Smith family of County Westmeath, Ireland

Tags

Archerstown, Australia, Catholic, Clonmellon, County, Culhane, Ellen May McMahon, Ipswich, Ireland, Lorna Smith, Margaret Black, Meath, Patrick Smith, Pine Mountain, Queensland, Redbank, Smith, Westmeath

The blog is to help descendants of Patrick Smith and Margaret Black connect and add to their own family histories. This family lived in the border area of Westmeath and Meath, Ireland.

Who am I?

I’m a descendant of Patrick Smith and Margaret Black via their son Philip Smith who married Catherine Maria McGuire. Their son Thomas Joseph Smith married Catherine Mary Culhane. Their son Thomas Philip Smith married Ellen May McMahon. They had 5 children one of whom was my grandmother Lorna Smith who married Howard Maxwell Day.

If you have anything you would like added (old stories, photos, baptisms, birth, marriage, death and burial records), anything corrected or would just like to say Hi! please use the Contact form at the bottom of this blog.

Acknowledgements

My father Philip Maxwell Day who DNA tested for me on Ancestry.com.au.

My cousin Gaylene Smith who has DNA tested on Ancestry.com.au and shared her DNA results with me to help us find more cousins.

My cousin Tom Spillane who has DNA tested on Ancestry.com.au and shared his DNA results with me to help us find more cousins . Toms mother had an impressive collection of family photos.

Our cousins Peter Smith and his father Daniel Patrick Smith who have both tested on Ancestry.com.au. Daniel has also YDNA tested to trace our direct paternal line back 165,000 years. The YDNA test looks at Daniels father, his father, his father, his father etc

All our cousins who have DNA tested on Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage and those who have also uploaded their DNA to Gedmatch.

The Smith surname

Smith is a very common surname and not all Smiths are related! There are literally thousands of genealogically unrelated lines. We are fortunate that our Smith family liked having children and lots of them.

Irish naming traditions. This is helpful in finding family but cannot always be relied on.

First son usually named for the father’s father
Second son usually named for the mother’s father
Third son usually named for the father
Fourth son usually named for the father’s eldest brother
Fifth son usually named for the mother’s eldest brother
First daughter usually named for the mother’s mother
Second daughter usually named for the father’s mother
Third daughter usually named for the mother
Fourth daughter usually named for the mother’s eldest sister
Fifth daughter usually named for the father’s eldest sister

The progenitors of our family

Patrick Smiths parents may have been Thomas Smith who married Catherine Smith on 20 Aug 1793 in Clonmellon, Westmeath, Ireland. We need more proof to confirm this.

They had 5 children

• Patrick Smith b 1794 (this may indicate its not the right Patrick)
• Philip Smith b 1797
• James Smith b 1798
• Bridget Smith b 1803
• Owen Smith b 1804

Generation 1

PATRICK SMITH was born about 1799 in Clonmellon, County Meath, Northern Ireland. He married Margaret (Madge/Maggy) Black, daughter of Owen Black and Mary Welsh, on 23 Nov 1826 in Clonmellon, County Westmeath, Ireland (Witness 1: Laurence Travers, Witness 2: Michael Mulryan Marital status: Bachelor (Previously unmarried), Spinster (Previously unmarried). Denomination: Roman Catholic ). She was born in 1787 in Archerstown, Clonmellon, County Westmeath, Ireland.

Patrick Smith and Margaret (Madge/Maggy) Black had the following children:

i. THOMAS SMITH was born in 1827 in County Westmeath, Ireland.

ii. WILLIAM SMITH was born in 1830 in County Westmeath, Ireland.

iii. JAMES SMITH was born in 1832 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He died on 04 Jan 1916 in Goodna, Queensland, Australia. He married Eliza Mahon, daughter of Patrick Mahon and Marcella Blake, in 1858 in Tongleman County, Westmeath, Ireland. She was born in 1838 in County Westmeath, Ireland. She died on 24 Feb 1871 in Queensland, Australia.

iv. PHILIP SMITH was born in 1834 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He died on 05 Jun 1922 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He married Catherine Maria McGuire, daughter of Thomas McGuire and Judith (JudyJulia) Doyle, on 10 Jan 1863 in St Stephens Church, North Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born in 1835 in County Westmeath, Ireland. She died on 12 Nov 1920 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia.

v. MARY SMITH was born in 1836 in County Westmeath, Ireland.

Generation 2

JAMES SMITH was born in 1832 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He died on 04 Jan 1916 in Goodna, Queensland, Australia. He married Eliza Mahon, daughter of Patrick Mahon and Marcella Blake, in 1858 in Tongleman County, Westmeath, Ireland. She was born in 1838 in County Westmeath, Ireland. She died on 24 Feb 1871 in Queensland, Australia.

James Smith and Eliza Mahon had the following children:

i. PATRICK EDWARD3 SMITH was born in 1860 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He died on 11 Apr 1866 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia.

ii. THOMAS JOSEPH SMITH was born in 1862.

iii. ANN SMITH was born in 1863 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He died on 20 Jun 1932 in Goodna, Queensland, Australia.

iv. MARCELLA SMITH was born in 1864 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia.

v. MARY SMITH was born in 1865.

vi. JOHN WILLIAM SMITH was born in 1867.

vii. PATRICK SMITH was born in 1869.

viii. UNNAMED (BABY) SMITH was born in 1871. He died on 24 Feb 1871 in Queensland, Australia.

3.

PHILIP SMITH (Patrick1) was born in 1834 in County Westmeath, Ireland. He died on 05 Jun 1922 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He married Catherine Maria McGuire, daughter of Thomas McGuire and Judith (JudyJulia) Doyle, on 10 Jan 1863 in St Stephens Church, North Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born in 1835 in County Westmeath, Ireland. She died on 12 Nov 1920 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia.
Philip Smith and Catherine Maria McGuire had the following children:

4.

i. PATRICK THOMAS SMITH was born on 26 Apr 1865 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died on 01 Oct 1946 in Ernest Street, Manly, Queensland, Australia. He married Isabella Ritchie Cocks, daughter of George Easson COCKS and Helen RITCHIE, on 07 May
1887 in St Stephens Catholic Cathedral, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 03 Jun 1872 in Highfields Railway Station, Aubigny, Queensland, Australia. She died on 15 Dec 1954 in Manly, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

ii. JOSEPH SMITH was born in 1867 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1868 in Queensland, Australia.

5.

iii. THOMAS JOSEPH SMITH was born on 01 Nov 1867 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died on 07 Oct 1952 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He married Catherine Mary Culhane, daughter of John Joseph Robert Culhane and Margaret Smith, on 11 Nov 1891 in St Marys Church, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 27 Aug 1871 in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. She died on 06 Jul 1958 in 19 Russell St, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

iv. JOHN JOSEPH (VALE) SMITH was born on 18 May 1869 in Queensland, Australia. He died on 04 Apr 1953 in Queensland, Australia.

6.

v. BRIDGET MARIA SMITH was born on 13 Feb 1871 in Queensland, Australia. She died in 1955 in Queensland. She married (1) GREGORY FRANK HOEFLING. He was born about 1868 in Australia. He died in 1901 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She married an unknown spouse on 25 Oct 1888 in Queensland. She married (3) WILLIAM JOHN PARK.

7.

vi. JOSEPH THOMAS SMITH was born on 15 Aug 1872 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died in 1945 in Queensland, Australia. He married Elizabeth Agnes Culhane, daughter of John Joseph Robert Culhane and Margaret Smith, on 30 Apr 1902 in Queensland. She was born on 06 Apr 1884 in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. She died on 24 Jul 1962 in 50 Smith Rd, Redbank, Queensland, Australia.

Generation 3

4.
PATRICK THOMAS SMITH (Philip2, Patrick1) was born on 26 Apr 1865 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died on 01 Oct 1946 in Ernest Street, Manly, Queensland, Australia. He married Isabella Ritchie Cocks, daughter of George Easson COCKS and Helen RITCHIE, on 07 May 1887 in St Stephens Catholic Cathedral, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 03 Jun 1872 in Highfields Railway Station, Aubigny, Queensland, Australia. She died on 15 Dec 1954 in Manly, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He married an unknown spouse on 07 May 1887 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Patrick Thomas Smith and Isabella Ritchie Cocks had the following children:

i. THOMAS JOSEPH SMITH was born on 27 Sep 1887 in Queensland, Australia. He died on 09 Aug 1924 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

ii. GREGORY JOSEPH SMITH was born on 06 Apr 1889 in Loganlea, Queensland, Australia. He died on 21 Jun 1959 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He married Therese Agnes Weir on 07 Jul 1913 in Residence of John & Annie Weir, Edward Street, Roma, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 20 Jul 1893 in Roma, Queensland, Australia. She died on 19 Jul 1958 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

iii. PERCIVAL GEORGE SMITH was born on 06 Mar 1891 in Queensland, Australia. He died on 19 Jan 1956 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

iv. VINCENT PHILLIP JOSEPH SMITH was born on 17 Jun 1892 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1975 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He married MARY (MAY) HERNON.

v. ISABELLA FLORENCE SMITH was born on 09 Mar 1894 in Queensland, Australia. She died on 26 Feb 1925 in Queensland, Australia.

vi. CECIL SMITH was born on 16 Sep 1901 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1971 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

vii. SILVESTER SMITH was born on 15 Jan 1905 in Queensland, Australia. He died on 03 Mar 1975 in Southport, Queensland, Australia.

viii. VERA SMITH was born on 03 Apr 1906 in Queensland, Australia.

ix. LESLIE JOSEPH SMITH was born on 03 Apr 1908 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1972 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

x. VERNAN FRANCIS SMITH was born on 03 Apr 1908 in Queensland, Australia. He died in 1981 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

5.

THOMAS JOSEPH SMITH (Philip2, Patrick1) was born on 01 Nov 1867 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died on 07 Oct 1952 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He married Catherine Mary Culhane, daughter of John Joseph Robert Culhane and Margaret Smith, on 11 Nov 1891 in St Marys Church, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 27 Aug 1871 in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. She died on 06 Jul 1958 in 19 Russell St, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Thomas Joseph Smith and Catherine Mary Culhane had the following children:

i. CATHERINE MARGARET SMITH was born on 15 Sep 1892 in Queensland, Australia. She died on 31 Jan 1961 in Queensland, Australia. She married (1) MICHAEL (TWIN) BOWDEN. He was born on 22 Nov 1889 in Mumbilla,. He died on 22 Dec 1926. She married an unknown spouse on 02 Oct 1920 in Queensland.

ii. JOHN WILLIAM SMITH was born on 23 Apr 1894 in Queensland, Australia. He married Ada Catherine Casey in 1927. She was born in 1904 in Queensland. He married Mary Ann Brown on 08 Nov 1922 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She died in 1924 in Queensland, Australia. He married an unknown spouse in 1927 in Queensland.

iii. THOMAS PHILIP SMITH was born on 03 May 1896 in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. He died on 20 May 1973 in St Helen’s, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He married Ellen May (May) McMahon, daughter of August Wilhelm Gottlieb Stumer and Maria Agnes (Agnes Maria) McMahon, on 26 Nov 1919 in St Mary’s Church, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 05 May 1901 in Pine Street, North Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She died on 27 Jun 1947 in Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He married (2) ISABEL FLORENCE RANKIN.

iv. JOSEPH SMITH was born on 18 Jul 1898 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He died in 1989. He married Elizabeth Gardiner on 05 Aug 1922 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was born on 01 Nov 1894 in Queensland, Australia. He married an unknown spouse in 1922 in Queensland.

v. GREGORY JAMES SMITH was born on 14 Jun 1900 in Queensland, Australia. He died on 16 May 1975.

vi. JAMES PATRICK SMITH was born on 02 Sep 1903 in Queensland Australia.

vii. MARGARET MARY SMITH was born on 10 Nov 1905 in Queensland, Australia.

viii. ELLEN MARY SMITH was born on 26 Dec 1907 in Queensland, Australia. She died on 13 Mar 1992. She married (1) VICTOR SUCHTING. She married (2) ERIC FRAMPTON.

ix. IRENE VERONICA SMITH was born on 13 Sep 1909 in Queensland Australia.

x. GORDON PATRICK SMITH was born in 1912.

xi. CECILIA MARY SMITH was born in 1914.

6.

BRIDGET MARIA SMITH (Philip2, Patrick1) was born on 13 Feb 1871 in Queensland, Australia. She died in 1955 in Queensland. She married (1) GREGORY FRANK HOEFLING. He was born about 1868 in Australia. He died in 1901 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She married an unknown spouse on 25 Oct 1888 in Queensland. She married (3) WILLIAM JOHN PARK.

Gregory Frank Hoefling and Bridget Maria Smith had the following children:

i. GERTRUDE CATHERINE HOEFLING was born on 08 Aug 1889 in Queensland, Australia.

ii. FLORA MIMOSA HOEFLING was born on 25 Sep 1890 in Queensland, Australia.

iii. ALICE MAUD HOEFLING was born on 16 Sep 1891 in Queensland, Australia. She died on 07 Jul 1892 in Queensland, Australia.

iv. FREDERICK GREGSON HOEFLING was born on 18 Jul 1893 in Balmain West, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 16 Sep 1978 in Nambour, Queensland, Australia.

v. DOROTHY HOEFLING was born in 1896 in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia.

vi. ALBERT JAMES HOEFLING was born in 1897 in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia. He died in 1967 in Queensland, Australia.

vii. KATHERINE HOEFLING was born in 1899 in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia.

viii. PHILLIP HOEFLING was born in 1901 in Balmain South, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 16 Feb 1902 in Queensland, Australia.
William John Park and Bridget Maria Smith had the following children:

i. JOSEPHINA PARK was born on 30 Oct 1914. She died on 29 Dec 2004 in Queensland, Australia. She married JOHN RICHARD JOHNSON. He was born on 16 Aug 1907 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 24 Mar 1964 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

ii. WILLIAM JOHN PARK.

7.

JOSEPH THOMAS SMITH (Philip2, Patrick1) was born on 15 Aug 1872 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. He died in 1945 in Queensland, Australia. He married Elizabeth Agnes Culhane, daughter of John Joseph Robert Culhane and Margaret Smith, on 30 Apr 1902 in Queensland. She was born on 06 Apr 1884 in Pine Mountain, Queensland, Australia. She died on 24 Jul 1962 in 50 Smith Rd, Redbank, Queensland, Australia.
Joseph Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Agnes Culhane had the following children:

i. JOHN JOSEPH SMITH was born on 05 May 1903 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He married (1) HAZEL GRIFFITHS JOHNSON. She was born in 1909. He married an unknown spouse in 1931 in Queensland.

ii. VIOLET MAY SMITH was born on 29 Aug 1904 in Redbank, Queensland, Australia. She died on 04 Dec 1994 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

iii. GREGORY JAMES SMITH was born on 08 Mar 1906 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He died in 1956 in Qld, Australia.

iv. JOSEPH THOMAS SMITH was born on 28 Mar 1908 in Queensland, Australia. He married (1) LORRAINE NANCY DAVEY. She was born on 18 Sep 1943 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She died on 27 May 1969 in Redback Plains, Queensland, Australia. He married an unknown spouse in 1931 in Queensland.

v. MARY JOSEPHINE SMITH was born in 1912 in Queensland, Australia. She married JOHN STANISLAUS SHERMAN.

vi. MARGARET CECELIA SMITH was born in 1914.

vii. ANTHONY MICHAEL SMITH was born in 1922 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He died on 07 Mar 1992 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

viii. MARGARET SMITH.

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Descendants of Baldwin Franklin and Eliza Jane McArthur

Tags

Adams, Dunedin, Fraenkel, Franklin, Hastings, McArthur, McGaveston, Napier, O'Donnell, Poland, Posen, Prussia, Schildberg, Tasmania, Van Diemans Land

I have created this post to encourage descendants of Baldwin Franklin and Eliza Jane McArthur to share information, old stories and photos about our mutual ancestor/s and thier descendants.

About me

I am a descendant of Baldwin and Eliza via their daughter Charlotte Lavinia Franklin. Charlotte married James Harris O’Donnell and had 5 children. Their child Dorothea (Dot) O’Donnell met and married John Wynn McGaveston. Their daughter Dorothea Ada Marie McGaveston is my grandmother and she was 102 years old when she passed away and lived in Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Acknowledgements

A lot of work has been done on Baldwin and Eliza’s descendants before I started looking at our family. Many thanks go to those who have spent decades researching the family and those who continue to do so now and have shared their information with me and other family members.

• My grandmother Dorothea (Molly) Ada Marie McGaveston
• Paddy and Philip Franklin
• Beth and Barrie Hooper
• John Franklin who DNA tested to help a cousin trace Baldwins direct male line and another cousin Robert James Franklin who has taken the same YDNA test.

DNA testing

DNA has been an incredible tool to link the many descendants of Baldwin and Eliza Franklin with companies such as Ancestry, Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), My Heritage and Gedmatch providing avenues to continue to explore those connections via autosomal tests which look at both your parents family lines. If you are going to test I would suggest testing on Ancestry because their database is around 25 million people. If you are in Australia or New Zealand consider joining a facebook group called Using DNA for Geneology – Australia and New Zealand. They have discounted Ancestry DNA kit links.

DNA has also connected us to two of Baldwins siblings descendants and many many of Elizas previously unknown siblings, parents and great grandparents.

YDNA and autosomal DNA have provided a match to the descendants of Paul Frankel. Paul was born in Schildberg, Posen, Prussia in 1836 to Maurice (Moritz) Fraenkel and Dorothea Birkowitsch. Paul died in 1916 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Paul is most likely the younger sibling of Baldwin and Bernard Fraenkel. The DNA is a very strong indicator that Paul was Baldwins younger brother. Jewish DNA matches are not as straightforward to interpret because Jewish populations were endogamous.

“Endogamy is the custom of marrying only within the limits of a local community, clan, or tribe over the course of many generations. The reasons for this genetic isolation could be cultural or religious (as with Ashkenazi Jews and Low-German Mennonites) or geographic (as with island and tribal populations)”.

You can read more about endogamy here.

In 1834 and 1835, a small number of the Jewish inhabitants of the Grand Duchy of Posen were granted limited citizenship rights. They were described as ‘naturalisiert’. In 1836, Isidor Hirschberg published an index of these naturalised Jews (Verzeichniß sämmtlicher naturalisierten Israeliten im Großherzogthum Posen). This index is one of the only surviving records from this early period, coinciding with the adoption of fixed surnames by the Jews of the Grand Duchy.

The list for Schildberg includes:

Fränkel, Moritz, Kaufmann (merchant), naturalised on 29.08.1834
Berkowicz, Benjamin Adolph, Schänker und Mäkler (tavernkeeper and broker), nat. on 14.05.1835
Berkowicz, Moses, Negociant (wine merchant?), naturalised on 29.10.1834

Berkowicz means simply ‘son of Berko’. Berko (or Berek) was a Polish diminutive of the Yiddish given name Ber (meaning ‘bear’), itself a calque of the Hebrew name Dov. It wouldn’t surprise me if Baldwin’s original Yiddish name was Ber or a variant.

Fränkel is often thought to point to origins in Franken, i.e. Franconia, the northern part of Bavaria. A law passed in 1813 to limit the Jewish population triggered a huge wave of emigration. Many emigrated to the USA, but many migrated to other German territories.

To be “naturalized”, a Jew had to possess significant assets (either owning a farm large enough to support the family, or a plot in the city (debt-free) worth 2,000 Reichsthaler, or having 5,000 Reichsthaler in savings) or receive a waiver of the asset requirement for a “patriotic endeavour for the state”. Jews who did not possess such assets were subject to deportation unless they could prove they were permanent residents of the Grand Duchy since June 1, 1815.

Edward Luft, the expert on the former Jewish communities of Posen, estimates that only 5.5% of the Jewish population met the aforementioned criteria.

Here is the full list of the Jews of Schildberg, who were naturalised in the years 1834 and 1835. Mortiz Frankel and Benjamin Adolph Berkowicz are the two relevant ones.

Schildberg 1866 directory

https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10290313?page=228

Moritz Fränkel Conditor (confectioner)

https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10290313?page=229

Paul Fränkel Tapezirer (wallpaperer)

Ancestry does not test the direct male line or direct female lines but Family Tree DNA does. YDNA (direct male line) testing in conjunction with autosomal testing has yielded an interesting and unexpected result.

Baldwin and Eliza were named as parents on 10 children’s birth certificates. DNA testing has shown that only 8 of those children were Baldwins. Baldwin and Eliza separated and this was reported in the papers at the time. They may have continued to see each other but there are no stories about this passed down through the family lines. Whether it is coincidental or not Eliza was not buried in the same grave as Baldwin, his son and his sons first wife despite it being a double plot.

Some of Baldwins descendants have an Ashkenazi Jewish DNA marker and this will show in their DNA results in any of the testing companies. My grandmother Molly does and multiple cousins have this marker.  My grandmother Molly has 11% Jewish DNA and 3 of her children have between 2% and 6%. One of Mollys grandchildren has 1% Jewish DNA. The importance of testing the oldest descendant in each family line is because the further you move away from the common ancestors the less DNA you will share. By the fourth cousin level there is only a 50% chance you will share DNA with someone who is actually your cousin. This doesn’t mean that descendants of Baldwin and Eliza should have Jewish DNA but Baldwins children would have all had it and their grandchildren then it becomes hit and miss whether you inherit that or not in later generations. 100 years from now none of the descendants will have that Jewish DNA unless another family line carries it and it is passed down. Neither of the descendant lines of the two children whose father was not Baldwin have this marker.

The origins of Baldwin Franklin/Fraenkel

Baldwin was most likely born around 1833 in Schildberg, Posen, Prussia (Now known as Ostrzeszow (Ostrasow), Pozan, Poland). The name Baldwin isnt “Jewish’ per se but Fraenkel is. Its very likely that Baldwin adopted what he thought was an anglicized first name and modified his surname from Fraenkel to Franklin. There are no known birth records for this time. I can say with almost 100% certainty that Baldwin was not used by any Jewish men in early 19th century Posen. 

We know very little about his immediate family. He was Jewish and his wife was Irish by birth. We don’t know if Baldwin practiced his faith after he moved to Van Diemans land (now known as Tasmania) before moving again and settling in New Zealand. In some circles he was called the ‘German Jew’.

Baldwin is first mentioned in Tasmania on Tuesday, 8 Feb 1859. Baldwin would have been about 26 years old. Emigration records should show his passage to Tasmania but to date no one has found those. Baldwin may have gone from Prussia to another country then to Tasmania or used a different name. If you can find the record please contact me.

Source: Trove – The Hobart Town Daily Mercury Tuesday

Source: Trove – Wednesday 25 February 1863. The Cornwall Chronicle

Source: Trove – Saturday 28 February 1863. The Cornwall Chronicle

Source: Trove – The Cornwall Chronicle Wed 4 March 1863

On 14 April 1863 Baldwin Franklin boards the Brig Alexandra to sail for Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Why Baldwin left Tasmania is unclear. Perhaps the fortunes of those in the Dunedin colonies meant a greater opportunity for Baldwin.

The Brig gets stuck in mud before finally departing on 20 April 1863 for Dunedin.

Launceston Examiner Thursday 16 April 1863.

Baldwin is listed as a passenger on the Alexandra for its arrival in Dunedin.

Otago Daily Times 4 May 1863.

It wasn’t long before Baldwin opened a Billiard room in Dunedin.

Otago Daily Times 23 September 1863

Otago Daily Times 26 April 1865. Baldwin didn’t turn up to court and had a judgement against him for monies owed.

Why Baldwin and Eliza left Dunedin is a mystery. Eliza had a lot of family there, She had siblings and a multitude of cousins from her Adams and McArthur families.

Wellington Independent 12 Oct 1865. The birth of James Baldwin Franklin.

Wellington Independent 16 Nov 1867. Baldwin and family moved to Napier, New Zealand around this time.

Hawkes Bay Herald 28 November 1868. The birth of Elizabeth Jane Franklin in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Hawkes Bay Times 18 Apr 1872. Baldwins license for the London Hotel at Port Ahuriri was extended.

Hawkes Bay Times 28 December 1872.

Hawkes Bay Times 16 December 1873.

Hawkes Bay Times 3 Feb 1874.

Otago Daily Times 28 Feb 1874

Hawkes Bay Times 13 Nov 1874.

Hawkes Bay Herald 3 April 1878

The following newspaper story involves Elizabeth Franklin who was in court at the time. It states:

Hawke’s Bay Herald 5 May 1879

Hawke’s Bay Herald 8 November 1882

A photo of Baldwin taken in his later years. Image courtesy of the Stubbs family.

Baldwin Franklins death – Hawkes Bay Herald 14 Dec 1904

Baldwin Franklins obituary – Hawkes Bay Herald 14 Dec 1904

The origins of Elizabeth Jane McArthur

The family of Elizabeth (Eliza) Jane Franklin was until 2018 unknown. Neither marriage or death certificates or recorded family histories were ever able to show who they were. The large uptake of DNA testing broke this wall down and helped us find out who her parents were, who her siblings were and helped us find more information about her grandparents and cousins.

DNA gave us  very strong links to the descendants of Mary McArthur and James McArthur. Further research showed us that Eliza was the daughter of James McArthur and Jane Adams who had the following children:

• John McArthur 1829-1869
• James McArthur 1836-1912
• Unknown female
• Unknown female
• Mary McArthur
• Samuel McArthur
• Elizabeth Jane McArthur 1847-1920
• David McArthur 1849-1924

All the children of James and Jane McArthur were born in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Most moved to Scotland and many of those then moved to New Zealand. Some of Jane McArthurs nee Adams family had moved to Scotland prior to the Irish famine and some of those also then moved to New Zealand. These families stayed in touch through their lives.

James McArthur died around 1864. We have not been able to find his death certificate in Ireland or Scotland. James wife Jane died in 1887 in Scotland so we have her parents names on the death certificate giving us an extra generation further back. One of Janes brothers was born in Silverbrook, Donemana, Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. This provides us a clue as to where exactly the Adams were from but more research needs to be undertaken.

Elizabeth McArthur emigrated to New Zealand around 1864. We have no shipping record to confirm this but she stated she had been in Dunedin for 1 year when she married. Baldwin had been living in New Zealand for 2 years.

The marriage of Baldwin to Elizabeth McArthur.

Baldwin Franklin married Eliza McArthur on 23 January 1865 in the House of William Urquhart, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

The following is a photo of Baldwin and Elizabeth McArthur most likely on their wedding day. This was passed down from Charlotte Lavinia Franklin via her daughter Dorothea O’Donnell to her daughter Dorothea Ada Marie McGaveston.

Baldwin and Eliza or their family place a notice in The Belfast Newsletter on 18 April 1865. As most of the McArthurs had emigrated by this date we still aren’t too sure who was still in Ireland to read this.

Baldwin and Eliza had the following children:

• James Baldwin Franklin 1865-1904. Born in Wellington.
• Paul Franklin 1866-1942 Born in Wellington.
• Elizabeth Jane Franklin 1868-1942 Born in Napier.
• Maurice Maxmillian Franklin 1870-1911. Born in Napier.
• Dorothea Franklin 1871-1959. Born in Napier.
• Bernard Adolph Franklin 1873-1946. Born in Napier.
• John Henry Franklin 1875-1948. Born at Te Aute.
• Charlotte Lavinia Franklin 1877-1976. Born at Port Ahuriri.

Eliza had two further children:

• Bertha Franklin 1880-1913. Born at Port Ahuriri.
• Philip Franklin 1883-1956. Born at The Spit, Ahuriri

The family of Baldwin and Eliza Jane McArthur

Baldwin Franklin married Elizabeth Jane McArthur, daughter of James McArthur and Jane Adams, on 23 Jan 1865 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. She was born in 1847 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She died on 20 Apr 1920 in Napier Hospital, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Baldwin Franklin (Fraenkel) and Elizabeth Jane McArthur had the following children:

1. James Baldwin Franklin was born on 27 Sep 1865 in Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand. He died on 21 Jul 1904 in Napier Hospital, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Eliza Jane Fellows, daughter of Frederick Fellows and Muriel Elisa Poole, on 25 Dec 1886 in St Paul’s Pres, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born in 1858 in England. She died on 06 Nov 1888 in Star Hotel, Dickens Street, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Mary Ann Alice Douglas. She was born on 6 Aug 1869 in Amberley, Hurunui, Canterbury, New Zealand. She died on 17 Dec 1937 in New Zealand.

2. Paul Franklin was born on 2 Nov 1866 in Wellington, New Zealand. He died on 20 Feb 1942 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Johanna Longeran, daughter of William Longeran and Mary Sheehan, on 11 Jun 1900 in Catholic Church, Napier, Hawkes Bay,New Zealand. She was born in 1869 in Ireland. She died on 16 Sep 1956 in New Zealand.

3. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Jane Franklin was born on 04 Dec 1868 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 2 Sep 1942 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married William Gifford, son of George Gifford and Margaret Walsh, on 25 Nov 1896 in St John’s Manse, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. He was born in 1865. He died on 16 Jun 1923 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

4. Maurice Maxmillian Franklin was born on 15 Jul 1870 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 23 Aug 1911 in Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand. He married Violet Annie Willey, daughter of William Willey and Emma Winsor, on 14 Mar 1906 in St David’s, Auckland, New Zealand. She was born in 1882 in Auckland, New Zealand. She died on 09 May 1941 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

5. Dorothea Franklin was born on 1 Nov 1871 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 23 Apr 1959 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married William (Willie) Downes, son of William Downes and Margaret Cummock, on 13 May 1893 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 30 Oct 1870 in Kilmog, Silvepeaks, Otago, New Zealand. He died on 24 Jun 1957 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

6. Bernard (Ben) Adolph Franklin was born on 20 Feb 1873 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 31 Aug 1946 in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.. He married Miriam Redward, daughter of Thomas Redward and Mary Eason, on 14 May 1902 in Port Presbyterian Church, Spit, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born in 1874. She died on 29 May 1951 in Drury, Auckland, New Zealand.

7. John (Jack) Henry Franklin was born on 15 Sep 1875 in Te Aute, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 30 Oct 1948 in Taradale, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Ada Amelia McKain, daughter of Isaac Septimus McKain and Harriett Anne Villers, on 13 Jun 1898 in Pakowhai, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born on 16 Jun 1871 in New Zealand. She died on 26 Oct 1949 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

8. Charlotte Lavinia Franklin was born on 5 Aug 1877 in Port Ahuriri, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 16 Aug 1976 in Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She married James Harris O’Donnell, son of William O’Donnell and Martha McCarthy, on 7 Oct 1903 in Registrar of Marriages, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 12 Oct 1870 in Auckland Beach, West Coast, New Zealand. He died on 31 Oct 1949 in Cook Hospital, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand.

Generation 2

1. JAMES BALDWIN FRANKLIN was born on 27 Sep 1865 in Cuba Street, Wellington, New Zealand. He died on 21 Jul 1904 in Napier Hospital, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married (1) MARY ANN ALICE DOUGLAS. She was born on 06 Aug 1869 in Amberley, Hurunui, Canterbury, New Zealand. She died on 17 Dec 1937 in New Zealand. He married (2) ELIZA JANE FELLOWS, daughter of Frederick Fellows and Muriel Elisa Poole, on 25 Dec 1886 in St Paul’s Pres, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born in 1858 in England. She died on 06 Nov 1888 in Star Hotel, Dickens Street, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

James Baldwin Franklin and Mary Ann Alice Douglas had the following children:

i. HAROLD NOBLE DOUGLAS FRANKLIN was born on 27 Oct 1891 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 01 Apr 1974 in Taupo, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. He married Rhoda Stuart Sutherland, daughter of Alexander Sutherland and Jane Stewart, on 12 Oct 1918 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was born on 11 Jan 1899 in Perthshire, Scotland. She died in Dec 1977 in Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, New Zealand.

ii. NORMAN GEORGE FRANKLIN was born on 25 Nov 1895 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 21 Jan 1977 in New Zealand. He married Thelma Brinley Davis, daughter of Frederick Charles Davis and Annie Blackmore, in 1934 in New Zealand. She was born on 23 Nov 1909 in Taupiri, Waikato, New Zealand.

iii. ELSIE ALICE FRANKLIN was born on 13 Mar 1898 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married (1) THOMAS WILLIAM WALL in 1924 in New Zealand. He was born on 02 Apr 1897. He died in Auckland, New Zealand. She married (2) EDGAR HAMMOND.

2. PAUL FRANKLIN was born on 02 Nov 1866 in Wellington, New Zealand. He died on 20 Feb 1942 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Johanna Longeran, daughter of William Longeran and Mary Sheehan, on 11 Jun 1900 in Catholic Church, Napier, Hawkes Bay,New Zealand. She was born in 1869 in Ireland. She died on 16 Sep 1956 in New Zealand.
Paul Franklin and Johanna Longeran had the following children:

i. DOROTHEA MARY ELIZABETH3 FRANKLIN was born on 18 Feb 1903 in New Zealand. She died on 06 Nov 1978 in New Zealand. She married Frank Cecil John Cook in 1930 in New Zealand. He was born in 1904 in New Zealand. He died on 08 Mar 1968 in New Zealand.

ii. JOSEPH MACRAE FRANKLIN was born on 10 Jan 1906 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 02 Apr 1989 in New Zealand.

2. ELIZABETH (LIZZIE) JANE FRANKLIN was born on 4 Dec 1868 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 02 Sep 1942 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married William Gifford, son of George Gifford and Margaret Walsh, on 25 Nov 1896 in St John’s Manse, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. He was born in 1865. He died on 16 Jun 1923 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

William Gifford and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Jane Franklin had the following children:

i. GIFFORD was born on 19 Aug 1898 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 19 Aug 1898 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

ii. JOSEPH (JOE) JARVIS GIFFORD was born on 22 Oct 1899 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 04 Aug 1930 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

iii. MURIEL RITA GIFFORD was born on 2 Apr 1903 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 07 Apr 1980 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

4. MAURICE MAXMILLIAN FRANKLIN was born on 15 Jul 1870 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 23 Aug 1911 in Kingsland, Auckland, New Zealand. He married Violet Annie Willey, daughter of William Willey and Emma Winsor, on 14 Mar 1906 in St David’s, Auckland, New Zealand. She was born in 1882 in Auckland, New Zealand. She died on 09 May 1941 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Maurice Maxmillian Franklin and Violet Annie Willey had the following children:

i. MAURICE GEORGE DOUGLAS FRANKLIN was born on 07 Dec 1906 in Auckland, New Zealand. He died on 18 Apr 1979 in New Zealand. He married Clara Margaret Bowden in 1932 in New Zealand.

ii. MABEL MAY FRANKLIN was born on 27 Aug 1908 in Auckland, New Zealand. She died on 09 Feb 2002 in New Zealand. She married Claude Raymond Gomas in 1931 in New Zealand. He was born on 6 Dec 1905 in Auckland, New Zealand. He died on 17 Jun 1992 in Auckland, New Zealand.

5. DOROTHEA FRANKLIN was born on 01 Nov 1871 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 23 Apr 1959 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married William (Willie) Downes, son of William Downes and Margaret Cummock, on 13 May 1893 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 30 Oct 1870 in Kilmog, Silvepeaks, Otago, New Zealand. He died on 24 Jun 1957 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

William (Willie) Downes and Dorothea Franklin had the following children:

i. WILLIAM PHILLIP DOWNES was born on 28 Oct 1893 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 04 Mar 1894 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

ii. WINIFRED MAY DOWNES was born on 26 Feb 1896 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 25 Oct 1979.

iii. REGINALD NOBLE DOWNES was born on 15 Nov 1901 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 09 Oct 1976 in New Zealand. He married Emmeline Annie Smith in 1927 in New Zealand.

iv. DOROTHEA (DORRIE) DOWNES was born on 17 Oct 1903 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 22 Jun 1986 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

v. KEITH EDWIN DOWNES was born on 10 Oct 1907 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 12 Oct 1994 in New Zealand.

vi. JOYCE MARGARET DOWNES was born on 24 Jul 1909 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 24 Aug 2006 in New Zealand. She married Frederick Clarence Hooper, son of Charles Francis Hooper and Maud Winifred Boler, on 08 Mar 1932 in St Pauls, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 11 Jul 1904 in New Zealand. He died on 23 Nov 1984 in Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand.

6. BERNARD (BEN) ADOLPH FRANKLIN was born on 20 Feb 1873 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 31 Aug 1946 in Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand.. He married Miriam Redward, daughter of Thomas Redward and Mary Eason, on 14 May 1902 in Port Presbyterian Church, Spit, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born in 1874. She died on 29 May 1951 in Drury, Auckland, New Zealand.

Bernard (Ben) Adolph Franklin and Miriam Redward had the following children:

i. FLORENCE (FLO) MAY FRANKLIN was born on 11 Jul 1903 in New Zealand. She died on 15 Jul 1985 in New Zealand. She married Albert Gordon Fisher in 1925. He was born on 02 Aug 1902 in New Zealand. He died on 06 Sep 1975 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand.

ii. JEAN FRANKLIN was born on 29 Nov 1906 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 19 May 1989 in Auckland, New Zealand. She married Arnold Carlisle Kessell White, son of Henry White and Mary Emma Thompson, on 02 Jan 1929 in Auckland, New Zealand. He was born on 02 Aug 1906 in Helensville, Auckland, New Zealand. He died on 22 Apr 1968 in Auckland, New Zealand.

iii. NANCY FRANKLIN was born on 04 Sep 1915 in New Zealand. She died on 20 Mar 2008 in New Zealand.

7. JOHN (JACK) HENRY FRANKLIN was born on 15 Sep 1875 in Te Aute, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 30 Oct 1948 in Taradale, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Ada Amelia McKain, daughter of Isaac Septimus McKain and Harriett Anne Villers, on 13 Jun 1898 in Pakowhai, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born on 16 Jun 1871 in New Zealand. She died on 26 Oct 1949 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. John (Jack) Henry Franklin and Ada Amelia McKain had the following children:

i. DULCIE ELIZABETH HARRIET FRANKLIN was born on 03 Sep 1898 in Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She died on 23 Aug 1969 in New Zealand. She married Harry Roy Bower on 18 Sep 1921 in New Zealand. He was born on 22 Aug 1890 in New Zealand. He died on 16 Aug 1941 in New Zealand.

ii. LEONARD JOHN ISAAC FRANKLIN was born on 03 Sep 1898 in New Zealand. He died on 08 Jul 1970 in New Zealand. He married Patricia Mary (Bridget) McCarthy on 27 Feb 1926 in New Zealand. She was born on 29 Aug 1896 in Knockdrina, Thomastown, Ireland. She died on 10 May 1988 in Taupo, New Zealand.

iii. BERNARD (BUNNY) ADOLPHUS FRANKLIN was born on 4 Jul 1900 in Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. He died on 25 Oct 1962 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Charlotte Eva White, daughter of William James White and Rebecca Burns, in 1937 in New Zealand. She was born in 1901 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. She died on 26 Aug 1968 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

iv. JOHN (JACK) HENRY FRANKLIN was born on 07 Feb 1902 in New Zealand. He died on 31 Aug 1982 in New Zealand. He married Barbara Graham on 15 Mar 1930 in New Zealand. She was born on 27 Feb 1909. She died on 16 Aug 1991 in New Zealand.

v. SYDNEY CHARLES FRANKLIN was born on 11 Jun 1903 in New Zealand. He died on 29 Jan 1960 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He married Vina May Davey on 05 May 1928 in New Zealand. She was born on 25 Dec 1906 in New Zealand. She died on 21 Jun 1993 in New Zealand.

vi. JAMES (JIMMY) BALDWIN FRANKLIN was born on 16 Oct 1904 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 27 Jun 1976 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He married Sheila Veronica Burgess, daughter of William Henry Burgess and Mary Ellen Lawton, on 01 Jun 1932 in St Patrick’s Church, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born on 08 Apr 1914 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 06 May 1994 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

vii. GEORGE LAURENCE FRANKLIN was born on 2 Sep 1906 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 09 May 1987 in New Zealand. He married (1) ADELINE EILEEN SHERIDAN in 1935 in New Zealand. She was born on 23 Jul 1908 in New Zealand. She died on 28 Jun 1979 in New Zealand. He married (2) KATHLEEN TURVILLE in 1933 in New Zealand. She was born in 1904 in the Aston Registration District, Warwickshire, England. She died on 16 Oct 1934 in New Zealand.

viii. MYRTLE AZALIA FRANKLIN was born on 13 Sep 1907 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. She died on 30 Dec 1973 in New Zealand. She married William Johathan Moorhouse in 1930 in New Zealand.

ix. IVY HARRIET FRANKLIN was born on 16 Apr 1909 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. She died on 16 Apr 1998 in New Zealand. She married (1) LESLIE BATE in 1940 in New Zealand. He was born on 23 Dec 1907 in New Zealand. He died on 22 Dec 1998 in New Zealand.

x. FRANCIS (FRANK) WILLIAM FRANKLIN was born on 10 Oct 1910 in New Zealand. He died on 12 Oct 1992 in New Zealand.

xi. NORMAN MAURICE FRANKLIN was born on 7 Nov 1912 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. He died on 03 Nov 1981 in Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. He married Ivy Kent in 1940 in New Zealand. She was born on 22 May 1913. She died on 30 Dec 2001 in New Zealand.

xii. BRUCE NORMAN FRANKLIN was born about 1916 in New Zealand. He died on 25 Nov 1941 in North Africa (Age: 25).

8. CHARLOTTE LAVINIA FRANKLIN was born on 5 Aug 1877 in Port Ahuriri, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She died on 16 Aug 1976 in Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She married James Harris O’Donnell, son of William O’Donnell and Martha McCarthy, on 07 Oct 1903 in Registrar of Marriages, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 12 Oct 1870 in Auckland Beach, West Coast, New Zealand. He died on 31 Oct 1949 in Cook Hospital, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand.

James Harris O’Donnell and Charlotte Lavinia Franklin had the following children:

i. DOROTHEA (DOT) O’DONNELL was born on 25 Nov 1897 in Kaiti, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She died on 16 Oct 1988 in Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married John Wynn (Jack) McGaveston, son of Charles Winford McGaveston and Ada Materoa Cuff, on 22 May 1918 in Residence of Mr Charles Winford McGaveston, Makauri, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 22 Jun 1898 in Waerenga-a-hika, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. He died on 21 Jun 1955 in Memorial Public Hospital, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

ii. HAROLD O’DONNELL was born on 10 Jul 1904 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He died on 18 Dec 1980 in Matahina Road, Te Teko, Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. He married Mairi Elizabeth Grant, daughter of John Low Grant and Jessie Miller Ewenson, on 14 Jun 1932 in Presbyterian Church, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She was born on 24 Oct 1907 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. She died on 20 Sep 1993 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He married Marie Okeroa Hinekura Gemmell in 1971 in Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. She was born on 05 May 1928. She died in 1996.

iii. MAVIS ALMA O’DONNELL was born on 16 Apr 1907 in Whataukopo, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She died on 22 Aug 1982 in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. She married David Thomas Bevan, son of Thomas Bevan and Janet (Jennet) Davies, on 19 Sep 1939 in Registrars Office, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 20 Aug 1901 in Lambton, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 11 Sep 1979 in General Hospital, Taupo, Waikato, New Zealand.

iv. RANDAL NOBLE O’DONNELL was born on 09 Oct 1916 in Rostrevor Private Hospital, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. He died on 30 Dec 1987 in Public Hospital, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. He met (1) RITA IRENE DAVIDSON. She was born on 27 Mar 1914 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She died on 23 Apr 2003 in Mary Doyle Trust Complex, Karanema Drive, Havelock North, New Zealand. He married Carol Shirley Carr, daughter of Vincent Daglish Carr and Kathleen Molly Alexander, on 06 Sep 1952 in St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She was born on 27 May 1931 in West Derby, Lancashire, England. She died on 23 May 2007 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

v. MURIEL RETA O’DONNELL was born on 21 May 1918 in Rostrevor Private Hospital, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. She died on 31 Jan 2008 in Baylor All Saints Medical Center, Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, USA. She married Richard Horton, son of Edward Arphaxed Horton and Lula Paradine Mask, on 3 Mar 1943 in Registry Office, Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He was born on 11 May 1920 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He died on 4 Nov 1992 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA (Age at Death: 72).

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Maule family of Scotland

Tags

Alexander Maule, Annie Maule, Australia, Ballarat, Belleville, Bendigo, Blenheim, Caseyville, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, DNA, Edward Brown, Francis Maule, Hall, Illinois, Janet Sibbett, John Maule, Margaret Hall, Maule, New Zealand, Perthshire, Robert Maule, Scotland, St Clair, Stirlingshire, Tullialan, Tullibody, United States, Victoria, Wardlaw

The Maules of Scotland are numerous thanks in part to large families but the Maule surname and it’s variants can be found in many countries around the world. There are English, Scottish, Dutch, German, Spanish, Swiss, Finnish, United States, Australian, New Zealand and French Mauls, Maules, Malls etc. You can read about the name variants here. The Maule name through the censuses bears witness to some outlandish variants. Not all will be genetically connected as surnames can evolve independently.

This is a work in progress!

I need your help! If you have the surname Maule and can trace your direct paternal line back to these families please Contact Me. I need a male Maule to YDNA (direct paternal line) test to see if we can link our family to other Maule families around the world. I will pay for this test. The test is done through Family Tree DNA and takes about 2 minutes to do.

Why cant I do the test? I have but my surname is Day and it traces my Day family line back 165,000 years. My ancestor was Annie Maule so I cant trace the male Maule line with my YDNA. More info about this test can be found below.

About me

I have a passion for family history and for many of my family lines I am one of the few pursuing the origins and finding more information about the lives of my ancestors. I am a descendant of John Maule and Janet Sibbett via their son Alexander Maule who married Margaret Hall. Alexander and Margarets daughter Annie Maule married John McNab and moved from Scotland to Australia before she met my ancestor Edward Brown and had more children.

Acknowledgements

A lot of work has been done on the origins of the many Maule families and there are some great resources if you are just starting out.

• The late Keith Mole from Australia via his website:
• James (Jim) Edward Maule from the USA via his website:
• Tania Shalders – a descendant of Alexander Maule and Margaret Hall.
• My father Philip Day whose DNA has proved many of the genetic links between the families.

DNA and the origin of the Maules

DNA has been an incredible tool to prove and disprove links between the Maule family lines. The most widely used DNA tests are offered by Ancestry.com and other sites such as ‘Family Tree DNA’ (FTDNA), ‘My Heritage’ and ’23 and Me’. These are autosomal tests which look at both of your parents family lines.

FTDNA offers another test which is also important called the YDNA or direct male line test. This traces your direct paternal line back thousands of years and compares the result to the database of other testers to see if there is a genetic connection between the male Maule lines. To take this test you would need to be male and be able to trace your Maule surname back multiple generations. This is important because if you, your father, your grandfather was adopted into the Maule family you would carry the DNA of the male who assisted with the conception.

I need your help! I am looking for a male descendant of Alexander Maule and Margaret Hall to YDNA test through FTDNA. The person needs to have the Maule surname and be able to trace their direct male line back to Alexander Maule or his father John Maule. If you were adopted into the Maule family and given the Maule surname the test would pick up on the genetic male line which is not a Maule line so for testing purposes it is important you are a direct biological male descendant of John Maule or Alexander Maule. I am happy to pay for this test. I’m also looking for a descendant of John Maule who married Catherine Wardlaw to YDNA test. One line should be enough to see if we can link our Maules to any of the other Maule families who have YDNA tested. Please use the Contact form at the bottom of this page if you can help.

The descendants of John Maule and Janet Sibbett

My Maule family history begins with the marriage of John Maule to Janet Sibbett. We may be able to go back another generation if we can find evidence that Johns parents were Alexander Maule and Margaret Hedderick who married on 12 Apr 1765 in  Muthill, Perthshire, Scotland.

At present I have been unable to find the marriage of John Maule to Janet Sibbett. If you can help please Contact me.

More work needs to be done to find what happened to John and Janet. At present the records I have found of their burials need more evidence to show they are the correct John and Janet Maule.

Sourced from Tullialan: Four lads o’ pairts written by Rev William Meiklejohn. M.A

John and Janet had at least 3 confirmed children but there may be others. It is important to note that where the children were baptised may not have been where they were born but usually it was in a similar location. According to the death certificate of John Maule his father was a Tailor so may have moved around.

• Alexander Maule born 16 December 1803 and baptised 17 January 1804 in Tullialan, Perthshire, Scotland

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

• Anne Maule born 13 July 1805 and baptised 24 August 1805 in Tullialan, Perthshire, Scotland

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

• John Maule 1810-1885 born in Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland.

I haven’t found a baptism for John but do have his marriage and death certificate naming his parents. If you can find the baptism could you please Contact me.

Speculative other child:

• Robert

Robert is listed as speculative as I have not been able to find his baptism to confirm he is a child of John and Janet but there is some evidence that his father was John Maule – Taylor of Kincardine, Perthshire, Scotland.

Alexander Maule 1803-1851

Alexander Maule married Margaret Hall by Banns on 9 December 1825 in Alloa, Clackmannashire, Scotland. (The banns or notice of the proposed marriage were proclaimed in the Kirk before the congregation on three successive Sundays in case there was any impediment to the marriage. If the bride and groom lived in different parishes the banns were proclaimed in both although not necessarily on the same dates. As a result you will often find two index entries for your marriage search as the proclamation of banns were recorded in each of the respective Old Parish Registers.)

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

Alexander and Margaret Maule had the following children:

• Annie Maule 1826-1908
• Janet Maule 1828-?
• Margaret Maule 1830-1882
• John Maule 1832-1834
• Francis Maule 1834-1878
• John Maule 1836-1930
• Alexander Maule 1837-1838
• Alexander Maule 1840-1841
• Robert Maule 1842-1862
• Alexander Maule 1844-1929 (Can you find the baptism?)
• Janet about 1848 (Speculative but based on the incorrect 1851 census – Can you find the baptism?)

On 10 August 1834 Alexander Maule was listed as a male head of his family. His occupation was labourer and he was living in Clackmannan, Clackmannashire, Scotland.

In the 1841 Scottish census Alexander (age 36) and Margaret Maule (age 35) had living with them:

• Margaret Maule – age 10
• Francis Maule – age 7
• John Maule – age 5

Image courtesy of Scotland’s People

There is no 1851 census record naming Alexander Maule and his children, however, there is a record for Francis Maule with 4 of Alexanders children. If this is Alexander the record says he is 47 making his birth 1804. He’s a labourer and born Kincardine, Perthshire. Adding to the confusion there is no baptism for a Janet born about 1848 nor Alexander (Junior) born about 1844/5 despite Alexander (Juniors) marriage record naming his father as Alexander.

Francis Maule Age 47 (widower)
Margt Maule Age 20 (listed as Francis wife)
Robert Maule Age 7
Alexander Maule Age 5
Janet Maule Age 3

Family trees online have recorded Margaret Maule nee Hall as dying in 1865. I have found no evidence of this. If you can offer me evidence that 1865 is the correct death date please Contact me. I offer an alternate death date for Margaret and firmly believe this is the correct record.

On 22 January 1850 Margaret Maule died or was buried. You will see that the record says Margaret Hall, daughter of Alexander Maule but it is a mistake. We know Margaret’s maiden name was Hall and we know Alexander was working at Dolls Distillery at this time. Alexander and Margaret’s daughter also named Margaret married in 1851 to Francis Maule. Margaret and Francis moved to Australia. Margaret died in 1882 and her death certificate names her father as Alexander Maule (distiller) and mother as Margaret.

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

After the death of Margaret Maule (nee Hall) Alexander may havbe remarried  to Elizabeth Simpson on 2 May 1851 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Interestingly Francis Maule marries Alexanders daughter in the same church on the same day!

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

Further tragedy befell this family.

Alexander Maule died on 25 Dec 1851 at Dolls Distillery, Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. His death was the 25 December 1851 and burial date was 29 December 1851. The first story of his death was dated 27 December 1851 which is a Saturday. The Thursday prior to that was 25 December 1851.

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

Alloa Advertiser Saturday December 27, 1851 page 4

Stirling Observer 1 January 1852. Image courtesy of Find My Past.

Falkirk Herald 1 January 1852. Image courtesy of Find My Past.

What happened to the children of Alexander and Margaret?

1.Annie Maule

Annie married John McNab on 9 Dec 1848 in Logie, Perthshire, Scotland.

They had at least 5 children:

• Robert McNab 1847-1852
• Daniel McNab 1849-1854
• Marjory May McNab 1852-1945
• Daniel Edward McNab 1856-1875
• Margaret McNab ?-1852

Annie and John McNab were in the 1851 Scottish census. They were living in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, Scotland

• John McNab age 26
• Anne McNab age 23
• Robert McNab age 4
• Daniel McNab age 2
• Marjory McNab age 1 month

On 26 May 1852 they left  Liverpool, England aboard the shop Borneouf arriving 3 September 1852 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.

Around 1857 John McNab disappears from records and Annie meets Edward Brown and has 3 children with him between 1858 and 1868. Annie Maule and Edward Brown had:

• John James Brown born 3 June 1858 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
• Isabella Brown born 1 March 1860 in Talbot, Victoria, Australia. There is no birth record for Isabella.
• Alexander Brown born around 1868 in Victoria, Australia. There is no birth record for Alexander.

Edward had left Annie between the birth of Isabella and Alexander. Edward had moved to Daylesford, Victoria, Australia and married Mary Ann Carrick and had four more children. Edward likely had nothing to do with his children with Annie as he named one of his sons with Mary Ann Carrick – John Henry Carrick Brown. Edwards daughter Isabella referred to herself as Isabella Goudeur through official records.

Annie met and married Henry Goudeur/Goedheer on 15 Jul 1871 in Graytown, Victoria, Australia. They had no children together. Henry had a child with with Catherine Marie Jones in 1883. In assuming that Henry wanted children or left Annie because he marries on 3 June 1885 at the Primitive Methodist Parsonage, Carlton, Victoria, Australia to Catherine Marie Jones 1861-1944 and has two further children.

Annie Goudeur is on the 1903 electoral role living in Taripta, Victoria, Australia.

Annie Goudeur dies on 27 Jan 1908 in Wattle Street, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. She is buried in White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

2. Janet Maule

Janet was baptised on 16 Apr 1828 in Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.

She is in the 1841 Scottish census where she is working as a servant in the home of Francis Maule, his wife and two children.

I have not been able to find what happened to Janet Maule. Can you help?

3. Margaret Maule

Margaret was baptised 1 May 1830 in Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, Scotland.

She is in the 1841 census with both her parents and her brothers Francis and John Maule.

In the 1851 census she is 20 years old and listed with Francis Maule (age 47) her brothers Robert Maule (age 7), Alexander Maule (age 5) and sister Janet Maule (age 3). The record incorrectly records her father as Francis instead of Alexander.

On 2 May 1851 she marries Francis Maule in Logie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. On the same day her father remarries in the same church to his second wife.

Margaret Maule and Francis Maule had the following children:

• Alexander Maule 1853-1855 born in Scotland. Died on the Voyage to Australia
• Margaret Maule 1855-1902 born in Australia
• Anne Maule 1858-1925 born in Australia
• Georgina Stewart Maule 1860-1950 born in Australia
• Alexander Maule 1862-1863 born in Australia
• Hughena Margaret Fairly Maule 1865-1945 born in Australia

Margaret and Francis emigrate to Australia aboard the The Athlete/Athletae. The ship sailed from Birkenhead on 23 November 1854 and arrived at Portland on 19 February 1855. Three of Francis children from his first marriage to Janet Cochrane accompanied him. The first child born to Francis and Margaret named Alexander died on the ship to Australia.

• Francis age was 35
• Margaret was 25
• John was 13
• Jane was 11
• Janet was 8

Francis was an assisted passenger and listed his occupation as agricultural labourer who was working for Henry Munro working on the Crawford pastoral lease. Works needs to be done to find out if Francis and Margaret ended up working the pastoral lease.

Margaret Maule is recorded in the newspapers in 1863.

Margaret Maule license renewal The Star 12 June 1863. Image courtesy of Trove.

Margaret Maule court case The Star 15 July 1864. Image courtesy of Trove.

Francis Maule dies from chronic bronchitus on 10 November 1874 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

In Dunedin with Francis was his son John Maule.

Francis Maule death Otago Daily Times 12 Nov 1874. Image courtesy of Papers Past.

Francis Maule funeral notice Otago Daily Times 12 Nov 1874. Image courtesy of Papers Past.

Francis Maule death Otago Daily Times 16 Dec 1874. Image courtesy of Papers Past.

Francis is buried in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Margaret Maule dies 26 January 1882 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

Margaret Maule death. The Ballarat Star 28 Jan 1882. Image courtesy of Trove.

Margaret Maule burial. The Ballarat Star 28 Jan 1882. Image courtesy of Trove. At the time the name of the cemetery was the Ballarat New Cemetery. Now it is referred to as the Ballarat Old Cemetery and Margarets name is on the headstone.

Margaret Maule transfer of license. The Ballarat Star 29 Apr 1882. Image courtesy of Trove.

Margaret Maule Will. The Ballarat Star 6 June 1882. Image courtesy of Trove.

4. Francis Maule

I cant find Francis on the 1851 Scottish census. If you can find him please Contact me.

