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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: captainbeecher on Sunday 02 January 11 14:53 GMT (UK)
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I am researching Robert Sherrard born 1831, possibly in Londonderry, the son of Robert Sherrard and Nancy Starrett {dec 1887}, brother of Matthew {1831-1903} and Sarah, who married Mary Jane Buchanan, born 1830, daughter of William Buchanan at Londonderry registry office on December 28th 1858. They had issue:
Sarah Ann Sherrard {1857-1913}
Robert Sherrard {1862-1952}
William Sherrard {1863-??}
Mary Jane Sherrard {1865-??} Slaughtmanus
Elizabeth Sherrard {1867-??}
Thomas Sherrard {1870-??} Slaughtmanus
Matilda Sherrard {1871-??}
In the 1901 census the couple lived in Slaughtmanus with a nephew
Robert died on December 10th 1910
Mary died in Glendermott Road on July 19th 1921
If there is anything else you can add about this couple particularly exact dates and places of birth and Mary's mother's name, or think you are a descendant get in touch.
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1901 census should list Robert Sherrard's county of birth.
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Hi captainbeecher. I cant give you any extra information than you already have about Robert Sherrard but his brother Matthew is my great, great grandfather. Let me know if you want any information on him.
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Thanks Jinks
It's possible that we've been in contact with each other before as I made contact with two great great grandchildren of Matthew through his daughter's Margaret and Matilda's lineage last year {my fourth cousins as I am a twice great grandson of Robert}. They shared a large Sherrard resource with me, although to date I have not had the chance to properly research the Sherrard family against NI Government records.
It's always good to check what I have for errors and also see if yours is a new branch that to date I am unaware of.
I have Matthew as marrying Nancy Reilly on January 27th 1848, their children being
Nancy July 4th 1850 {don't know anything else about her branch}
Robert 1851 {had 6 known children, 15 grand children and 1 known gt grand child-surname Rowan}
Matilda Jane Aug 13 1852 {married and had two children}
William James Oct 2 1855
Elizabeth May 25 1858
Samuel 1861 {6 children, 7 grand children}
Margaret Jul 2 1865 {12 children 16 grand children 2 gt grand children surnames Moore and Irwine and 2 twice gt grand children}
Matilda May 29 1867 {1 child, 8 grand children, 19 gt grand children surnames McMenemy, McKeegan and Laird 44 twice gt grand children, 10 thrice gt grand children
Rachel Jun 4 1869 {2 children}
Edward 1874 {two children}
This research has come almost entirely from members of the McMenemy, Laird, Moore and Irwine familes.
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Captainbeecher. Sorry was just looking back at older posts and your right, we were talking in another thread ;D
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Hello,
Yes, I do know Jane Buchanan who married Robert Sherrard! She is my GGG Aunt. She used the name was Jane and was baptised on 24 January 1836 in Cumber Lower as Jane. Her parents were William Buchanan and Mary Norris. Jane was not a tall lady and she was very fair. She had two older brothers, James and William Buchanan. James was born in 1827 and William was born in 1832 at Highmoor Road, Cumber Lower. I think she also had an older brother Robert. Jane also had a younger sister Elizabeth.
Jane was born on a farm at Highmoor (Highmoor Road) in Cumber Lower, not too far from the Sherrard family. Her parents had a farm at Highmoor, or were labourers on the farm. William Buchanan was also listed with the occupation of a Weaver. In the early 1850s, Jane's older brothers James and William (and perhaps Robert) left Londonderry for Liverpool where they caught another ship and came to Australia. William became the Blacksmith at Beaufort in Victoria, and James also worked as a Blacksmith and farmer at Waterloo near Beaufort. Beaufort is near Ballarat. Jane's sister Elizabeth, as far as I know, went to America and settled in Mingo, Jefferson County. She married someone named Mr Brown. I don't know much about her as yet.
Jane was about 14 when her brothers and sister left and stayed in Lower Cumber where she married Robert Sherrard who was a farmer on Slaghtmanus Road, Cumber Lower. It was Jane and Robert Sherrard's daughter who was Mary Jane. I did know that Jane lived to quite a good age. Most of the Buchanans lived to well in their 80s back in the 1800s. Jane's father William was born in Landaire, which I understand to be another word for Londonderry. I was told this by an Irishman.
I am not surprised that Jane died on Glendermott Road. Her brother James had married Catherine Cairns (although the surname Kane is used on their marriage certificate). Catherine's family had a farm at Listress and Catherine had relatives at Glendermott. Jane and Robert Sherrard's daughter Mary Jane Sherrard, who was born in 1865, married into the Cairns family. She married James Cairns who had a farm at the time in Highmoor Road, Cumber Lower. Mary Jane was living at Waterside at the time of her marriage, with her brother Robert Sherrard jnr. Robert jnr. also married into a Cumber Local family. He married Elizabeth Torrens whose family lived on Slaghtmanus Road.
I understand that the Buchanans originally came from around the Loch Lomond area of Scotland. Unfortunately, I have no idea when they came to Londonderry. I wish I did. I'm just waiting on a letter from the Victorian Archives (Australia) which is allegedly written by Jane's sister Elizabeth. Someone may know a lot more about the Buchanans than I know. I also have lots of photos of Jane's brothers James and William and their families.
Jane and Robert Sherrard's daughter Elizabeth also married a Cumber Lower man. Elizabeth married John Donnell of Slaghtmanus Road in 1889. I know they had at least two children, because the children lived with Jane and Robert when the children were older.
I hope all of this helps. Maybe one day someone from the Buchanan side of the family will be able to give me some more information. I know that James, William and Elizabeth Buchanan could read and write, so it is very likely that Jane could read and write as well.
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1911- Robert & Jane Sherrard (married 53 years, 7 children/4 living) with grandchildren Robert & Matilda Donnell
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Tamnaherin/Slaghtmanus/599210
marriage (1858) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGZM-NDY
Probate of the Will of the late Robert Sherrard, Slaughtmanus, Co. Londonderry, Farmer, who died 10 December 1918, granted at Londonderry 5 March 1919 to Alexander Hall, Farmer. Effects: £7
Matilda Carlson (born c1881 Ireland), daughter of Robert Sherrard & Jane Buchanan, married Mingo, Jefferson Co., Ohio
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDDR-ML9
1st marriage to John Carlson https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8D6-3XD
Birth of several other children of Robert Sherrard & Jane Buchanan listed at www.familysearch.org
Sherrard Robert of Slaughtmanus county Londonderry farmer died 12 August 1930 at The Infirmary Waterside Londonderry Administration W/A Londonderry 12 December[1930] to Bernard Kilkey farmer. Effects £83 15s. Limited Grant. D.B.N. D.R. 29.11.43
Sherrard Robert of Slaughtmanus county Londonderry farmer died 12 August 1930 at The Infirmary Waterside Londonderry W/A (d.b.n.) Londonderry 29 November [1943] to Bernard Joseph Sherrard motor lorry driver. Unadministered Effects £22 10s. Former Grant Administration W/A (limited) Londonderry D.R. 12 December 1930.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Londonderry_No__5_Urban/Dungiven_Road/606443
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Jane and Robert Sherrard's daughter Elizabeth also married a Cumber Lower man. Elizabeth married John Donnell of Slaghtmanus Road in 1889. I know they had at least two children, because the children lived with Jane and Robert when the children were older.
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John Donnell and Elizabeth Sherrard married 18 June 1889. Son Robert was born the following month 29 July 1889 and Matilda on 7 July 1892.
Children also with Sherrard grandparents in 1901-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Tamnaherin/Slaghtmanus/1528279
I searched GRONI's database for other children and came up with quite a few named Donnell with mother Sherrard in Londonderry district-
William John born 10 Mar.1896 Wm John
Margaret Eliza born 15 Aug.1898 Maggie
Mary Elizabeth born 5 July 1901 Mary Lizzie
Mary born 8 July 1904 Annie
Thomas Matthew born 12 Sept.1907 Matthew
According to 1911 census there were 7 children (all living)-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Tamnaherin/Slaghtmanus/599222
One thing I need to point out is the place names you've listed. Before 1970s or so the addresses would have been townland names such as Slaghtmanus not Slaghtmanus Road.
