RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: McKeown on Wednesday 15 June 16 12:24 BST (UK)
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My GGGG Grandfather Joseph Irwin is listed as a Steward in his sons Marriage Certificate in 1862.
I presume this is a Land Steward and worked if for the owner of that land. Is there anyway of finding out if this is the case and what the land was that he worked?
I presume this was an important job, but hated by the natives that he possibly took the rent from.
Thanks again folks.
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ive looked on find my past records but cant see anything , have asked mods if this would be better served on the derry board of irish searches .
regards
trevor
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Thanks Trevor
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To clarify a few points here-
My GGGG Grandfather Joseph Irwin is listed as a Steward in his sons Marriage Certificate in 1862.
The marriage certificate will show the groom's address at the time of the marriage but this may not be the place he was born, raised or where his family was living at the time.
I presume this is a Land Steward and worked if for the owner of that land. Is there anyway of finding out if this is the case and what the land was that he worked?
I presume this was an important job, but hated by the natives that he possibly took the rent from.
Sometimes occupations were exagerrated- a labourer might be listed as a farmer, etc. In the case of a land steward, he might have looked after a small property for the owner/lessor and in other records might be shown with a different occupation such as farmer, etc. It would only have been an 'important' job if he was looking after a large estate. Not at all sure why you mean with the remark about being hated by the natives as you've no idea where he lived/worked and thus don't know anything about the tenants.
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There is an earlier marriage of a Margaret Jane Erwin, Carrickhugh in 1855, where her father Joseph is described as a land steward.
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Thanks guys.
When I made my remark I was thinking about the "WDYTYA" where the fella went back to Derry and his ancestor was a steward and was seen to be working for "the man" and not that all popular.
Thanks again. I have a copy of the marriage cert.
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There is an earlier marriage of a Margaret Jane Erwin, Carrickhugh in 1855, where her father Joseph is described as a land steward.
Carrickhue is certainly in the right area-
https://www.townlands.ie/derry/faughanvale/carrickhugh/
Possibly connection?
Coleraine Chronicle, 18 Feb.1865: At the residence of his father, on the 15th inst., Edward, fourth son of Mr. Joseph Irwin, Carrickhugh, aged 19 years.
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Thanks for this again. Busy in work, and another few projects for friends etc. Will get around to looking into this soon.
Invaluable. Thank you.
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I think that Margaret Jane Erwin might be one of mine. I will check this one out.
Thanks.
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I'm only seeing this thread now, and jumping on because Joseph Irwin (c1800-1897) was my 3 x great-grandfather. He died at Carrickhugh on 2 Feb 1897. I would be happy to hook up with McKeown, or any other Irwin family members and share what I know of the Irwins of Carrickhugh and the Irwins of Drumacarney, who I believe are related.
Joseph's daughter, Margaret Jane (Peggy) Irwin (1837-1904) was my 2 x great-grandmother. She married William John Ferguson at Ballykelly Presbyterian Church on 19 Apr 1855 and they had a large family (12 that I'm aware of) including my great-grandfather, Matthew William Ferguson (1873-1915).
William John Ferguson was also a Land Steward, as were one or two other members of my Ferguson family. I used to think that being a Land Steward meant managing one of the big landed estates like Drenagh, but I suspect the role may have been more akin to farm manager.
My granny, Maggie Irwin Ferguson (1906-1984) was born in Limavady but, after her father died (as the result of a work related accident on the Glasgow underground) her mother brought the children home to Limavady. I presume my great-granny must have struggled financially, as Maggie was then farmed out (through the Reformed Presbyterian Church) to live as a companion to an elderly lady and her brother on a farm near Hilltown, County Down, which is where she eventually met my granda, who she married in 1925.
Joseph Irwin's other known children were James, Joseph, Eliza Ann, Robert and Edward. Joseph junior(birth and death dates not known) married Eliza (surname and date of marriage unknown) and they had at least two children, yet another Joseph and Robert. The son Joseph (c1858-1894) married his first cousin, Nanetta (Nancy) Ferguson in Glasgow in 1892. She was the daughter of Peggy Irwin and W J Ferguson (my great-great-aunt). Joseph and Nancy came back to Limavady but unfortunately, Joseph developed Bright's Disease and died in January 1894, in Drumacarney. Nancy then moved back to live with her father in William Street Limavady, and died at Lisnakilly in 1924. Joseph's 1892 marriage certificate describes his father Joseph's occupation as Captain of Police, but I have not yet found any records to substantiate that, or whether he carried out that role in Ireland, Scotland, or somewhere else entirely.