Francis Maule marries Jane Malcolm on 30 Apr 1857 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The witnesses were Jane B Shannon and Margaret Nelson. They had at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1857-1894
• Francis Maule 1858-1858
• Jane Malcolm Maule 1858-1864
• Ellen Francis Maule 1858-?
• Francis Maule 1861-1931
• George Maule 1863-1866

Francis was a sea captain and can be found in shipping records visiting New Zealand on his many voyages. In New Zealand Francis meets and marries Margaret (Mary) Grubb 1843-1894. They marry on 18 Sep 1862 in the House of W Grubb, Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand. The witnesses were: Edward Alan and Jane Grubb.

They had at least 7 children:

• Francis Maule 1863-1878
• Mary Maule 1864-1926
• Margaret Anne Maule 1866-?
• John Maule 1869-?
• Janet Lily Maule 1871-1958
• Madelaine Maule 1872-1950
• James Alexander Maule 1873-1954

Francis then meets Ellen O’Halloran 1852-1914. They do not marry but have 2 children together. Ellen is living on the West Coast of the North Island.

• John (James Francis, Joseph, Jim) Maule 1875-1918
• Helena (Lena) Margaret Maule 1878-1955.

Francis dies on 15 Aug 1878 while at sea in the wreck of Kaiuma, Raglan, Waikato, New Zealand. His son Francis Maule 1863-1878 is aboard the same ship and also dies.

5. John Maule 1836-1930

John emigrates to the USA around 1852/1853. He marries Margaret Archibald 1835-1870 and has at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1855-1875
• Margaret Maule 1861-1947
• Jeanette Maule 1863-1953
• Francis Alexander (Frank) Maule 1865-1934
• Robert Maule 1867-1896
• John Maule 1870-1889

John Maule Sr moves to St Clair, Illinois, USA with his family around 1869. His wife Margaret dies on 13 August 1870.

John then remarries on 29 Nov 1870 in St Clair, Illinois, USA to Sarah Wandless 1850-1923. They have at least 8 children together.

• Elizabeth (Libbie) Maule 1873-1947
• William Maule 1875-1960
• Alexander Maule 1877-1934
• James W Maule 1878-1932
• Edward Maule 1881-1972
• Eugene Maule 1884-1962
• Arthur Maule 1889-?
• Mildred Maule 1989-1986

Sarah Maule nee Wandless died 12 May 1923 • East Saint Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

John did very well for himself and there is a biography of him sourced from FamilySearch.org

From: Portrait and Biographical Record of St. Clair County Illinois by Chapman Bros. 1892 Chicago

JOHN MAULE. This gentleman is President of the Maule Coal Company at Belleville, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 and has the following officers: John Maule, President; Frank Maule, Vice-president and Treasurer; and Robert Maule, Superintendent and Manager. He also belongs to the National Coal Company, which has a capital stock of $10,000 and the same officers.

John Maule was born in Clackmannanshire, January 5, 1837, and passed his childhood years in Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents, Alexander and Margaret (Hall) Maule, died when he was very young, and he was, therefore, obliged to be self supporting from an early age. He came to the United States in 1851, and began working in a coal mine five miles from St. Louis, Mo., where he continued for twelve years. In 1863, he went to Caseyville, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and opening up a mine began operating for himself. After remaining there seven years, he sold the mine and sunk another on the Vandalia Railroad, which he named the Abbey Mines. He became a large operator, employing one hundred and twenty-five men and shipping twenty-five carloads of coal every day. He had the first large mine there, and was very successful until he sold out to the railroad in 1868. His next venture was that of sinking a mine to a depth of five hundred feet, but he failed to get coal.

In 1868, Mr. Maule came to Belleville and opened a mine on the Pittsburg Road, mainly for the local market. After exhausting the coal supply there, he sunk a mine on the Belleville & Carondelet Railroad, in 1886. This is known as the Maule Mine and has a slope entrance, with all running machinery. He has an annual lease of one hundred and ten acres, and furnishes coal for the largest furnaces of Belleville. He supplies the railroad from the Belleville Steel Works to Cairo, and the Short Line Railroad, the former consuming five thousand bushels a day, with two locomotives and one hundred and forty-six cars. This plant represents $75,000, although it is capitalized at $100,000. The National Mine is about one-fourth of a mile west of the Maule, and is a shaft on the Belleville it Carondelet Railroad, with complete equipments for shaft mining. The Maule mine is operated by compressed air and runs a railroad to all parts, hauling fifteen hundred feet with a cable wire. The company has offices and yards at No. 17 Clark Avenue, and also in East St. Louis. Our subject divides his time between his two places of business, making his home in Belleville.

The career of Mr. Maule has in many respects been a remarkable one. and furnishes an illustration of the power of industry. Without friends, and without even five cents in his pocket, he came to Belleville, where now he is one of the most prosperous citizens. He owns real estate in the city, probably to the amount of $25,000, which does not include his fine brick residence at No. 415 Franklin Avenue.

Mr. Maule first married Miss Margaret Archibald, of Scotland, born near Stirling, he having sent for her to his old home. She died in August 1870 leaving four children, as follows: Maggie, wife of John Doan, of St. Louis; Jeaunette, wife of Fairly Nelison, of St. Louis; Francis and Robert. Afterward, Mr. Maule married Sarah Wandless, of Caseyville, Ill. They have six children: Elizabeth, wife of George Roth of this city; William, Alexander, James, Eugene and Arthur. They are highly respected members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Honor. He has been Alderman for the Third Ward and was appointed by the Governor State Examiner of Mines of Illinois. Here is an example where honest, thrifty industry has obtained its deserved reward.

6. Robert Maule 1842-1862

Robert moves to Illinois, USA and dies in August 1862 age 21 years old. He is buried in Caseyville Cemetery, Caseyville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

7. Alexander Maule 1844-1920

Alexander is in the 1861 census living with his grandmother Agnes Hall nee Muir/Moore. he is age 16 and Agnes is 78 years old. Alexander is a wool weaver.

Can you find Alexander in the 1851 census?

Alexander marries Helen McLaren 1845-1885 on 19 Jan 1864 •in Alva, Stirling, Scotland. They have at least 10 children together.

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

They have their first two children in Scotland before emigrating to New Zealand.

• Agnes Cuthbertson Maule 1864-1937
• Margaret Ann Hall Maule 1866-1950
• Alexander Maule 1868-1937
• Helen McLaren Maule 1871-1931
• Janet McLaren Maule 1873-1943
• Mary Jane Maule 1876-1954
• Annie Maule 1878-1960
• Robert McLaren Maule 1880-1952
• Francis John Maule 1883-1883
• Charlotte McLaren Maule 1885-1961

Helen McLaren passes away on 30 March 1885 in Kaiuma Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand. With the oldest of her children 20 years old they may have looked after their younger siblings while their father worked or took on employment to help the family.

Alexander passes away on 6 Aug 1929 in Rai Valley, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. He is buried at the Havelock Cemetery, Havelock, Marlborough, New Zealand.

8. Janet Maule Abt 1849

We have no information about Janet recorded in the 1851 census. Can you help find her baptism or burial?

The next confirmed child of John Maule and Janet Sibbett is:

Anne Maule 1805-1875

Anne married John Richard Black 1804-1883 on 23 Sep 1825 at South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. The marriage record names her father as Thomas Maule but it is not correct. More about this later. Ann and John had at least 7 children with the first two being born in South America

• Alexander Nicholas Black born 19 Jan 1827-1889 in Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
• Elizabeth Ann Black born 17 Jan 1829 in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• John Maule Black 1836-1839
• Julianna Margaret Jeffrey Black 1842-1896
• John Richard Black 1843-1910
• Alice Anna Black 1845-1933
• James Fergus Black 1850-1929

Between 1829 and 1839 the family move back to Scotland then move to Simons Town, South Africa. John Maule Black died in 1839 in Simons Town, South Africa.

On 1 December 1840 Kirk Session (transcription) Pages 90/91

Anne Black corresponded with the church to say that her fathers name had been incorrectly recorded on her marriage. (There’s quite a few family trees online that have her father listed as Thomas Maule as a consequence).

Register Corrected

The clerk stated that Ann Maule or Black having called upon him for an extract of her marriage, and having found it to be erroneously stated in the Register that her father’s name was Thomas instead of John and of Leith instead of Kincardine, and not being able to wait till the matter was brought before the Session To be rectified, and the facts being certified to him by her brother John Maule and by Mr Wm Grandison, he had taken upon himself to insert the corrections in the margin of the Register, and give a corrected Extract. The Session Approved of what the Clerk had done.

The Clerk also stated that he had received a letter from the same Mrs Black, which he laid on the table, requesting the Session To allow him to register the births of her two children by her lawful husband John Black in the Books of this parish where she was married, although they were born in South America, in order that references might be made to the registration if necessary, accompanied by a certificate of their births by Margaret McPherson, relict of David Robertson, who was then resident in Buenos Ayres stating that Alexander was born on 19 Jany 1827 at Chilisito in the province of Rioja, and Elizabeth at Buenos Ayres on the 17^th Jany 1829; that as she could not wait for an ordinary meeting of Session, the (the Clerk) had consulted Mr Thorburn, who thought the births might be inserted in the Register, and the matter brought before the Session At their first ordinary meeting that what had been done might be approved of. The Session Having heard the letter read & the accompanying certificate, were satisfied of the construct? Of the dates of births and approved of the previous registration in the circumstances of the case.

1. Alexander Nicholas Black marries Susannah Jarman 1830-1871 and has 2 children

• John Maule Black 1855-1906
• Elizabeth Sarah (Bessie) Black 1858-1896

After Susannah passes away in 1871 Alexander then marries Sarah Higgs 1837-1917 and has 2 more children:

• Alexander Julian Fison Black 1877-1946
• Edith Janet Alice Black 1882-?

Alexander passes away on 18 Mar 1889 in Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa and is buried in the  Seaforth Old Burying Ground, Seaforth, South Africa.

2. Elizabeth Ann Black

3. (More to add)

 John Maule 1810-1885

John Maule marries Catherine Wardlaw 1808-1885 on 7 Aug 1829 in Saline, Fifeshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children.

• John Maule 1829-1913
• Janet Maule 1832-1916
• Catherine Maule 1834-1924
• Thomas Maule 1838-?
• Anne Maule 1841-1841
• Anne Maule 1842-1862
• Alexander Maule 1842-1926

On 1 December 1840 John Maule is mentioned in the Kirk Session

The Kirk Session record on 1 Dec 1840 mentions Johns sister Annie Maule/Black correcting her fathers name on her marriage record From Thomas to John and her desire for her first two children’s births to be recognized in her parish in Scotland as they were born in South America.

In 1841 census

• John Maue Age 30
  Catherine Maue Age 30
  John Maue Age 12
  Janet Maue Age 9
  Catherine Maue Age 6
  Thomas Maue Age 3

In the 1851 census

• John Maud Age 40
• Catherine Maud Age 41
• Thomas Maud Age 13
• Alexander Maud Age 8
• Ann Maud Age 8

In the 1861 census

John Maule Age 49
Cathrine Maule Age 49
John Maule Age 7 (grandson)

In the 1871 census

• John Maule Age 61
• Cathrine Maule Age 62

In the 1881 census

• John Manh Age 70
• Catherine Manh Age 71

Catherine passes away on 31 Mar 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

John passes away on 10 Jul 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His son John Maule is the informant.

Robert Maule 1810-Bef 1841

Very little is known about Robert Maule. We have no baptism, marriage or death at this stage. He has one child named Robert Maule with Catherine Meiklejohn. Some family trees online have Roberts parents as John Maul and Catherine Miller who are from Kinross, Kinrossshire, Scotland. The father of Robert Maule born to John and Catherine was a Wright not a Taylor/Tailor as stated on that Roberts baptism certificate. A wright was a builder or repairer in various trades making it less likely this Robert is from that family. In the baptism of Robert Maule in 1852 Robert is listed as a sheep farmer. Please see the partial biography of Roberts son below.

• Robert Maule born 21 August 1831 in Tullialan, Perthshire, Scotland and died in 1901

This is Robert Maules baptism in 1852 plus his sons baptism. Most likely Robert Maule Sr did not baptise his own son. Image courtesy of Scotlands People.

Sourced from Tullialan: Four lads o’ pairts written by Rev William Meiklejohn. M.A

Robert Maule married Charlotte Parker Rankine 1833-1890 on 16 August 1852 and had at least 8 children

• Robert Maule 1852-1931
• Jane Maule 1855-1856
• Catherine Maule 1857-1859
• Charlotte Rankine Maule 1860-1939
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ann Maule 1861-1867
• Catherine Jane Maule 1863-?
• James (Jamie) Maule 1865-1867
• William Maule 1869-1898

Francis Maule 1804-1874 is not a child of John and Janet Maule but married to a child of Alexander Maule. For some time I worked on a theory that Francis was a sibling of Alexander Maules but there is no proof of this and its likely Francis Maules parents were John Maule and Jean Scotland from Perthshire.

Francis may be a distant cousin to Alexander Maule but so far we have no DNA links to Francis siblings family lines to prove this. We have DNA links to the descendants of Francis Maule and Margaret Maule but this may only be because of Margaret Maules DNA. Their lives and naming traditions of Francis and Alexander are extremely similar and Francis marries Alexanders daughter Margaret Maule.

Francis marries Janet Cochrane 1821-1851 on 10 Nov 1837 in Alva, Stirlingshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children:

• Mary Maule 1838-1899
• John Maule 1840-1875
• Jane Maule 1842-1877
• Robert Maule 1844-?
• Janet Maule 1845-1930
• Alexander Maule 1846
• James Maule 1848-1885

Francis and Janet are in the 1841 census. Francis says he’s 25 making his birth 1816.

Francis Maule Age 25 a spirit dealer living on Toll Road
Janet Maule Age 20
Janet Maule Age 15 (this is likely to be Alexander Maules daughter who is a servant)
Mary Maule Age 3
John Maule Age 1

1851 census he is 47 making his birth 1804. He is a labourer. This record is more likely to be for Alexander Maule which is  ‘missing’. The married part fits with Margaret’s mothers mixed up death record. Born Kincardine, Perthshire. If this is a record of Alexander then there is no baptism for a Janet born about 1848 nor Alexander born about 1844/5.

Francis Maule Age 47
Margt Maule Age 20 (listed as Francis wife)
Robert Maule Age 7
Alexander Maule Age 5
Janet Maule Age 3

There is another 1851 census record for Francis Maule. He is 34 making his birth 1816. He is a spirit dealer living on Toll Road. Born Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire.

Francis Maule Age 34
Mary Maule Age 12
John Maule Age 10
Janet Maule Age 4
Eliza Maule Age 24 (a servant – uncertain family. Not Alexanders)

Image courtesy of ScotlandsPeople.

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4. Francis Maule

I cant find Francis on the 1851 Scottish census. If you can find him please Contact me.

Francis Maule marries Jane Malcolm on 30 Apr 1857 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The witnesses were Jane B Shannon and Margaret Nelson. They had at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1857-1894
• Francis Maule 1858-1858
• Jane Malcolm Maule 1858-1864
• Ellen Francis Maule 1858-?
• Francis Maule 1861-1931
• George Maule 1863-1866

Francis was a sea captain and can be found in shipping records visiting New Zealand on his many voyages. In New Zealand Francis meets and marries Margaret (Mary) Grubb 1843-1894. They marry on 18 Sep 1862 in the House of W Grubb, Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand. The witnesses were: Edward Alan and Jane Grubb.

They had at least 7 children:

• Francis Maule 1863-1878
• Mary Maule 1864-1926
• Margaret Anne Maule 1866-?
• John Maule 1869-?
• Janet Lily Maule 1871-1958
• Madelaine Maule 1872-1950
• James Alexander Maule 1873-1954

Francis then meets Ellen O’Halloran 1852-1914. They do not marry but have 2 children together. Ellen is living on the West Coast of the North Island.

• John (James Francis, Joseph, Jim) Maule 1875-1918
• Helena (Lena) Margaret Maule 1878-1955.

Francis dies on 15 Aug 1878 while at sea in the wreck of Kaiuma, Raglan, Waikato, New Zealand. His son Francis Maule 1863-1878 is aboard the same ship and also dies.

5. John Maule 1836-1930

John emigrates to the USA around 1852/1853. He marries Margaret Archibald 1835-1870 and has at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1855-1875
• Margaret Maule 1861-1947
• Jeanette Maule 1863-1953
• Francis Alexander (Frank) Maule 1865-1934
• Robert Maule 1867-1896
• John Maule 1870-1889

John Maule Sr moves to St Clair, Illinois, USA with his family around 1869. His wife Margaret dies on 13 August 1870.

John then remarries on 29 Nov 1870 in St Clair, Illinois, USA to Sarah Wandless 1850-1923. They have at least 8 children together.

• Elizabeth (Libbie) Maule 1873-1947
• William Maule 1875-1960
• Alexander Maule 1877-1934
• James W Maule 1878-1932
• Edward Maule 1881-1972
• Eugene Maule 1884-1962
• Arthur Maule 1889-?
• Mildred Maule 1989-1986

Sarah Maule nee Wandless died 12 May 1923 • East Saint Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

John did very well for himself and there is a biography of him sourced from FamilySearch.org

From: Portrait and Biographical Record of St. Clair County Illinois by Chapman Bros. 1892 Chicago

JOHN MAULE. This gentleman is President of the Maule Coal Company at Belleville, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 and has the following officers: John Maule, President; Frank Maule, Vice-president and Treasurer; and Robert Maule, Superintendent and Manager. He also belongs to the National Coal Company, which has a capital stock of $10,000 and the same officers.

John Maule was born in Clackmannanshire, January 5, 1837, and passed his childhood years in Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents, Alexander and Margaret (Hall) Maule, died when he was very young, and he was, therefore, obliged to be self supporting from an early age. He came to the United States in 1851, and began working in a coal mine five miles from St. Louis, Mo., where he continued for twelve years. In 1863, he went to Caseyville, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and opening up a mine began operating for himself. After remaining there seven years, he sold the mine and sunk another on the Vandalia Railroad, which he named the Abbey Mines. He became a large operator, employing one hundred and twenty-five men and shipping twenty-five carloads of coal every day. He had the first large mine there, and was very successful until he sold out to the railroad in 1868. His next venture was that of sinking a mine to a depth of five hundred feet, but he failed to get coal.

In 1868, Mr. Maule came to Belleville and opened a mine on the Pittsburg Road, mainly for the local market. After exhausting the coal supply there, he sunk a mine on the Belleville & Carondelet Railroad, in 1886. This is known as the Maule Mine and has a slope entrance, with all running machinery. He has an annual lease of one hundred and ten acres, and furnishes coal for the largest furnaces of Belleville. He supplies the railroad from the Belleville Steel Works to Cairo, and the Short Line Railroad, the former consuming five thousand bushels a day, with two locomotives and one hundred and forty-six cars. This plant represents $75,000, although it is capitalized at $100,000. The National Mine is about one-fourth of a mile west of the Maule, and is a shaft on the Belleville it Carondelet Railroad, with complete equipments for shaft mining. The Maule mine is operated by compressed air and runs a railroad to all parts, hauling fifteen hundred feet with a cable wire. The company has offices and yards at No. 17 Clark Avenue, and also in East St. Louis. Our subject divides his time between his two places of business, making his home in Belleville.

The career of Mr. Maule has in many respects been a remarkable one. and furnishes an illustration of the power of industry. Without friends, and without even five cents in his pocket, he came to Belleville, where now he is one of the most prosperous citizens. He owns real estate in the city, probably to the amount of $25,000, which does not include his fine brick residence at No. 415 Franklin Avenue.

Mr. Maule first married Miss Margaret Archibald, of Scotland, born near Stirling, he having sent for her to his old home. She died in August 1870 leaving four children, as follows: Maggie, wife of John Doan, of St. Louis; Jeaunette, wife of Fairly Nelison, of St. Louis; Francis and Robert. Afterward, Mr. Maule married Sarah Wandless, of Caseyville, Ill. They have six children: Elizabeth, wife of George Roth of this city; William, Alexander, James, Eugene and Arthur. They are highly respected members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Honor. He has been Alderman for the Third Ward and was appointed by the Governor State Examiner of Mines of Illinois. Here is an example where honest, thrifty industry has obtained its deserved reward.

6. Robert Maule 1842-1862

Robert moves to Illinois, USA and dies in August 1862 age 21 years old. He is buried in Caseyville Cemetery, Caseyville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

7. Alexander Maule 1844-1920

Alexander is in the 1861 census living with his grandmother Agnes Hall nee Muir/Moore. he is age 16 and Agnes is 78 years old. Alexander is a wool weaver.

Can you find Alexander in the 1851 census?

Alexander marries Helen McLaren 1845-1885 on 19 Jan 1864 •in Alva, Stirling, Scotland. They have at least 10 children together.

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

They have their first two children in Scotland before emigrating to New Zealand.

• Agnes Cuthbertson Maule 1864-1937
• Margaret Ann Hall Maule 1866-1950
• Alexander Maule 1868-1937
• Helen McLaren Maule 1871-1931
• Janet McLaren Maule 1873-1943
• Mary Jane Maule 1876-1954
• Annie Maule 1878-1960
• Robert McLaren Maule 1880-1952
• Francis John Maule 1883-1883
• Charlotte McLaren Maule 1885-1961

Helen McLaren passes away on 30 March 1885 in Kaiuma Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand. With the oldest of her children 20 years old they may have looked after their younger siblings while their father worked or took on employment to help the family.

Alexander passes away on 6 Aug 1929 in Rai Valley, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. He is buried at the Havelock Cemetery, Havelock, Marlborough, New Zealand.

8. Janet Maule Abt 1849

We have no information about Janet recorded in the 1851 census. Can you help find her baptism or burial?

The next confirmed child of John Maule and Janet Sibbett is:

Anne Maule 1805-1875

Anne married John Richard Black 1804-1883 on 23 Sep 1825 at South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. The marriage record names her father as Thomas Maule but it is not correct. More about this later. Ann and John had at least 7 children with the first two being born in South America

• Alexander Nicholas Black born 19 Jan 1827-1889 in Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
• Elizabeth Ann Black born 17 Jan 1829 in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• John Maule Black 1836-1839
• Julianna Margaret Jeffrey Black 1842-1896
• John Richard Black 1843-1910
• Alice Anna Black 1845-1933
• James Fergus Black 1850-1929

Between 1829 and 1839 the family move back to Scotland then move to Simons Town, South Africa. John Maule Black died in 1839 in Simons Town, South Africa.

On 1 December 1840 Kirk Session (transcription) Pages 90/91

Anne Black corresponded with the church to say that her fathers name had been incorrectly recorded on her marriage. (There’s quite a few family trees online that have her father listed as Thomas Maule as a consequence).

Register Corrected

The clerk stated that Ann Maule or Black having called upon him for an extract of her marriage, and having found it to be erroneously stated in the Register that her father’s name was Thomas instead of John and of Leith instead of Kincardine, and not being able to wait till the matter was brought before the Session To be rectified, and the facts being certified to him by her brother John Maule and by Mr Wm Grandison, he had taken upon himself to insert the corrections in the margin of the Register, and give a corrected Extract. The Session Approved of what the Clerk had done.

The Clerk also stated that he had received a letter from the same Mrs Black, which he laid on the table, requesting the Session To allow him to register the births of her two children by her lawful husband John Black in the Books of this parish where she was married, although they were born in South America, in order that references might be made to the registration if necessary, accompanied by a certificate of their births by Margaret McPherson, relict of David Robertson, who was then resident in Buenos Ayres stating that Alexander was born on 19 Jany 1827 at Chilisito in the province of Rioja, and Elizabeth at Buenos Ayres on the 17^th Jany 1829; that as she could not wait for an ordinary meeting of Session, the (the Clerk) had consulted Mr Thorburn, who thought the births might be inserted in the Register, and the matter brought before the Session At their first ordinary meeting that what had been done might be approved of. The Session Having heard the letter read & the accompanying certificate, were satisfied of the construct? Of the dates of births and approved of the previous registration in the circumstances of the case.

1. Alexander Nicholas Black marries Susannah Jarman 1830-1871 and has 2 children

• John Maule Black 1855-1906
• Elizabeth Sarah (Bessie) Black 1858-1896

After Susannah passes away in 1871 Alexander then marries Sarah Higgs 1837-1917 and has 2 more children:

• Alexander Julian Fison Black 1877-1946
• Edith Janet Alice Black 1882-?

Alexander passes away on 18 Mar 1889 in Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa and is buried in the  Seaforth Old Burying Ground, Seaforth, South Africa.

2. Elizabeth Ann Black

3. (More to add)

 John Maule 1810-1885

John Maule marries Catherine Wardlaw 1808-1885 on 7 Aug 1829 in Saline, Fifeshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children.

• John Maule 1829-1913
• Janet Maule 1832-1916
• Catherine Maule 1834-1924
• Thomas Maule 1838-?
• Anne Maule 1841-1841
• Anne Maule 1842-1862
• Alexander Maule 1842-1926

On 1 December 1840 John Maule is mentioned in the Kirk Session

The Kirk Session record on 1 Dec 1840 mentions Johns sister Annie Maule/Black correcting her fathers name on her marriage record From Thomas to John and her desire for her first two children’s births to be recognized in her parish in Scotland as they were born in South America.

In 1841 census

• John Maue Age 30
  Catherine Maue Age 30
  John Maue Age 12
  Janet Maue Age 9
  Catherine Maue Age 6
  Thomas Maue Age 3

In the 1851 census

• John Maud Age 40
• Catherine Maud Age 41
• Thomas Maud Age 13
• Alexander Maud Age 8
• Ann Maud Age 8

In the 1861 census

John Maule Age 49
Cathrine Maule Age 49
John Maule Age 7 (grandson)

In the 1871 census

• John Maule Age 61
• Cathrine Maule Age 62

In the 1881 census

• John Manh Age 70
• Catherine Manh Age 71

Catherine passes away on 31 Mar 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

John passes away on 10 Jul 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His son John Maule is the informant.

Robert Maule 1810-Bef 1841

Very little is known about Robert Maule. We have no baptism, marriage or death at this stage. He has one child named Robert Maule with Catherine Meiklejohn. Some family trees online have Roberts parents as John Maul and Catherine Miller who are from Kinross, Kinrossshire, Scotland. The father of Robert Maule born to John and Catherine was a Wright not a Taylor/Tailor as stated on that Roberts baptism certificate. A wright was a builder or repairer in various trades making it less likely this Robert is from that family. In the baptism of Robert Maule in 1852 Robert is listed as a sheep farmer. Please see the partial biography of Roberts son below.

• Robert Maule born 21 August 1831 in Tullialan, Perthshire, Scotland and died in 1901

This is Robert Maules baptism in 1852 plus his sons baptism. Most likely Robert Maule Sr did not baptise his own son. Image courtesy of Scotlands People.

Sourced from Tullialan: Four lads o’ pairts written by Rev William Meiklejohn. M.A

Robert Maule married Charlotte Parker Rankine 1833-1890 on 16 August 1852 and had at least 8 children

• Robert Maule 1852-1931
• Jane Maule 1855-1856
• Catherine Maule 1857-1859
• Charlotte Rankine Maule 1860-1939
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ann Maule 1861-1867
• Catherine Jane Maule 1863-?
• James (Jamie) Maule 1865-1867
• William Maule 1869-1898

Francis Maule 1804-1874 is not a child of John and Janet Maule but married to a child of Alexander Maule. For some time I worked on a theory that Francis was a sibling of Alexander Maules but there is no proof of this and its likely Francis Maules parents were John Maule and Jean Scotland from Perthshire.

Francis may be a distant cousin to Alexander Maule but so far we have no DNA links to Francis siblings family lines to prove this. We have DNA links to the descendants of Francis Maule and Margaret Maule but this may only be because of Margaret Maules DNA. Their lives and naming traditions of Francis and Alexander are extremely similar and Francis marries Alexanders daughter Margaret Maule.

Francis marries Janet Cochrane 1821-1851 on 10 Nov 1837 in Alva, Stirlingshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children:

• Mary Maule 1838-1899
• John Maule 1840-1875
• Jane Maule 1842-1877
• Robert Maule 1844-?
• Janet Maule 1845-1930
• Alexander Maule 1846
• James Maule 1848-1885

Francis and Janet are in the 1841 census. Francis says he’s 25 making his birth 1816.

Francis Maule Age 25 a spirit dealer living on Toll Road
Janet Maule Age 20
Janet Maule Age 15 (this is likely to be Alexander Maules daughter who is a servant)
Mary Maule Age 3
John Maule Age 1

1851 census he is 47 making his birth 1804. He is a labourer. This record is more likely to be for Alexander Maule which is  ‘missing’. The married part fits with Margaret’s mothers mixed up death record. Born Kincardine, Perthshire. If this is a record of Alexander then there is no baptism for a Janet born about 1848 nor Alexander born about 1844/5.

