RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Tyrone => Topic started by: karoa on Sunday 26 April 09 02:04 BST (UK)
-
I have a Sarah Jane Houston born 1834 to John Houston & Anne.at Ballynahatty,she died in 1898 & married thomas Alexander in 1853 at Ballynahatty presbyterian church.Her siblings were Roseanna born1839,Isaballa born 1841 both were unmarried,Anne who married Robert Younge in 1874 & Flemming born 1832 & died 1894 at Omagh.
there is a monument erected my Roseanna & Isabella to here parents & brother Flemming in Fintona.
Does anyone have anymore information on this family
Kim
-
Hi,
There is a will abstract on the PRONI website under "Will Calendar Search" for Fleming Houston.
Regards
Modified to add that John Houston is listed on the Griffith Valuation as a substantial farmer.
-
PRONI website (for Will Search):
www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm
"The Will (with one Codicil) of John Houston late of Ballinahatty County Tyrone Farmer deceased who died 11 April 1870 at same place was proved at Londonderry by the oaths of John Houston junior of Edergole and Fleming Houston of Ballinahatty both in (Omagh) said County Farmers the Executors." effects under £1,500
"Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Fleming Houston late of Ballynahatty County Tyrone Farmer who died 29 August 1894 at same place were granted at Londonderry to Isabella Houston of Ballynahatty Spinster the Sister." effects £1,352 3s 5d
Possibly another relative:
"Probate of the Will of The Reverend John Houston late of Ballynahatty County Tyrone Presbyterian Minister who died 4 February 1903 granted at Londonderry to King Houston Solicitor and William A. Houston Gentleman." effects £594 6s 2d
Griffith's Valuation:
http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_family_search_form.php
Children of Thomas Alexander and Sarah Houston listed in IGI (civil registration of births started 1864 so you need to search in church records for any older children)- all born Co. Tyrone:
1. Anne born 6 June 1864 Dromore district
2. Sarah Jane born 25 June 1866 Dromore district
3. Skelton born 28 June 1868, married 22 May 1890 Manhattan, New York to Pauline C. Ochs
4. Henry born 17 Apr.1870
5. Rebecca born 9 June 1873
6. Francis born 16 Feb.1876
Someone else researching Houstons?:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/houston/messages/4638.html
http://genforum.genealogy.com/ireland/tyrone/messages/1307.html
A message on Curious Fox site with broken link:
"I'm searching the Houston family from the Ballynahatty area,I have a SARAH JANE HOUSTON born 1834 to John Houston.Sarah married Thoams ALEXANDER in 1853 at Ballynahatty,their children were John, James, Osborne, Flemming, Anne, Sarah Jane, Skelton, Henry, Mary, Francis & Rebecca. Any help greatly appreciatted"
Found lots more so let me know if you want more information.
-
Thank you for your help,I'm not sure if my John Houston was a Rev,will have to search some more.
Any information or connections greatly appreciated,as I have very little on the family.
Kim
-
Rev. John Houston might not be the John Houston who married Anne but could be related which is why I included him.
First Ballynahatty Presbyterian Church: John Houston (lic. Omagh) ordained 25 May 1843, retired 18 Sept.1891, died 4 Feb.1903.
-
I read your post about the Houstons of Ballynahatty and Edergole. My grandfather bought the farm that belonged to Fleming Houston back in 1932. The deeds show that the money went to Alexanders who were scattered all over the globe. I have quite a bit of history about Ballynahatty and the Presbyterian Church there. If you would like any information, let me know but you seem to have quite a bit already.
-
Fantastic.
Would love to have a copy of the deeds if possible & anything else you have on Ballynahatty & the family.
Interested to see were all the Houstons went & who they all are
Kim
-
What I have on Ballynahatty is typed on a 76 page document. It also contain scans of pictures of landmarks and buildings e.g the Church and the barns. I can't figure out a way of emailing it to you via rootchat, so I will type what is relevant to the Houston's in this space.
I have found no record of the Houston's in Ballynahatty/Edergole before 1805. In 1832, Ross Houston of Edergole and John Houston of Ballynahatty applied to be registered as freeholders in these locations. A tithe valuation book for Drumragh Parish for 1831 refers to John Houston of Ballynahatty who owned 21 acres there and a further 7 in the townland of Edergole. Ross is listed a owning 44 acres in Edergole Upper.
