Friday 24 February 2023



 

ROBERT EAGESON





 

 Raymond’s great uncle was John James Nesbitt, who came from St Johnston, one of eight children born to Alexander and Elizabeth Nesbitt.

Prior to enlisting, John James Nesbitt was a farm labourer.

He was a Quarter Master Sergeant in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. His Regimental number was 571.

 Born on December 17, 1880, he was the eldest son of Alexander and Elizabeth then living in Treanta in the Parish of Taughboyne County Donegal. 

 “John James was to serve in the Boer War in South Africa, where he was injured, sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg,” said Raymond, continuing: “He was later to serve in Malta and Egypt where his sons, Alexander and Douglas, were born. On return to England his other children, Reginald, Grace and Annie were born. 

 “Promotion to Quarter Master Sergeant was to follow on August 31, 1912,” he said

 

“The outbreak of the Great War saw Hannah come back to Londonderry to raise their children and the family set up home at 13 Harding Street just off Abercorn Road in the Cityside. John James left for France on August 12, 1914 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was soon despatch to fight in the Battle of the Marne. He was killed in action on September 16, 1914 at Viel-Arcy near Ainse. He sustained gunshot wounds to his left arm, left and right legs, stomach and head. He was initially buried in a mass grave at the Chateau at Verneuil, which is quite a distance from where he was killed. Later the grave was opened and the dead were reburied again a grave in the Vendresse British Cemetery, Ainse, France.”

“Another great uncle, Alex Nesbitt, the brother of John James, who was born on November 28, 1888, was the third son of Alexander and Elizabeth and a member of Carson’s UVF Donegal Btn. Later to become 14478 Sergeant Alex Nesbitt, 9th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. His courageous action at Dadizeele near the Somme were to earn him an MM and a DCM,” said Raymond.

“Alex survived the war and passed away August 20, 1970,” he said.

The Citation reads: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the Dadizeele section on 30th September 1918. When the party on the right were driven back, he rushed forward a section and occupied a post within fifty yards of a machine gun. He then assaulted the machine-gun crew, killing two of the crew and driving the remainder away. The post commanded a hill which the enemy attempted to occupy, but were driven back by his fire and he held on for the rest of the day. ( 16.1.19 )’

 

The association with the Great War and the Nesbitt family does not end there, as Raymond explains: “Robert William Nesbitt, the fifth son of Alexander and Elizabeth, was born on July 30, 1898, and like his brother Alex was a UVF member and later 14718 Pte. 10th Btn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

“The regiment was posted to the town of Achen in north west France. The division suffered tremendous casualties and were driven back. Robert suffered gas poisioning and was taken to a field hospital. His condition was poorly. Before he left for war a Roman Catholic neighbour back home had given him a St Christopher for good luck.

“A priest at the field hospital found the medal in his pocket and thinking he was a catholic gave him the last rites. This story has been handed down through the generations and held quite amusement for Bob, as he was known, as he was later to be involved at a high level in the Loyal Orders in County Tyrone. He died in Omagh on October 22, 1976,” said Raymond.

“Also connecting the Great War to my family is James McLaughlin, who was married to Martha Nesbitt, a sister of the three Nesbitt brothers who were my great uncles. James was born on March 4, 1885, at St Johnston County Donegal. 

 It was after the war that James married Martha, and I have also discovered James was also a UVF and was a member of the 3rd Btn Donegal Regiment. It was later, as 14711 Pte. 10th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, that James suffered from gas poisoning, but survived the war and died on December 17, 1967. The war medals and mess card are among those currently on display in the WWI exhibition in St Columb’s Cathedral.

“His brother, 6844 Sgt Alexander McLaughlin, of the 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers died at the Somme from gas poisioning on August 9, 1916,” said Raymond.

He revealed that the Nesbitt brothers were also to lose two cousins in battle.

“Their Aunt, who was my great-great aunt, Isabella Nesbitt, from St Johnston, married John Mason and they lived in Bishop Street, Londonderry after their marriage. I can trace the family to this address until the Census of 1911. Sometime after this, the family moved to live in Greenock, in or around 1912, as the whole family signed the Ulster Covenant in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

“Isabella’s eldest son, Thomas Mason, 14889 Pte 9th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusilers, was killed in action at The Somme on March 29, 1918, aged 36. His body was never recovered. His brother James Mason, 25663 Pte 8th Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was killed in action at Ypres on August 10, 1917. He is buried in Whitehouse Cemetery.