PRONI have the Valuation Revision Books online which start from the printed version of Griffith's Valuation (mid 1800s) until c1930 and you can see the details for each property in a townland.
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm
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Thank you so much to aghdowey!!!
You are an excellent researcher and very knowledgeable.
You were able to confirm for me that Elizabeth Buchanan (Mrs Brown) did in fact go to Mingo, Jefferson County. When I receive the letter from her I will post the contents on this chat site. I really don't know too much about Roots Chat. I only registered this morning.
Yes, you are correct about Slaghtmanus being a town and not a Road. Thank you for this. The area looks beautiful on Google Earth. Very different to Australia.
The Buchanans (or Sherrards or Browns in Mingo perhaps) kept in contact with James and William Buchanan's family in Australia until the late 1950s. It must have been a hard life over there in the mid-1800s. I know there were Buchanans in another County called Maghabera(sic). Maybe they were related.
Thank you again, and I will post more information when it comes to hand
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... I know there were Buchanans in another County called Maghabera(sic). Maybe they were related. ...
No such county on Ireland but perhaps that's supposed to be another townland in the area?
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Hi,
There are two townlands in the Dungiven area called Magheramore and Magheraboy. Some distant Buchanan relatives of mine lived in Magheramore. This would be about 8 miles from Slaughtmanus.
Regards
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Matilda Sherrard (c1881/c1875 Ireland) m.1 (10 Apr.1901 Jefferson Co., Ohio) John Carlson (c1874 Guttenberg, Sweden) m.2 (8 June 1911 Mingo, Jefferson, Ohio) George Young
John Carlson, machinist, died 9 Feb.1904- cause of death ‘accidental’
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6JZ-ZZF
Son Robert John Carlson (12 Mar.1901-17 Oct.1911 Mingo: spasmodic croup & oedema of glottis) buried Oakland Cemetery
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X84P-F43
In 1910 census Matilda and son are living in Steubenville, Jefferson Co. with George Young as boarder (they marry the following year). Note: Steubenville just north of Mingo Junction
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLNR-DHB
Interestingly there’s a Matilda Carlson born N.I. in 1930 census for Mingo-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4WG-LK5
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1900 census Matilda is staying in household of James Brown- cousin?
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMD7-JCZ
James died in 1914- parents Dennis Brown & Elizabeth Buchanan
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8X2-KVW
Robert J. Brown (1859 Pennsylvania-1941 Ohio)- same parents
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8SV-KWD
Dennis Brown & Elizabeth Buchanan married 1852 Ireland- but her farher listed as John not William
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FG6X-FR6
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Elizabeth Brown, widow, with son James Brown in 1910 (along with another son, Edwin born New Jersey)-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLNT-8FV
Edwin Brown with borther Robert J. in 1930-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4WL-L4C
Edwin Brown with nephew Edwin in 1940-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWFC-4SQ
Elizabeth Brown & 4 sons in 1870 (no husband listed)
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M6KG-CDX
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Dennis & Elizabeth Brown with 2 sons (Robert J. & William J.) and a daughter (Matilda J.) in 1860-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFCQ-ZLW
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I believe I confused Jane Sherrard [Buchanan] with a Mary Jane Sherrard who was also married to a farmer named Robert Sherrard and was of a similar age when both were recorded living in the same area in the 1901 census. Indeed, your post pointed me in the right direction to see their two grand children. The elder members of my family were aware of the Donnell’s but did not recall the two grand children recorded in the census.
The Landaire mentioned as the birth of William Buchanan I would have to agree is probably Londonderry. Landaire I suspect is a phonetic of the loose pronunciation of the time.
I’m afraid I suspect that Jane's daughter Mary-Jane did not marry James Cairns however. Both Robert Sherrard and his brother, Matthew had a son and a daughter named Robert and Mary-Jane. Mary-Jane did indeed marry James Cairns at Carlisle Road Church on May 26th 1891. The father on the certificate however is Matthew, not Robert, which confirms that it was Mary-Jane of 1865’s cousin. Alas I have a hunch that Mary-Jane of 1865 was one of the three children Robert states was dead in the 1911 census. Mary-Jane of 1865’s brother was however the Robert who married Elizabeth Torrens, although I suspect his cousin Mary-Jane lived with her own brother Robert [all very confusing]. Robert and Elizabeth were my great grandparents. Robert lived into his 90s and my father was a child when a huge Sherrard family reunion was held in 1951 to celebrate his birthday. There was a large family photo taken at the time which was sadly was mislaid only four or five years ago.
Unfortunately I haven’t taken the Buchanans any further back than Jane’s father, William. Indeed I did not know her mother’s name until your post.
Curious that the Donnells appear in the 1911 census to confirm that their two eldest children went to live with their grand parents while the next five stay with them. They are nowhere to be found in the 1901 census despite all the children being apparently born in County Derry.
While the info from Aghadowey is very good, I can advise that the Robert Sherrard whose death he reports in 1930 is not the same man as the associated 1911 census link. The man in the 1911 link is my gt grandfather who, mentioned previously died in 1952 and whose birthday in 1951 was attended by my father.
There’s lots of other links that I haven’t had a chance to look at yet. I’m Robert Sherrard and Jane Buchanan’s great great grandson, via the Robert Sherrard shown in that 1911 census link, which also shows my grandmother, Rebecca Sherrard. The youngest girl Wilhelmina {Mina} my great aunt, was the second oldest woman in Ireland when she passed away in December. I’d be keen to see photos of my gt gt grandmother’s brothers and also to see if the communication between the families in the USA and Australia included any contact or mention of the family back in Ireland/Northern Ireland.
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Thank you very much to kingskerswell and captainbeecher for all you information, and to aghadowey. Yes, you are correct! The place where the other Buchanans lived was Maghabera. You must understand that I do not come from Ireland. It may well be that my Buchanans are related to yours, as these Buchanas also used the name William.
James Buchanan came to Australia on 1 July 1853 on the 'Ghengis Khan' with his wife Catherine and their son William James. They settled in Waterloo; five miles from Beaufort. In the mid-1860s, Catherine left James and went to live with his brother William Buchanan. William had come to Australia a couple of years later and married a lady from Manchester named Matilda Walton. William James Buchanan died in a mining accident near Stawell in 1899. He moved from Beaufort to Stawell in the late 1870s, after his father had remarried. He was a popular man in Stawell, but never married.
Catherine Buchanan died in Beaufort around 1874. In 1876, James married a young lady named Mary McGuire who was 17 and hose mother was a Convict from Londonderry - Anne Agnew. Anne had been transported in 1841 at age 14 for stealing a loaf of bread! Her father was John Agnew and mother unknown. Mary's father was John McGuire from Manchester. James Buchanan was about 48 and put his age down to 38 on the marriage certificate!! I am the GG Granddaughter of James and Mary Buchanan.
James worked as a Carrier (goods etc), with cattle, and as a Blacksmith. He was what I would call a crusty old curmudgeon. He did have some minor incursions with the Victorian Police. He had a big argument with a man on the streets of Stawell in 1903 and they both went to Court. The Judge fined James quite a bit of money. He liked to dress well and always had a walking stick with him as a fashion item. He always spoke his mind and didn't have much respect for authority. James and Mary had the following children:
Nancy Jane, Robert, John (died young), Mary, Herbert, Augusta. I will get the DOB and post these soon. Robert was my GGrandfather.
James died in April, 1915 in Stawell, and William died in 1922/23 in Beaufort. I will post the exact dates when I look through what I have.
Now to the contact from Ireland and or America. I had been told by one of my senior cousins that a letter was sent from Scotland to Australia in the late 1950s by one of the Buchanans. I have been asked to try and find out who sent the letter. I honestly don't think that this letter came from Scotland, as this dear cousin hadn't at all known that the Buchanans came from Londonderry. The fact is that James' son Robert Buchanan never told anyone about the Buchanans. The family were a complete mystery, although I knew that James had come from Londonderry, not Scotland. I cannot find his birth certificate in Ireland. It is a better bet that the letter came from Jane's family in Ireland. Whoever wrote that letter knew my grandfather's name. My grandfather was James' grandson. The contact had continued with the Buchanan relatives for over 100 years. Unfortunately, the letter was never answered by any relative in Australia.