These Houstons are supposed to be descended from a Christopher Houston who came to the Castlederg area of County Tyrone from Galloway, Scotland in the 1660s. His son James was the marksman who is said to have shot a French officer at the head of his troops from the walls of Derry during the Siege of 1688-89. He had descendants who lived at Newtoncunningham, County Donegal and at Ballynahatty, Co Tyrone. One of his sons, also called Christopher (who was 9 during the siege of Derry) is supposed to have fathered 3 sons, one of which was the grandfather of Ross (Edergole), John (Ballynahatty), James (Lifford Co. Donegal) and Patrick (Beragh, Co Tyrone).
Some Houstons are buried in the graveyard of Fintona Presbyterian Church, Co Tyrone. The gravestones are weathered and the inscriptions are hard to read. However, a Roseanna Houston of Ballynahatty (died 1926) aged 87, and her sister Isabella (died 1928) also aged 87 are buried behind the Church. Also buried there are some of their relations, the Houstons of Hillhead, Edergole. The Reverend John Houston, Minister of 1st Ballynahatty Presbyterian Church is also buried there. He died in 1903 aged 84. His wife died the same year aged 81. Also buried in the same plot are their son William Alexander (died 1936) and their daughter ???? died 1937.
Houstons no longer live in Ballynahatty. In turn, James Hamilton and Herbert Wilson bought their properties in the early 1930’s. Few of the families who lived in the neighbourhood 100 or more years ago remain.
A Presbyterian congregation was first established in Ballynahatty in 1805. It followed a quarrel among the congregation of First Omagh Presbyterian Church over the treatment of the Rev. Hugh Delap. This Delap was removed from his post as minister ‘on account of immoral behavior’, and went on to become a barrister, but not a particularly good one. As a result of this quarrel, a number of families withdrew from First Omagh and built a meeting house of their own on the commons of Ballynahatty (as none of the local landlords would give them a site). They joined the Secession Synod, which was more Calvinistic in outlook than the Synod of Ulster. The prime movers in establishing this new Presbyterian congregation at Ballynahatty were Messrs. Crawford, Dudgeon, Houston, Hunter, Ramsay, Shields, Sproule and Young. In 1838, the members of the Church Committee were –
Ross Houston, John Houston, Samuel King, John Young, Samuel Young, John Megrew, William Dudgeon, David Fyffe and John Perry.
The Rev. Latimer was succeeded by John Houston, a relation of the Houstons of Ballynahatty mentioned earlier. The congregation in Ballynahatty is said to have lost many families to emigration during the Potato Famine of 1846-49.In 1862, Miss Rachel Houston of Lifford and Bundoran, a relation of the Houstons of Ballynahatty, presented a manse to Ballynahatty Presbyterian Church, along with a freehold farm worth £1,000. She also presented another manse to Ballindrait Presbyterian Church, Co. Donegal. By 1891, the Rev. Houston was forced to retire due to ill health
1892-1928
The Rev. George Brown, a native of Eglish, Co. Tyrone, succeeded the Rev. Houston. In his time, the inside of the Church was renovated, stables built and the schoolhouse repaired. The Church Committee of 1913 included –
John Johnston, King Houston, James White, Robert Ross Dudgeon, Alex White, Thomas Young, John J.Fyffe, J.J.K. Johnston, Richard Johnston, Hugh Johnston, William Warnock, John Deery, John Houston, John Young (Edergole), John Young (Blacksessiagh), John Adams and Robert Clarke.
I will have to check the deeds of our farm again to find a list of the Alexander children who benefited from the sale of the Houston farm at Ballynahatty. As far as I can recall there was in in Dublin 1 in Cincinatti, Ohio, and 1 in Melbourne, Australia. I will send you another message with more detailed info. Our neigbours (who bought the Houston farm at Edergole) say that 20 or 30 years ago, a surgeon called Houston from Dublin called with them to revisit the farm where his ancestors lived. The old lady (Mrs Wilson) of the house gave this gentleman the original key of the farmhouse as a keepsake. Unfortunately her son doesn't remember the man's first name or whereabouts in Dublin he lived. He has not been heard of since.
Finally - thankfully says you! - a John Houston, together with a Nancy and a Mary Houston of Edergole signed the Ulster Covenant of 1912 to opposed Home Rule for Ireland. This continued a tradition of loyalty to the British that had began with James Houston's involvement at the Siege of Derry back in 1688.
