many years later and stayed with his sister Grace Pink in Detroit before returning home for the final time. There is a nagging suspicion  that he may have  had another family of his own North America.

Coat Of Arms

The Name

IRISH PASSMORES (Belfast)

IRISH PASSMORES (Armagh)