Francis Maule Age 47
Margt Maule Age 20 (listed as Francis wife)
Robert Maule Age 7
Alexander Maule Age 5
Janet Maule Age 3

There is another 1851 census record for Francis Maule. He is 34 making his birth 1816. He is a spirit dealer living on Toll Road. Born Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire.

Francis Maule Age 34
Mary Maule Age 12
John Maule Age 10
Janet Maule Age 4
Eliza Maule Age 24 (a servant – uncertain family. Not Alexanders)

Image courtesy of ScotlandsPeople.

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margaret-maule-will-the-ballarat-star-6-june-1882.png

4. Francis Maule

I cant find Francis on the 1851 Scottish census. If you can find him please Contact me.

Francis Maule marries Jane Malcolm on 30 Apr 1857 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The witnesses were Jane B Shannon and Margaret Nelson. They had at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1857-1894
• Francis Maule 1858-1858
• Jane Malcolm Maule 1858-1864
• Ellen Francis Maule 1858-?
• Francis Maule 1861-1931
• George Maule 1863-1866

Francis was a sea captain and can be found in shipping records visiting New Zealand on his many voyages. In New Zealand Francis meets and marries Margaret (Mary) Grubb 1843-1894. They marry on 18 Sep 1862 in the House of W Grubb, Lyttleton, Canterbury, New Zealand. The witnesses were: Edward Alan and Jane Grubb.

They had at least 7 children:

• Francis Maule 1863-1878
• Mary Maule 1864-1926
• Margaret Anne Maule 1866-?
• John Maule 1869-?
• Janet Lily Maule 1871-1958
• Madelaine Maule 1872-1950
• James Alexander Maule 1873-1954

Francis then meets Ellen O’Halloran 1852-1914. They do not marry but have 2 children together. Ellen is living on the West Coast of the North Island.

• John (James Francis, Joseph, Jim) Maule 1875-1918
• Helena (Lena) Margaret Maule 1878-1955.

Francis dies on 15 Aug 1878 while at sea in the wreck of Kaiuma, Raglan, Waikato, New Zealand. His son Francis Maule 1863-1878 is aboard the same ship and also dies.

5. John Maule 1836-1930

John emigrates to the USA around 1852/1853. He marries Margaret Archibald 1835-1870 and has at least 6 children:

• Alexander Maule 1855-1875
• Margaret Maule 1861-1947
• Jeanette Maule 1863-1953
• Francis Alexander (Frank) Maule 1865-1934
• Robert Maule 1867-1896
• John Maule 1870-1889

John Maule Sr moves to St Clair, Illinois, USA with his family around 1869. His wife Margaret dies on 13 August 1870.

John then remarries on 29 Nov 1870 in St Clair, Illinois, USA to Sarah Wandless 1850-1923. They have at least 8 children together.

• Elizabeth (Libbie) Maule 1873-1947
• William Maule 1875-1960
• Alexander Maule 1877-1934
• James W Maule 1878-1932
• Edward Maule 1881-1972
• Eugene Maule 1884-1962
• Arthur Maule 1889-?
• Mildred Maule 1989-1986

Sarah Maule nee Wandless died 12 May 1923 • East Saint Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

John did very well for himself and there is a biography of him sourced from FamilySearch.org

From: Portrait and Biographical Record of St. Clair County Illinois by Chapman Bros. 1892 Chicago

JOHN MAULE. This gentleman is President of the Maule Coal Company at Belleville, which was incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000 and has the following officers: John Maule, President; Frank Maule, Vice-president and Treasurer; and Robert Maule, Superintendent and Manager. He also belongs to the National Coal Company, which has a capital stock of $10,000 and the same officers.

John Maule was born in Clackmannanshire, January 5, 1837, and passed his childhood years in Stirlingshire, Scotland. His parents, Alexander and Margaret (Hall) Maule, died when he was very young, and he was, therefore, obliged to be self supporting from an early age. He came to the United States in 1851, and began working in a coal mine five miles from St. Louis, Mo., where he continued for twelve years. In 1863, he went to Caseyville, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and opening up a mine began operating for himself. After remaining there seven years, he sold the mine and sunk another on the Vandalia Railroad, which he named the Abbey Mines. He became a large operator, employing one hundred and twenty-five men and shipping twenty-five carloads of coal every day. He had the first large mine there, and was very successful until he sold out to the railroad in 1868. His next venture was that of sinking a mine to a depth of five hundred feet, but he failed to get coal.

In 1868, Mr. Maule came to Belleville and opened a mine on the Pittsburg Road, mainly for the local market. After exhausting the coal supply there, he sunk a mine on the Belleville & Carondelet Railroad, in 1886. This is known as the Maule Mine and has a slope entrance, with all running machinery. He has an annual lease of one hundred and ten acres, and furnishes coal for the largest furnaces of Belleville. He supplies the railroad from the Belleville Steel Works to Cairo, and the Short Line Railroad, the former consuming five thousand bushels a day, with two locomotives and one hundred and forty-six cars. This plant represents $75,000, although it is capitalized at $100,000. The National Mine is about one-fourth of a mile west of the Maule, and is a shaft on the Belleville it Carondelet Railroad, with complete equipments for shaft mining. The Maule mine is operated by compressed air and runs a railroad to all parts, hauling fifteen hundred feet with a cable wire. The company has offices and yards at No. 17 Clark Avenue, and also in East St. Louis. Our subject divides his time between his two places of business, making his home in Belleville.

The career of Mr. Maule has in many respects been a remarkable one. and furnishes an illustration of the power of industry. Without friends, and without even five cents in his pocket, he came to Belleville, where now he is one of the most prosperous citizens. He owns real estate in the city, probably to the amount of $25,000, which does not include his fine brick residence at No. 415 Franklin Avenue.

Mr. Maule first married Miss Margaret Archibald, of Scotland, born near Stirling, he having sent for her to his old home. She died in August 1870 leaving four children, as follows: Maggie, wife of John Doan, of St. Louis; Jeaunette, wife of Fairly Nelison, of St. Louis; Francis and Robert. Afterward, Mr. Maule married Sarah Wandless, of Caseyville, Ill. They have six children: Elizabeth, wife of George Roth of this city; William, Alexander, James, Eugene and Arthur. They are highly respected members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Honor. He has been Alderman for the Third Ward and was appointed by the Governor State Examiner of Mines of Illinois. Here is an example where honest, thrifty industry has obtained its deserved reward.

6. Robert Maule 1842-1862

Robert moves to Illinois, USA and dies in August 1862 age 21 years old. He is buried in Caseyville Cemetery, Caseyville, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA.

7. Alexander Maule 1844-1920

Alexander is in the 1861 census living with his grandmother Agnes Hall nee Muir/Moore. he is age 16 and Agnes is 78 years old. Alexander is a wool weaver.

Can you find Alexander in the 1851 census?

Alexander marries Helen McLaren 1845-1885 on 19 Jan 1864 •in Alva, Stirling, Scotland. They have at least 10 children together.

Image courtesy of Scotlands People

They have their first two children in Scotland before emigrating to New Zealand.

• Agnes Cuthbertson Maule 1864-1937
• Margaret Ann Hall Maule 1866-1950
• Alexander Maule 1868-1937
• Helen McLaren Maule 1871-1931
• Janet McLaren Maule 1873-1943
• Mary Jane Maule 1876-1954
• Annie Maule 1878-1960
• Robert McLaren Maule 1880-1952
• Francis John Maule 1883-1883
• Charlotte McLaren Maule 1885-1961

Helen McLaren passes away on 30 March 1885 in Kaiuma Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand. With the oldest of her children 20 years old they may have looked after their younger siblings while their father worked or took on employment to help the family.

Alexander passes away on 6 Aug 1929 in Rai Valley, Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. He is buried at the Havelock Cemetery, Havelock, Marlborough, New Zealand.

8. Janet Maule Abt 1849

We have no information about Janet recorded in the 1851 census. Can you help find her baptism or burial?

The next confirmed child of John Maule and Janet Sibbett is:

Anne Maule 1805-1875

Anne married John Richard Black 1804-1883 on 23 Sep 1825 at South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland. The marriage record names her father as Thomas Maule but it is not correct. More about this later. Ann and John had at least 7 children with the first two being born in South America

• Alexander Nicholas Black born 19 Jan 1827-1889 in Chilecito, La Rioja, Argentina
• Elizabeth Ann Black born 17 Jan 1829 in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• John Maule Black 1836-1839
• Julianna Margaret Jeffrey Black 1842-1896
• John Richard Black 1843-1910
• Alice Anna Black 1845-1933
• James Fergus Black 1850-1929

Between 1829 and 1839 the family move back to Scotland then move to Simons Town, South Africa. John Maule Black died in 1839 in Simons Town, South Africa.

On 1 December 1840 Kirk Session (transcription) Pages 90/91

Anne Black corresponded with the church to say that her fathers name had been incorrectly recorded on her marriage. (There’s quite a few family trees online that have her father listed as Thomas Maule as a consequence).

Register Corrected

The clerk stated that Ann Maule or Black having called upon him for an extract of her marriage, and having found it to be erroneously stated in the Register that her father’s name was Thomas instead of John and of Leith instead of Kincardine, and not being able to wait till the matter was brought before the Session To be rectified, and the facts being certified to him by her brother John Maule and by Mr Wm Grandison, he had taken upon himself to insert the corrections in the margin of the Register, and give a corrected Extract. The Session Approved of what the Clerk had done.

The Clerk also stated that he had received a letter from the same Mrs Black, which he laid on the table, requesting the Session To allow him to register the births of her two children by her lawful husband John Black in the Books of this parish where she was married, although they were born in South America, in order that references might be made to the registration if necessary, accompanied by a certificate of their births by Margaret McPherson, relict of David Robertson, who was then resident in Buenos Ayres stating that Alexander was born on 19 Jany 1827 at Chilisito in the province of Rioja, and Elizabeth at Buenos Ayres on the 17^th Jany 1829; that as she could not wait for an ordinary meeting of Session, the (the Clerk) had consulted Mr Thorburn, who thought the births might be inserted in the Register, and the matter brought before the Session At their first ordinary meeting that what had been done might be approved of. The Session Having heard the letter read & the accompanying certificate, were satisfied of the construct? Of the dates of births and approved of the previous registration in the circumstances of the case.

1. Alexander Nicholas Black marries Susannah Jarman 1830-1871 and has 2 children

• John Maule Black 1855-1906
• Elizabeth Sarah (Bessie) Black 1858-1896

After Susannah passes away in 1871 Alexander then marries Sarah Higgs 1837-1917 and has 2 more children:

• Alexander Julian Fison Black 1877-1946
• Edith Janet Alice Black 1882-?

Alexander passes away on 18 Mar 1889 in Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa and is buried in the  Seaforth Old Burying Ground, Seaforth, South Africa.

2. Elizabeth Ann Black

3. (More to add)

 John Maule 1810-1885

John Maule marries Catherine Wardlaw 1808-1885 on 7 Aug 1829 in Saline, Fifeshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children.

• John Maule 1829-1913
• Janet Maule 1832-1916
• Catherine Maule 1834-1924
• Thomas Maule 1838-?
• Anne Maule 1841-1841
• Anne Maule 1842-1862
• Alexander Maule 1842-1926

On 1 December 1840 John Maule is mentioned in the Kirk Session

The Kirk Session record on 1 Dec 1840 mentions Johns sister Annie Maule/Black correcting her fathers name on her marriage record From Thomas to John and her desire for her first two children’s births to be recognized in her parish in Scotland as they were born in South America.

In 1841 census

• John Maue Age 30
  Catherine Maue Age 30
  John Maue Age 12
  Janet Maue Age 9
  Catherine Maue Age 6
  Thomas Maue Age 3

In the 1851 census

• John Maud Age 40
• Catherine Maud Age 41
• Thomas Maud Age 13
• Alexander Maud Age 8
• Ann Maud Age 8

In the 1861 census

John Maule Age 49
Cathrine Maule Age 49
John Maule Age 7 (grandson)

In the 1871 census

• John Maule Age 61
• Cathrine Maule Age 62

In the 1881 census

• John Manh Age 70
• Catherine Manh Age 71

Catherine passes away on 31 Mar 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

John passes away on 10 Jul 1885 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His son John Maule is the informant.

Robert Maule 1810-Bef 1841

Very little is known about Robert Maule. We have no baptism, marriage or death at this stage. He has one child named Robert Maule with Catherine Meiklejohn. Some family trees online have Roberts parents as John Maul and Catherine Miller who are from Kinross, Kinrossshire, Scotland. The father of Robert Maule born to John and Catherine was a Wright not a Taylor/Tailor as stated on that Roberts baptism certificate. A wright was a builder or repairer in various trades making it less likely this Robert is from that family. In the baptism of Robert Maule in 1852 Robert is listed as a sheep farmer. Please see the partial biography of Roberts son below.

• Robert Maule born 21 August 1831 in Tullialan, Perthshire, Scotland and died in 1901

This is Robert Maules baptism in 1852 plus his sons baptism. Most likely Robert Maule Sr did not baptise his own son. Image courtesy of Scotlands People.

Sourced from Tullialan: Four lads o’ pairts written by Rev William Meiklejohn. M.A

Robert Maule married Charlotte Parker Rankine 1833-1890 on 16 August 1852 and had at least 8 children

• Robert Maule 1852-1931
• Jane Maule 1855-1856
• Catherine Maule 1857-1859
• Charlotte Rankine Maule 1860-1939
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ann Maule 1861-1867
• Catherine Jane Maule 1863-?
• James (Jamie) Maule 1865-1867
• William Maule 1869-1898

Francis Maule 1804-1874 is not a child of John and Janet Maule but married to a child of Alexander Maule. For some time I worked on a theory that Francis was a sibling of Alexander Maules but there is no proof of this and its likely Francis Maules parents were John Maule and Jean Scotland from Perthshire.

Francis may be a distant cousin to Alexander Maule but so far we have no DNA links to Francis siblings family lines to prove this. We have DNA links to the descendants of Francis Maule and Margaret Maule but this may only be because of Margaret Maules DNA. Their lives and naming traditions of Francis and Alexander are extremely similar and Francis marries Alexanders daughter Margaret Maule.

Francis marries Janet Cochrane 1821-1851 on 10 Nov 1837 in Alva, Stirlingshire, Scotland. They have at least 7 children:

• Mary Maule 1838-1899
• John Maule 1840-1875
• Jane Maule 1842-1877
• Robert Maule 1844-?
• Janet Maule 1845-1930
• Alexander Maule 1846
• James Maule 1848-1885

Francis and Janet are in the 1841 census. Francis says he’s 25 making his birth 1816.

Francis Maule Age 25 a spirit dealer living on Toll Road
Janet Maule Age 20
Janet Maule Age 15 (this is likely to be Alexander Maules daughter who is a servant)
Mary Maule Age 3
John Maule Age 1

1851 census he is 47 making his birth 1804. He is a labourer. This record is more likely to be for Alexander Maule which is  ‘missing’. The married part fits with Margaret’s mothers mixed up death record. Born Kincardine, Perthshire. If this is a record of Alexander then there is no baptism for a Janet born about 1848 nor Alexander born about 1844/5.

Francis Maule Age 47
Margt Maule Age 20 (listed as Francis wife)
Robert Maule Age 7
Alexander Maule Age 5
Janet Maule Age 3

There is another 1851 census record for Francis Maule. He is 34 making his birth 1816. He is a spirit dealer living on Toll Road. Born Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire.

Francis Maule Age 34
Mary Maule Age 12
John Maule Age 10
Janet Maule Age 4
Eliza Maule Age 24 (a servant – uncertain family. Not Alexanders)

Image courtesy of ScotlandsPeople.

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Descendants of John Brown and Isabella McMahon

Tags

Aghafin, Ancestry, Annie Maule, Australia, Ballarat, Booth, Brown, Browne, Canada, Carrick, Clogh, Clones, County Cavan, County Fermanagh, County Monaghan, David Browne, Daylesford, derbyshire, DNA, Drumboory, Edward Brown, England, Ireland, Isabella McMahon, John Brown, Kinawley, Lucinda Jane Brown, Margaret McMahon, Maule, McMahon, Monaghan, Northern Ireland, Saskatchewan, St Kilda, United States, USA, Victoria, Wheatfield Cemetery

The blog is to help descendants of John Brown and Isabella McMahon connect and add to their own family histories.

Who am I?

I’m a descendant of Edward Brown who was one of the last born children of John and Isabella Brown. Edward moved to Australia with 3 of his sisters. One of those sisters then returned to Ireland and married. Edward met my ancestor Annie Maule and had 3 children with Annie before leaving her and marrying Mary Ann Carrick and having more children. Edward remained in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia until he died in 1886.

If you have anything you would like added (old stories, photos, baptisms, birth, marriage, death and burial records), anything corrected or would just like to say Hi! please use the Contact form at the bottom of this blog.

Acknowledgements

In 2018 I corresponded with our cousin Joy Irene Eaton about our good DNA match on Ancestry. At the time we had no idea who our mutual ancestor was. Joy shared her DNA results to see if I could find out how we are related. It took until 2021 for this to become clear. Good things take time. Joy is a descendant of Mary Brown 1826-1909.

Our cousin Eric David Carrick Brown who has DNA tested on Ancestry and Y-DNA tested for us at Family Tree DNA. The Y-DNA test looks at the direct male line back thousands and is extremely useful for our family history. Eric is a descendant of Edward Brown and one of the few males that carries the Brown surname from John Brown who married Isabella McMahon.

All our cousins who have DNA tested on Ancestry, Family Tree DNA, My Heritage and those who have also uploaded their DNA to Gedmatch.

My father Philip Maxwell Day who DNA tested for me and who is a descendant of Edward Brown.

Our cousin Tania Quick who is a descendant of Edward Brown.

The Browne/Brown surname

The surname Browne is used interchangeably with Brown until a time when only Brown was used by most of the families. Earlier records tend to show the ‘e’ surname variant.

Irish naming traditions usually dictated that the first born child was named after the fathers father. If the eldest son of John Brown was James Brown then its a good possibility Johns father was named James Brown. Similarly the first born daughter Elizabeth Brown was named after her mothers mother. There are exceptions to these of course and Ive seen a number in my own Irish family lines. Some children died young and later children were named the same name and other times they just moved onto the next name following the same pattern. The second born male child being named after the wife’s father. Occasionally the names don’t follow any pattern at all.

• First son usually named for the father’s father
• Second son usually named for the mother’s father
• Third son usually named for the father
• Fourth son usually named for the father’s eldest brother
• Fifth son usually named for the mother’s eldest brother
• First daughter usually named for the mother’s mother
• Second daughter usually named for the father’s mother
• Third daughter usually named for the mother
• Fourth daughter usually named for the mother’s eldest sister
• Fifth daughter usually named for the father’s eldest sister

John Browne married Isabella McMahon around 1812. I have not been able to find a record of where this took place. That record may indicate the brides parish and the origin of Isabella McMahon.

John and Isabella had the following children:

• Elizabeth 1813-1893
• James 1815-?
• Mary 1817-1823
• Jane Anne 1819-1908
• Isabella Elizabeth 1821-1897
• John 1823-?
• Mary 1826-1909
• Lucinda Jane 1831-(after 1846)
• Edward 1833-1886
• Charlotte 1834-1911
• Ellen 1835-1921
• Selina 1841-1929

If you can find what happened to James Brown, John Brown Jr and Lucinda Jane Brown please contact me.

There may be other children of John and Isabella Brown. If you think you are related please contact me using the form at the bottom of this page.

DNA and family history

DNA testing by descendants of many of the children of John Brown and Isabella McMahon has enabled us to definitively link many of the family lines. Research, birth, marriage and death records have provided further linkages.

The origins of our Brown family are obscure. We dont have birth locations for John Brown or Isabella McMahon but these are most likely in the County Fermanagh/Monaghan/Cavan area of Ireland/Northern Ireland. Their children have stated their births were in County Cavan, Ireland and County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland with their baptisms being in County Monaghan, Ireland. Each of the places border each other and its very likely that John and Isabella had their children baptised in County Monaghan but lived in Drumboory, Fermanagh with their family.

• Ellen Browns Her marriage certificate says she was from Fermanagh, Ireland. Her death certificate says Fermanagh County, Cavan, Ireland.
• Selina Browns marriage certificate says she was from Fermanagh, Ireland. Her death certificate says Belturbet, Ireland
• Edward Browns marriage certificate says he was from Fermanagh, Ireland. His death certificate says Drumboory, County Cavan, Ireland. Drumboory was in Fermanagh and Cavan.

A majority of those who have DNA tested have done so on Ancestry.com and the Australian, Canadian and English equivalents. DNA has been an incredible tool to link the descendants of John and Isabella Brown but family trees and further evidence has always been needed to support genetic links. There are 48 cousins on Ancestry who the Australian Brown families have DNA connections to with another 4 different matches on Family Tree DNA.

DNA and birth/baptism, marriage and death records have linked the descendants of each of the following children of John and Isabella Brown.

• Elizabeth 1813-1893
• Jane Anne 1819-1908
• Isabella Elizabeth 1821-1897
• Mary 1826-1909
• Edward 1833-1886
• Charlotte 1834-1911
• Ellen 1835-1921
• Selina 1841-1929

There may be other children. One family story indicated there may be a Thomas but no baptism record supports this at present.

DNA has also provided links to the descendants to David Brown and his wife Margaret McMahon. David may have been a sibling of John Brown and Margaret may have been a sibling of Isabella McMahon. Brothers marrying sisters. Alternatively the DNA connection is only via the McMahon line and David is unrelated.

Images courtesy of https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

There is another John Brown living in Whitehill, Fermanagh which is very close to Drumboory and a John Brown and Isabella Brown living in Drumsloe which is on the other side of Lower Lough Erne (lake) than our John and Isabella Brown. The latter’s headstone inscription is below. While the names are similar or the same these people should be considered when researching records available for the areas. Not all John Browns are our John Brown.

ISABELLA BROWN
BALLINAMALLARD CHURCH OF IRELAND main street Cemetery Fermanagh-Magheracross

ERECTED BY JOHN BROWN
OF WATERFORD IN MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED MOTHER
ISABELLA BROWN OF DRUMSLOW WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 13TH MARCH 1873 AGED 75 YEARS
ALSO
IN MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED FATHER JOHN BROWN WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 17TH APRIL 1878 AGED 88 YEARS
ALSO WILLIAM BROWN OF ? WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 11TH ? 1898 AGED 78 YEARS
ALSO ELLEN BROWN WIFE OF W BROWN WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE 30TH OCT 1902 AGED 77 YEARS

Baptisms

There are baptisms for the following children in Clogh, County Monaghan, Ireland. Clogh is also in County Fermanagh. Lucindas baptism was in Aghafin, Monaghan, Ireland so that baptisms for the other children may be found elsewhere than in County Monaghan. Often baptisms are recorded as dates of birth in family trees when they should not be.

• Elizabeth 1813-1893
• James 1815-?
• Mary 1817-1823
• Jane Anne 1819-1908
• Isabella Elizabeth 1821-1897
• John 1823-?
• Mary 1826-1909
• Lucinda Jane 1831-?

I have not been able to find baptisms for:

• Edward 1833-1886
• Charlotte 1834-1911
• Ellen 1835-1921
• Selina 1841-1929

What happened to the family around the birth of Lucinda that they changes churches?

The 1862 Griffith Valuation has John Browne living in Drumboory, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. John was leasing the land of the Earl of Erne. The tenant next to John was an Ann Armstrong. There may be a connection between the two people.

Image courtesy of http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

There are two townlands in Fermanagh with the name Drumboory:

https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/magheraboy/devenish/ely/drumboory/
https://www.townlands.ie/fermanagh/knockninny/kinawley/crum/drumboory/

Many family trees have the death of John Brown on 2 May 1864 in Whitehill, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The problem with that date is that his death certificate names Rosan Brown as his wife who was present at his death. This John Brown was in Whitehill, Fermanagh at the same time as our John Brown was living in Drumboory. The John Browne from Whitehill was from the parish of Devenish.

Image courtesy of https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

The Will of the above named John Brown named James Brown as his primary beneficiary who was living in Mullygarry, Armagh at the time. Further research needs to be done to see if that James Browne had any descendants. The evidence we have to date does not definitely link this James as one of the children of John and Isabella Brown.

Where is the death record for John Brown who died from 1862 onwards?  Was he visiting one of his children? This may give us a clue as to where he was or there may be no record as it was prior to official registration.

In the 1860s the children of John Browne and Isabella McMahon were living in:

• Elizabeth in Dublin
• Jane in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
• Isabella in Canada
• Mary in Canada
• Edward in Australia
• Charlotte in Australia on 28 Apr 1863 then married in Kinawley, Fermanagh on 6 Apr 1864 to James Ross – could she have gone home because her father died or was ill?
• Ellen in Australia
• Selina in Australia

Our John Browne was from the parish of Kinawley. That was in the civil registration district of Linaskea. He was alive in 1862 but not alive in mid 1864. We know this because PRONI added the valuation revision books, so you can see what happened to the property after Griffith’s valuation.

In the 1864 revision the landowner is the Earl of Erne. John Browne’s name is crossed off, which implies that he passed away as Isabella still resided there. As it was likely a farm it may have been James Ross – husband of Charlotte Browne who managed the land. Alternatively it may have been one of the sons John Brown, James Brown or another unknown son.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/search-archives-online/valuation-revision-books

Isabella died 5 January 1883 in Drumboory, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. James Ross was the informant. James had married John and Isabellas daughter Charlotte Brown and was living in Drumboory at the time. This makes Isabella born around 1789. Where was she buried?

Image courtesy of www.irishgenealogy.ie

Descendants

1. Elizabeth Brown 1813-1893 married John Swithin Sharkey on 22 Aug 1833 at St Mark’s Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

I had originally thought that John and Isabella may have been working class peasant farmers but there are strong indications their children were literate and they all appeared to have done well for themselves. How did Elizabeth meet and marry John Swithin Sharkey in Dublin? Was she working in Dublin? Did she attend school in Dublin? Were there other Brown/McMahon families who the children boarded with for their education?

They had at least two children together:

• Isabella Anna Sharkey 1839-1935
• James Sharkey ?-1840

I have not been able to find what happened to John Swithin Sharkey but Elizabeth married to James Francis White on 20 March 1841 at St Mark’s Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.

The witnesses were Edward McMahon, Francis Rawkin and Mary Jane Acheson. Was Edward McMahon a cousin?

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

They had at least seven children together.

• William Frederick White 1841-1885
• Elizabeth Cecelia White 1842-1917
• Ellen Jane White 1844-?
• Edward James White 1847-?
• Henry Denton White 1849-?
• Sarah Agnes White 1851-1943
• Arthur Nesbitt White 1853-1948

Elizabeth died 1 Jun 1893 at Richmond, County Dublin, Ireland. James died on 11 Feb 1878 at 33 Manor Street, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

2. James Brown 1815-?

There is a James Brown who died in 1899. Many family trees have a James Brown marrying Annabella. Very little is known about this family line but it is not the correct James. He would have been 18 when he got married which is not usual. None of his children’s names match his parents names and the marriage of this James shows he is the wrong James Browne. Please update your records.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

There are no DNA matches to this James Browns descendants.

They had at least 3 children:

• Sarah 1833-1899
• Lizzie Elizabeth Abt 1833 and after 1899
• William 1842-1907

This James died 15 Apr 1899 in Shankhill, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland but it is the wrong James Browne.

If you know what happened to James Brown, son of John Brown and Isabella McMahon please contact me.

3. Mary Brown 1817-1823

Mary was buried on 15 April 1823 in Clogh, County Monaghan, Ireland. This is her burial date not her death date. Death dates were not usually kept.

4. Jane Anne Brown 1819-1908

Jane was baptised on 25 Dec 1819 in Clones, Monaghan, Ireland. She married John Hunter 1821-1863 on 18 Nov 1846 in Carrigallen, Parish of Carrigallen, County Leitrim, Ireland. The witnesses were Janes siblings Edward Brown and Lucinda Jane Brown. Jane was living in Drumboory at the time and John in Cavan. Interesting to note that Edward was only 13 when he was a witness but this was legal at the time.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

They had at least 7 children:

• David Alexander Hunter 1849-1935
• John James Hunter 1851-1929
• Jane Elizabeth Hunter 1851-1931
• Edward Richard Hunter 1854-1916
• Charles Hunter 1857-1931
• Robert Henry Hunter 1859-1944
• Arthur Hunter 1862-1946

In 1861 they were living in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England

John Hunter passes away on 26 Dec 1863 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. His Will extract states he was a Superintendent of Police. He was buried in Spital Cemetery in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. The headstone was erected by his work colleagues and fellow superintendents.

In 1871 Jane was living in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England with 6 of her children. She is listed as the head of the household

In 1881, 1891 and 1901 Jane is living in Horninglow, Staffordshire, England with 2 of her children

Jane passes away in 1909 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England

5. Isabella Elizabeth Brown 1821-1897

Isabella married John W Beatty around 1839 in Ireland before emigrating to Canada. Can you find the marriage record? If you can please Contact me.