I am very proud of my family history and I know the stories above only include the First World War, but John James’s sons enlisted in the Second World War and I have researched their war records as well. The youngest fellow Reggie was discharged in 1940 and died of TB. The eldest boy, Alex was in the RAF and I don’t know a lot about him as they all moved to Liverpool after the First World War, but Alex was a squadron leader. I have not been able to learn much about the middle son, but I am continuing to research their stories.”


 

ELIZABETH NESBITT


 

Tuesday 21 February 2023

QUIGLEY GENEANET

 

 QUIGLEY, Quigley


1.
2.
3.
4.

GENEANET


 

 https://gw.geneanet.org/belfast8?lang=en&m=N&v=NESBITT

QUIGLEY INFO


 

ADAM AND JANE 1901 CENSUS


 

JOHN JAMES BIRTH



 

QUIGLEY TREE


 

QUIGLEY




 

Wednesday 8 February 2023

SAMUEL BROWN/HARRIET EVANS MARRIAGE


 

 John Evans Brown - born 19th September 1874. He became a sailor.

 On the 6th August 1906 he married Martha Rea (both were from Glynn) in the Old Meeting House.

 On May 1909 she gave birth to a son Samuel.

On 29th January 1914 she gave birth to a son John. 

On 24th December 1916 she gave birth to a son Francis. 

 

 He married Annie Hunter nee Legge who gave birth to Harriet Foster who was my grandmother's mother.


Monday 6 February 2023

BROWN FAMILY GLYNN

 I have discovered that (through my mother's side of my family) I am related to William Brown who is mentioned on the Glynn war memorial. (See attachment.)

His great grandparents Harriet and Joseph Foster were my great great great grandparents.

 William Brown's parents were Samuel Brown (born 1847) and Harriet Evans (born 1848).

Samuel Brown's father (William Brown's grandfather) was a farmer who was also called Samuel.

Harriet Evan's parents were Francis Evans (a farmer) and Margaret Foster.

Margaret Foster's parents were Harriet and Joseph Foster.

William Brown's grandmother Margaret Foster was my great great great aunt. She had a brother called William Foster who was my great great grandfather.

William had five siblings; John, Samuel, Frank, Mary and Maggie.So far I have only researched John....

 John Evans Brown was born in 1874. He became a sailor.

 On the 6th August 1906 he married Martha Rea (both were from Glynn) in the Old Meeting House. She was pregnant when they married as three months later on 3rd November 1906 she gave birth to a daughter who they called Margaret.

 She had (at least) four more children...

Samuel Brown (born 1909)

John Brown (born 1914)

Francis Brown (born 1916)

Martha Rea Brown (born 1920)





Saturday 4 February 2023

Record Type   Civil Marriage
Date of Marriage   9 Dec 1863
Groom Name   David MCFERRAN
Bride Name   Jane  LAMBERTON
Church   Larne First Presbyterian Church
Parish   Larne
Civil District   Larne
County   Antrim

Surname   First Name   Year   Father's First Name   County  
MCFERRAN    DAVID   1863   ROBERT                  Antrim  

Surname   First Name   Year   Father's First Name   County  
LAMBERTON   JANE   1863   WILLIAM                  Antrim  

U/1864/132/1016/1/250   Robert   McFerran   30th October 1864   Male   Lamberton (mother)    Larne.

 McFerran - (Glynn - County Antrim)
Looking for any information about DAVID McFERRAN (1838-1903,Sailor,father ROBERT McFERRAN,Sailor) or his wife JANE (JEANNIE) LAMBERT(1838-1876, father WILLIAM LAMBERT,Stonemason) married in Larne 1st Presbyterian Church 9th Dec 1863. Glynn given as place of residence at time of marriage. Also any information about David's brother ROBERT McFERRAN or a JOHN MCFERRAN (b.1851,sailor) and also a RICHARD McFERRAN.




Robert Mcferran, 1855 - 1917

Robert Mcferran was born in 1855, at birth place.
Robert married Elizabeth Mcferran (born Lamberton).
Elizabeth was born in 1855, in Glynn.
Robert passed away on month day 1917, at age 62 at death place.
Documents of Robert Mcferran
Robert Mc Ferran in 1901 Ireland Census
Robert Mc Ferran was born circa 1856, in County Antrim, Ireland.
Robert married Eliza Mc Ferran.
Robert lived on March 31 1901, in Glynn, Antrim, Ireland.
 I’m not getting much so far. I can tell you that your Grandfather William’s mother died 12th January 1945. She was a widow and was living in 13 Ewing Street. Looking at John Quigley, known as Jack, he was in the army Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was wounded in April 1918. I have not found anything other than his marriage in 1922. I can tell you that there is little information on the trees on ancestry. There is a date to say that Maureen died 2017 in Londonderry but no birth date.
I can tell you that William’s sister was still living in 13 Ewing Street October 1951. Catherine Mary was married Thomas Henry Tait. Catherine died 9th October 1951.
Joseph Quigley, William’s father may have died in 1923 or 1936.
Joseph Quigley May have been born 26th August 1854 to Adam Quigley and Jane Moore. They married 1848 and there was a big family. I can give you more info on them.