It is much less likely that the letter came from Mingo in America, as sister Elizabeth Brown (Buchanan) wrote in 1894 to the Victorian Police asking for the whereabouts of her brothers James, William and Robert who had come to Victoria about 30-40 years ago. This is the letter I have ordered and will post on this site as soon as it arrives. This will arrive in about two-three weeks.
Last week my most senior cousin who is 90 said that she knew the family came from Londonderry, and that she knew that 'half of James Buchanans siblings had gone to America, and the other half had come to Australia'. Their parents William and Mary Buchanan (nee Norris) may have had more children, but I do not know who they are. Perhaps more stayed in Londonderry. My cousin's recollection may not be entirely correct as to the number of siblings who went to America.
I also do remember one of the Sherrard's immigrating to New York. I have an idea that it was Robert Sherrard's brother, but I am uncertain.
So, yes, captainbeecher, you are certainly a cousin! The longevity of your GGrandfather would definitely be assisted by the Buchanan line. It would be very rare for a Buchanan to die before the age of 80. Robert and James as names have always remained in the family, as has Elizabeth. The Buchanans over here were staunchly Presbyterian and quite fanatic about it in the previous generations. None of them were tall people, and the women were quite 'fey'. I will look up some more information and post it. Will attach photos in a minute.
Christine
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Here are some photos. Had trouble attaching them in the last post.
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Not certain how these photos are going through
Christine
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Having trouble posting William Buchanan. Photo taken in 1865 but very clear. Am being told the file is too large. Will get assistance later.
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To kingskerswell and all
I wrote the name Maghabera for the other Buchanans about 8 miles away from Slaghtmanus. I meant to write Magheramore. This is where they lived. They may be related, but I really have no evidence of this. Everything else I wrote today is correct. Still having trouble uploading the photo of William Buchanan. Rootschat says it is too big. Still working on this one.
Christine
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Robert Buchanan is in the middle. He is the son of James Buchanan from Slaghtmanus. Born at Waterloo, Victoria in 1879. Photo taken in 1963. On left is Robert's son and on right is Robert's grandson, both of whom do not look like Buchanans of the Irish generations.
Robert looks like a Buchanan or a Norris.
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Robert Buchanan with his sister Nancy Jane Buchanan. Her middle name was for James Buchanan's sister Jane. Taken in the 1940s or 1950s more likely in Bendigo, Victoria.
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Christine,
For your information some of the names of the Buchanan family of Magheramore.
Robert 1792 - 1850 married Eliza Thompson of Gosheden, Lower Cumber.
Their son Alexander 1842 - 1920.
His children
Jane 1871-1956
Margaret 1873-?
Lillianne 1874- 1940
Robert 1876-1946
John 1877-1963
Eliza 1879-1961
Ellen 1882-?
Regards
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William Buchanan, Beaufort. He arrived in Australia in 1856. I think perhaps the photo was taken later, as he was born in 1832. Thank you kinkerswell for the information on Robert Buchanan. This must be a relative. It is very late here and I must get the family to bed. I will email tomorrow when I can. Hope this photo goes through
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Thank you very much cousin kingskerwell. I hope this is alright to continue writing about Jane Buchanan's family on Robert Sherrard's site. I do not know the etiquette of threads on Rootschat.
The Robert Buchanan born 1792-1840 at Magheramore would, in my considered opinion, be the brother of William Buchanan. William was the father of Jane Buchanan who married Robert Sherrard. I know that William was born in Landaire. His year of birth is around 1799, give or take 5 years either way. The name of your Robert's son Alexander is uncanny. This Alexander died in 1920. In 1920 in Australia, my GGrandfather Robert Buchanan (James' son) had a baby boy who lived only three weeks. He named this baby Alexander. No one else on the Australian side of the family has been named Alexander.
The names for Alexander Buchanan's children (Magheramore) all fit the names of Jane Buchanan's family. You may be aware that the Godmother of Robert Sherrard and Jane Buchanan's daughter Elizabeth was a Margaret Buchanan. Also, on Robert and Jane's wedding certificate, a Robert Buchanan is the second witness.
I also have a baby named Margaret born to Robert and Eliza Buchanan of Magheramore on 26 October 1844.
I have searched my records and have the following dates for you.
-Birth Catherine Kane (Cairns) 4 March 1823, baptised 10 March 1823, Parish/District Glendermott (Church of Ireland, Father James Kane, mother Margaret McShane
-Marriage James Buchanan, Slaghtmanus to Catherine Kane, Listress, on 31 October 1851. Father of James given as James Buchanan, Weaver. Father of Catherine, given as Michael. James gives his profession as Smith (Blacksmith)
-Birth William James Buchanan (Catherine and James Buchanan's son), 1 January 1849, baptised 11 June 1849, Parish/District Glendermott, Church of Ireland. Parents given as James Buchanan and Martha Buchanan
-Death Catherine Cain (Kane) 11 August 1841, Sailor's Gully near Beaufort, Victoria aged 55 years from Dropsy
-Death James Buchanan 19 April 1915, Stawell Hospital, Victoria aged 96 from intestinal obstruction, toxaemia, heart failure
-Death William James Buchanan 9 December 1899, Magdala Mine, Stawell, Victoria aged 50 years, result of mining accident
-Marriage James Buchanan to Mary McGuire 20 April 1876, Beaufort, Victoria, Presbyterian Minister Alexander Adams. Witnesses: William Buchanan and Sarah Driver. Married at a private home. James states that he is 38, born Londonderry, usual residence near Horsham. James' parents listed as William Buchanan and Mary Norris. Mary aged 17, daughter of John McGuire and Anne (Nancy) Agnew. Mary gives her usual residence as Langi Kal Kal, occupation Domestic Duties
-The children of James and Mary Buchanan's marriage were:
Nancy Jane born Waterloo 1877 (Victorian BDM Cert. 12302)
Robert John born Waterloo 5 March 1879 (VBDM Cert. 12774)
Mary Elizabeth born Lexton 1881 (VBDM Cert. 10621)
John born Lexton 1883 he died young
Augusta born Waterloo 1889 (VBDM Cert. 36034
Herbert born 8 March 1891 Langi Kal Kal (VBDM Cert. 7848) James' age stated as 62 on this certificate
Jane's brother William Buchanan married to Matilda Walton 20 June 1870 at the Lutheran Parsonage, Ballarat. William listed as a Blacksmith aged 38, born Londonderry, parents William Buchanan and Mary Norris. Matilda aged 20, born Manchester, parents Thomas Walton and Sarah Napier.
I still can't locate the birth certificate of James Buchanan in Londonderry. There is an extraordinary document which I located yesterday on the Norris family in Maghera Parish, Londonderry. I am assuming this has something to do with Magheramore Road. There are lots of Williams, James, Johns, Elizabeths etc named in this document. I haven't had time to print it out and read it. I think that this could give us some information about Jane and James' mother Mary Buchanan. I will attach it now.
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This is James Buchanan's grandson Alan Buchanan with his wife Ruby on their wedding day in 1916 in Cooroy, Queensland, Australia. Alan looked very much like James Buchanan. This will give you an idea what James would have looked like when he was young.
Maybe, kingskerswell, you have seen it somewhere in your family.
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This is a photo of James Buchanan's wife Mary McGuire. It may well have been taken in 1876 at their wedding. I am not certain. Mary is quite young here.
In the group photo of the Buchanans on the back verandah (porch), the older couple seated on the wicker chairs with the children are Jane and James' brother William Buchanan (with beard) and his wife Emma Buchanan. I can't identify the others. They are children and grandchildren of William and Emma.