Matchett
-
Thank you for the information ,I'm from the Alexander line in Melbourne Australia.
My email is (*)
if you would like to scan what you have & email me that would be great,I just love Photos & old documents.
Kindest regards
Kim
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
Me again, does your neighbour remember how old the Dr was,just wondering if he was still alive?How lucky was he to have a key to the old farm,hope he treasured it.
Kim
-
Do you know if the Dr was ,of medicine or Dentistry?
Kim
-
Matchett,
I have sent you a personal message via pm
Regards
Kim
-
King Houston was another relation of the Houstons of Ballynahatty and Edergole. He lived at Letfern, near Seskinore Co Tyrone and was a solicitor in Omagh. He is buried at Clogherney Presbyterian Church near Beragh, Co Tyrone. He died in the early years of the 20th Century.
-
Have found that John Houston born 1788 wife was Ann OSBORNE born 1800,but have been unable to find her line.
Anne had a brother John of mossfield & married Mary Alexander daughter of Thomas & Mary Skelton,they had 2 children
Mary who married a Robert GAULT at Sherrald in 1854
&
Sarah(Sally) who married Archibald OSBORNE of Dernaseer 1847(her parents were Arch & Isabella King)
Their children were Sarah 1856-1922
Charlotte 1889-1944
Annie
Isabella who married Archibald OSBORNE of Mullaghmore
Alexander Marshal,who died 1922 in Australia
George
4 sons
2 daughters
as you can see they are all inter twined
Any help greatly appreciated
Kim
-
Hi,
My name is Fiona McClean and I work at the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh.
We recently acquired a sampler with embroidered lettering 'Rachel Houston, Omagh 1835'. We would love to be find out who Rachel was. I notice you mention a Rachel Houston of Lifford and Bundoran. Could she have been educated in Omagh or lived there for a time? Or do you know of any Rachel Houstons in the Ballynahatty connection?
Kind regards
Fiona
-
Hi Fiona
Houstons lived at Ballynahatty and Edergole outside Omagh from the early 19th century until the 1920's. I have little direct information regarding specific members but I know they were well connected with the Presbyterian Church. They attended Ballynahatty Presbyterian Church. You may be able to find records relating to Rachel Houston in those Church records. They were also connected to Feenan, Fintona and Lifford, Donegal (all the same outfit as far as I know). I don't have any other information on Rachel but will double check. I wouldn't be sure if her maiden name was Houston or she married one of the Houstons. Ballynahatty Presbyterian Church records should reveal this (if they can be accessed!).
Thanks
-
Hi matchett,
Thank you very much for your speedy reply, and for the tip to look at Ballynahatty Church records.
The 1901 Census of Ireland lists a Rachel Houston living in Bundoran, Presbyterian, aged 76, making her income from land and houses, not married, born in Omagh, County Tyrone. If this is the same Rachel Houston, she would have been 10 when she made the sampler which would fit.
Out of interest, we also have a letter in our collection dated 19th March 1821 from Jacob Rodgers, Philadephia to Ross Huston [Houston?], Omagh. (link to transcription below) Jacob writes to Ross about how visiting Ross's sister. If it is the Ross within your family, do you know of any emigration stories within that generation?
http://nmni.com/uafp/Collections/Emigration/Letter-from-Philadelphia-to-Omagh,-County-Tyrone
Off to enquire about Church records!
Many thanks again for your help
Fiona
-
Interesting! The Rogers family lived at Edergole. The poetess Vincentia Rogers was one of them (a Presbyterian with an interest in Gaelic and with nationalist sentiment!). The Houstons bought or inherited their farm (originating from Feenan, Fintona and before that in the Castlederg area and Galloway in Scotland). The Rogers were descendants of the Scottish Presbyterian John Knox. I have a stack of stories about the Houstons but few regarding emigration. If you work in the Folk Park I could call and see you and show you the information I have. I work in Omagh Academy!
-
Hi matchett, I have only just discovered this thread and really impressed with everything I have read. I have only just started looking in earnest into my direct ancestors and Ross Houston was my third great grandfather. Interestingly, the Dublin surgeon you mentioned would have been my grandfather James (Jim) Houston. He is still around, and i will make sure to ask if he remembers anything about an old key, although he is pushing 93yo, his memory is pretty good!