They had at least 11 children

• Thomas Beatty 1840-1885
• Jane Ann Beatty  1842-1926
• Isabella Beatty 1844-1913
• Eleanor Beatty 1846-1928
• Mary Beatty  1848-1849
• Lucinda Beatty  1850-1851
• Clara Beatty  1851-1939
• Emeline Beatty 1855-1931
• John Wesley Beatty 1857-1930
• Charlotte Louise (Lottie) Beatty 1860-1874
• Alice Sophia Beatty 1862-1954

Their first 5 children were born in Cobourg, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada. The remaining children were born in Hope Township, Durham County, Canada.

In the 1861 Canadian census they are living in Hope, Durham County, Canada with 8 of their children. John W Beatty is listed as a farmer.

In the 1891 Canadian census they are living in Hope, Durham County, Canada. John Beatty is 80 years old and Isabella is 69.

In 1896 street directory Isabella is listed as the widow Of John and is living in 58 Roseberry Place, St Thomas, Ontario, Canada.

Isabella passes away on 27 Nov 1897 in Gravenhurst, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada aged 76.

She was buried in Saint John’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada with John Beatty Sr, Lottie, Thomas, Mary and John.

6. John Brown 1823-?

Nothing is known about John other than his baptism and as yet we have no DNA matches to account for him. There is a John Brown from Clones, Monaghan who joined the 85th Regiment of Foot on 31 January 1843 and was enlisted for lasted 1 year and 214 days before being medically discharged due to epileptic fits.

We have a DNA match to the descendants of John Brown who had a child with Janet Craig named Annie Margaret Craig Brown around 1860 in Ayrshire, Scotland. Annie married James Orr. More evidence needs to be found to see if this is the right John Brown or how this John Brown connects genetically.

7. Mary Brown 1826-1909

Mary Brown married William John McMahon 1827-1913 on 23 Oct 1846 in Kinawley, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Mary was living in Drumboory and William in Aughalunbow?

The witnesses were Edward Brown and Samuel Somerville

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

They had at least 8 children together:

• John McMahon 1848-1895
• William James McMahon  1850-1947
• Ellen Jane McMahon 1852-1919
• Edward McMahon 1854-1947
• Charles Wesley McMahon  1859-1951
• Mary L McMahon 1859-1861
• Mary Adeline (Addie) McMahon 1863-1955
• Albert McMahon 1869-1955

Their eldest son John was born in Ireland and the remainder of the children were born in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.

Mary died on 20 Jan 1909 and was buried in Wheatfield Cemetery, Kinley, Saskatchewan, Canada

8. Lucinda Jane Brown 1831- (After 1846)? She was a witness at her sister Jane Anne Browns marriage to John Hunter in 1846. After this date we have no proof of what happened to her.

I have found a record of Lucinda Brown marrying John Woods in Fivemiletown, County Tyrone on 4 June 1851. Unusually for a Brown woman she cant write. He father is listed as John Browne – a farmer. This may not be the correct Lucinda. None of her children have her parents names.

The witness were John Elliot and James Bailey.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

They had at least 5 children:

• Robert Woods 1864-?
• Mary Woods 1866-?
• Alexander Woods 1868-?
• George Woods 1873-?

John Woods died in 1884. The informant is probably his wife not his daughter as I have found no daughter named Lucinda Woods born to this couple.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

This Lucinda dies in 1902 aged 74 making her birth around 1828 which is close to when she was baptised in 1831.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

If you know more about this family contact me.

9. Edward Brown 1833-1886

Edward was a witness at 2 of his siblings weddings before moving to Australia. Edward witnessed the marriages of:

• Mary Browns marriage to William John McMahon on 23 October 1846
• Jane Ann Browns marriage to John Hunter on 18 November 1846

This is most likely Edwards shipping record from Ireland to Australia via England. On 21 June 1853 Edward left Liverpool, Lancashire, England on the ship Charles. On 3 October 1853 the Charles arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It lists Edward as being age 20 from Fermanagh, an agricultural labourer who was going to work for M Newstead of 46 Queen Street for 3 months from the 10 October 1853 and be paid 50 pounds for that time. 

Edward met my ancestor Annie Maule around 3-4 years after he arrived in Victoria, Australia. He may have married Annie but we have found no marriage record for him. Annie was previously married to John McNab and had at least 6 children with John before John disappears from records. We have been unable to find a death record for John McNab but Edward Brown may not have been able to marry Annie because she was still technically married. John McNab may have returned to Scotland, abandoned his wife or died.

Edward and Annie had at least 3 children:

• John James Brown 1858-1946
• Isabella Brown 1860-1946
• Alexander Brown 1868-After 1908

On the birth certificate of John James Brown, Edward states his birthplace as Cootehill, Fermanagh. Cootehill is in Cavan but the Browns were living in Fermanagh.

Edward leaves Annie and then marries Mary Ann Carrick who is from a well to do family in Ireland. They marry on 18 May 1864 at a Private House, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

Witnesses: Ellen Brown and William Bryan

They had at least 4 children:

• Robert Thomas Brown 1865-?
• Edward Brown 1866-1930
• John Henry Carrick Brown 1868-1929
• Ellen Brown 1872-1872

You can deduce from the information above that Edward and Annie had another child after Edward was married to Mary Ann Carrick. Edward was living in Daylesford and Annie in Ballarat at the time. Both locations weren’t too far from each other – about 45 kilometres. When Annie married/remarried her daughter Isabella took on her adoptive fathers name.

There are no family stories that have been passed down about Edward but he would not have named one of his sons John with Annie Maule and then one of his sons John with Mary Ann Carrick had he been in regular contact with his children with Annie.

On 30 Nov 1864 in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia Edward was the witness at his sister Ellen Browns marriage to Robert Mills.

Edward Brown bought 38.6 perches of land in Victoria St on the north side and west of Fraser St, Daylesford on 26 Aug 1872. It is Crown Allotment 45, Section 37 in the Township of Daylesford. It is now known as 19 Central Springs Rd.

It was sold at £30 per acre. Improvements on the lot were valued at £115 to be paid at time of sale. £7-4-9 was paid.

Edward dies on 18 Aug 1886 in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. His death certificate names John Brown as his father and Isabella McMahon as his mother. Edward died of pulmonary tuberculosis. His death certificate also said he was born in Drumboory, County Cavan, Ireland

After Edwards death on 6 Feb 1891 Edward Brown Jr as appointed as administrator of his estate. On 24 Sep 1892 the house and land were sold to James Hamilton and David Hamilton.

This block was almost directly opposite the house ‘High Tor’ owned by George Frederick Booth.

At this stage we have been unable to find out where Edward and Mary Anne Brown were buried in Daylesford Cemetery.

10. Charlotte Brown 1834-1911

Charlotte was born around 1834 in Ireland.

Charlotte, Ellen and Selina Brown all travelled together from Ireland to Victoria, Australia via Liverpool, England. Charlotte was listed as being 25 years old and Ellen and Selina as 23 years old. Charlotte went back to Ireland and got married to James Ross in 1864.

They arrived on 28 April 1863 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship Clara. Their occupations were listed as Dress maker, Saleswoman and Milliner.

After returning to Ireland Charlotte married James Ross on 6 Apr 1864 at the Holy Trinity Church, Kinawley, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Image courtesy of www.irishgenealogy.ie

They had at least 12 children:

• Unknown Ross 1865 (not named on the birth certificate)
• Mary Selina Ross 1866-1867
• John James Ross 1869-1952
• Isabella Jane Ross 1872-1924
• Selina Ross 1872-1906
• Edward Francis Ross 1874-1942
• William Henry Ross 1876
• Frederick George Ross 1876-1963
• Charlotte Ross 1878-1880
• Charlotte Lucinda Ross 1880-?
• Louise Ross 1881-?
• Charles Herbert Ross 1881-1961

Nearly all of the children were born in Drumboory, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

In the 1901 census Charlotte states she was born in County Fermanagh.  She is listed as being born in 1838 and is living with her husband James Ross and children John James Ross, Selina Ross, Charles Ross and Louise Ross.

James dies on 20 Dec 1902 • Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

His Will reference on PRONI states James Ross late of Dromboory County Fermanagh Farmer who died 20 December 1902 at Omagh, County Tyrone granted at Armagh to Thomas Ross Farmer.

Thomas Ross was James brother

Image courtesy of PRONI

Charlotte dies on 25 Mar 1911 in Drumboory, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Her son was the informant.

Image courtesy of http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

Her Will reference on PRONI states ‘Probate of the Will of Charlotte Ross late of Drumboory, County Fermanagh Widow who died 25 March 1912 granted at Armagh to John James Ross Farmer. The date is clearly wrong as the death certificate shows.

11. Ellen Brown 1835-1921

Ellen married Robert Alexander Mills on 30 Nov 1864 in Christ Church, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

Witnesses: Edward Brown and ?

Ellen and Robert had at least 5 children:

• Catherine Elizabeth Mills 1866-?
• Isabella Selina Mills 1867-
• Jessie Ellen Mills1869-1944
• James Edward Mills 1871-1875
• William Robert Mills 1876-?

Ellen dies on 31 Oct 1921 in Albert Street, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. She is buried on 2 Nov 1921 at Daylesford Cemetery, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia

12. Selina Brown 1841-1929

Selina was born about 1841 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. In 1861 She was a visitor at her sisters (Jane Anne Hunter nee Brown) house in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England

On 13 Nov 1864  she marries George Frederick Booth 1836-1907 at Christ Church, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

Witnesses were: Edward Brown and Gilbert Carrick?

They had at least 8 children together:

• George Frederick Booth 1865-1936
• Louise Annie Booth 1867-1933
• Martha Selina Booth 1869-1933
• Sarah Elizabeth Booth 1872-1872
• William Henry Booth 1873-1942
• Charlotte Isabella Booth 1876-1961
• Alice Ellen Booth 1878-?
• Charles Edward Booth 1881-1950

The Booth family. Image courtesy of the Daylesford Historical Society.

George Frederick Booth Sr is seated with the long beard. Sitting to his front right is Selina Booth nee Brown. Behind Selina is George Frederick Booth Jr (known in Australia as Fred) on one of his rare trips from New Zealand. The young boy centre back is Charles and he is about 20 years younger than his brother Fred. The lad propping up the veranda post is William Booth next to Louise with Isabella standing on the opposite side. Seated in front are Alice (dark frock), Freds eldest son George and Selina. Next to Fred is Alice his wife with another of their children.

George Frederick Booth dies on 25 November 1907 in Frazer Street, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia aged 71 years old.

Selina dies on 9 Jan 1929 at 36 Blessington Street, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia and is buried on 11 Jan 1929 at Daylesford Cemetery, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. Selina is aged 90 making her birth around 1839.

I will be adding more information about the descendants of each of these family lines when time allows.

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Coulter family of County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Tags

Ahoghill, Carmacmoin, Coulter, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Spence

Ive put together this blog to encourage other Coulter family descendants to contribute information and to try and link the families from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. If you have family bibles, old stories passed down or have DNA tested we may be able to use the information to triangulate more conclusive about our ancestors.

My Coulter family begins with Hester (Hessie) Coulter marring William Spence around 1835 in County Antrim and having multiple children over the next 20 years. Until recently we didn’t know all of the Spence children born to the couple but DNA testing through Ancestry, Family Tree DNA and My Heritage has definitely linked more children to the couple and more siblings to William Spence.

We still do not know who Hessies parents were nor if she had siblings although it is very likely that she did. Hessie died 23 October 1882 at Carmacmoin, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Hessie was born around 1811. Her husband William Spence died 13 August 1863 at Carmacmoin, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. William was born around 1808.

Their children were:

• Thomas Spence 1837-1875
• James Spence 1840-1924
• William Robert Spence 1845-1934
• Dora Spence 1851-1930
• Mary Jane Spence 1852-1935
• Courtney Spence 1855-1934
• Sarah McCord Spence -1855-1943

Some of the descendant lines stayed in Ireland, some moved to Canada, some to Australia and some to New Zealand.

Its difficult to say if they followed Irish naming traditions as I do not know if records exist for the time period or if they were destroyed in the great fire in 1922. If William Spences parents were William Spence 1770-1833 and Nancy 1775-1837 there may have been other children born who died young or who never had families of their own and who have left no record that we can link them to us.

If you have anything you could contribute please use the Contact me form at the bottom of this page.

The following are burial records for Coulters in Ahoghill but the families may have been more widespread

COULTER

Ahoghill CI

Ahoghill

Carmacmoin

Antrim

Erected by Lizzie Coulter of Ballybollin, in memory of her father, William John Coulter who died 4th June 1911, aged 87 years. Also her mother, Catherine Coulter who died 5th November 1919, aged 86 years. Also her sister, Mary Ann, who died June 1883, aged 23 years. Also two children who died in infancy. Mary Ann Coulter died June 1883. NT.

COULTER

Brookside Pres

Ahoghill

Ahoghill

Antrim

Gravestone Inscription	Erected by Robert Coulter late of Ballymuckilroy, in memory of his daughter Margaret who died 23rd December 1879, aged 17 months, also his son who died 24th July 1888, in infancy, and his daughter Sarah who died 11th October 1899, aged 25 years, also his son Huston Coulter, who died 18th August 1910, aged 28 years, also the above named Robert Coulter who died 21st April 1914, aged 64 years,
Comment	[Limestone Headstone] Sarah Coulter died 24th July 1899, No trace]

COULTER

Brookside Pres

Ahoghill

Ahoghill

Antrim

Gravestone Inscription	Erected by Mary Jane Coulter of Ballymuckilroy, in memory of her husband William John Coulter, who departed this life 1st September 1895, aged 71 years, also her son Samuel Coulter, who departed this life 22nd November 1867, aged 5 years,
Comment	[Sandstone Headstone] John Coulter died 1st September 1895, No trace]

COULTER

Ahoghill Old

Ahoghill

Ahoghill

Antrim

Gravestone Inscription	Here lieth the body of Ester, late wife of Alexander Coulter, with three of her children, she died 21 June 1874, aged 38
Comment	[Sandstone Headstone] Ester Coulter 21/06/1874, No will

COULTER/LOGAN

Trinity Pres

Ahoghill

Ahoghill

Antrim

Gravestone Inscription	Erected by James Coulter of Ballymackilroy, in memory of Elizabeth Logan, who died 1858, aged 65 years. Also her beloved husband James Logan, who died 1863, aged 75 years. Also the above named James Coulter died 27th Decr 1893, aged 73 years. Elizabeth Logan 1858. No will 1858-59. James Logan 1863. No will 1863-64. James Coulter 27/12/1893. No will 1893-94.
Comment	[Sandstone Headstone]

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Morton Families of County Longford, Ireland

Tags

Ballymahon, Co Longford, County Longford, Edward Morton, Elizabeth Morton, Ireland, Mary Fawcett, Newcastle, Shrule, Taghshinney, Thomas Morton, William Fawcett

The Morton families of County Longford, Ireland were numerous. The lack of Irish birth, marriage and death records makes linking those families to a common ancestor difficult but not impossible.

This blog is designed to capture all records available from anyone who can trace their ancestry to the Morton families born in County Longford.

In order to do this I need your ancestors birth, marriage and death information and any other research that you or a researcher has undertaken into those families. Initially I will create categories to easily find information about the Morton families and their descendants.

DNA is a great took to link the descendant families who aren’t certain if their Morton families emigrated from Co Longford. While it cant pinpoint who the common ancestor is it can genetically link people. By sharing birth, marriage and death information we can use family trees to identify the common ancestor. If you are interested in taking a DNA test I would recommend you take the ancestry.com DNA test. We have had a small but growing number of descendants of Thomas Morton and Mary Fawcett DNA testing. Please test the oldest Morton descendant in your family if possible. They are genetically closer to the common ancestors meaning there is a greater chance of DNA showing a match.

Once your results come back or if you have already tested at Ancestry, 23andMe etc please export those results to a Free website called Gedmatch. https://www.gedmatch.com This will allow you to compare your results to all four major testing companies so we can all compare our results

For privacy purposes I do not post information about living people.

About me:

I am a descendant of Elizabeth (Eliza) Morton who was born on 15 June 1841 in Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland. Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Morton 1815-1881 and Mary Fawcett 1813-1875. Thomas was the son of Edward Morton. Elizabeth emigrated to New Zealand and married Robert Searight 1841-1873 and had two children. Robert died in tragic circumstances (tree fell on him) and Elizabeth remarried to Moore Ellis Mawhinney. Elizabeth and Moore had six children before Moore died in tragic circumstances (drowning).

Loss of records: The Shrule records covering Baptisms 1727-1882, Marriages 1727-1846 and Burials 1795-1904 were destroyed in the fire in the Public Records Office in 1922. All that remains are Baptisms 1878-1931 and Marriages 1845-1999.

Map of County Longford taken from google maps

Births/Baptisms

Abt 1811 Peter Henry Morton – possibly Toome, Taghashinny, Co Longford, Ireland.
Married: Harriett Gibson, in 1842, in Dublin.

12 Sep 1821, baptised 21 Sep 1821 James Morton son of Thomas and Anne Morton

April 1821 Thomas H Morton born in Ballymahon, Co Longford, Ireland. Son of William and Lizzie (Collins) Morton. Grandson of Edward Morton

13 Apr 1825, baptised 17 Apr 1825 Thomas Morton son of William and Margaret Morton

26 July 1837, baptised 10 Sep 1837 John Morton son of William and Ellen

15 June 1841, baptised 25 July 1841 Elizabeth daughter of Thomas and Mary Morton – (this is my line)

Marriages

19 February 1829 Elizabeth Morton marriage to Joseph Newcomen. Elizabeth signs with her X mark.

4 August 1836 William Morton marriage to Ellen Achmuty

8 August 1840 Thomas Morton marriage to Mary Fawcett (my line and each person has signed their name)

Children:

• Elizabeth Morton 1841-1899
• Thomas Morton 1851-1919
• Edward Fawcett Morton 1851-1921
• Sarah Morton 1852-1891
• John Henry Morton 1855-1922
• Grace Jane Morton 1861-1931

1842 Peter Henry Morton married Harriett Gibson, in 1842, in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Children:

• John Morton born in 1843 in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
• Henry Morton in 1845, in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
• Laura Gertrude Morton in 1873 in Canada

13 December 1852 John Morton marriage to Anne Wallace (nee Johnston) in Templemichael. Johns fathers name was Thomas

16 January 1878 John Henry Morton marriage to Anne Cobban in the town of Drogheda. Johns fathers name was Thomas

Deaths

1811 Morton Family Headstone (reads)

Here lieth the remains of Thomas Morton, late of Toome, who departed this life 22 May 1811, aged 47 years.

Also his daughter Anne Morton departed this life 26th June 1811 aged 21 years.  Also his wife Jane departed this life 20th February 1846 aged 70 years.

Also his son John Morton who departed this life 11th February 1861 aged 56 years. Source: IGP

11 February 1864 John Morton who died in Abbeydarrig, Kenagh, Co Longford – the informant was Robert Armstrong – nephew of Creagh

6 June 1875 Mary Morton (nee Fawcett) died in Newcastle, Ballymahon, Co Longford – the informant was John Morton of Newcastle.

10 July 1881 Thomas Morton died 10 July 1881 in Newcastle, Ballymahon, Co Longford – the informant was Grace J Morton of Newcastle.

Thomas headstone read:

Church of Ireland Memorials
Ballymahon, County Longford
——————————————————-
In loving memory of our dear parents
Mary Morton, Newcastle, County Longford who died 6th June 1875, aged 62 years
Also her husband Thomas Morton, who died 10th July 1881, aged 66 years

23 Jun 1882 Joseph Morton died in Newtown, Flanagan, Co Longford – the informant was Eliza Lloyd of Newtown, Flanagan

Other records

County Longford voter list from 1792 showing Mortons.

Source: Transcribed by Thomas F Moffatt

1825 Thomas Morton – Ireland Tithe Applotment Books – Abbeyshrule, Tashiney, Longford, Ireland courtesy of Family Search.

1830 William Morton – Ireland Tithe Applotment Books – Tashiney, Longford, Ireland. Also John Morton of Toome, Longford, Ireland. Image courtesy of Family Search.

1842 Peter Henry Morton joined the RIC and resigned in 1849. Emigrated to Ontario in 1849. Sons John born in 1843 in Dublin and Henry in 1845, in Dublin. Possible. daughter in 1848 in Dublin.

Peter Morton

Enlisted:  1842

Film #:  856058

Page #:  111

5110     MORTON, Peter   31   11-Nov   Longford  Catholic     Mar[ried]  – Reserve, Waterford.

Reg. No.: 5110

Name: Peter Morton

Aged: 31

Height: 5 feet – 9 inches

Religion: Catholic

Married: 1 June 1852

Wife’s County: –

Previous Trade: –

Appointed: 11 November 1842″

John Morton

“Enlisted:  1832
Film #:  856057
Page #:  122
Reg. No.: 1438
Name: John Morton
Aged: 22
Height: 5 feet – 10 inches
Religion: Protestant
Married: 16 September 1835
Wife’s County: Westmeath
Previous Trade: Gardener
Appointed: 20 September 1832”

1854 Griffiths Valuation. John Morton in Taghsheenod, Longford, Ireland. Image source: Find My Past

Finding my Great Grandfather

Tags

Beatrice May Clark, Bethany Maternity Hospital, Clark, Cyril Geoffrey Edmund Harker, Fielding, Fred Clark, Frederick Clark, Geoff Harker, Geoffrey Bernard Harker, Jones, McClure, Mulqueen, Nahr, New Zealand, Ogden, Paihia, Reefton, Salvation Army, South Island, Spry, Van Wijgerden, Wellington, West Coast, Westport, William Nahr

The photo above is of my grandfather taken during World War II. He was a Private in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Infantry Brigade.

The purpose of this blog was to find my grandfathers biological father. Sometimes it takes a cast of thousands to help find ones family history and other times it takes one person to come forward with information that changes everything.

Update: 26 January 2018. We have found my grandfathers paternal line through YDNA testing a McNaught male. He is the grandson of James Gordon McNaught 1866-1935 who married Ada Mary Delves 1869-1965. They had 5 sons. I am hoping that autosomal DNA will further help refine which of the 5 sons it was.

In 2013 I applied and received my grandfathers pre-adoptive birth record. This showed his mother was Beatrice May Clark and also told me where he was born.

My grandfather was born on the 3 April 1923 in the Salvation Army Bethany Maternity Hospital, 18 Kensington Street, Wellington City, New Zealand. When he was born his mother named him William Nahr Clark.

By great fortune a google search of Beatrice May Clark brought up a tantalising website. A short time later I emailed the website owner and introduced myself and through a few cautious emails discovered a new cousin and was put in touch with one of Beatrices other children – a half brother to my grandfather.

His biological mother Beatrice May Clark was born on the 27 December 1903 in Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand. Beatrice and her family moved to Westport, West Coast, New Zealand around 1908. Beatrice was the daughter of Frederick and May Elizabeth Morton Clark. Frederick (Fred) worked as a clerk and accountant and raised 5 children with May in Westport.

Beatrice grew up in Westport and when she left school she got a job at Bowater and Bryan as a typist. She was 18 years old when my grandfather was conceived making conception around July 1922 and 19 years old when she gave birth. Based on DNA matches to the descendants of Geoff there is the possibility that Geoff could have been conceived in Dunedin, Wellington or Hawera/Wanganui. Beatrice had cousins and siblings in these locations and she may have been on holiday or visiting family.

After Beatrice got pregnant her father found out and she was whisked off to Wellington and spent a few months in the Salvation Army maternity hospital prior to giving birth. The Salvation Army records section has letters from Fred Clark on file instructing the home not to let Beatrice have any contact with her best friend or other people from Westport including some of her own family members and a man named William Nahr nor allow her unsupervised visits out of the maternity home grounds. The Salvation Army records also state that Beatrice named my grandfathers biological father as William Nahr. As each stay in the maternity hospital was not government funded Beatrice was asked if she wanted the State to seek payment for her stay from William Nahr. She and her father declined and instead Fred Clark paid for her stay.

Within a few short days of being born my grandfather was adopted by a husband and wife from Waipukurau, Central Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. His name was changed at birth to Geoffrey Bernard Harker but his family knew him as Geoff. His adoptive parents were Cyril Geoffrey Edmund and Phyllis Carre Drinkwater Harker. Cyril was a respected politician and lawyer.

In the 1960s Geoff enlisted the help of a few friends and they drove down to the West Coast in search of his biological mother and father. They didn’t know the exact town so went to Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika hoping to find someone who could help him find his parents based on the information Cyril had told him that his mother was Mary/May Clark/Clarkson and father was a Nahr. They had a video camera and made a film about their trip. Unfortunately the footage doesn’t survive but the family stories from my uncles who have seen it showed that they had such a good time down there that one of Geoffs friends had to be taken by plane back to the North Island due to his injuries!

Geoff told his family a story that on his trip he saw someone who looked a lot like him on his trip but never approached him. He also contacted the Nahrs and was told to leave things be. The Nahrs dismissed the relationship and didn’t want anything to do with him. No record was kept of which Nahr family member he spoke to but I suspect it may have been William Nahr.

Unbeknownst to my grandfather Beatrice had died on 30 November 1950 in the Buller District Hospital, Westport, West Coast, New Zealand. While Geoff was searching he never knew she had died over a decade before.

Beatrice is buried at the Orowaiti middle cemetery. I have visited the family grave in Westport on two occasions.

From a few months earlier to not having any information except an old family story to suddenly having found his mothers family seemed like everything had aligned and I would now be able to solve what my grandfather never found.

I contacted a Nahr descendant and told the person my family story and how we linked to the Nahr family. She advised that there would be little interest in the story and that the people were aged and this news would be too shocking for them so that was another dead end.

A few months went by before I found another Nahr family member to contact. She was a journalist in Christchurch who put me in touch with her aunt who was interested in the family history. I told them my family story and curiously they had heard that William Nahr admitted to having a child before he got married. Although the name of the mother was different the similarities between the two stories was encouraging. Once again everything seemed to be aligning.

As part of my family history research I have attempted to prove everything via DNA testing from Family Tree DNA and through http://www.ancestry.com. FTDNA can show the direct male line back thousands of years via a YDNA test and can also show male and female relations via their Family Finder test. Ancestry looks at the male and female lines but the results are only good for 4-5 generations. I previously had two uncles take the YDNA and Family Finder tests to see if anyone genetically matched us. Unfortunately most results were from a few hundred years ago making modern connections difficult at best. The Nahrs offered to take a YDNA37 test and so I sat and waited 3 months for formal confirmation of the relationship.

Unfortunately the test showed that William Nahr wasn’t my grandfathers father. This was extremely disappointing news. I thought through all the variables – was my grandfather mixed up with another baby in the maternity hospital?, was the Nahr who took the DNA test a non biological son? Did the Nahrs not test an actual Nahr? Was Geoffs father someone else entirely than the person his mother named him after? Did the DNA company mix up the results?

In order to start clarifying some of these issues we tested my grandfathers half brother and established that Geoff was Beatrices son. To try and triangulate the Nahr results another one of the Nahr family offered to take the same YDNA37 test. A few months later that also came back as negative.

The Nahrs I corresponded with were very helpful to me and shared their family information readily. Beatrice was very specific about naming my grandfather after William Nahr and also naming William as the father at the maternity hospital. She most likely told William Nahr he was the father as well.

Beatrice went to live with her sister and her sisters husband in Fielding, Manawatu in the 1920s. Little is known about her movements during this period until she appears in the 1928 electoral role. The record says Private Hospital, Fielding, Spinster. I’m assuming the private hospital is where she worked – if so, are there records of what she worked as?

The next record we have of her is in 1933 when she marries Ernest Edward Allan on the 1 October 1933 at the St Johns Anglican Church, Westport, West Coast, New Zealand. She had 3 children with Ernest before Ernest tragically died from yellow fever in Penang, Malaya just after the start of World War II. Beatrice and two of her children moved back to Westport. Her third child was already at school in Westport.

Five years later she met Edward Murdoch Mulqueen and they married and had one child together.

Out of respect for my grandfathers siblings Id ask anyone who knows the family to not contact them. They were never told any stories about a half brother nor that their mother had another child. They have been very supportive of me and very welcoming of my family.

I was fortunate enough to visit my 3 of my grandfathers 4 brothers and sisters in 2014 and 2015. They are all alive and well. My grandfather would have loved to have met his biological family.

Below is a photo of my grandfather marrying my grandmother on 21 Jun 1947 at the Church of St Michael and St John, Allardice Street, Dannevirke, Manawatu, New Zealand.DNA matches: We have had a small number of DNA matches to people in New Zealand and the USA. The better ones range from 55 centimorgans (cM) to 336cM. Some family surnames include Spry, Ogden, McNaught and Delves.