In the family group of the Buchanans standing in front of the house where there is a boy seated on a horse, I cannot positively identify anyone in the group. This is the house of William and Emma Buchanan's son Ernest Samuel Buchanan. However, the smaller man who is standing second from the right and who is holding the hand of the child looks uncannily like Jane and William's brother James Buchanan. It is very possible that it is James.
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This photo was taken in Beaufort at the house of James Buchanan's brother William Buchanan. The house is across the street from William's Blacksmith's shop.
Standing on the balcony are James Buchanan's wife Mary Buchanan and one of their smaller child -either Herbert or Augusta. I don't know which child it is. Standing in the light frock (dress) at the side of the house is James and Mary's daughter Nancy Jane.
The photo was most likely taken in about 1893, not 1900.
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Christine,
I would be wary of jumping to conclusions about Buchanan relationships. As well as "my Buchanans" in Magheramore there are two other households of Buchanans in 1858, William and Archibald and I do not know of a relationship between them. I said that there was a distant relationship but I have not done much research on the family.
Regards
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-Birth Catherine Kane (Cairns) 4 March 1823, baptised 10 March 1823, Parish/District Glendermott (Church of Ireland, Father James Kane, mother Margaret McShane
-Marriage James Buchanan, Slaghtmanus to Catherine Kane, Listress, on 31 October 1851. Father of James given as James Buchanan, Weaver. Father of Catherine, given as Michael. James gives his profession as Smith (Blacksmith)
Hi Christine. I'm curious about this info as Catherine's birth record points to James Kane but her marriage record points to Michael Kane? I'm also curious that if both records state her name was Kane, where the Cairns surname comes in? Also James' father here is recorded as James and not William.
Sorry to sound a bit like a cross examiner but while researching the Sherrard family I came across lots of Slaughtmanus 19th century family who all had the same names and I sometimes linked on the basis of assumptions that I later would find to be wrong when checking documentary evidence. Years later it has led me to always double check any information that I'm not certain about.
And don't worry about any roots chat etiquette about posting regarding the Buchanans here. This thread after all is as much about Mary's family as Robert Sherrards. :)
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Thank you very much to cousins captainbeecher and kingskerswell for their information and scrutiny of what I write. I appreciate this.
We had never known Catherine Cain (Cairns) as Catherine Kane. I have cousins here who are in their 80s and remember a lot about James' life in Australia, as much information had been passed down by their parents and grandparents. When I started to try to find out things in Ireland, I had information about Catherine from her death certificate. Catherine's death certificate states that she was born in Limerick, but married in Londonderry. The informant is her brother-in-law William Buchanan. You must realise that they had thick Northern Irish accents and the the Registrar of the death was James Johnston who was either English or Australian. In Beaufort where William lived, it was always understood that he came from a place in Londonderry called Slothmanis. On the back of James Buchanan's son Herbert's marriage certificate it is written that James came from Strathmanis Island. From these two names, interpreted incorrectly by people in the 1800s with an Australian accent and no knowledge of Ireland, I finally located Slaghtmanus, Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
Limerick troubled me. There was a great religious and geographical divide between Protestant and Catholic Ireland. Catherine with a 'C' is the Protestant spelling of the name Katherine. Used with a 'K' means Katherine is usually a Catholic name. The surname Kane is also a predominantly Catholic name. This didn't look correct to me. The Buchanans were such staunch Protestants up until about 1960 that marriage to a Catholic caused serious problems and had severe consequences. There were several instances of this that I know of. I am so pleased this is not the case today.
I could never find Catherine in Limerick. What would a Protestant be doing in Limerick? I thought it unlikely also that James would be traipsing around the countryside looking for a wife. When he moved to Stawell in the 1890s, James called himself a Blacksmith. I also knew that Catherine was older than James. Her immigration record puts her DOB at around 1818.
On this behavioural basis, and, as I couldn't find Catherine under Kane in Limerick, I started searching for Catherine in Lower Cumber. I located a copy of the Census in 1831 and saw that there was a Cairns family in Listress - right around the corner from Slaghtmanus and Highmoor. I then found her, and then found the marriage record for Catherine and James. It is very true that the names of their fathers do not match. However, the Cairns family in Listress has James Cairns, and a James is listed as a father on the marriage certificate. There are always inconsistencies in names on certificates due to the level of literacy and who in the family uses which name, in order to identify themselves separately from another member of the family using another name. Many family names are also accidentally transposed on Certificates. In the Buchanan family in Australia, there are several generations of men who have the names William James, or James William.
I am very happy to leave it open that I may be wrong about Catherine's birth certificate. It is interesting that the birth certificate for James and Catherine's son, little William James Buchanan, predates their marriage. On little William's immigration record in early 1853, his age is given as three, and his birth record states he was born in 1849. What can be the reason for James and Catherine having a baby out of wedlock, particularly when the Presbyterian church have been so strongly against baptism for illegitimate children? (mind you, it is lovely to know that we are a normal family. James' daughter Augusta had a baby at 14 in Stawell) Maybe there wasn't a Minister in Slaghtmanus at the time. I don't know. There is a great history in Australia of couples in the bush just getting on with it and baptising the children in a couple of years' time when the Minister finally rode into town.
I will post this and keep going. It may be getting too long.
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Have to disagree with a few assumptions in your post :-\
There was a great religious and geographical divide between Protestant and Catholic Ireland. Catherine with a 'C' is the Protestant spelling of the name Katherine. Used with a 'K' means Katherine is usually a Catholic name. The surname Kane is also a predominantly Catholic name. This didn't look correct to me. The Buchanans were such staunch Protestants up until about 1960 that marriage to a Catholic caused serious problems and had severe consequences. There were several instances of this that I know of. I am so pleased this is not the case today.
Actually, there was intermarriage between Catholics and Protestants and while the families may not have approved or been happy about it the marriage didn't always cause great problems. Catherine and Katherine are used interchangeably by all religions in Ireland and Kane is often found as a 'Protestant' name so one cannot really make such assumptions.
Some Presbyterian families would not have been happy with a marriage to a member of the Church of Ireland. Indeed in earlier times a ceremony performed by a Catholic priest would have been preferred to one by a C. of I. rector as Presbyterians as a group were persecuted by the Established Church.
What can be the reason for James and Catherine having a baby out of wedlock, particularly when the Presbyterian church have been so strongly against baptism for illegitimate children? (mind you, it is lovely to know that we are a normal family. James' daughter Augusta had a baby at 14 in Stawell) Maybe there wasn't a Minister in Slaghtmanus at the time. I don't know.
The Presbyterian church itself had no ban against the baptism of illegitimate children and Presbyterian registers are filled with entries for children with either no father named, illegitimate written under father's name or a note to the effect that X was the reported father of the child.
Parental disapproval was sometimes a cause for delaying a marriage but was as often for reasons nothing to do with religion (age of the couple, dislike of other family due to education, social status or occupation are just some of them).
It's doubtful that there would not have been a minister available for any length of time- if there was a vacancy it would have been filled within the Presbytery.
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Thank you aghadowey for your perspective. It is important to read these comments.
Whilst I very well remember here that Catherine was always used for Protestants and Katherine for Catholics, you may certainly have an entirely different perspective. They are both lovely spellings of the name.
I also remember only some years back a great controversy in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland when a Minister refused to baptise an illegitimate child. It made the press over here and was widely condemned. I am glad you have not had the same experiences.
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It has always been the case that individual ministers may have been more disapproving of the baptism of illegitimate children or other matters. Quite often in church registers there will be lots of illegitimate children baptised (and indeed marriages for couples not normally attending that church) which is probably explained by that particular minister being more understanding. I know of one local Presbyterian minister who seems to have insisted upon putting a father's name in the register (not one entry during his time is without a named father but I have also noticed many unmarried girls belonging to his congregation who chose to baptise their children in neighbouring churches.
Whilst I very well remember here that Catherine was always used for Protestants and Katherine for Catholics, you may certainly have an entirely different perspective.
Not really 'my perspective' but fact.
If you search the 1901 census with just the first name 'Katherine' there are 2474 results. Narrowing down the results to only include Catholics there are 1957- which indicates 517 non-Catholic Katherines.