Also, was wondering whether there was any information regarding Ross Houston's wife or parents, all I know of him is that he had my 2 time great grandfather James Houston approx 1837 in Tyrone, and it was he that took this arm of the family south to Dublin.
Many thanks for the info thus far!
Mark Houston
-
Hi Mark
Good to hear there are Houstons still running around!
There is a book on the Houstons which I saw at the Centre for Migration studies at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. I can't remember the name of it but if you ring them, they will be able to tell you. I think it may be something like The Life of Christopher Houston and his Family. It gives the whole story of these Houstons, from the time their original ancestor came across on an open boat from Gallloway in Scotland on through. The people at the Centre will be only too pleased to talk to you. If you are ever up in Tyrone, please give me a shout and I can show you the old homesteads which I think you will find interesting. Presbyterian Church records for Ballynahatty or Fintona Churches would be your best bet for individual ancestors (if they still are available at the Public Record Office in Belfast).
Anything else, give me a shout.
Thanks
Keith Hamilton (Matchett)
Ballynahatty
-
Hi Keith,
many thanks for the quick reply!
I will deffo see if I can source that book, and whenever I find myself in that part of the country I will make sure to let you know as it would be great to get an idea of the area where they lived, have already had a look on Google earth at Edergole Upper and as you can imagine I hadn't a clue what I was looking at!!!
It's incredibly good of you to offer to show me the around, and I hope to take you up on that sometime in the near future.
All the best,
Mark
-
Grand job Mark!
-
The Rogers were descendants of the Scottish Presbyterian John Knox.
I would be interested to see that family tree to see the connection to the ROGERS family.
John KNOX is my 10th great grandfather.
I am a descendant of John KNOX from my ggggrandmother Elizabeth WELSH 1802-1839, granddaughter of the Rev Andrew WELSH c1710-1781 who was the Presbyterian minister at Ardstraw from 1733-1779 and the ggggrandson of John KNOX 1505-1572 and Margaret STEWART . John's dau Elizabeth KNOX 1568-c1612 married the Reverend John WELSH in 1594.
Elizabeth WELSH married my ggggrandfather Andrew JACK 1783-1838, in 1827 at Ardstraw. Andrew was the son of John JACK 1742-1832, a linen merchant of Cappagh and Olivia RODGERS of Cavinacaw near Omagh. I wonder if this is the connection of the RODGERS family as descendants of John KNOX?
Many of the JACK family of Magheracolton, Ardstraw are buried in the WELSH/JACK vault in the Old Ardstraw graveyard.
I would be interested in any information about the ROGERS/RODGERS family.
Many of the families mentioned in this thread are in my tree.
Cheers
Cando
-
Hi Mark,
I think the Doctor was an Alexander .Fleming left this estate to the Alexanders, one being Francis from Dublin & his son was a Doctor. My line is James Alexander ( My Grandfather) who lived in Melbourne, Australia, his parents were Thomas Alexander & Sarah Jane Houston, sister of Fleming
Regards
Kim Melbourne, Australia
-
Kim my research differs from
Mary who married a Robert GAULT at Sherrald in 1854
Mary OSBORNE dau of John OSBORNE, married Robert Gante SHERRARD son of James SHERRARD, on 12 Apr 1854, Dromore, Co Tyrone.
On the 1901 census Mary is a widow living with her nieces Sarah and Charlotte OSBORNE at Main Street, Dromore. There is an error with her age at 60 on the census as she was 72 on her death registration in 1903. She died from apoplexy, 8 days and the informant was Sarah OSBORNE, niece, present at her death.
She died 12 Sep 1903 Dromore, Co Tyrone and a probate of her will was granted at Londonderry on 26 Nov 1903 to John H ALEXANDER, Clerk of Petty Sessions.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Cheers
Cando
-
Thank you Cando for the correction
Regards
Kim
-
Pleased to have helped.
Cheers :)
Cando
-
Hi Mark,
I think the Doctor was an Alexander .Fleming left this estate to the Alexanders, one being Francis from Dublin & his son was a Doctor. My line is James Alexander ( My Grandfather) who lived in Melbourne, Australia, his parents were Thomas Alexander & Sarah Jane Houston, sister of Fleming
Regards
Kim Melbourne, Australia
Hi Kim,
I think we are talking about two different estates, I visited with my grandfather in December and it was indeed he who visited the 'old homestead' as he referred to it, in Edergole and was given the key. However, he is now in a home and all his belongings were packed away a few years back and no one remembers seeing a key, although I imagine it must be somewhere in his stored possessions, I certainly hope so!
