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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: Misha77 on Monday 02 June 14 11:32 BST (UK)

Title: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Monday 02 June 14 11:32 BST (UK)
SIMPSON, Robert, b. abt 1835.  Married to Mary Millar or ?Agnes Mary Millar.  Know he had a son, William, who was living in Greenock with his wife and family from 1891 [my forebear].  I know Robert was a station master at Limavady and not much else.  He was probably still alive in 1914 [I think but I am not sure].  If anyone has any knowledge on railways or local history Limavady and can help I would be appreciative.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: KGarrad on Monday 02 June 14 11:52 BST (UK)
Limvady station, and Limvady Junction were part of the Londonderry & Coleraine Railway.
Founded December 1852, and ran until almalgamation into the Belfast & Northern Counties Railway in the 1871.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_and_Coleraine_Railway#Belfast_and_Northern_Counties_Railway
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: kingskerswell on Monday 02 June 14 11:58 BST (UK)
Hi,
  This looks like him in 1901 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Myroe/Broighter/1523570/.
 As he lived in Myroe I found a marriage in Myroe Presbyterian Church on 23 Mar 1865 of Robert Simpson to NANCY MILLER.

Regards
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: kingskerswell on Monday 02 June 14 12:03 BST (UK)
Hi,
  Further to my reply above, the townland of Broighter would imply that Robert was the station master at Limavady Junction which is about 4 miles north-west of the town of Limavady.

Regards
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Monday 02 June 14 12:11 BST (UK)
Thank you y'all - the Broighter address does seem favourite and I have checked the National Archive Census link - he has two daughters!  It is a shame his wife is not at home, I could have corroborated some of the information.  His son, William, [my great granda] always called his mother, Mary, but it doesn't mean that she didn't have some other name as well.  This is helpful advice, I will keep researching and if anyone finds anything else?..
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: gaffy on Monday 02 June 14 18:33 BST (UK)
Hi,
  This looks like him in 1901 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Myroe/Broighter/1523570/.
 As he lived in Myroe I found a marriage in Myroe Presbyterian Church on 23 Mar 1865 of Robert Simpson to NANCY MILLER.

Regards

Nice one, good spot.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: cyclamen on Tuesday 03 June 14 22:44 BST (UK)
You will find some information about this family on www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine
There is a posting in the Co Londonderry section from someone who is descended from Robert Simpson, station master.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: scotmum on Tuesday 03 June 14 22:49 BST (UK)
His son, William, [my great granda] always called his mother, Mary, but it doesn't mean that she didn't have some other name as well.  This is helpful advice, I will keep researching and if anyone finds anything else?..

Your first post also suggested the possibility of Agnes Mary. 'Nancy' and 'Agnes' were frequently inter-changed.

 http://www.rootschat.com/links/011ta/  will take you directly to the page with the post cyclamen mentioned. It starts:

Quote
Meg Willis - Mar '07
My great grandfather was called Robert Simpson and he was the station master at Broighter in the second half of the 1800s into early 1900s. His father William was also a station master but I dont know where. Robert and family lived in Station House and his 3rd wife, who was my grandmothers mother was postmistress in Myroe I think. She was called Agnes Torrens. I have just found out his first wife was called Nancy Miller and they were married in Myroe Presbyterian Church in 1865. Her father was James Miller of Carryclare...

and also mentions:

Quote
he remarried in 1871 in Ballykelly Presbyterian Church to Ann Jane Hutchison
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Wednesday 04 June 14 00:18 BST (UK)
I haven't worked out how to use the icons or I would have a wide row of smiley faces right this minute.  I am just delighted at this information.  It has been so hard to find details.  I did wonder if he had remarried but I could not be sure.  I did not know that Nancy was a form of Agnes.  I have lived and learned..thank you everyone and if you find out anymore.  All the very best, Misha.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: kingskerswell on Wednesday 04 June 14 08:32 BST (UK)
Hi,
   A little further info. Robert Simpson married Ann Jane Hutchison on 19 Sept 1871 in Ballykelly Presbyterian Church. Robert later married his third wife, Agnes Torrens, on 2 May 1882 in Limavady First Presbyterian Church. He had at least three children with Ann Jane Hutchison, Eliza on 8 Sept 1872, Mary Jane on 14 Feb 1874 and Emily Neely Simpson on 11 Aug 1877.

Regards
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: dathai on Wednesday 04 June 14 09:37 BST (UK)
Marriage Jan March 1882 Limavady vol 1 page 745
Robert Simpson match Agnes Torrens
1901 Census of 15 Lomond,Myroe,Londonderry
Agnes Simpson age 49 married ,Postmistress.
William age 80 father in law
Robert 14
Annie 12
Hilda 10
Sarah 8
Evaline 6
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: dathai on Wednesday 04 June 14 14:27 BST (UK)
1911 Census of Carrickhugh,Faughanvale,Londonderry shows
Robert Simpson age 65 General labourer married 29 years so circa 1882 7 born 7 alive
Agnes Simpson age 59
I cannot find a match in Londonderry in 1901 for this couple so it is possibly them though the children alive contradicts this.
There are deaths registered in Limavady circa 1907/1909 for most of the names similar to what i listed living with Agnes in 1901 with the exception of Hilda,There is a birth in Limavady for a Matilda Philip Simpson in 1890 which could possibly be Hilda's birth and there does not seem to be a death as Matilda either.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Wednesday 04 June 14 22:49 BST (UK)
Thank you for the details, Dathai.  It makes sense because it mostly fits the history of the family given by a descendant and contributor on 'Your Place or Mine' who described all of Robert's third family [except for two] dying in a short space of TB.  I had very little to go on for this side of the family and now thanks to Roots Chat and the help received, I can go forward with my family research.  I always knew I had a fair bit of Northern Irish blood but it's good to put some personality to it. 
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: dathai on Thursday 05 June 14 09:28 BST (UK)
Re ''Your Place or Mine''
It looks like i was right about Hilda surviving.
Marriage in Limavady April June 1915 Vol 1 page 917
William Fallace match Matilda P Simpson
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: kingskerswell on Thursday 05 June 14 09:52 BST (UK)
Hi,
   A bit more on Dathai's find. William Fallace married Matilda Simpson on 15 June 1915 in Myroe Presbyterian Church.