Do the same search for 'Catherine' and there are 86051- 78022 Catholics and 7979 non-Catholics.
Back to searching for 'Katherine' in 1901- only 48 in total in Co. Londonderry but 2644 for 'Catherine' which just shows that Catherine was more common than Katherine in this area.
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Thank you aghadowey for these statistics.
You are excellent in your research and analysis. I had not meant to offend anyone. I was explaining my method of how I came to find Catherine Kane in Listress, with the only information being Catherine Cane, born in Limerick. I believe it would have been the interpretation of the Londonderry accent which provided the name of Limerick. Very few people in Australia would have heard of Listress. James was not at all happy that Catherine had left him. Catherine died in difficult circumstances.
It is excellent to have your analyses. I tend to be more intuitive, based on what I know of the family.
I have attached the land claims of James Buchanan, and a Robert and George Buchanan at Trewalla near Beaufort. I believe that the Robert is indeed a relative, and most likely James' brother. I don't think the George Buchanan is a relative, although I have no factual evidence. There were so many Buchanans in the Beaufort and Ballarat areas due to the gold rush of the time. George has never been a name in the family.
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I am just wondering whether anyone has any personal recollections of Jane Buchanan or her parents William Buchanan and Mary Norris? I would like to find out about Mary Norris, but this may be beyond my capacity. The letter from America may give some clues
Christine
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the social history of a time and place can often offer a glimpse of who people were and why they took the steps they did in life. On the Katherine and Catherine debate, I think it does just come down to Katherine being spelling that was going out of fashion in faour of catherine more so than a religous thing. It was only with the proper keeping of records in the late 18th century that these things started becoming more important to people. It's a point to note that the first half of the nineteenth cenrtury was a time when a great many still couldn't read or write so spelling wasn't necessarily a big deal for them.
Religion too is a less clear thing in the first half of the century as Presbyterians were regarded by those in the established church as no better than Catholics, for whom they had little regard. There wasn't necessarily open hatred as such but those in the established church would have considered themselves, privately at least, as being socially better than Presbyterians and Catholics. That said, marriage to and between Protestants and Catholics wasn't as uncommon rurally as many would think.
Marriage itself prior to the 1840s wasn't as big a deal as it was later in the century. for rural folk, living in small tight knit communities where families knew each other going back a century or two, marriage was more conceptual than religious. Often it was a case where, as long as the families and the communities regarded them as married then that was good enough. Jumping the broomstick so to speak. Starting in the 1830s and moving into the Victorian age, Ministers applied soft pressure on their parishoners who were also employers that it was their moral duty to ensure their employees were married in the eyes of god and not living in sin. It became common for married men to earn more than those that weren't so men started marrying. It was as true then as it is now that most simple folk were god fearing but not especially religious. In truth though, children born out of wedlock for a community like Slaughtmanus wouldn't have been a big deal as long as their parents lived as man and wife. One actual upshot of the pressure to marry was the growth of arranged marriage. It wasn't rife but equally not uncommon for a young woman to attract the attention of a middle aged farmer in need of a wife. A labourer could find his circumstances improved by agreeing to marry the poor girl off to a man over twice her age. Such practices happened in rural Ireland right up until the early 1950s, indeed my wife has an aunt who found herself in such a position when just a girl of 17 in the late 1940s.
That makes it all the more remarkable for Catherine to have left her husband. Then again, with limited knowledge of emigrant history, I've always felt that Ulster-Scots who went abroad took their religion but were hoping to get away from the social restrictions of their homeland as much chasing the dreams of better lives in Australia, USA, South Africa etc.
I think it's telling that the first thing the Buchanans do on arrival in Australia is leave Melbourne. Fair enough, there was a gold rush and the newspapers in Ireland virtually tell people that the streets of Melbourne are paved with gold. Folk from Belfast and Londonderry would still probably have been more likely to stay in Melbourne and tried to seek their fortune in a more built up environment. The Buchanans however came from a place so small and rural that it wasn't even, and still isn't on the map. There were a good five miles away from the nearest village in Claudy.
I'm probably telling you what you already know but the Genghis Khan sailing of 1853 was a very famous one and perhaps the worst sailing any emigrant ship ever encountered without actually floundering.
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Thank you captainbeecher for you very knowledgeable understanding of life in Slaghtmanus. It sounds exactly the same as life in Beaufort in those days. James and William were not city people. They did come to Australia for the gold, but headed to Beaufort and Waterloo where there were also gold diggings. Only the Robert Buchanan of the Buchanans in Beaufort was a gold miner. I still do not know whether this was their brother. He married a lady named Janet Bruce. I have not looked into this. The George Buchanan married a lady named Selina Peake.
Knowing James' life, the time lines for his marriage to Catherine after the birth of little William James indicate the same type of pattern he always had in relationships. James' was a particular character!! When Catherine deserted him, James put a notice in the Ballarat Star stating that he would not be responsible for any of Catherine's debts incurred in his name, as she had deserted him without reason. There was no pension in those days. It was quite remarkable that Catherine left James. You are correct that wives rarely left their husbands in those days. James' second wife, dear Mary, died in a mental asylum in Ballarat in 1922 of 'melancholia and heart failure'. I don't know what went on in James' marriages.
I have this quite large document on William and James in Beaufort. I am trying to send it, and hopefully this time it will go through, as I have copied and saved it in a different format. But I do know absolutely that in James' and William's generation, and in several generations after, marriage outside of the Protestant faith was an extremely significant issue. It may not have been with Jane and your family.
James left Beaufort due to an argument with his wife Mary's brother George McGuire over the purchase of a block of land. It resulted in fisticuffs. His brother William Buchanan was well respected and an ardent Rechabite, especially since his wife Matilda was from Salford. Matilda had a lot of influence on the family.
I will try and send this document and then continue.... no, it won't go through. It is too big. It is late here, and I will split it in three tomorrow and forward it.
I must tell you that the Buchanans have always been known as very musical. In Beaufort, they were known as the 'Musical Buchanans'. One in particular had an operatic voice. The Buchanans really can sing beautifully, and are very good on musical instruments. Some can memorise music without being good at sight reading. I was told that some of the Buchanans in James, William's and Jane's generation had red hair. Must go now, it is late here.
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Much like the Buchanans of Victoria, the Sherrards who gradually levitated into Londonderry city would not have tolerated marriage to a Roman Catholic. This attitude would have begun in the 1840s and gradually become more ingrained as the various political actions of the next hundred years divided catholics and protestants on political lines. over the 130 years from the 1840s to the 1970s First you've got the famine, which doesn't affect majority protestant Ulster as badly as it does majority catholic Leinster, Munster and Connaught. Thats followed by the birth of the land league and the Irish parliamentary party where again it's mostly rural catholics who feel more affected by unfair rents. The Orange order is born and you now have working class protestants coming to the defence of middle class protestant landlords, Captain Boycott being the most famous when his name became the term for being boycotted. So in the space of a generation you've got rural protestants and catholics who lived side by side in harmony, now tolerating each other but holding resentments under the surface that has caused a split in the community. It then goes on to the push for home rule starting in the 1880s, home rule riots in the 1890s, the arming of Ulstermen to resist home rule in 1912, the rising of 1916, the partition of Ireland and then fifty years of protestant paranoia in governing Northern Ireland that sparks the violence of the 1970s and '80s. Even today you can find that people of the pre 1968 generation, who appear tolerant on the surface, still carry old resentments and prejudices when you scratch the surface. The '60s and '70s was something of a wake up call for most that such bitterness couldn't continue though. I think the whole first world experienced something of a wake up call in terms of racial and religious tolerance generally from the 1980s and beyond in which acceptance of inter religious marriage in Northern Ireland was just one part.
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Thank you captainbeecher.
I am still having trouble with this document but will post it as soon as I can.
Does anyone know definitely from where the Buchanans came in Scotland? This is, of course, a difficult issue.
I have just managed to email a Great Granddaughter of the Robert Buchanan in Beaufort who bought land in 1856 alongside James and William. I will wait and see if there is a reply. This Robert apparently came to Australia in May 1853 aboard the ship 'Sea'. I have other information which may indicate he was born about 1820 and married in Dundee.