Sadly, my grandfather died 14 years before I ever began my quest to find his family. He died in 1999 and was cremated and his ashes buried in the Paihia Cemetery, Paihia, Northland, New Zealand.

Geoff left behind a wife and 4 children. In 2017 one of his children passed away but the rest are all still alive. His wife is 97 years old living in Hastings, Hawkes Bay and his children are also in Hastings, Tasmania and Adelaide, Australia

Geoff on the left of the image. Unknown male on the right of the image.

Geoff is in the middle of the image. Unknown males on the right and left.

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Page Family of County Dublin, Ireland

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Dublin, Margaret Cummins, Margaret Page, McGaveston, Page, Ringsend, St Pauls Church, Theophilus Page, William Henry Page, William John Page, William Page

The origins of our Page family are obscure but the earliest records we can find place the family in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.

William Page married Elizabeth (surname unknown). At this stage of my research I do not have their marriage date or place but based on their childrens baptisms this would have occurred around 1780.

They may have had other children but I have not found any other baptisms on www.irishgenealogy.ie/ than the four listed below:

• Jeremiah Page 1782
• Theophilus Page 1784-1837 married Margaret Cummins/Cummings.
• William Page 1789
• Sarah Page 1790

The first of their children born was Jeremiah Page who was baptised on 29 September 1782 at St Pauls Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

The second of their children born was Theophilus Page who was baptised on 29 September 1782 at St Pauls Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

The third of their children was William Page who was baptised on 1 May 1789 at St Pauls Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

The fourth of their children born was Sarah Page who was baptised on 2 May 1790 at St Pauls Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

At this stage of my research I have only found information about my direct ancestor Theophilus Page.

Theophilus married Margaret Cummins/Cummings in 1814. We have this date from the Dublin, Ireland, Probate Record and Marriage License Index, 1270-1858. At this stage I haven’t found the original record. If you can find this record please Contact Me using the form at the bottom of this post.

Theophilus and Margaret had at least three children:

• Margaret Page
• Mary Anne (Anna) Page
• William Henry Page

The following record states that on the 6 October 1825 Theophilus Page is listed as a petitioner. The date relates to the date of the petition being received, not the actual marriage date.

In 1829 Theophilus Page was listed in The Treble Almanac as a Salt Merchant of Ringsend.

In 1835 Theophilus Page was listed as a merchant in Thorncastle-Street, Ringsend in Pettigrew and Oulton, the Dublin Almanac and General Register of Ireland.

In the same Alamanc in 1835 is is listed as a Salt Manufacturer and Coal Stores.

Theophilus Page died on 6 Mar 1837 in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland and was buried on 8 Mar 1837 in St Marks, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. Unfortunately there are very few headstones left in the cemetery as the church ground was sold, many of the headstones removed and some of the burial area is now under a car park.

The record of Theophilus burial is listed under his wifes name. Theophilus wife outlived him and was mentioned in family letters as dying in 1856.

 The descendants of Theophilus Page

Margaret Page 1818-1859 was born around 1818 but we have not found her baptism to confirm this date.

Margaret Page married John Wynn McGaveston 1798-1846 on 15 Sep 1842 at St Peters, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. Johns occupation was listed as Surgeon in the East India Company Service. Margaret was a spinster. Both John and Margaret were living in Rathgar. The witnesses were M.A Page and M.F Shaw. M.A Page is likely to be Margaret sister Mary Anna Page.

Source findmypast. Dublin Evening Packet and Correspondent 17 September 1842

Source findmypast. Dublin Morning Register 17 September 1842

John and Margarets children were:

• John Cornwall McGaveston 1844-1925
• Charles Wynn McGaveston 1845-1855.
  

The birth of John Cornwall McGaveston was recorded in one of the Dublin newspapers in 1844.

Source findmypast. Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail – Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

John was a surgeon in the East India Company. He died prematurely in Dublin, County Dublin, on 18 June 1846 leaving Margaret and the two boys. John was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.

Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland

To the Memory | of | JOHN McGAVESTON | Late Surgeon 2nd Bengal Artillery | Died June 3rd 1846 | aged 49 years | And NICHOLAS McGAVESTON Esq | who died 19 March 1883 aged 80 | Also JOSEPH S. MARTIN | Died 2nd July 1887 aged 47

Photo taken by Yvonne Russell in July 2014

After John Wynn McGaveston died his wife Margaret McGaveston (nee Page) traveled to New Zealand aboard the Mariner in 1850 with her two sons and Reverend Robert John Lloyd.

The Mariner sailed from London on 4 April 1850 with 172 passengers for Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth and Otago. The ship arrived in Nelson 20 September 1850.

One family story is she met Rev Lloyd in Ireland and they decided to move out to New Zealand. The ships manifest listed Margaret as Mrs Lloyd. This may have afforded her some protection from other passengers and crew during the voyage. However the ships register has a note which says Margaret McGaverstone married Rev Lloyd before they sailed from England. This may indicate they shared a cabin together.

Once Margaret and Robert got to New Zealand they married on 14 November 1850 in the Wakefield Church, Wakefield, New Zealand. Margaret would have already been nearly 2 months pregnant at this time. On 19 June 1851 Margaret and Roberts Lloyds first son Bartholomew Lloyd was born.

Margaret and Robert had five children:

• Bartholomew Lloyd 1851-1923
• Anna Lloyd 1852-1933
• Margaretta Lloyd 1855-1856
• Matilda (Tillie) Lloyd 1857-1920
• Charles Lloyd 1859-1859

According to Margarets family in Ireland they did not want her to marry Rev Lloyd. Margaret became estranged from her family and did not hear from them again during her short life – something her Irish family was deeply saddened about.

Her mother and sister continued to try and contact her while she was alive and when they were unsuccessful they contacted the postmaster who confirmed the letters were being received by Margarets husband Rev Lloyd but were not passed on.

This information was sourced from letters that were written to Margarets son John Cornwall McGaveston in the 1880s which I have seen transcribed copies of in 2015.

This is one of the few mentions of Margaret Page. The article states she died on 18 April 1959 but her death certificate says 19 April 1959. Image courtesy of Papers Past. Colonist, Volume II, Issue 158, 26 April 1859, Page 2.

Unfortunately no one knows exactly where Margaret is buried. Some sources state Riwaka and others Pangatotara and neither source can identify the burial ground.

The children of Margaret Page

Margarets first child John Cornwall McGaveston married twice and had 17 children between the two wives.

John Cornwall McGaveston 1844-1925 and Mary Anne Whites children:

• Henry McGaveston 1862– unknown. We have been unable to find what happened to Henry, Can you help?
• Robert McGaveston 1863-1876
• Margaret McGaveston 1865-1939 married Wallace Edward Fairhall 1864-1954
• Amelia (Millie) McGaveston 1866-1956
• Sarah McGaveston 1868-1944
• John Cornwall McGaveston 1870-1895
• Charles Winford McGaveston 1871-1945 married to Ada Materoa Cuff 1872-1919
• Alfred McGaveston 1873-1952 married twice. The first time to Marie Atlantia Christensen 1872-1917 then to Catherine Mary Malpas 1884-1980
• Mary McGaveston 1875-1912 married Christopher Piesse 1874-1968

After Mary Anne in 1876 died John Cornwall McGaveston and Penelope Dean Wallis children:

• Dean Wallis McGaveston 1878-1929 married Bertha Miriam Hunt 1879-1935
• Theophilus Page McGaveston 1879-1959 married Mildred Eleanor Hewetson 1877-1970
• Nicholas Arthur (Arthur) McGaveston 1881-1937 married Frances Eleanor Burrell 1885-1968
• Theodora (Dora) McGaveston 1883-1968
• Anna Lake McGaveston 1885-1974
• Clara Evelyn (Evelyn) McGaveston 1887-1978 married Eugene Ronald Cook 1882-1951
• Samuel Ralph (Ralph) McGaveston 1889-1961
• William Hilton (Hilton) McGaveston 1892-1975 married Ivy Getrude Tillson 1892-1983

The second child of Theophilus Page was Mary Anne (Anna) Page married Henry Stephenson on 23 Feb 1846 at St Peters Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

The Witnesses were William Singleton and Thomas Snowe

Source: www.irishgenealogy.ie/

Henry Stephenson and Anna Page Marriage  in 1846

Source: Papers Past :Cork Examiner 2 March 1846

Source Papers Past:  Dublin Mercantile Advertiser, and Weekly Price Current 27 February 1846

They had at least two children:

• Arthur George Stephenson 1847-?
• Margaretta Theodosia Stephenson 1849-1935

Arthur George Stephenson was born 7 August 1847 in Athy, Co Kildare, Ireland.

I have not been able to find any further records of Arthur. He may have died as an infant.

Margaretta was born 13 April 1849 at Wallingford, Rathgar, Ireland which was the McGaveston family home and baptised on 13 June 1849 at St Peters Church, Dublin, Ireland.

Margaretta did not have any family. She died on 31 Dec 1935 at 8 Fitzwilliam Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

Mary Anne (Anna) Stephenson died on 7 Apr 1895 at 8 Fitzwilliam Terrace, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

I cannot find any trace of Henry Stephensons baptism or death. There is some evidence that he abandoned his family.

In 1836 Henry was appointed accountant of the Armagh Branch of the Agricultural and Commercial Bank.

Source: Papers Past – Belfast Commercial Chronicle 9 November 1836

Henry Stephenson was living in 10 Dawson Street, Dublin. This is the same location that his cousins the Trulocks lived.

Source Papers Past: Farmer’s Gazette and Journal of Practical Horticulture 8 June 1850

Henry Stephenson and his wifes brother both were connected to the building of the Geelong and Ballarat Railway in Victoria, Australia.

The last record I can find of Henry Stephenson is in November 1856 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Henrys residences appear to be Melbourne and 6 Grosvenor Street West Eaton Square, London, England.

Source: Trove – Saunders’s News-Letter 15 November 1856

Theophilus Pages third child was William Henry Page

Like his father William ran the Salt Making business at Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin, Ireland. The Salt making business faced strong challenges from merchants importing cheaper salt which may have pushed William out of business or necessitated a change of business.

William married Joanna Quinlan in 1838 in Dublin, Ireland

They had at least 4 children. The fifth child Anna is unconfirmed. She is buried in the Page family vault but I have not found a baptism for her to William and Joanna Page:

• William John Page
• Mary Genevieve Page
• Clarinda (Clara) Evelyn Page
• Unknown Page 1850-? (This childs birth was mentioned in the newspaper but may have died before he/she was baptised)
• Anna Martha (Nannie) Page

 

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Seawrights of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

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Adams, Andrew Seawright, Armagh, Australia, Ballymacombs, Ballyscullion, Bellaghy, Castledawson, Catherine Seawright, Co Derry, County Down, Derry, Ellen Knipe, Ellen Snipe, Greymouth, John Adams, John Seawright, John Smyth, Kilrea, Londonderry, Mackerell, Magherafelt, McCracken, McKrell, Mullaghboy, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Queensland, Reefton, Robert Searight, Robert Simpson Walker, Rosanna Smyth, Rose Seawright, Rose Smyth, Searight, Seawright, Seawright Johnston, Seawright Road, Seeright, Seright, Thomas Johnston, United States, USA, William Seawright

The Seawrights of County Londonderry, Northern Ireland have a history stretching back at least 300 years. Some of the name variants (Searights/Seerights/Sewrights/Serights/Sayright) have been used interchangeably until more recently where the surname has become standardised by different lines of descendants.

Ive created this webpage to encourage family members from the various descendant lines to contribute information about their Seawright ancestors from County Londonderry. If you have something to contribute please Contact Me. Any United States based families who may have kept family bibles dating back to the 1760s may be able to definitively link various family lines so I would like to encourage you to Contact Me.

At this stage It is just a mass of peoples names, birth, baptism, marriage and burial and death dates where I have found them. Some I have purchased, some have been researched previously and some records I have found on the net or have been emailed to me by other family history researchers. I have also added census, tithe, Will and emigration records. If you have more records please Contact Me.

This is a work in progress.

About Me:

My own Seawright family descends from John Searight via his son William Searights marriage to Rose Smyth. Their son Robert Seawright moved to New Zealand in the 1860s via Australia. Robert, his sister Catherine and brother Andrew Seawright all moved to New Zealand over a 10 year period. There is good evidence to show that Williams father was John Seawright and the Will referred to further down this page is a strong indicator of the link. We dont know who William Seawrights mother was. There is a James Seawright mentioned in John Seawrights Will who may be another son of Williams or one of his brothers children.

William Seawright may have been named after his father but was known as William throughout his short life. John William Seawright known and referred to here as William.

I have a blog about my New Zealand families here:

These were the surviving children of William Seawright and Rose Smyth.

• John 1838-1901 married Ellen Knipe 1834-1890
• Charlotte 1840-1924 married James Mackerell 1837-1869
• Robert 1841-1873 married Elizabeth Morton 1841-1899
• Andrew 1843-1899 married Lucy Spring 1854-1894
• Mary 1851-1869
• Catherine 1852-1935 married Robert Patterson 1838-1903

The Australian Seawrights moved from County Londonderry to Australia in the 1880s and 1890s. The Australians descend from John Seawright and Ellen Knipe.

In 2016 the Australian Seawrights and New Zealand Seawright descendants took Genealogy DNA tests to confirm that we are from the same family line which begins with William Seawright and Rose Smyth. We tested through Family Tree DNA based in the United States. We took two tests – the Family Finder test which looks at your male and female ancestral lines and the YDNA or direct male line test.

It is likely that William and Rose married in the Bellaghy Church around 1837 and their children were also baptised there. Unfortunately the records were destroyed in the 1922 Irish ‘fire’ in Dublin. If you know of any other sources for these records please Contact Me (there is a Contact Me form at the bottom of this webpage).

DNA Testing to prove/disprove linkages between the descendant families

The second purpose of this webpage is to encourage male Seawright descendants with the Seawright surname (or variants) to DNA test through Family Tree DNA to link the families in Canada, United States, Australia, Ireland and other places around the world. The purpose of this is to see if we are genetically related and to definitely link the Seawrights who have speculated or only have old family stories that their families have come from County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

The YDNA test traces the direct male line back 160,000 years and if there is a common ancestor the test will show that. Obviously for genealogy purposes we only need the results to show the last few hundred years. The importance of having a direct male line family member take the test rather than one who has been adopted into the family is paramount. If any of the Seawrights descendants from County Down and County Antrim want to test this may prove/disprove any relationship. Currently there are two other Serights/Sewrights from the USA who we match to. Both have their origins in County Londonderry as their earliest known ancestors are from there.

Some names appear in the following records because they were born, married or died in County Londonderry. These people may have been born, married or died elsewhere. Marcus R Searight for example appears to have been born outside of Londonderry but has been included because his children were born in Londonderry.

William Beath Searight may be another family line born outside the county who emigrated for work purposes.

If you know the death date and place of Rose McIntyre nee Seawright nee Smyth please Contact Me.

Acknowledgements:

I have had a growing number of people contribute to the Seawright family project. Some would like to remain anonymous so I thank those people for their contribution to the Seawright family history.

• Robert (Frank) Seawright – An Australian Seawright descendant.
• Kenneth Moravec – An Australian Seawright descendant.
• Dave Bradley

If I have missed acknowledging you please let me know.

Births/Baptisms:

13 May 1805 (Baptism) Jean Searight at Searight town, Ballyscullion. Daughter of David Searight. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90. Residence listed as Craignahorn, Ballywillin.

20 June 1807 (Baptism) Andrew Searight at Ballymacombs. Son of Andrew Searight. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

2 Sep 1809 (Baptism) Betty Searight of Ballymacombs. Daughter of Andrew Searight. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

11 May 1811 (Baptism) James Searight of Ballymacombs. Son of Andrew Searight. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

9 April 1813 (Baptism) Jean Searight of Ballymacombs. Daughter of Andrew Searight. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

4 May 1813 (Baptism) Andrew Searight of Ballymacombs. Son of Andrew Searight and Hannah McCullogh. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

9 July 1814 (Baptism) John Searight of Ballymacombs. Son of Andrew Searight and Hannah McCullogh. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

13 December 1815 (Baptism) Hanna Searight of Ballymacombs. Daughter of Andrew Searight and Hannah McCullogh. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

1824 John Smyth at Tamnadace. Son of Matty Seawright and John Smyth. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

1826 Elizabeth Smyth at Tamnadace. Daughter of Matty Seawright and John Smyth. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

1828 James Smyth at Tamnadace. Son of Matty Seawright and John Smyth. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

1830 Thomas Smyth at Tamnadace. Son of Matty Seawright and John Smyth. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

1832 Stewart Smyth at Tamnadace. Son of Matty Seawright and John Smyth. Castledawson Presbyterian Church register, PRO Mic 1P/90

9 July 1839 James John Searight at Magherafelt. Son of William Beath Seawright and Matilda. Records of Magherafelt Church of Ireland, PRONI MIC1/1/A1

21 July 1843 Georgina Searight at Magherafelt. Daughter of William Beath Seawright and Mary. Records of Magherafelt Church of Ireland, PRONI MIC1/1/A1

20 April 1850 Marcus Searight of Coleraine. Son of Marcus Searight and Mary Jane Knox. Baptised 12 August 1855 at Coleraine Parish.

15 January 1857 James Searight. Son of Marcus Searight and Mary Jane Knox. Baptised 3 May 1857 at First Coleraine Parish.

26 June 1864 John Mackerell at Mulaghboy. Father James Mackerell. Mother Charlotte Sewright. FHL Film Number: 101090

11 December 1865 Robert Seawright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright – farmer. Mother: Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

15 January 1866 Mary Eliza Searight at Eglinton. Father’s Name: Marcus Searight
Mother’s Name:  Mary Jane Knox

23 March 1866 Margaret Seawright at Mullaghboy. Mother: Mary Seawright of Mullaghboy. Registered by Rosey McAteer – present at birth.

18 April 1866 Martha Mackerel at Mullaghboy. Father James Mackerell – a farmer. Mother Charlotte Mackerel (formerly Seawright). Registered by Charlotte Mackerel.

18 December 1866 Ellen Seawright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright – farmer. Mother: Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

18 January 1868 Eliza Sewright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright. Mother: Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

5 Feb 1868 David Seawright at Eglinton. Father Marcus Searight. Mother Mary Jane Knox. Source: Emerald Ancestors

3 July 1868 Rachel Mackerl at Mulaghboy. Father James Mackerell. Mother Charlotte Senright. FHL Film Number: 101090

11 April 1869 Joseph Sewright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright. Mother: Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

30 Jul 1869 Thomas Johnston birth Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland (father David Johnston, mother Florence Florinda McAnary)

19 Nov 1869 Henry Seawright at Eglinton. Father Marcus Searight. Mother Mary Jane Knox. Registration Quarter and Year 1869, Registration District  Londonderry
Volume Number  17, Page Number 200

29 Apr 1870 John McCracken at Maghera. Father Hugh McCracken. Mother Margaret Seawright.

7 September 1870 May Elizabeth Morton Searight at Brighton, Charleston, Buller, New Zealand. Father Robert Searight. Mother Elizabeth Morton.

26 October 1870 Mathew James Johnston birth in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland (father David Johnston, mother Florence Florinda McAnary)

13 October 1871 Catherine Seawright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright. Mother: Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

14 December 1871 Robert Edward Ernest Morton Seawright. Brighton, Charleston, Buller, New Zealand. Father Robert Searight. Mother Elizabeth Morton.

1 Apr 1872 Mary Johnston birth in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland (father David Johnston, mother Florence Florinda McAnary)

08 May 1872 Mary Ann McCracken at Maghera. Father Hugh McCracken. Mother Margaret Seawright.

19 Aug 1872 Joseph Seawright at Londonderry. Father Marcus Searight. Mother Mary Jane Knox. Source: Emerald Ancestors

18 Jun 1874 Andrew Adams at Kilrea. Father: John Adams. Mother Mary Anne Seawright.

26 March 1875 Ann Sewright at Ballymacombs. Father John Seawright – farmer. Mother Ellen Seawright (formerly Knipe). Registered by John Seawright – father.

28 March 1878 James Seawright at Derrynaflaw. Father John Seawright – a blacksmith. Mother Mary Mills. Dungiven Parish.

16 June 1881 Sarah Jane Seawright at Ballymacombs. Mother: Mary Anne Seawright a farmers daughter. Registered by Sarah Ann Dickson – present at birth.

28 November 1908 Nellie Seawright at Ballymacombs. Mother: Sarah Jane Seawright a Labourer. No father is listed. Registered by Nancy Chisney – present at birth.

Marriages:

4 March 1811 Andrew Searight marries Hanna McCullogh at Castledawson. The witnesses were James Vance and Nathanel McCullogh.

12 May 1819 Kathy Searight married John Smyth at Castledawson. The witness was Jenny Gibson.

4 October 1842 in Ballymacarrett Church, by the Rev. Thomas Leonard, A.M., Wm. Breath Searight Esq., Maherafelt, to Mary, eldest daughter of Wm. Radcliff, Esq., Ballymacarrett.

13 May 1847 Andrew Seright married Margaret McMillin at Bellaghy Parish Church. Andrew was a bachelor of full age living at Ballymacombs. His father is listed as David Seright – a farmer. Margaret McMillin a spinster of full age is living at Ballymacombs. Margarets father listed as William McMillin – a farmer. Witnesses were: John McMillin and Robert Rankin.

26 June 1851 Marcus R Searight married Mary Jane Knox at Dunluce Presbyterian Church. Marcus was of full age, a bachelor and policeman of Coleraine. He was the son of Edward Searight – a farmer. Mary Jane Knox was a spinster of full age of Coleraine. Marys father was Eagleson Knox a hotel keeper.

02 Oct 1857 Rose Seawright married John McIntyre at Bellaghy Parish. Rose of full age, a widow of Ballymacombs. Rose father was John Smyth – a farmer. John McIntyre of full age, a widower and farmer of Ballymacombs. Johns father was John McIntyre – a farmer. Witnesses were William Fleming and Solomon McIntyre.

Note: Rose was previously married to William Seawright who is the progenitor of the Australia and New Zealand Seawrights.

16 Oct 1857 John Seeright married Ellen Knipe/Snipe at Kilrea Parish. John was a bachelor and farmer living at Ballymacombs. He was also listed as a minor. He was the son of William Seeright – a farmer. Ellen Knipe was of full age and a spinster living at Moyknock. She was the daughter of John Knipe – a farmer. The witnesses were Stuart Lindsay and Joseph Knipe.

Children:

• William James Seawright 1858-1935
• John Seawright 1860-1899
• Thomas Seawright 1862-1930
• Robert Seawright 1865-1927
• Ellen Seawright 1866-?
• Andrew Seawright 1868?-1961
• Eliza Seawright 1868
• Joseph Seawright 1869-1911
• Charlotte Seawright 1870-1901
• Catherine Seawright 1871-1915
• Ann Seawright 1875-?
• Sarah Ellen Seawright 1879-1945

03 Jun 1858 Charlotte Searight married James Mackerell at Ballyscullion. Charlotte was 18, a spinster of Ballymacombs. Her father William Seawright was a farmer. James was 21, a bachelor and farmer of Mullaghboy. James father’s name was  John Mackerell – a farmer. The witnesses were Robert Johnson and James Smyth.

Charlotte and the children emigrated to the USA after the death of James. The children were:

• Sarah Mackerell 1861-1894
• John Mackerell 26 June 1864-1934 married Lavinia Judd 1870-1938
• Martha Mackerell 18 April 1866 – 1954 married Randolph Nelson Blodgett 1876-1949
• Rachel Mackerell 3 July 1868 – 1954

14 September 1858 James Sewright married Elizabeth Sloss at Magherafelt. James was full age, a bachelor and farmer from Ballymacombs. James father was James Seright – farmer. Elizabeth was full age, a spinster of Ballymulderg.  Elizabeths father was Joseph Sloss – a farmer. The witnesses were Mary Sloss and Robert Boyd. Registration district Magherafelt, Volume 7, Page 809. Source: Find My Past

6 June 1865 David Seawright marries Margaret Burnside at Castledawson Presbyterian Church. David was a bachelor of full age of Ballyscullion – a farmer. Davids father listed as David Seawright – a farmer. Margaret Burnside a spinster of full age living at Kilberry. Margarets father listed as William Burnside – a farmer. Witnesses were: John Burnside and Sarah Burnside.

3 July 1868 Robert Searight marries Elizabeth Morton at the Residence of Rev Joseph White, Charleston, Nelson-Marlborough, New Zealand

Children:

• May Elizabeth Morton Searight 1870-1960
• Robert Edward Ernest Morton Searight 1871-1960

7 July 1868 David Johnston marries Florinda McAnary at the Parish of Desertmartin. David was of full age, a bachelor and farmer of Mullaghboy. Davids father was Thomas Johnstone a farmer. Florinda was of full age a spinster of Luney. Florindas father was Matthew McAnary a farmer. The witnesses were William Crossett and Florinda McLean.

Children:

• Thomas Johnston 1869-1951
• Matthew James Johnston 1870-1952
• Mary Johnston 1872-1957

24 March 1869 Andrew Searight married Lucy Spring at the Swan Hotel, Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand.

Children:

• Joseph Frederick Searight 1873-1946 married Frances Olive Trower 1888-1932
• Maud Josephine Mary Searight 1875-1913 married Arthur Archie Adams
• Ernest Searight 1877-1902
• Henry Searight 1877-1878
• Robert Searight 1880-1975 married Annie Elizabeth Connor 1881-1976
• Charlotte Mary Searight 1882-1968 married John Henry Hicks

30 April 1869 Margaret Seawright marries Hugh McCracken at St Conlus Church of Ireland, Termoneeny. Margaret was of full age, a spinster of Knockloughrim. John Seawright listed as her father – a labourer. Hugh was of full age, a bachelor and butcher of Carricknakielt. James McCracken listed as his father – a farmer. Witnesses were William KcKeown and Thomas Shiels.

Children:

• John McCracken 29 April 1870
• Mary Ann McCracken 8 May 1872
• Margaret Jane McCracken 15 April 1875

2 Jan 1871 Catherine Searight marries Robert Patterson at Brighton, West Coast, New Zealand

Children:

• John Patterson 1871-1953
• James Patterson 1873-1950
• Robert Patterson  1874-1961
• William Patterson  1875-1941
• Anabella Patterson 1876-1944
• Catherine Patterson 1878-1954
• Isaac Patterson  1879-1936
• Mary Ann Patterson  1881-1947
• Hugh Patterson  1881-1961
• Thomas Searight Patterson 1885-1976
• David Patterson 1887-1918
• Henry Patterson 1889-?

31 July 1873 Mary Anne Seright marries John Adams at Bellaghy Church. Mary Ann a spinster of Ballymacombs of full age. Andrew Seright is her father – a farmer. John Adams of Moy, a bachelor. Samuel Adams is the father – a farmer. Witnesses were James Adams and James ?

Children:

• Andrew Adams born 18 June 1874
• Samuel Adams 29 March 1878
• Sarah Adams 30 January 1880
• Hugh Adams 23 February 1882
• William Adams 2 January 1884
• John Adams 21 September 1886
• Robert Adams 6 March 1889
• Margaret Adams 6 December 1891
• Mary Adams 28 June 1894

18 June 1891 James Seawright marries Ann Henderson at Castledawson Presbyterian Church. James a widower and labourer of Tamlaghtduff. James father was Robert Seawright – a farmer. Ann Henderson a spinster of full age of Tamlaghtduff. William Henderson is her father – a farmer. Witnesses were John Graham and Martha McNeill.

16 April 1892 May Elizabeth Morton Searight married Frederick Clark at St Stephens Parsonage, Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand

Children:

• Olivia Latonia De Courcy Clark 7 November 1892
• Eileen Mabel Clark 23 February 1894
• Ethel Elizabeth Clark 10 January 1897
• Morton Leslie James Clark 10 May 1899
• Beatrice May Clark 27 December 1903
• Fawcett Seddon Clark 30 August 1905

21 Mar 1893 Margaret Ellen Seawright married Robert Simpson Walker at Dungiven Presbyterian Church. Margaret was a spinster living at Dungiven. She was the daughter of John Seawright a labourer. Robert was a railway worker living at Coleraine. He was a bachelor and the son of John Walker a farmer. The witnesses were Annie Walker and John Seawright.

Children:

• Mary Walker 3 January 1894
• Robert Walker 22 February 1895
• Margaret Walker 12 April 1897
• Lily Walker 9 June 1905
• Susan Walker 2 March 1910

5 December 1895 Robert Searight married Margaret Ferguson at Dungiven Presbyterian Church in the Parish of Dungiven, Civil District Newtown Limavady, County Londonderry. Robert was a bachelor living at Dungiven. He was the son of John Searight a labourer. Margaret was a spinster living at Straid Hill. Her father was Joseph Ferguson a farmer. The witnesses were John Searight and Jane Ferguson.