 

General Service Corps

 Nathan Goorwitch 

General Service Corps 

WW1

 Thank you Yvonne for adding me. Here is the marriage certificate for my great-grandfather Samuel Boyd who married Rachel Kane in 1865. Many thanks to Yvonne for finding this for me on irishgenealogy. It shows they both lived in Gloonan townland near Ahoghill about 3 miles from Ballymena, were Presbyterian and Rachel's father was John Kane a flaxdresser. 

Samuel and Rachel moved to Larne and had a son called Alexander who married Selina Hannah. In 1900 they had a child called Elizabeth, my paternal grandmother. I have researched the Hannahs with interesting results and hopefully will be now be able to find out more about the Kanes in particular.

 

McCLELLAND FAMILY FROM GLYNN

  The McClelland Family from Glynn, Larne, Co Antrim

⦁    Generation 1 – Unknown parents
⦁    Generation 2
⦁     James McClelland. Birth date unknown. He was a sea captain formerly from Larne but was living in Glynn when he died on 29th Sep 1861. He left £3,000 and a very detailed Will, which can be viewed Online at PRONI. He had two illegitimate daughters Janet and Amelia. He also had a brother Daniel, who was a gardener.
⦁    Janet (aka Jane) McClelland was born about 1844. She married Patrick Carragher on 26th April 1865. Both were from Glynn and both were full age and unmarried. Janet’s father was James, a sea captain. They were married at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church and their witnesses were Samuel McClelland and Emily McClelland.
⦁    Amelia McClelland was born about 1846. She married John Sanderson on 8th April 1867 at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church. They were both from Glynn, both full age and both unmarried. Their witnesses were Jane O’Neill and Robert Johnston.
⦁     Daniel McClelland. (c1786-1865). He was a gardener/farmer/labourer. His birth date was estimated from his death certificate. He died on 2nd July 1865 at Glynn. He was married and was 79 years old. He died from pneumonia. His nephew-in-law Patrick Carragher was with him when he died. Daniel left a widow and this was Susan McClelland, who died on the 21st March 1873 at Glynn. She was a widow aged 84, so her birth date was about 1789. Her death certificate states that she was the wife of a gardener. Mary Kearney, her married daughter was with her when she died (of old age). Daniel and Susan had five children namely James, Daniel, Mary, Samuel and Margaret (could be more).
⦁    James McClelland (1821-1899). James was a mariner. He married Margaret O’Neill on 16th July 1851. They were both full age from Glynn. James was a bachelor but Margaret was a widow and her maiden name was Sanderson. James’s father Daniel was a farmer. They were married at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church and their witnesses were David McFerran and Mary Sanderson. Margaret McClelland died on 15th June 1875 in Glynn. She was married and James her widower was with her.  She was 48 so her birth year was about 1827. She died of cancer of the uterus. James McClelland died on 11th Feb 1899 aged 78. He was reportedly a bachelor! He was from Glynn but died in the Larne Workhouse. He’d been a sailor. James and Margaret had two sons that I know of – Daniel and Samuel; they may have had more children.
⦁    Daniel McClelland (1854-1897). Daniel was a sailor. He married twice. His first wife died on the 14th March at Glynn. She was called Margaret Jane McClelland (maiden name unknown). She died aged 30 of TB and Daniel was at her side. Daniel remarried on March 1st 1895 when he was 41. He was a widower from Glynn and his second wife was Annie Jane Mulholland, a widow also from Glynn. Her maiden name was Thompson. Their daughter Susan was born on 7th June of the same year (1895)! Daniel died suddenly on the 2nd June 1897 aged 43. He was living in Glynn but died at work when he accidently fell from a ship’s mast. In the 1901 Census, Daniel’s widow Annie was living at No 31 Glynn Village in a second-class house. She was 39 and was living with her daughter Susan McClelland, aged 15 and her son Harry Mulholland from her first marriage, aged 14. Annie was working as a washerwoman. In the 1911 Census, Annie Jane McClelland was 49 and was living with her 16-year-old daughter Susan McClelland and another son James Mulholland from her first marriage. James was 26 and a merchant seaman.