There may be a Buchanan connection with another Buchanan family in Australia. I cannot verify this at all. James' youngest son Herbert headed up to Broken Hill in about 1910 where he married. Then, surprisingly, Herbert went to Townsville, Queensland. This is a tropical area with serious creepy crawlies everywhere. Herbert's brother Robert went at about the same time to Gympie, Queensland and then settled in Pomona.
The issue is the photo of James Buchanan which I posted. In Townsville, there is was a Hotel called the Buchanan Hotel. This was owned by a David Buchanan who came from Barrhead, Renfrewshire in Scotland. For some reason, our James Buchanan's photo was placed in the Buchanan Hotel in Townsville. There is, of course, the possibility that there is no connection at all, and it was merely a gesture of the owner of the Hotel to put James' photo up because of the association of members of the Clan Buchanan. However, it is very unusual that Herbert would head all the way up to Townsville. This was around 1913. Townsville was not an easy place to access then. And, last year, one of the senior cousins of ours went to Townsville to try and sort out this issue. The Townsville Historical Society said that there was an unknown connection between the owner of the Buchanan Hotel and Ballarat (next to Beaufort). The Historical Society also knew the names of close relatives of mine, despite the fact that Herbert only stayed a few years and then moved a long way away.
When James Buchanan sailed on The Genghis Khan, he put his nationality as both 'Scottish and Irish'.
Now, back to dear Mary Norris and William Buchanan; their parents. William Buchanan in Beaufort named one of his sons Ernest Samuel, and Samuel was not known in his wife Matilda's family. Last year ago, one of my super sleuth researching cousins on another side of my family, gave me the following details of an Irish certificate.
Name: Henry William Buchanan
Marriage: 26 March 1866, Ireland
Father: Samuel Buchanan
Spouse: Mary Jane Norris
Maybe this means something if this marriage was around Cumber Lower or nearby, in consideration that Mary Norris married our William Buchanan. If there is any birth certificate around Cumber Lower with a Samuel Buchanan and an Alexander Buchanan, then they may be relatives. Maybe our Mary Norris had the middle name of Jane as well.
James used to carry a walking stick with him at all time. His son Robert also carried a walking stick, even though he didn't need this. This was something that the Buchanan men used to do, and must have been a personal habit from Londonderry. One thing about the men in that generation is that, when the occasion arose, they certainly knew how to dress very well. They were not at all uncomfortable in their 'good clobber' (proper clothes). They could be very stylish, despite living in what we call 'the sticks' of Beaufort and Stawell which were as far away from the city as Slaghtmanus.
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No one needs to look up the certificate for the Henry Wiliam Buchanan. It is nowhere near Cumber Lower.
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... When James Buchanan sailed on The Genghis Khan, he put his nationality as both 'Scottish and Irish'.
Now, back to dear Mary Norris and William Buchanan; their parents. William Buchanan in Beaufort named one of his sons Ernest Samuel, and Samuel was not known in his wife Matilda's family. Last year ago, one of my super sleuth researching cousins on another side of my family, gave me the following details of an Irish certificate.
Name: Henry William Buchanan
Marriage: 26 March 1866, Ireland
Father: Samuel Buchanan
Spouse: Mary Jane Norris
Maybe this means something if this marriage was around Cumber Lower or nearby, in consideration that Mary Norris married our William Buchanan. If there is any birth certificate around Cumber Lower with a Samuel Buchanan and an Alexander Buchanan, then they may be relatives. Maybe our Mary Norris had the middle name of Jane as well.
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William Henry Buchanan married Mary Jane Norris
marriage (1866) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGD2-TRJ
Children-
Mary Jane (1867 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPW6-BQ8
Ada Georgina (1868 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FP8G-XV6
Wilhelmina (1870 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPYN-L49
Isabella (1872 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5FQ-QPY
George Ferdinand (1874 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPTJ-TH9
Eucline (1876 Limerick) https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5FQ-QPY
Above details typed out before last post :-\
The Buchanans, like many of their neighbours, would have called themselves Scotch Irish or Ulster Scots so it's not surprising to see nationality as Irish and Scottish, even if the Scottish-born ancestor was back quite a few generations.
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The letter from Elizabeth Brown (Buchanan) to Victorian Police/Post has arrived. No matter how it is scanned, the letter uses up too much memory to post. The contents of the letter are as follows. The handwriting is very legible copperplate and matches the style of the signature of Elizabeth's brother William Buchanan on James' marriage certificate in 1876.
Mingo Ohio
Dec 31 1893
To the post master of Melbourne Austraillia
Dear Sir
As I have brother's in that country some where as I don't know which part they are in I take this means to try and find out from you. they went their between thirty and forty years a go from Landaire North of Ireland and their names are Robert, William, and James Bauchannan (Beaucaninan) if you do not know them would you be kind enough to look at your directory and try and find out if they are in that part of Austraillia and if they are would you be kindenough to give this letter to them and oblige their sister and I will be ever so thankfull to you
Mrs Elizabeath Brown any word I will be thankfull received
Directione is
Mrs Elizabeth Brown or you can send it to my son Robert Brown
Mingo Junction
Jefferson Co. ohio
America
I have included all the mistakes in spelling and grammar, as written in the letter.
I have also had phone contact with the GGGrand daughter of the Robert Buchanan in Beaufort who claimed land in 1865 with a George Buchanan and our James Buchanan at Trewalla. You can look at some information about this Robert Buchanan by Googling 'Robert Buchanan and Janet Bruce, Beaufort'. This lady grew up in Beaufort and knew of James and William Buchanan. She said that she believed that James was her GGGrandfather Robert Buchanan's cousin. She will look back at all her information and get back to me on this. This Robert Buchanan's father's name was also Robert Buchanan and his mother's name is illegible on any records. He arrived in Melbourne in May 1853 from Scotland, with James Buchanan arriving in Melbourne in July 1853. I hope that I will have more information on this soon.
James Buchanan put his usual place of residence in 1876 on his marriage certificate to Mary McGuire as 'near Horsham'. Horsham is quite a distance away from Beaufort. James never went back. If there was a brother named Robert, then it is possible that this Robert was in Horsham. Horsham was, back then, also an area for gold exploration.
I am still trying to scan the large document I have on the Buchanans in Beaufort. The new printer is not cooperating.
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I have the following information which may relate to Jane's sister Elizabeth Brown, nee Buchanan and a son of her's named Robert Brown.
Emigration from Ireland 21 September 1852 Ship: The Superior From Londonderry to Philadelhia Elizabeth Buchannon Age 20 From Scotland/Ireland. There is no Dennis Brown travelling with this Elizabeth.
I have an emigration record for another Dennis Brown, aged 21 on the ship The Bark Zone Hope on 8 June 1853 from Glasgow to Philadelphia on 8 June 1852. This Dennis is listed as a Labourer and Irish. There is no Elizabeth Brown on the ship with him. This record comes from the Public Records Office, Ireland
Census, United States of America, 1920
Robert J. Brown
Age: 60
Born: c. 1860
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Address: Commercial Street, Mingo Junction, Jefferson, Ohio
Spouse: Isabella Brown, age 49 (Born West Virginia)
Father's birthplace: Ireland
Mother's birthplace: Ireland
Also resident in the house: Emma Brown, daughter, 21 years.
Census, United States of America 1910
Steubenville, Jefferson , Ohio
Robert Brown, 56
Isabella Brown 39
James Brown 20
Elizabeth Brown 18
Mary N. Brown 14
Emma A. Brown 12
Elisabeth B. Brown 80
Steubenville is very close to Mingo Junction in Jefferson County, Ohio
Emma Brown, the daughter of this Robert and Isabella Brown was born on 4 Feb 1898 and died on 22 October 1990 in Jefferson, Ohio. She married a Paul Hartmann, and, had two daughters that I could locate, these being Mabel, aged 16 in 1940 and Mary, aged 10 in 1940.