01 May 1899 Matthew James Johnston married Florence Hind Saunders in Roma, Queensland, Australia.

Children:

• Lionel Saunders Johnston 1900-1978
• Gordon David Johnston 1903-?
• Allan Matthew Johnston 1906-1948

4 May 1899 James Seawright married Margaret Thompson at Bovevagh Church of Ireland. James was a bachelor living at Owenbeg. James father was John Seawright a shoemaker. Margaret was a spinster living at Gortgarn. Margarets father was Edward Thompson a labourer. The witnesses were Alexander Thompson and Betty Mawhinnie.

3 Jul 1901 Mary Johnston married Sidney Charles Luck at St. Pauls, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.

Children:

• Florinda Luck 1902-1935
• Norman Collin Luck 1904-1937
• David Johnston Luck 1905-1979
• Olive Mary Luck 1910-1994
• Gwenneth Moya Luck 1914-1961

12 April 1909 Sarah Jane Seawright married John Russell at Bellaghy Church. Sarah a spinster, age 27 of Ballymacombs, Bellaghy. No father listed. John Russell a bachelor, age 29 of Ballymacombs, Bellaghy. Johns father listed as William Russell – Labourer. Witnesses David James Vance and Mary Elizabeth Vance.

Children:

• William Russell born 3 April 1910 in Ballymacombs
• Henry Russell 4 July 1911 in Ballymacombs
• Robert Russell 19 March 1913 in Ballymacombs
• Elizabeth Russell 30 November 1914

24 May 1927 Robert Seawright married Mary Jane Reilly at Cumber Upper Presbyterian Church. Robert was a bachelor living at Straidhill Park. Roberts father was John Seawright a blacksmith. Mary was a spinster living at Moyse Limavady. Marys father was William Reilly a farmer. The witnesses were Samuel Craig and Maggie Murphy.

Deaths and Burials

1835 Matilda Seawright. Inscription: SEAWRIGHT [Granite slab] Erected by William Blath Seawright in memory of his beloved wife Matilda who died …. [1835] aged [21] years. Graveyard: Magherafelt 1st Pres, Magherafelt, County Londonderry. Source: http://www.ancestryireland.com

31 March 1866 David Seright at Ballyscullion. Age 54, married and a farmer. Witnessed by Jane Seright present at death.

2 May 1867 Thomas Johnston (husband of Mary Seawright) at Mullaghboy, Ballyscullion. He was a widower and the death was certified by his son Seawright Johnston. His death certificate states he was 68 years old making his birth around 1799.

8 December 1867 Martin Seewright at Ballyscullion. Age 64 years a bachelor and farmer. Jane Seewright of Ballyscullion present at death.

28 Dec 1868 Mary Eliza Searight at Eglinton. Age 3. Father Marcus Searight of Eglinton present at death.

4 January 1869 David Searight. Born in the same year he died. Event Type  Death
Event Date  1869, Event Place  Londonderry, Ireland, Registration Quarter and Year  1869, Registration District  Londonderry, Age  0, Birth Year (Estimated)  1869
Volume Number  2, Page Number  172

7 January 1869 Edward Searight. Event Type  Death, Event Date  1869, Event Place  Londonderry, Ireland, Registration Quarter and Year  1869, Registration District  Londonderry, Age  6, Birth Year (Estimated)  1863, Volume Number  2, Page Number  172

13 August 1873 Robert Searight at Grey River Hospital, Greymouth, Westcoast, New Zealand

29 January 1878 Jane Seawright at Ballyscullion. Age 29 years, a spinster and daughter of a labourer. Witnessed by Jane Seawright who was present at death.

9 April 1878 Andrew Seawright at Ballymacombs. Age 74 years, married and a farmer. Witnessed by John Adams who was present at death.

1 February 1884 Jane Searight at Ballymacombs. Age 62 years, a widow of a farmer. Witnessed by Eliza Searight – daughter, present at death.

2 February 1889 Andrew Seawright at Devils Creek, Reefton, Buller, West Coast, New Zealand

27 Dec 1898 Marcus Seawright at Poyntzpass, Co Armagh. Source: Emerald Ancestors. Marcus moved from Co Londonderry.

6 April 1890 Eliza Searight at Ballymulderg. Age 65 years, married wife of James Searight – a farmer. Witnessed by Robert ?ross present at death – brother?

18 February 1900 Margaret Seawright at Ballymacombs. Age 96, a widow and housekeeper. Witnessed by Mary Ann Adams present at death. (Wife of Andrew Seawright who died in 1878)

26 Jun 1902 Annie Seawright at Poyntzpass, Co Armagh. Source: Emerald Ancestors. Annie moved from Co Londonderry.

5 Aug 1902 William Seawright at Poyntzpass, Co Armagh. Source: Emerald Ancestors. William moved from Co Londonderry.

29 Mar 1903 David Johnston died at Mackay Gaol, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.

26 February 1908 Seawright Johnston at Mullaghboy, widower aged 70 years and a farmer. Joseph Johnston (his nephew) was present at his death and signed with his x. Joseph was from Mullaghboy.

12 August 1914 Ann Seawright at Bellaghy.  Age 71 years, a widow of a farmer. Witnessed by John Daws brother in law present at death.

1917 Mary Seawright. Birth year 1847, Age at death 70, Registered year 1917, Registered quarter/year  Apr – Jun 1917, Registration district Coleraine, Volume  1,
Page  335

7 July 1918 Eliza Seawright at Ballymacombs. Age 72 years, a spinster. Witnessed by Sarah J Russell, niece, present at death.

17 June 1922 Martin Seawright at Ballymacombs. Age 72, a bachelor and farmer. Witnessed by Sarah J Russell – niece present at death.

24 April 1924 Charlotte McKrell at Binghampton, Broome, New York, USA. (Charlotte McKrell/Mackerell nee Seawright – wife of James Mackerell. Her birth date is listed as 4 July 1847 but this is unlikely as she would have been 11 when she married James Mackerell).

7 March 1925 Margaret Seawright (nee Ferguson) wife of Robert Seawright aged 77 years. Banagher Presbyterian Church County Londonderry. In this Church Graveyard there is a headstone on the grave of Margaret Ferguson, wife of Robert Seawright. The following is a transcript of the headstone on the History from the Headstones website:

SEAWRIGHT In memory of Margaret FERGUSON, beloved wife of Robert Seawright, Straid, died 7th March 1925, aged 77 years.

30 April 1948 Allan Mathew Johnston in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. Lionel Saunders Johnston was the witness.

13 October 1952 Mathew James Johnston in Clayfield, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Gordon David Johnston was the witness.

1 November 1954 Rachel McKrell at the Binghampton State Hospital, Binghampton, New York, USA. (Rachel was the daughter of James Mackerell and Charlotte Seawright)

26 September 1957 Mary Luck nee Johnston in Warwick, Queensland, Australia. Norman Collin Luck was the witness.

10 July 1978 Lionel Saunders Johnston in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. Alan David Johnston was the witness.

The following are references to the Seawright families listed chronologically

Will 5 October 1758 (abridged)

On 11 October 1748 Andrew Seright of Ballymacombs in the Parish of Ballyscullion bequeathed to his son Martin Seright half of his land in Ballymacombs – a proportion of Vinters, Co Londonderry. (Martin is unmarried). Andrews wife Mary is bequeathed the other half of his land. Martin and Mary are to have half the house each and goods. Also left is Andrews proportion of Vinters, County Londonderry.

While speculative the ownership of Vinters land may imply that the Serights were part of The Plantation of Ulster by Scottish and English settlers and could have their origins in either one of those places.

No other children are mentioned.

Tithe Applotments 1828

Seawright, Townland: Ballynease Year: 1828
Seawright, Andw. Townland: Ballymacomb Year: 1828
Seawright, Davd. Townland: Ballymacomb Year: 1828
Seawright, David Townland: Ballyscullion Year: 1828
Seawright, John Townland: Ballymacomb Year: 1828
Seawright, Martin Townland: Ballymacomb Year: 1828

Freeholder Records 1829?

John Seawright – 10 pound yearly value

Source: PRONI

Census 1831

Martin Seright
Robert Seright
John Seright
Andrew Seright

First name(s)  Andrew
Last name  Seright
Census year  1831
House number  107
Townland  Ballymacombs
Parish  Ballyscullion
Barony  Loughinsholin
County  Londonderry
Number of families  1
Number of males  2
Number of females  3
Number of Presbyterians  5
Country  Ireland
Record set  Ireland Census 1821-1851
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  David
Last name  Seright
Census year  1831
House number  74
Townland  Ballyscullion
Parish  Ballyscullion
Barony  Loughinsholin
County  Londonderry
Number of families  1
Number of males  4
Number of females  1
Number of Presbyterians  5
Country  Ireland
Record set  Ireland Census 1821-1851
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  John
Last name  Seright
Census year  1831
House number  112
Townland  Ballymacombs
Parish  Ballyscullion
Barony  Loughinsholin
County  Londonderry
Number of families  1
Number of males  4
Number of females  3
Number in Established Church  7
Country  Ireland
Record set  Ireland Census 1821-1851
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Martin
Last name  Seright
Census year  1831
House number  111
Townland  Ballymacombs
Parish  Ballyscullion
Barony  Loughinsholin
County  Londonderry
Number of families  1
Number of males  1
Number of females  1
Number of Presbyterians  2
Country  Ireland
Record set  Ireland Census 1821-1851
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Robt
Last name  Seright
Census year  1831
House number  113
Townland  Ballymacombs
Parish  Ballyscullion
Barony  Loughinsholin
County  Londonderry
Number of families  1
Number of males  3
Number of females  2
Number in Established Church  5
Country  Ireland
Record set  Ireland Census 1821-1851
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

9 April 1831

William Seawright of Magherafelt is sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. In 2016 I contacted the various archives in Ireland to see if there are records of this case exist and it appears none exist.

22 Jun 1831

David Searight appears in the valuation Office Books. He is listed in the Field Book, Londonderry, Loughinsholin, Ballyscullion, Ballyscullion West. He is listed as having a house and office.

Source: The National Archives

Will 1840

First Name  ANDREW
Last Name  SERIGHT
Year  1840
Diocese  DERRY
County  Antrim, Donegal, Londonderry (Derry), Tyrone
Record set  W.P.W. Phillimore & Gertrude Thrift, Indexes to Irish Wills 1536-1858, 5 vols (1909-1920)
Category  Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory  Wills & probate
Collections from  Ireland

1846 Freemasons Register

William Beath Seawright. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Collection: Freemasons of Ireland Membership Registers; Volume Number: Volume IV. Source ancestry.com

17 August 1850 Will of John Seeright

In the Name of God Amen. I John Seeright of Bally McCombs and parish of Balysculin and County of Londonderry being of proper mind and Memory thanks be to god for his Mercies as man is Mortal I think it my bounded Duty to Settle All my wordly affairs. I bequeath my soul to the Lord who gave it to me. I allow my body to be buried in a Desant way. I Bequeath my Daughter Jane Swan one acre of Labour ground in the Crossland and A Cow’s grass. I allow her my own roome with byer and Durighill Stead with the third of the garden Durin her natural life. The above to be off the head of the whole Land and if she Dont Chose to Live by the Land I allow her to be paid five pound per year and that quarterly. I allow her bead and beadstead and Chairs and press and the young cow and if she goes to Live with James Swond she forfits all her right and like of the above. Eye allow as mush of the Land to be sol (sold) as amount til Eighteen or twenty pound a year for to pay the Dept and the remander to bee Devided in two Shairs. the one half to William and the other half to Jean Swan and Jeams Sewright with my Kitchen to Jeams (could be Jean or James) And the about to stand so till all paid to Francis Linsay. when all Depts is paid I allow the one half to my sun William and his airs and I allow the other half to my gran sun Jeams Sewright and his Laful aires (lawful heirs). if the said Jeams Sewright sells his part he is to pay Thomas Johnson thirty pounds and if he Dies without a laful aire his part of the Land is to be Divided one acre and A cows Grass to Thomas Johnson my Grand Sun and the remander to go to Williams part of the Land. if the said Jeams Sewright marrys and (upon dying first)… .. first his wife has no Children she is to get support During her widow hood. I Bequeath my bead and ..(press) to my Grand Dauter Sharlet Sewright. if my sun william Gets beter well he is to get my clock. I allow my Dauter Mary Johnston thirty pound to be paid in three Equal Shares three years between every Share the first payment three years after my Death. I Bequeath my Dauter Ellen Smyth one pound to be paid one year after my Death. I allow Jeams Sewright the half of the horse and Cart and all the farming uteticls (utensils) By paying william or his aires thirty shillings. The Land is not to be Divided till the Dept is paid. if the said James marrys and pays the Half of the Dept He is to Get His part of the Land.

If william Doth not come to his health Jeane is to get the Clock and all the moveably in my house. During her Life She is not to Dispose of them But till …(thame? or thems) that takes the Best Caire of Her. I allow Jeams the black cow. Jeams is not dispose in or about the house without his aunts Leave or the Exector. I allow my Gran Dauter Sharlot Sewright ten pound to be paid when she is twenty five years of age of Jeams part of the Land. I apoint John Kelly of Sand morns and Thomas Johnston of Mullough boy John Dickson Senr to Bee my Executors and administerators. this is my Last Will and testament Dated this Seventen of Aug eighteen Hundred and fifty

Sined Saild and Delivered (Signed, Sealed and Delivered)

Witness present

John Dickson

Joseph Dickson

John Dickson

Griffiths Valuation 1858-1859

Searight, Andrew L: Ballymacombs More
Searight, David L: Ballymacombs More
Searight, David L: Ballyscullion West
Searight, John L: Ballymacombs More
Searight, Martin L: Ballymacombs More
Searight, Martin L: Ballyscullion West

Griffiths Valuation 1859

First name(s)  DAVID
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYSCULLION, WEST
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  HENRY S.B.
Lessor’s last name  BRUCE
Occupier’s first name(s)  DAVID
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  JOHN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYMACOMBS MORE
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  EARL OF
Lessor’s last name  STRAFFORD
Occupier’s first name(s)  JOHN
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  JOHN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  lessor
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYMACOMBS MORE
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  JOHN
Lessor’s last name  SEARIGHT
Occupier’s first name(s)  –
Occupier’s last name  Unoccupied
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  MARTIN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYSCULLION, WEST
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  HENRY S.B.
Lessor’s last name  BRUCE
Occupier’s first name(s)  MARTIN
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  MARTIN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYMACOMBS MORE
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  EARL OF
Lessor’s last name  STRAFFORD
Occupier’s first name(s)  MARTIN
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  MARTIN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYMACOMBS MORE
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  ROBT.
Lessor’s last name  BATESON
Occupier’s first name(s)  MARTIN
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  MARTIN
Last name  SEARIGHT
Role  occupier
Year  1859
Printing date  1859-03-02
Townland  BALLYMACOMBS MORE
Civil Parish  BALLYSCULLION
Barony  LOUGHINSHOLIN
Poor Law Union  MAGHERAFELT
County  Londonderry (Derry)
Lessor’s first name(s)  LOUISA
Lessor’s last name  TRENCH
Occupier’s first name(s)  MARTIN
Occupier’s last name  SEARIGHT
Act  15&16
Record set  Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Land & estates
Collections from  Ireland

Londonderry County Extractions (over 1 Acre) 1873-75

Owner Name             Owner Residence

Seawright, Andrew    Ballymacombs,  Bellaghy
Seawright, James      Ballymacombs,  Bellaghy
Seawright, John        Ballymacombs,  Bellaghy

1878 Will

Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Andrew Seawright late of Ballymacombs County Londonderry Farmer who died 9 April 1878 at same place were granted at Londonderry to Margaret Seawright of Ballymacombs the Widow.

1882-1890 Seawright emigration to Australia

Name:                           Ship                              Age        Arrival Date

• Thomas Saywright        Compta                         20          2 June 1882
• John Searight                Shannon                       22          16 March 1884
• Joseph Seawright         Wistow Hall                   16          25 August 1885
• William Seawright         Wistow Hall                   26          25 August 1885
• Robert Seawright         Wistow Hall                   18          25 August 1885
• Andrew Seawright        Tara                              15          1 April 1890
• Charlotte Seawright     Tara                              20          1 April 1890
• Ellen Seawright            Tara                              39          1 April 1890
• John Seawright             Tara                              38          1 April 1890
• Sarah Seawright           Tara                              11          1 April 1890

1898 Will

Probate of the Will of Marcus Searight late of Poyntzpass County Armagh Gentleman who died 27 December 1898 granted at Armagh to William Searight Henry Searight and Joseph Searight all of Poyntzpass Merchants.

Wife: Jane
Son: George H, Marcus (deceased) – his share to exclude his widow and heirs – if any.
Sons: William, Henry, Joseph
Daughters: Bessie, Annie

1900 Probate

Name  Margaret Seawright
Event Type  Probate
Event Date  18 Feb 1900
Event Place  Londonderry
Beneficiary’s Name  Mary Ann Adams

1900 Land return for Seawright Johnston

1901 Census:

First name(s)  George H
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Brother
Marital status  Single
Marital status as transcribed  Not Married
Sex  Male
Age  45
Birth year  1856
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  Commercial Clerk
Townland/Street  Poyntzpass
District electoral division  Poyntzpass
County  Armagh
Religion  Episcopal Church
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Poyntzpass/Poyntzpass/1037245/
Family member first name(s)  William, Annie, Joseph, George H
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Henry
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Head of Family
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Male
Age  27
Birth year  1874
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  Publican
Townland/Street  Poyntzpass
District electoral division  Poyntzpass
County  Armagh
Religion  Church of Ireland
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Poyntzpass/Poyntzpass/1037283/
Family member first name(s)  Henry, Annie
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  John
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Head of Family
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Male
Age  40
Birth year  1861
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  Agricultural Labourer
Townland/Street  Owenbeg
District electoral division  Dungiven
County  Londonderry
Religion  Presbyterian
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Dungiven/Owenbeg/1524143/
Family member first name(s)  John
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  John
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Boarder
Marital status  Single
Marital status as transcribed  Not Married
Sex  Male
Age  26
Birth year  1875
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  Boot Maker
Townland/Street  Carlisle Street
District electoral division  Court Ward
County  Antrim
Religion  Presbyterian
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Court_Ward/Carlisle_Street/963988/
Family member first name(s)  Andrew, Maggie, John, Rachel, Annie, Isabella
Family member last name  Logan, Searight, Jervis, McFarlane
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Margaret
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Wife
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Female
Age  48
Birth year  1853
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  –
Townland/Street  Straid
District electoral division  Banagher
County  Londonderry
Religion  Presbyterian
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Banagher/Straid/1527054/
Family member first name(s)  Robert, Margaret
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Robert
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Head of Family
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Male
Age  30
Birth year  1871
Birth place  Londonderry (Derry)
Occupation  Farmer
Townland/Street  Straid
District electoral division  Banagher
County  Londonderry
Religion  Presbyterian
Literacy  Read and write
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Banagher/Straid/1527054/
Family member first name(s)  Robert, Margaret
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1901
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

1902 Will

Probate of the Will of William Searight late of Poyntzpass County Armagh Publican who died 5 August 1902 granted at Armagh to Edward Griffith Grocer and James A. Gilleland N.S. Teacher.

Wife Margaret Anne (Annie) Searight
Brothers: Henry, Joseph,
Sisters: Annie, Bessie

Probate of the Will of Annie Searight late of Passview Poyntzpass County Down Spinster who died 26 June 1902 granted at Belfast to Matthew M’Comb Farmer.

Brother George
Sister Bessie McComb and Matthew McComb

1911 Census:

First name(s)  Henry
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Head of Family
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Male
Age  38
Birth year  1873
Birth place  Co Londonderry
Occupation  Spirit Merchant
Townland/Street  Poyntz Pass Town (part of)
District electoral division  Poyntz Pass
County  Armagh
Country  Ireland
Religion  Church of Ireland
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Poyntz_Pass/Poyntz_Pass_Town_(part_of)/307618
Family member first name(s)  Henry, Annie, Florrie, Muriel, Norah
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1911
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Margaret
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Wife
Marital status  –
Marital status as transcribed  –
Sex  Female
Age  49
Birth year  1862
Birth place  Co Derry
Occupation  –
Townland/Street  Straid
District electoral division  Banagher
County  Derry (Londonderry)
Country  Ireland
Religion  Presbyterean
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Banagher/Straid/598055
Family member first name(s)  Robert, Margaret
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1911
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

First name(s)  Robert
Last name  Searight
Relationship to head  Head of Family
Marital status  Married
Marital status as transcribed  Married
Sex  Male
Age  41
Birth year  1870
Birth place  Co Derry
Occupation  Farmer
Years married  15
Townland/Street  Straid
District electoral division  Banagher
County  Derry (Londonderry)
Country  Ireland
Religion  Presbyterean
Image link  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Banagher/Straid/598055
Family member first name(s)  Robert, Margaret
Family member last name  Searight
Record set  Ireland Census 1911
Category  Census, land & surveys
Subcategory  Census
Collections from  Ireland

1922 Will

Seawright Martin of Ballymacombs county Londonderry farmer died 17 June 1922 Probate Belfast 23 January to Andrew Adams and John Junkin farmers. Effects £36.

1924 Death Certificate of Charlotte Mackerell/McKrell nee Seawright

Other

The following are records which have not been verified or the people may be linked to one of the family members above.

Children of William and Margaret Snipe of Moynock (tanner)

William 20 Aug 1826

Robert 27 Apr 1828

John Thomas 29 July 1832

Matty 27 Apr 1838

Children of John and Anne Snipe of Moynock

Sarah 30 Jan 1829

Robert 17 Jan 1830

Child of Samuel and Hannah Snipe of Moynock

Samuel 15 Apr 1830

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Descendants of Jacob O’Donnell of Ballylough, County Down, Northern Ireland

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Ballylough, Banbridge, Belfast, Chicago, County Antrim, County Down, Devon, Elizabeth Adams, Elizabeth Mary Smith, England, Galveston, Hannah Harrison, Hokitika, Illinois, Imperial Studios, Ireland, Jacob O'Donnell, James McCarthy, Kumara, Martha McCarthy, Martha O'Donnell, McCarthy, Melbourne, Mrs Weston, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, O'Donnell, Opunake, Plymouth, Richard O'Donnell, Royal Artillery, Taranaki, Taruheru Cemetery, Texas, United States, USA, Victoria, Waimea, Wellington, West Coast, William Morton Purkiss, William O'Donnell

Our O’Donnell family story begins in Ballylough (Baile-an-locha; “the townland of the lake”), County Down, Northern Ireland in the early 1800s. Ballylough is a townland lying about 2.5 miles north of Seapatrick village. Seapatrick village is now indistinguishable from the town of Banbridge, which has spread outwards over the years to absorb Seapatrick village.

At this stage I have not been able to go further back in history so have put together this webpage to encourage other family members to contribute more information to our family history.

Because we do not know where our O’Donnells came from if other male O’Donnells from Summer Island, County Armagh would like to DNA test to see if our Jacob O’Donnell was part of your family please Contact Me (there is a form at the bottom of this web page for you to Contact me) I may be able to help with the purchase of the DNA test kit from Family Tree DNA. You would need to have the O’Donnell surname and be able to trace your family back to the early 1800s/late 1790s in County Armagh or County Down or surrounding areas. The DNA will prove/disprove we have a recent common ancestor. The test can be done anonymously ie: if you do the test I can use a pseudonym instead of your name or use my name as the test subject. This will guarantee your privacy

I do not put information about living people on web pages for obvious privacy reasons.

If you are going to use information from this page please acknowledge where you got it from. Please seek permission before using any images or information unless you are a direct descendant.

If you have information to contribute or just want to make yourself known please use the Contact Form at the bottom of this page.

12 January 2018 Update: I purchased two images of David O’Donnell from the Nelson Provincial Museum and have added these to the blog. These would be from before he went to the Klondike in Canada.

2 January 2018 Update: Another USA O’Donnell descendant has taken a DNA test and is a 107.5 centimorgan match. More conformation of the common ancestor of the New Zealand and USA O’Donnells.

29 January 2017 Update: I have added the obituary of Hans H Hansen

30 August 2016 Update: I have found and added the death location of Elizabeth Hansen nee O’Donnell and her husband Hans Hansen. I have added photos of their headstones and death certificates. I have also added Elizabeths obituary.

18 March 2016 Update: We have found another one of the New Zealand O’Donnell childrens name (Richard O’Donnell named after Williams O’Donnells brother) and found another in the employ of William Morton Purkis, a solicitor in Hokitika although the daughter is unnamed.

10 October 2015 Update: I have added Richard O’Donnells (Williams O’Donnells brother) marriage certificate.

16 September 2015 Update: An American descendant of William O’Donnell and a New Zealand descendant of William O’Donnell took a Family Finder DNA test from Family Tree DNA. This conclusively proves that the New Zealand and USA families have William O’Donnell as their common ancestor!

12 September 2015 Update: The Northern Ireland researcher I paid to find the O’Donnells completed her research and sent me the results. We now have the death date for Jacob O’Donnell. We now know that Richard O’Donnell was in the British Royal Artillery and fought in India and other far flung countries. He married 18 months before he died although I have not been able to find if he had a child or what happened to his wife.

We have been unable to find Hannah O’Donnells (nee Harrison) death or if she remarried. We have been unable to find Richard O’Donnells baptism.

4 July 2015 Update: I have added some more newspaper stories about William O’Donnell.

2 July 2015 Update: I am employing an Irish History researcher to find more about the O’Donnells by searching the PRONI/GRONI plus other sources in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

30 June 2015 Update: I have added some death certificates for William, Richard and Isaac O’Donnell from Ireland and New Zealand and the burial certificates for Isaac and Richard. I have also added the marriage certificate of William O’Donnell and Jane Eliza Campbell.

I have also added a photo of the Irish/USA O’Donnells!

One of the USA O’Donnell descendants is taking a DNA test to see if we can genetically link the American and New Zealand families. If you are interested in helping and are an O’Donnell descendant I would need the oldest person who is a direct descendant you can find to take a Family Tree DNA Test. The logic behind using the oldest person possible is that the further way you are from the person we are trying to link you to (William O’Donnell) the greater chance that no matches may show even though you are genetically related. 4th cousins have a low likelihood of matching. The test is inexpensive.

14 June 2015 Update: I have been contacted recently by an O’Donnell researcher who has posed an interesting theory which requires greater exploration:

I feel there may be a connection between your County Down O’Donnell’s and a family living at Summer Island, County Armagh – the two locations being 18 miles apart.

The John O’Donnell living in the late 1700’s at Summer Island is the son of a Catholic priest in charge of Mevagh parish, Donegal who married the daughter of the resident Church of Ireland clergyman and succeeded his father in law as clergyman of the same parish.

Catholics and Protestants in Ulster province rarely changed religion thus presenting a filter to distinguish families of the same surname. Furthermore, John of Summerhill had a brother Richard who remained in Mevagh parish – families of all religions in Ulster carried first names through generations suggesting that the appearance of a Richard in your line could indicate a link to Summerhill. The links below relate to the Summer Island O’Donnell’s and some background to the family roots in Mevagh parish.

If you have any further information about this theory please Contact Me.

The O’Donnells of Ballylough

On 13 September 1829 Jacob O’Donnell married Hannah Harrison in the Holy Trinity Church of Ireland, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland. The Minister/Priest was Francis Burrowes.

We do not have Jacobs year of birth or baptism but his death registration shows he was born around 1803. We also do not have Hannahs date of birth or death. The surname O’Donnell was unusual for this part of Northern Ireland and Jacob appears to have been the only person with that surname in Ballylough which may indicate that he or his family were originally from another area in Co Down or Northern Ireland. He may be linked to the other O’Donnells in Co Down or the records are simply missing. There are other Harrison families in County Down but I have been unable to find who Hannahs parent were.

Jacobs occupation for the baptisms of his children was a Weaver.

Jacob and Hannah had at least four children. There may be other children so we need your help finding them.

• William O’Donnell was born on 15 June 1830 and baptised on 20 June 1830 in the Seapatrick Church of Ireland.
• Isaac O’Donnell was born in 1833 and baptised on 24 March 1833 in the Seapatrick Church of Ireland.
• Jane O’Donnell was born on 19 February 1836 and baptised on 2 March 1836 in the Seapatrick Church of Ireland.
• Richard O’Donnell was born around 1839/1841.

The only records we can find of relevant baptisms are on http://www.ancestryireland.com and the results are listed the following way:

Name: William O’Donnelly

Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: 15:06:1830
Date of Baptism/Registration: 20:06:1830
Father’s First Name: JACOB
Father’s Surname: O’DONNELLY
Mother’s First Name: HANNA
Mother’s Surname: HARRISON
Comment 2: Other possible spelling: JACOB DONNELLY Minister/Priest: Francis Burrowes

Name: Isaac O’Donnell
Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Sex: Male
Date of Baptism/Registration: 24:03:1833
Father’s First Name: JACOB
Father’s Surname: O’DONNELL
Father’s Occupation: WEAVER
Mother’s First Name: HANNAH
Comment 2: Other possible spelling: JACOB DONNELL Minister/Priest: DICKINSON D.