I believe we may well be confusing the estate Fleming had in Ballynahatty, and the Edergole estate of Ross Houston.
Best regards,
Mark
-
Looking for any clues to a 'stray' HOUSTON. I have a Mary HOUSTON/HUSTON marrying Robert LYONS c 1838/9 in Cloughfin/Edenderry area of OMAGH (County Tyrone). They had 5 children that I know of - James c 1840, Letitia c 1844, John 1846 (Edenderry), Andrew (1849) and Mary (1850). Both Robert and Mary died in 1872 and were buried in Drumnakilly. The gravestone suggests Mary was born c 1810.
There is a Robert Houston in the Sixmilecross area.
Does anyone know anything about this Mary or Robert (supposedly son of a Hugh Huston).
Any help gratefully received. This Mary is a total mystery.
-
Robert Huston, age 35, widower, of Cloghfin, Termonmaguirk, Tyrone, son of Hugh Huston, tailor, married Mary Dixon of Tonegan, daughter of Joseph Dixon, on April 21, 1853 in SixMileCross Parish Church of Termonmaguirk.
On Oct 25, 1877, Robert Houston, bachelor, boot and shoe maker, of Six Mile Cross, son of William Houston, married Rosanna Moffat, spinster, of Foremass, Errigal Keerogue, daughter of Galbaith Moffat (both full age) in Six Mile Cross Presbyterian Church.
Hugh Huston is listed in the 1825 Tithe in Six Mile Cross.
Cloghfin is a townland in Termonmaguirk just NE of the town of Six Mile Cross.
Linda
-
Thank you so much Linda. I'll do a trace and see if I can find descendents for those men and look for a William - possibly a brother to Robert.
-
Cloghfin is a townland in Termonmaguirk just NE of the town of Six Mile Cross.
Here's a link to the townland.
Cloghfin is east of the townland and village of Sixmilecross.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/cloghfin/
KG
-
I don't think I'd realised how tiny my ancestral areas were Cloughfin, Sixmilecross and Brackey.
-
Bracky townland to the north of Sixmilecross.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/east-omagh/termonmaguirk/bracky/
-
On Oct 25, 1877, Robert Houston, bachelor, boot and shoe maker, of Six Mile Cross, son of William Houston, married Rosanna Moffat, spinster, of Foremass, Errigal Keerogue, daughter of Galbaith Moffat (both full age) in Six Mile Cross Presbyterian Church.
Here's the link-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1877/11149/8083827.pdf
Rosanna residing in the townland of Foremass, civil parish of Errigle (sic). The townland is about 3km south-east of the village of Sixmilecross.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/clogher/errigal-keerogue/foremass-upper/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4689468#map=14/54.5437/-7.0903
KG
-
Have you checked out www.cotyroneireland.com? I helped to upload berths and marriages from 1st and 2nd Ballynahatty so I know there are several references to Houstons in there.
-
Welcome to RootsChat :)
Robert Huston, age 35, widower, of Cloghfin, Termonmaguirk, Tyrone, son of Hugh Huston, tailor, married Mary Dixon of Tonegan, daughter of Joseph Dixon, on April 21, 1853 in SixMileCross Parish Church of Termonmaguirk.
Links-
Marriage 1853
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1853/09458/5427069.pdf
Tonegan townland
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/east-omagh/termonmaguirk/athenree/tonegan/
-
This is my Houston family.
-
Hi, everyone.
My small part in the Houston, my grand father was Albert Houston he married Martha Earle,
thy lived in Belfast N. Ireland,they had 3 boys & 3 girls George Earle Houston. Old-is.
My mother Olive born 1923/24? married Henry Haydock born 1917 in Belfast 1939.
My father named me George Earle Houston Haydock. My uncle George Houston had no children
his younger brother Edward married Ruby moved to S. England ,(children ?)..
Hope this helps in your trace...
Cheers George E.H.
-
Not everyone in Northern Ireland with the same surname is related. Albert Huston was from Co. Armagh, as were his parents, and this thread is about Houstons from Ballynahatty (just south of Omagh) in Co. Tyrone.
https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/east-omagh/drumragh/loughmuck/ballynahatty/