⦁    Samuel McClelland (1862-1930). He was a sailor and he married Minnie Carragher on the 8th Jan 1897. Both were full age and from Glynn. They were married at St John’s Parish Church in Glynn. One of their witnesses was Maggie Jane McClelland. In the 1901 Census, Samuel must have been away at sea. His wife Minnie aged 35 was living at No. 45, Glynn Village in a third class house with her two children Daniel (2 years) and Mary (4 months). They were staying at the house of Michael Kearney (80) and his wife Mary (84). The Kearneys were Samuel’s Aunt and Uncle (see later). In 1911, Samuel and Mary were living at No 40, Glynn Village in a second class house. Samuel was 48 and a sailor. Mary Jane was 45 and their children were – Daniel (12), Jane (10), twins Susan and Samuel (8 - born 1st Oct 1903) and Mary (1). Their first daughter called Mary, who was born on the 15th Nov 1900, must have died. Samuel McClelland died from cardiac failure in Glynn on 5th Feb 1930. He was still married, he was 68 and he was a labourer.
⦁    Daniel McClelland was born on the 2nd Feb 1899 in Glynn. He married Annie McFerran on 6th June 1930 at St John’s Church in Glynn. He was a 31-year-old bachelor and a labourer from Glynn. Annie Jane was 23 and was also from Glynn. Their witnesses were Jeannie McFerran and Sam McClelland.
⦁    Daniel McClelland a sailor (born c1830). Daniel married Nancy Sanderson on 27th Oct 1951 at Ballycarry Presbyterian Church. Daniel McClelland, Daniel’s father was a farmer. Both were full age and unmarried and both hailed from Glynn. One of their witnesses was Anne McFerran. I know nothing more about this pair.
⦁    Mary McClelland (born c1831). Mary married twice, firstly to a Mr McBroom and then later to Michael Kearney. On 20th Sep 1861, 30-year-old Mary McBroom married for the second time. She was a widow and a shopkeeper from Glynn. Michael Kearney was 28 and was a labourer from Larne. They married at St John’s Church, Glynn and Samuel McClelland was a witness. In the 1901 census, the couple were supposedly in their eighties but other evidence suggests they would have been in their seventies. They were also recorded as being Roman Catholic. They were living with their niece-in-law Minnie McClelland.
⦁    Samuel McClelland (1836-1867). He was a sailor from Glynn. Samuel was married on the 2nd Oct 1860 at the Presbyterian Church in Inver, Larne. He was a seaman and his father Daniel McClelland was a labourer. He married Jane Beard (aka Baird). They were both of full age and unmarried. The couple had 3 children William and Jane and Agnes. Samuel died on 9th July 1867 at Glynn. He was only 31 and died of TB. Susan McClelland (his mother?) was present. In both the 1901 and 1911 Censuses, Jane McClelland was living alone at No. 16, Glynn Village. She was a grocer living in a second-class house. All five family members are buried in the St John’s churchyard in Glynn. The inscription reads – “Erected by Jane McClelland, Glynn in memory of her husband Samuel McClelland who died 9th July 1867 aged 31 years. Also her only son William John McClelland who died 6th March 1865 aged 3 years. And her daughter Agnes McClelland who died 22nd Aug 1884 aged 18 years. And her daughter Jane HAVERON who died 5th January 1896 aged 30 years. And also the above named Jane McClelland who died 9th Nov 1917 aged 82 years.”
⦁    William John McClelland was born in 1862 and he died on 5th April 1865 at Glynn from diarrhoea and convulsions. His cousin Emily McClelland was with him when he died.
⦁    Jane McClelland was born on 11th April 1864 in Glynn Village. On 25th Oct 1895, she married James Hanover in the Presbyterian Church at Inver. They were both of full age and unmarried. James was an Attendance Inspector of schools and he lived in Belfast. Within three months of her marriage, Jane Hanover was dead. She died of Enteritis on the 5th January 1896 in Beersbridge Road, Belfast. She was only 30-years-old.
⦁    Agnes (aka Nancy) McClelland was born on 7th Aug 1866 in Glynn. She died on 22nd Aug 1884 aged 18. She was a dressmaker and died of TB. Her mother was present.
⦁    Margaret McClelland was born in about 1841. She married James Baxter on 25th January 1862. Both were of full age and single and both were from Glynn. They were married in Ballycarry Presbyterian Church. Amelia McClelland and Samuel McClelland were witnesses.
⦁     Mary McClelland was the sister of James McClelland, the Sea Captain, who left a Will when he died in 1861. By this time Mary had married a Mr McCauseland and had four children, namely Samuel, John, Nancy and Margaret McCauseland. Her brother James bequeathed Mary and her four children money in his Will. Samuel McCauseland was a blacksmith from Ballycarry.

CANON HERBERT LINDSAY