Thankyou aghadowey for the information on the marriage of a Dennis Brown and Elizabeth Buchanan in 1852. Yes, this lady's father is listed as John. I have a baptism record for an Elizabeth Buchananan on 21 September 1823 in the Parish of Banagher, County Derry, Church of Ireland, whose father is John Buchanan and whose mother is Mary.
I have two cousins going off to speak to our most senior cousin at Easter. She does not hear too well on the phone. She knows the most about the Buchanans in Ireland. Hopefully, more will be revealed. This senior cousin is adamant that a couple of Buchanans in the family in Jane's and James' and William's generation moved to America.
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Hi Christine,
I find all of this information very interesting as I was looking to research this side of my mothers/grandmothers family. I am the great grandson of William (b 1837 or is it 1832? d1923) & Matilda Buchanan (nee Walton b1849 Manchester). William arrived in Melbourne in 3/11/1857 on the ship "Melbourne" from Liverpool, he was listed on ships passenger list as a labourer, a Presbyterian & could both read & write, he was contracted to work for a Neil Campbell from 13/11/1857 located at Deep Creek. they were married in Ballarat 20/6/1870. They had 7 children, Mary b1871,d1873 (named after Williams' mother & sister?)Emma Phillips, (named after Matildas' sister) Annie May, William Thomas, Ernest Samuel, Herbert John & Elizabeth Mary my grandmother & no doubt named after Williams sister Elizabeth.
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Hello Ian and thank you for your information.
I also had William coming to Australia in 1857 on the Melbourne, but was not certain whether it was him. William's photo has always had the date 1856 on it. Here is William's obituary
We regret to record the death of Mr. William Buchanan one of the pioneer businessmen of Beaufort. The sad event took place at his residence in Market Square on Easter Monday. He was a resident of this town for over 60 years and a Victorian colonist for 67 years. He had reached the ripe age of 88 years and death was due to senile asthemia. He retained all his faculties to the last and until a few weeks ago was an active man for his years. The late Mr. Buchanan as a native of Slough Manus Londonderry Ireland and landed in Victoria in 1856 being attracted by the goldfields like many of his enterprising compatriots. For many years he was in business as a blacksmith and the establishment is still being carried on by his sons. Deceased was respected by all who knew him or had business dealings with him and was a capable tradesman. He was of a kindly disposition and endowed with a ready wit and keen sense of humour. He was married in Ballarat when 35 years of age and his wife predeceased on three months ago. The deceased leaves two sons and three daughters to mourn their loss. The sons are Messrs. ES and HJ Buchanan (Beaufort) and his daughters Mesdames W Ballantyne (who resides in the Mallee) TE Sands (Clyde) and W Johnston (Melbourne). the funeral took place on Tuesday and was attended by many representative residents of the town and district the remains being interred in the Beaufort Cemetery. The coffin-bearers were Messrs. G Pringle, WJ Stevenson, R Ward and Wm. Miller the pall-bearers being Messrs. GH Cougle, JB Cochran, Jas, Prentice C Morvill, W Dixon and A Duncan. The Presbyterian burial service was read by the Rev. JP McDougall MA and the IOR service by Mr. Geo. PRingle (Sec. of the local Tent) Messrs Sands and Johnsons undertakers Beaufort carried out the mortuary arrangements.
I also have a lot of information on Matilda. It is the oddest coincidence that Matilda was a cousin of John McGuire who was James Buchanan's wife Mary McGuire's father. John McGuire and his wife Anne (Nancy) and their children lived at Waterloo. Matilda came from either Salford in Manchester or from the next suburb. Both John McGuire and either Matilda, or her cousin Matilda, lived at 3 Greengate Street, Salford. John McGuire was living on Greengate Street, Salford as well. I wonder whether you know anything about the McGuires and the Waltons in Salford and Liverpool? It was through Matilda Buchanan that James Buchanan met his wife Mary McGuire. I have Matilda's sister Emma's marriage certificate, kindly given to me by another relative. Your dear William Buchanan was a tea totaller and very involved in the Presbyterian church.
William's oldest son William jnr went to the Boer War and died only a few years afterwards. He was totally broken in his health. Now I do remember some of William's children's families ending up in Violet Town. Do you know whether the George Buchanan in Beaufort at that time was a relative? He ended up in Violet Town as well. William's family in Beaufort were very well respected. The house William and Matilda lived in is still there, although it has been altered quite a bit. His son Ernest's home is still there as well and quite unaltered. It needs renovation.
Do you know from where the Buchanans came in Scotland. I know they came from somewhere around Loch Lomond, but I don't know the name of the town. Actually, one of James Buchanan's grandsons married a Kerr from Victoria. It is such a pity that this information about Scotland seems to be missing from the family history. I know it is there somewhere. I just have to find it. I am waiting for information from my senior cousin. Maybe someone in your side of the family knows.
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Ian,
I forgot to mention. William and Matilda's son Herbert was killed in a bad car accident in the early 1960s.
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Hi Christine
I will digest information & come back you in next few days, I have a few old photos of William, Matilda & their children, I will scan them & post, appreciate if you have any information or photos on William & Matilda.
One thing I need to check is Williams age, I have as 1837 which made him 33 when he married in 1870, however his marriage certificate could be age 38 as it's difficult to read & it's like a 3, is there somewhere I can check birth certificate?
Just out of my interest which line of the family are you from ?
Regards
Ian
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Thank you Ian,
William Buchanan was baptised on 22 September 1832 in Cumber Lower Parish in Londonderry. His parents lived at Highmoor in Cumber Lower Parish.
Did you see the photos of William I posted a couple of weeks ago? Unfortunately, some of them don't scan too well at all. I usually have them copied on special equipment from prints I have and they copy beautifully.
Please take your time with this. The information about William, Matilda, James, the McGuire, Agnew, and Jones families from Beaufort is very complex to sort out. They were all interrelated in Beaufort, either as relatives or neighbours.
I am the GG Granddaughter of James Buchanan. I will post more info on William and Matilda soon. I remember Matilda's father being a Miner which was a very good reason for him to leave Manchester. There were a lot of children in her family. I have some vague memory of one of William and Matilda's children moving to Queensland. You may know more.
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Hi Christine
nice to chat to you other day about Buchanan family history, thank you for photos
so that other family members can view photos I will attach one by one
1. Buchanan family 30 Dec 1901 attached, my nana is Elizabeth Mary on left
Regards
Ian
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Thank you Ian for the photo. There are still members of my family in this generation who look like William Buchanan (minus the beard), your dear Elizabeth and little Matilda May.
In relation to Elizabeth Buchanan who is Jane, William and James' sister (and possibly an elusive Robert's sister), I have the following information for the family of the Elizabeth Brown (nee Buchanan) in Mingo Junction, Jefferson County who may be our Elizabeth Buchanan in America.
The American Elizabeth Brown's (nee Buchanan) son Robert J. Brown is buried in the Oakland Cemetery, Steubenville, Ohio. His date of birth is given as 14 February 1854, Pennsylvania. His date of death is given as 14 March 1941. His widow Isabella's date of death is 11 September 1964 and she is also buried in the Oakland's Cemetery. I have her birth as 1871 in Wheeling, West Virginia, and her maiden name is listed on records as either Burchett or Burkett. IN 1940 they were living at Ward 3 in Mingo Junction, whatever that means.
This Robert and Isabella Brown's son James M. Brown is listed as being born on either 30 October 1888 (burial record) or 27 October 1888 (US Census) at Mingo Junction, Jefferson County. He died on 22 June 1938 at Proviso, Cook County, Illinois and was buried at the Oaklands Cemetery, Steubenville. His occupation, Stationary Engineer. He lists his father Robert Brown (US Census) as born in New Jersey. His wife was a Ruth Brown. He served in the US Navy in WW1.
Steubenville has a very strong Genealogy Centre. Many people have left the area. The population is roughly around 16 to 19,000 at the moment. Unfortunately, I am not on the Irish records at the moment. I only had access to them for one month. Have to research elsewhere. May subscribe to the Irish records later.