Name: Jane Donnel
Parish/District: Seapatrick Church of Ireland
Address 1: BALLYLOUGH
Address 3: Banbridge
Date of Birth: 19:02:1836
Date of Baptism/Registration: 02:03:1836
Father’s First Name: JACOB
Father’s Surname: DONNEL
Father’s Occupation: WEAVER
Mother’s First Name: HANNAH
Comment 2: Minister/Priest: DICKINSON D

Jacob O’Donnell died on 31 December 1842 in Ballylough, County Down, Northern Ireland. He left a Will which was lodged in 1843 but unfortunately this seems to have been lost/destroyed in the 1922 ‘fire’ in he Dublin records office.

Nothing more is known about Hannah O’Donnell than her name appearing in the Spirit Grocer records. She is listed from 1838-1844 which implies that she outlived Jacob and may have continued to stay in Ballylough. At this stage I haven’t found when or where she died. Given the ages of her children when Jacob died she would have needed financial support. Hannahs son Richard named William O’Donnell as his next of kin in his Royal Irish Constabulary record in 1862 which may mean that Hannah had died by this stage.

Jacob and Hannahs O’Donnells eldest child William O’Donnell married Jane Eliza Campbell on 10 February 1854 in Tullylish, County Down, Northern Ireland. William was also a weaver.

Marriage Parish Church, Tullylish, Co. Down, Feb. 10 1854

William O’Donnell, of age, Bachelor, Weaver,  residence Ballylough,

father: Jacob O’Donnell, Weaver.

Jane Eliza Campbell, 19, Spinster, residence Annaghanoon (Donaghcloney),

father: William Campbell, Weaver.

Signed: William O’Donnell and Jane Eliza Campbell her X mark

Witnesses Robt. Harvey, Joseph Graham.

A copy of the marriage certificate of William O’Donnell to Jane Eliza Campbell.

William and Jane had 5 children who were all born in Northern Ireland. At this stage I haven’t found their births or baptisms so I am unable to confirm exactly where they were born but later obituaries indicate that at least one of the children was born in Magherana, County Antrim. Other records state Belfast, County Antrim.

• James O’Donnell who died in infancy/childhood
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) O’Donnell 1855-1933 married Hans H Hansen 1870-1938
• Isaac O’Donnell 1857-1931 married Augusta (Gussie) Tonn 1870-1935
• Jacob O’Donnell 1858-1915 married Annie Keller then Isabella (Bella) De Valencia 1878-1939
• Jane Eliza O’Donnell 1862-1949 married John Lazinbat 1854-1902

More searching of records might reveal where and when they were baptised but so far the records searched are:

• Donaghcloney COI MIC/93/2 1855-1864
  
• Seapatrick COI – MIC1/83 1855-1864

A family story says that William left his family to make his fortune in the goldfields of New Zealand around 1864 with the intention of bringing his family out. This was the last the family ever saw him. It was quite unusual for anyone from Ireland to travel directly to New Zealand. It is more likely that William travelled via Australia whose goldfields were in full swing at the time. I have not been able to find his entry into Australia or New Zealand.

Williams two sons Isaac and Jacob moved to Galveston, Texas, United States. The family story is that they then brought their sisters and mother out to the United States.

• Isaac O’Donnell at one time stated he arrived in 1876 at aged 19 and another time in 1884 at age 27.
• Jacob O’Donnell at one time stated he arrived in 1874 at aged 16 and another time in 1880 at age 22
• Elizabeth (Lizzie) O’Donnell stated she arrived in 1891
• Jane Eliza O’Donnell stated she arrived in 1882 but this is one year after her marriage to John Lazinbat in the United States
• Jane Eliza O’Donnell (nee Campbell) married Antonio Leon on 8 Jul 1887 in Galveston, Texas so her arrival was before this date.

This is a spectacular photo of the USA O’Donnells. Thanks to an O’Donnell descendant for the photo.

Bottom row:  Pearl O’Donnell (standing), Augusta O’Donnell (nee Tonn), Lizzie O’Donnell standing), Jane O’Donnell (nee Campbell). The next four are the two sisters Jane and Elizabeth (Lizzie), (Elizabeth is most likely on the far right) and we aren’t sure who the two children are (probably Ekia?)  The top row from the left William O’Donnell, Ike (Isaac) O’Donnell, unknown male and Jacob O’Donnell on the far right. Is the man standing in the middle at the back Antonio Leon or Hans H. Hansen?

While in the United States Williams children married and had families.

Isaac O’Donnell and Augusta (Gussie) Tonn has the following children:

• Pearle Margaret O’Donnell
• Lizzie Belle O’Donnell

1.Pearle Margaret O’Donnell 1890-1958 who married Fred Oscar Koos Jr 1888-1959

They had:

• Roy O’Donnell Koos 1911-1989 who married Nettie Jennie Lee 1908-1995
• Kenneth Frederick Koos 1912-1992 who married Barbara Vogt Johnston
• Pearl Lorraine Koos 1919-1990 who  married John Beniost 1913-1992

2. Lizzie Bell O’Donnell 1894-1954 who married Ira James Lightfoot 1890-1923

They had:

• Unnamed Lightfoot 1917-1917
• Jean Elizabeth Lightfoot 1921-2003 who married Michael Francis Collerain

Lizzie never remarried and is buried with Ira.

Jacob O’Donnell and Isabella (Bella) De Valencia had the following children:

1. William Opunake O’Donnell 1899-? who married Adelia Hilman McLendon 1902-1956. Do you know when and where William died. If so please contact me!

William O’Donnell and his sister Rebecca taken around 1947 on the Davis farm. Image courtesy of Katherine Melo.

They had:

• Druselle O’Donnell 1922-2006 who married Clinton Crawford 1919-1967 then Joseph Henry Gast 1906-1977.
• Delma O’Donnell 1924-1987 who married Charles Cole Smith?

Druselle had one child with Clinton Crawford. Druselle had one child with Joseph Henry Gast.

Delma has one child with Charles Cole Smith

2. Rebecca Plymouth O’Donnell 1901-2001 married Britton Teston 1900-1980 then Frank Ray Sayre 1889-1985. No known children.

3. Taranaki (Terry) O’Donnell 1903-1973 who married Evelyn Kerry. No known children. Terry may have also married Lillian A Dixon. Terry may have also married Ailetta Beatrice Dismuke.

Did Taranaki and Evelyn have children? If you have more information about this family line please contact me. Did Taranaki and Lillian have children? Did Terry and Ailetta have children?

Both of these images are of Terry O’Donnell and Evelyn Kelly

4. Hawera O’Donnell 1904- 1998. Hawera appears to have been married at least twice. She first married George Finch then Charles Reynolds before living in a common law relationship with Richard Mitchell Givens and Charles Reynolds. No known children.

Hawera O’Donnell 13 Feb 1927

Hawera O’Donnell 16 Sep 1928

Hawera O’Donnell and Charles Reynolds headstone in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, USA. Section 1, Grave 763-B. Image source: the Arlington National Cemetery website. Note that Haweras first name has been mispelt.

Jane Eliza O’Donnell 1862-1949 and John Lazinbat 1854-1902 had the following children:

• Louis Lazinbat 1883-?
• Ekia Lazinbat 1888-1960
• Donnell Lazinbat 1891-1936
• Ethel Annie Lazinbat 1895-1896
• William Lazinbat 1896-?

1. Louis Lazinbat 1883-?  married Agnes Nora Maroney

They had:

• John James Lazinbat
• Edward Francis Lazinbat married Esther
• James Donnell Lazinbat married Nettie Jane Pigman

2. Ekia Lazinbat 1888-1960 married Emmett Robert Green 1886-1960

They had:

• Ruth Green
• Robert Marmet Green
• James Green married Bernadine ?

3. Donnell Lazinbat 1891-1936 married Mary Doura 1893-1975

They had:

• Emmet Lazinbat 1911-1971 married Virginia
• Arnold Donnell Lazinbat 1916-2004 married Phyllis Machalek 1913-1976

 

Elizabeth (Lizzie) O’Donnell 1855-1933 married Hans Hansen 1870-1938

After Lizzies mothers death she and Hans moved to Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan, USA. After Lizzies death Hans remarried.

Berrien County Record, 2 February 1933, page 2 column 7

Berrien County Record, 23 March 1933, page 5 column 4

“Local Happenings”, Berrien County Record, 6 April 1933, page 3 column 2

Berrien County Record, 27 April 1933, page 5 column 1

Berrien County Record, 11 April 1934, page 6 column 1

Berrien County Record, 6 September 1934, page 2 column 6

Berrien County Record, 30 March 1933, page 1 column 2

Elizabeth Hansen Obituary. The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan) – Friday, March 24 1933. Image source http://www.newspapers.com

Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan, USA. Image courtesy of Bob Brown

Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan, USA. Image courtesy of Bob Brown

Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan, Berrien, Michigan, USA. Image courtesy of Bob Brown.

Elizabeth Hansen death certificate. Image source: www.seekingmichigan.org

Hans H Hansen death certificate. Image source: www.seekingmichigan.org

Hans H Hansen obituary. Berrien County Record, 3 March 1938, page 1

William O’Donnells life in New Zealand

William O’Donnell must have written to Jane in the early 1880s notifying her that he was living in Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand. Jane may have been in Ireland or had moved to the USA by this time. Jane still had family back in Ireland who could have sent Williams letter on to her. William did not live in Taranaki until mid to late 1878 and appears to have moved from New Plymouth to Opunaki around 1881. This information would then have been relayed to their sons Jacob and Isaac who were in the USA. The sons then sailed to New Zealand to look for him in the 1880s. I expect they arrived in Opunake after he had died in 1884 and were unable to find any trace of him. His grave at that point was unmarked. Jane Eliza O’Donnell (nee Campbell) married Antonio Leon in 1887 in the USA and William died on 9 October 1884. Jane may have well and truly thought William was dead by this stage and married Antonio.

Williams American granddaughter Rebecca O’Donnell flew to New Zealand in 1991 and was able to find where he was buried and had a headstone installed to remember William by.

While in New Zealand William met my third great grandmother Martha McCarthy 1850-1890 and they lived together in a common law relationship for around a 12 years 1866-1878. Martha also originated in Ireland as well but we have no shipping records or other details to assist us find anything out about her.

We know next to nothing about Martha. After William left her in 1878 she struggled to provide for her kids and took three of them with her when she moved to Wellington, New Zealand in 1879. In Wellington she later met and married a man named Patrick South in 1889. When she got married she named her parents as James McCarthy and Elizabeth Adams. I haven’t been able to find anything else about them or confirm the people she named were her parents. A year later on 18 October 1890 she was dead at age 40. We don’t know where she’s buried in Wellington and there appears to be no record of her burial.

Martha may have come to New Zealand with other family members or come over as a servant of a family. If the date she used when she got married was correct she would have been 15 years old when she started having children. She may have met William in Australia and they may have come over together as a couple however this is unlikely because the earliest child we can find was born in 1867.  It would have been highly unusual for a woman to travel from Ireland by herself at age 14/15 to New Zealand in the midst of the Australasian and New Zealand gold rushes.

There was a notice in the local Hokitika newspaper announcing the birth of her twins in 1869 asked the Sydney papers to copy the story. This could have been because she or William had family in Sydney. If the date she used when she married was not correct she may have been 5-15 years older than she stated.

If you have any information about her please contact me.

William and Martha had 6 children while living in Waimea (Goldborough)/Hokitika/Kumara on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. We only know the names of 5 of them:

• Richard O’Donnell 1867-1929
• Unknown female
• James O’Donnell 1869-1949
• Mary O’Donnell
• Charles O’Donnell 1875-1956
• David O’Donnell1878-1930

William and Marthas children:

Mary O’Donnell

Photos of Mary O’Donnell (later Mary Jane O’Donnell). We think the first image is a copy of another older, identical photo of Mary Jane taken in Imperial studios operating at 109 Elizabeth Street Melbourne between the years of 1884 & 1886. Mary would have been 15-17 years old! If you have a better theory about the two photos please contact me.

We have no idea what happened to her but would love to find out. Unfortunately we cannot work out Mary Jane O’Donnells age but believe she was born around 1869 and possibly one of the twins mentioned below. There are no family stories to assist with what happened to her but she must have stayed in contact with James as the photos we have come from what was left of his collection.

Charles O’Donnell 1875-1956 I tracked down in part by utilising family stories and part by good utilisation of death certificates and probate records. Charles is buried in the Wooroloo Cemetery in Western Australia. Charles spent  most of his life in Western Australia after leaving the Orphanage. He never married or had kids and spent his life as a miner. Unfortunately we have no photos of Charles which is a great disappointment.

8 Nov 1882 Charles was baptised at St Mary’s Church, Nelson, New Zealand

1903 he was living in Eucla, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

1906 he was living in Higginsville, Coolgardie, Western Australia, Australia

1910 he was living in Dundas, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

1943 he was living in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

18 May 1954 e was living in 31 Varden Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

28 Sep 1956 he died at Wooroloo Sanatorium, Wooroloo, Western Australia, Australia

1 Oct 1956 he was buried in Wooroloo Cemetery, Wooroloo, Western Australia, Australia in the Roman Catholic Section. Grave 514. No Headstone

Photo taken in February 2016 by me. Charles is in a grave with only a marker to indicate where he is physically buried.

James O’Donnell 1869-1949 (later James Harris O’Donnell) eventually moved to Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand and had a family but was at one point in Western Australia prior to 1899. While I haven’t found any record of James in Australia I have tracked his life in New Zealand including his family of which I am a descendant. James headstone in the Taruheru Cemetery has the incorrect birth date on but there appears to be some confusion about James age by his wife when she registered their childrens births as well.

This is a photo of James Harris O’Donnell

David O’Donnell 1878-1930

David O’Donnell – Ref: Mr O’Donnell. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 53393

David O’Donnell Ref: O’Donnell. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 53392These images show David O’Donnell in his late teens to early 30s. The final image is David with his wife.

David has been much more difficult to locate and we think we have found the right person and his descendants but are having difficulties locating them. Our David went to the Klondike goldrush in Canada around 1898 and we have found him on the Canadian census in 1901.

Painting of David O’Donnell with two unknown other people. Date unknown. The painting was given by Charlotte O’Donnell (nee Franklin) to my uncle Andrew Harker in the 1960s. The painting would be 70-100 years old.

Either this was:

• David in Canada in 1900 before returning to New Zealand or
• David went back to Canada to hunt in his later years or
• David stayed in Canada his entire life or
• David may have had this painted later in his life in New Zealand as a gift for his brother James O’Donnell. The background look like props used for photos.

What happened to him after that we cannot say for sure. We are assuming that David returned to New Zealand but have no proof of this. Only the early photos of David show indicate where he was at the time in Nelson, New Zealand. He had gotten out of the orphanage and was working.

When James got married he added a middle name to make James Harris O’Donnell. The David we have traced in New Zealand we also think added a middle name. When David got married he added Lewis to make David Lewis O’Donnell. There is another variant of his middle name making it David Louis O’Donnell but based on Alwyns middle name he settled on Lewis.

David married Elizabeth (Lillias) Virginia Wheatley 1873-1961 in Tasmania on 10 January 1904. David stated his birthplace was Nelson, New Zealand but as with all the other O’Donnell family members there are no birth or baptism records. David would have been two years old when he moved from Waimea to Wellington and the Orphanage in Nelson would have been his “home’ from around age 5. For all intensive purposes Davids significant memories would have been of living in Nelson for around 11 years. Without the use of a telephone he could not call his older brother to confirm his parents names on his wedding certificate which again changed a couple of times. I greatly doubt any of the boys advertised they were raised in an orphanage due to the social stigmas institutions like those had.

By 1905 he was living in Wellington and continued to live there for the next 9 years. David was a builder at this time and built some houses which still can be seen today. David also had business interests in Western Australia and stories about him can be found on the Trove newspaper website. David also tried to set up a mining company in the South Island and a prospectus was offered for people to buy shares into. We don’t know if this ever got off the ground.

In 1914 David was living in Auckland with Lillias. At some point he met Ethel Josephine Baggstrom and either had a child with her around 1915 or adopted her child. That child was Alwyn Lewis O’Donnell. In his probate David left provision for Ethel, Lillias and Alwyn. I have been unable to contact any living Baggstrom family members who might be able to confirm what happened to Ethel. We know she married Harry Hume Austin in 1934 and she later died in 1961 at aged 88.

David Lewis O’Donnell died in 1930 in Auckland, New Zealand. He provided well for his family and the probate is quite extensive. Despite that he was buried without a headstone in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Hillcrest, Auckland, New Zealand.

Despite extensive searching I have not been able to find what became of Alwyn apart from the following.

• Alwyn was a pilot or trainee pilot during World War II
• Between 1938 and 1954 he lived in Auckland
• In 1950 he married Merle O’Brien and they had a son together Roy David O’Donnell in 1952.
• Alwyn moved with his mother and Roy to Sydney, Australia but didnt take Merle with him.
• In 1961 Merle and Alwyn divorced.
• In 1968 Lillias died in Manly, New South Wales. Alwyn lists himself as her stepson on the death certificate.
• In 1981 Alwyn appears on the 1981 electoral role in Wellington, New Zealand. His name appears as Alvin Lewis O’Donnell.
• In 1980 Roy is living in Cromer, Mackellar, New South Wales, Australia
• In 1981 he appears to be living in Island Bay, Wellington, New Zealand

Here are two photos of Alwyn and Merle getting married in 1950.

Photos courtesy of an O’Brien family descendant on 4 January 2015.

Roys mother Merle married shortly after she got divorced and had at least two children of which I have been able to get in touch with them. They would also like to know where their missing brother is and they would dearly love to get in touch with him.

If anyone knows Alwyn or Roy Id like for them to get in touch. Hopefully this will confirm that my David O’Donnell is one in the same person.

At the very least your sisters would like to get hold of you!!!

If anyone has suggestions about how to find Roy or Alwyn or has been in contact with them since 1981 I would really appreciate you contacting me.

William O’Donnell and Marthas story continued:

Official documents state that Martha left William before he moved to Kumara. This was probably around late 1877/early 1878. William was summonsed to Hokitika for the support of his children but was unable to pay. After he had paid his debts and the stables he built had been sold to pay the outstanding rent owed he had no money to pay for the maintenance of his children.

This is a photo of Hokitika in the 1870s taken by the photographer James Ring. Image courtesy of The National Library of New Zealand.

In December 1878 Martha took James from Hokitika to Wellington, New Zealand most likely by boat. She left Charles and David with a Mrs Weston who resided in Tancred Street, Hokitika. She later sent for the two other boys Charles and David O’Donnell. Martha utilised the RM Court in Hokitika to seek maintenance costs for the children and William was required to pay the funds – but never did.

Thanks to Aisla Corlett for this letter from the Dunedin Archives. Image taken in 2016.

From what I can establish William and Marthas oldest child Richard was already working in Kumara by this stage. One of their daughters was working for William Purkiss. Whether this child was Mary Jane O’Donnell or another sister remains to be seen.

Within 3 years of Martha moving to Wellington the three boys were removed from their mothers care and placed in St Marys Industrial School aka the Stoke Orphanage in March 1882. No mention was ever made of Marthas other three children with William. At the age of their confinement:

• James was listed as being 12 years and 11 months old.
• Charles was listed as being 6 years and 5 months old.
• David was listed as being 5 years and 1 month old.

The official records noted that William O’Donnell was living in Opunake by 23 November 1882. This information was supplied by Martha in a statement to police.

It was noted that all three children had been at school when they were removed from Marthas care.

1. James had been attending Thorndon District School in Thorndon Quay, Wellington, New Zealand
2. Charles and David had been at The Infant School, Molesworth Street, Wellington, New Zealand

There does not appear to be any records of these schools.

The orphanage records state that :

• James O’Donnell was in Western Australia in March 1896. James resided with Patrick Byrne a farmer of Nelson from 25 October 1884. James was discharged 9 Dec 1887 – Aged 18 years, 8 months.
• Charles O’Donnell was in Australia in April 1896. Charles had been working for Michael Hanson, Farmer of Stanley Brook on 6 October 1891. He was discharged from the orphanage on 24 December 1891.
• David O’Donnell had gone to the Klondyke as of August 1900. He was discharged from the Orphanage on 29 December 1893. When David was discharged he was given a bank draft for 29 pounds, 11 shillings and 5 pence by the orphanage. A small fortune for the day.

We know that William abandoned his New Zealand family in 1878. None of the recent generations of our family knew anything about Mary but if she was James twin then she would have almost been 13 and old enough to work. Its unlikely that Martha tried to follow William to Kumara. Martha had repeatedly contacted the police and courts about maintenance for their children which in multiple instances was denied. She was effectively a single woman with no income trying to raise 6 kids.

After leaving Kumara William moved to New Plymouth in Taranaki, New Zealand then to Opunake, Southern Taranaki, New Zealand and lived a solitary life working as a Pound Keeper and Horse Dealer before dying in 1884. No mention was made of any children when he died intestate. Opunake wasn’t a bustling metropolis then or now. Perhaps William wanted a fresh start and by writing to Jane he intended to finally bring his other family out to New Zealand.

It had been previously established by courts in Hokitika and Wellington that all 6 children by Martha were Williams although due to William circumstances few maintenance orders were ever issued.

There is one “Unknown” O’Donnell child we simply know nothing about and have no photos or family stories to confirm what ever happened to them. Apart from a set of twins being born in 1870 in Auckland Beach near Waimea to an O’Donnell family we think are ours there are no birth, marriage or death records for them and no cemetery records we can link to our family. Richard was born in 1867 and Charles in 1876 leaving a big gap between birth ages which could account for the other children. If Martha and William lived together prior to 1867 then there is a possibility that there was another older sibling.

These children would have been living in Waimea, Hokitika or Kumara and may have stayed there. If they had families their descendants may never know they were originally O’Donnell children. If you think you might be related the easy way to solve your family history is through DNA testing through Family Tree DNA. Our family have been tested so I encourage you to.

This is William O’Donnells gravesite in Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand. Photo taken by Deanne Cook on 22 Aug 2014. Headstone purchased by Rebecca O’Donnell (Williams granddaughter) in 1991.

The following are some stories about William O’Donnell from the New Zealand newspapers that help build a picture of his life.

This is the earliest newspaper story which mentions our William O’Donnell. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 715, 8 January 1868, Page 2.

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 787, 1 April 1868, Page 3

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 795, 10 April 1868, Page 2

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 11 April 1868.

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 821, 11 May 1868, Page 2

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 869, 6 July 1868, Page 4

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 886, 25 July 1868, Page 2

William O’Donnell while living in Waimea rescued the passengers of a coach that became stuck in a flood swollen river. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 15 May 1869. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 15 May 1869.

This is the only birth notice I can find of any of the six O’Donnell children. We still dont know which children this story refers to. Based on the physical appearance of Mary and James we are assuming they were twins and this is one of the reasons they stayed in touch for a time. What contradicts this is that when James was sent to the Stoke orphanage his birth year was given as 1869. If his mother was illiterate this may account for the mixed dates. I have not been able to find the Sydney link. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 1578, 18 October 1870, Page 2.

William O’Donnell while living in Waimea advertised tolls for use of his bridge. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 17 Dec 1870.

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 1965, 17 January 1872, Page 2

William O’Donnells bridge to be sold and William compensated. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 18 Jan 1872.

On 13 May 1872 William had an unclaimed letter. Source Papers Past.

William O’Donnells bridge in a state of disrepair. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 8 June 1872.

William O’Donnell while living in Waimea applying for a Liquor License. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 3 Apr 1874.

Other locals protested against William O’Donnell having a 5 acre lease at Waimea Creek. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 3120, 6 October 1875, Page 2

William while living at Auckland Beach had purchased 5 acres of land to build accommodation. Source Papers Past.  West Coast Times 22 September 1875.

William O’Donnell applied to lease more land at Waimea Creek. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 2358, 18 October 1876, Page 2

William O’Donnell while living in Waimea applying to buy land at Waimea Creek. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 8 Nov 1877.

We know these were William O’Donnells stables based on a written statement by Martha that William used the money he made from the sale of O’Donnell bridge to build his stables in Kumara. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 2699, 23 November 1877, Page 3. A few months later in 1878 the Albion Hotel was still for sale and under mortgagee sale.

William O’Donnell while living in Auckland Beach (right next to Waimea) leased land at Kumara. It appears he spent all the funds doing this and did not provide anything for his children. This is the last time he appears in newspapers in the West Coast. Source Papers Past. West Coast Times 6 May 1879.

By this stage William had left Waimea, Kumara and Hokitika and had moved to Opunake, Taranaki but the bridge he built was still in operation in 1881. West Coast Times 12 December 1881. Source Papers Past.

William O’Donnell was a witness in a Court Case while living in Opunake, Taranaki in 1882. The incident occurred in 1881. Source Papers Past.

William O’Donnell notice of employment while living in Opunake, Taranaki on 1 May 1882. Source Papers Past.

Another story about William O’Donnell working as a Poundkeeper. Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4032, 3 May 1882, Page 3. Source Papers Past.

William O’Donnell advertised impounded animals while living in Opunake, Taranaki on 2 June 1882. Source Papers Past.

Source Papers Past. West Coast Times , Issue 851, 15 June 1868, Page 4

William O’Donnell  was still working as a Pound Keeper in 1883. Source Papers Past. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IV, Issue 541, 9 July 1883, Page 3.

William was unsuccessful in purchasing land. Source Papers Past. The Hawera and Normanby Star – 6 March 1884.

This is the final mention I can find of William O’Donnell. I haven’t been unable to locate a death notice. It confirms that none of his children were staying with him when he died. Source Papers Past. The Hawera and Normanby Star – 20 October 1884.

This is a copy of William O’Donnells death certificate. As no one really knew William the details on his certificate aren’t very informative.

Isaac O’Donnell

Like most of the other O’Donnell family members very little is known about Isaac – the brother of William O’Donnell.

He was a weaver before joining the Royal Irish Constabulary at 20 years of age on 15 Dec 1854. He was also listed as a Protestant.  His service number was 19269. He was posted to County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Isaac served for 30 years and 1 month and retired with a pension of 71 pounds per annum on 1 Feb 1885 – a good sum in those days.

He got got promoted 3 times in 1855, 1868 and 1870.

Isaac was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery. Isaac O’Donnell of 96 Main St, Larne, age 58, died Royal Hospital 13 December 1893 and was buried in the Belfast Cemetery on 15 December 1893. He was unmarried and had no children.

Isaac O’Donnells death certificate.

Isaac died from disease of the liver. The witness to his death was his brother in law William Campbell of 51 Copperfield St.

Isaac O’Donnells burial certificate.

Jane O’Donnell

There is no information known about Williams sister Jane. Can you help and locate it?

Richard O’Donnell

We have no birth of baptism record for Richard and again know very little about him except what his Royal Artillery record provides us.

Richard stated he was born at Tullylish, Co Down, Northern Ireland about 1841. Richard must have had a strong accent as this has been transcribed badly as Killybush and Cullghesh, Co Down.

When he enlisted in 1862 he named William O’Donnell (his brother) as his next of kin.

First name(s)    RICHARD
Last name    O’DONNELL
Birth year    1841
Birth parish    CULLGHESH
Birth town    BANBRIDGE
Birth county    DOWN
Birth country    IRELAND
Service number    5701
Rank    –
Regiment    Royal Artillery
Document Type    Attestation
Attestation year    1862
Attestation Day    –
Attestation Month    1
Attestation age years    21
Attestation age months    –
Attestation Corps    Royal Artillery
Attestation service number    5701
Discharge Corps    Royal Artillery
Series    WO97 chelsea pensioners british army service records 1760-1913
Box    3581
Box Record Number    67
Record set    British Army Service Records 1760-1915
Category    Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory    Regimental & service records
Collections from    Great Britain

Images courtesy of Findmypast

In 1881 Richard was in the census and was listed as living in St Mary, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.

On 5 April 1882 he married Elizabeth Mary Smith at Plymouth, Devon, England.

Richards marriage certificate showing his father as Jacob O’Donnell. I haven’t been able to trace what happened to his wife – can you help?

Richard was living at 95 Whitla Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland and died at age 43 on 11 December 1883. He was buried in the same plot that Issac was later buried in on 14 December 1883

Richard O’Donnells death certificate.

Richard died of consumption/pneumonia in a workhouse in Belfast. He may have been in an infirmary attached to a workhouse due to his poor health.

Richard O’Donnells burial certificate.

If you have more information about the O’Donnells please contact me.

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