Regards
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: dathai on Thursday 05 June 14 09:58 BST (UK)
and a birth in Limavady in 1917 of William Simpson Fallace.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: dathai on Thursday 05 June 14 14:48 BST (UK)
I think they may have moved to Glasgow.
I googled the name William Fallace and was directed to a message board that states descendants in America but also mentions a posting by Meg Willis giving some of the above details plus William died Glasgow 1925.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Thursday 05 June 14 17:02 BST (UK)
It seems like Robert Simpson and Agnes Torrens [postmistress] kept two establishments - he at Broighter, Myroe - I suppose to fulfil his role as station master.  The 1901 census has him living there with two daughters - possibly by his second marriage.  Meg Willis mentioned that his daughters by his second marriage went to Scotland.  William Simpson [his son] was living in Greenock but there was a family memory of his having a connection at Gourock - I will chase that up because one or other of his sisters may have lived there.  I cannot believe my good fortune.  I have had a year of total frustration.  Neither I nor other family connections could find out very much about the family and now look.. I am really happy about all this help.  I have posted an answer to Meg on 'Your Place or Mine' because, well, we're related aren't we?
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: kingskerswell on Thursday 05 June 14 18:57 BST (UK)
Misha,
         "Your Place and Mine" is a radio program on BBC Radio Ulster on Saturday mornings. The web site was attached to this program but I am not sure if the web site is still active.

Regards
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Friday 04 July 14 19:09 BST (UK)
Completed with thanks - many thanks indeed.  I have contacted my relative and we are just thrilled to discover the missing threads of our family.  We are swapping stories and photographs like anything.  It has been a great journey and I appreciate all the advice I have received.   
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: scotmum on Friday 04 July 14 20:12 BST (UK)
Great outcome!
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Baranailt-Tully on Thursday 29 January 15 15:17 GMT (UK)
Hi everyone

I myself I'm related to Simpson's in Ballykelly. William Simpson Station Master his brother John Simpson would be my 3Gr Grandfather, there father was Robert on the 1831 Census.
Is there any town records between 1740-1831?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: rembrandt on Sunday 31 May 15 10:35 BST (UK)
Hello
My gr grandfather was William Simpson stationmaster and his father William was also a stationmaster at Limavady or Ballykelly.  It seems your John was a brother to William and that their father was called Robert same as my gr grandfather.  I would be so pleased to have the source of your info. as I got stuck at William, my gr gr grandfather. Hope to hear from you and would v grateful.
Sincerely yours
Meg Simpson Willis
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: rembrandt on Tuesday 09 June 15 12:12 BST (UK)
Wondering if you received my post re Robert Simpson my gr grandfather and his dad William.  It seems we are linked and I would love to make contact with you Yours sincerely
Meg Simpson Willis
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: KGarrad on Tuesday 09 June 15 12:50 BST (UK)
If you make one more post, you will find that the Personal Message system is open to you.

So you can then send a PM! ;D

Just click on the "document" icon underneath the poster's name.
It's green if they are online; white if they're offline.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: rembrandt on Wednesday 10 June 15 16:57 BST (UK)
Hello again
My GR GR Grandfather was William Simpson stationmaster at Ballykelly and looks like he was brother to John Simpson your gr gr gr grandfather.  I would love to hear from you and share family information on the Simpsons.
Yours sincerely
Meg Simpson Willis
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Elwyn Soutter on Wednesday 10 June 15 17:26 BST (UK)
PRONI hold some staff records for the Northern Counties Committee (LMS) who operated  the railway from Belfast to Londonderry via Limavady Junction.

UTA/11/K/2 contains records for 1869 – 1903
UTA/11/K/3 contains the records for 1899 – 1911.

Typically it shows when people were moved from location to location, demotions and promotions, some disciplinary issues (mostly drink related, in my experience), their wages and why and when the person finally left the  company’s employment.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Baranailt-Tully on Thursday 11 June 15 23:26 BST (UK)
Thinks for info everyone, will look into it. A little tied up at present but will back to you soon Rembrandt!
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Misha77 on Tuesday 23 June 15 11:00 BST (UK)
Hello Baranait-Tully, would likewise appreciate any info you have on the family - have personal messaged you but I'm not sure it got through.  Hope to hear when you can.  All the best.
Title: Re: Station master at Limavady, County Londonderry
Post by: Baranailt-Tully on Tuesday 23 June 15 13:00 BST (UK)
Hi Misha77, sorry about the delay have now sent you a private message.