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Hi Christine
didn't realise photo go sent, other 2 photos I will attach 1 by 1
Matilda & William's family c1890, my nana Elizabeth is 3yo,
I believe all the Buchanans had fair hair. indeed my mother & her brother Len were fair as well as my sister & self. No doubt the Norse ancestry.
Regards
Ian
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Hi Christine
this is last photo, of 3 daughters of William & Matilda Buchanan,
Regards
Ian
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I have read all the above posts and am fascinated. My Buchanan family stems from Limavady, Derry and I cannot find any trace of them. My 3 times grandfather is David Joseph Buchanan, Presbyterian born 1825 who was a British soldier who fought in the Crimean war in 1850. He returned to Ireland and married four times, converting to RC to marry his third wife. He had no children that I am aware of until he married Elizabeth Ridgeway from Co. Longford in 1877 and that's my Buchanan line. However, the photos uploaded on this link are uncanny, because they are so much like my family, yet the name David is not here. Would he have been disowned and written out of the family because he changed to RC? His father was also David Buchanan and his mother was Isabella McCutcheon. I would be so thrilled if I could solve this mystery.
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I should also add that my David Buchanan lived in Dublin, Ireland until he died in 1906.
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Hello DOBlake.
Thank you for your interesting post. I represent the Australian branch of the Buchanans, with my GGGrandfather James's sister Jane marrying Robert Sherrard. To be honest, I do not know whether you are related. On our side, as well as the side who immigrated to America, there is no David known as a name in the following generations. I cannot speak for anyone in Ireland.
Where I have researched since last posting information relates to trying to get back to Scotland. There is an interesting article written by a William Charles Reid in America. Look it up on Google. It is titled 'The Reids of Centreville, New Brunswick'. It discusses a marriage between an Elizabeth Buchanan to a Reid, and that the Buchanans were in Northern Ireland at around 1789. This fits, as my James Buchanan's father was born in Landaire (a corruption in spelling of Londonderry in about 1799-1801. A relative in America has his year of birth as 1799).
I believe, but have not confirmed, that this Reid family is related to our Buchanans. My James Buchanan took out land in Trewalla near Beaufort in 1865 next to a Robert Buchanan and a George Buchanan. Robert was the father of George. I am in contact with this Robert's GGranddaughter. This Robert came to Australia in 1853, at the same time my James arrived in Australia. This Robert and George immigrated from Dublin, Scotland, although it is not known whether they originated from Dublin. The connection is that this Buchanan family had a son whom they named Thomas Reid Buchanan. As far as I understand, this Robert Buchanan was related to my James Buchanan as a cousin. Certainly, my Buchanan relatives had contact with cousins in Scotland until the late 1950s/early 1960s. It is the Reid connection which links my Buchanans to Magheramore and Tamnaherin. I have also ascertained that my James Buchanan was born at Highmoor, Slaughtmanus. My Buchanans were definitely at Highmoor in 1825, and most likely there in 1820.
The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
I have isolated a relative in Magheramore and have his phone number. This is my next step. I tried to phone a last weekend, but I had the wrong area code. I am not familiar with Ireland. After that, I will be purchasing a month's worth of the Irish records and simply applying for any likely death certificate for a William Buchanan, husband of Mary Norris, who was the father of James, William, Elizabeth, Jane and the elusive Robert born c.1820. In the listings I have seen so far, there are about three William Buchanans who are potential candidates. The Buchanans live a long time.
I am interested to know which photos have similarities with your family of Buchanans. James and William Buchanan, the brothers who came to Australia, looked very different to each other. Some of William's children look a lot like his wife Matilda's family who came from Manchester.
I wish I could help you otherwise. If I find anything at all, even in the long term future, I will certainly be posting this information.
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Greetings, I am looking for any information that I can find on a Robert Sherrard born in Ireland (likely Northern) in (or about) 1806. He came to America and I can track him here. He was my great-great-great grandfather. He lived until 1894, and my great-grandfather, Roland Sherrard, whom I knew, knew him and spoke of him. Robert would most definitely had been a protestant, and possibly a Quaker, since when he arrived here in Chester County PA his children married into old Quaker families here since the 1680s, including the Hutton and Simcox (Simcocks) families who may also have come by way of Ireland, but a hundred years or more earlier, and the Darlington and Brinton families, who were English and came as Quakers to Chester County in the 1680s. I am related to all these families, and can trace them all back fairly well, but not the Sherrards. I cannot get beyond Robert. American Census records have him, in 1870, living in Chester County PA with his much younger wife Ruth Ann McCool (she was 45, and he was 64 then) with their 5 children, Joseph (19), William (17), Margaret (15), Ruth (13), and Samuel (10). Their son Joseph married Delia Brinton Darlington, and their son Joseph Roland Darlington Sherrard married Helen Simcox, daughter of Walker Speakman Simcox. The SImcocks family came to Quaker Cherster county in the 1680s, and the name Walker and Cheyney (Cheyny) appear often in that line as first names.
Any assistance you can give me in tracking down these relatives would be most helpful. Ruth Ann McCool was also born in Ireland, according to American Census records. I do not know if they married in Ireland, or when either of them came to the US, or if Ruth was a second wife, which could be possible considering the age difference between she and Robert Sherrard.
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Hello DOBlake.
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The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
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I would be wary of reading anything into a name such as Joseph. My family has ancestors from Limavady and Londonderry going right back to early 1800s and this family has always been very strongly Presbyterian, with occasional forays into Church of Ireland. The name came out to NZ and several descendants here, Church of England also have that name. You may miss out on valuable links if you do not keep an open mind about the names our ancestors used.
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Hello DOBlake.
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The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
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I haven't read back through all 7 pages but I'm totally puzzled by this reference to the name Joseph :-\
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Hello DOBlake.
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The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
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I haven't read back through all 7 pages but I'm totally puzzled by this reference to the name Joseph :-\
As I am. I thought perhaps it was perceived to be an Irish Catholic name hence my reply. My other ancestors had names such as Isaac one even Joseph Isaac. He has always been Presbyterian/CoI. Isaac is a popular Jewish name but he was not Jewish. The ironic thing is that this family has one occurrence of the name Buchanan as a second name which may be incorrect or may not be......
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But Joseph is a Biblical name (as is Isaac) and not confined to Catholics :-\
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But Joseph is a Biblical name (as is Isaac) and not confined to Catholics :-\
Yes agree.
Brings up some tips about searching for ancestors - expect the unexpected, don't be fanatical about spelling as these can change and keep an open mind about names and naming patterns.
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But my David Joseph Buchanan was either Presbyterian or Church of Ireland. He wasn't Catholics
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But my David Joseph Buchanan was either Presbyterian or Church of Ireland. He wasn't Catholics
Is that is response to this comment?
The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
If so, several of us are also puzzled by that remark. If the poster is implying that Joseph is a name used only by Catholics then she is incorrect.
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I have read all the above posts and am fascinated. My Buchanan family stems from Limavady, Derry and I cannot find any trace of them. My 3 times grandfather is David Joseph Buchanan, Presbyterian born 1825 who was a British soldier who fought in the Crimean war in 1850. He returned to Ireland and married four times, converting to RC to marry his third wife. He had no children that I am aware of until he married Elizabeth Ridgeway from Co. Longford in 1877 and that's my Buchanan line. However, the photos uploaded on this link are uncanny, because they are so much like my family, yet the name David is not here. Would he have been disowned and written out of the family because he changed to RC? His father was also David Buchanan and his mother was Isabella McCutcheon. I would be so thrilled if I could solve this mystery.
But my David Joseph Buchanan was either Presbyterian or Church of Ireland. He wasn't Catholics
Is that is response to this comment?
The problem with your David Joseph Buchanan in my branch of the family is the middle name Joseph. Due to the sentiments expressed in those days in my branch of the family, it is unlikely that there would be anyone in the family with the name Joseph.
If so, several of us are also puzzled by that remark. If the poster is implying that Joseph is a name used only by Catholics then she is incorrect.
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Are you trying to post a new message? if so, click on 'reply', type message in box (without quoting) then press on the post button :)