HERONS of County Down

[Fransmoi]

Anyone descended from these HERONS of Ireland?

William Cowan HERON lived at Altafort, Skeogh about 3 miles from Dromore and erected the Cowan Heron Hospital there in 1898.
He died at Maryfield ,Holywood, County Down in June 1917.

Prior to this in the 1861 Belfast Street Directory of 1861 there is a John HERON at Maryfield - his father ? In the prospectus of the Belfast & County Down Railway the shareholder list includes John Heron Esq,. Holywood.Director of the Ulster Banking Company.

And who was James HERON, Rosavo, Holywood also in 1861 Belfast Street Directory ?

By 1922 Francis (Frank) Adens Theadore HERON aged 32 is a member of the Indian Police and married to our great aunt Elizabeth Sophia Cameron ROSS at Dalmeny Gardens nr Edinburgh,the home of her brother.

On the marriage certificate of Oct 4 1922 his usual residence is Maryfield, Holywood ,County Down, Ireland and his parents named as Francis Adens Heron ( gentleman !) and Mary Martin Heron nee Smith.

Frank had been posted to  Lahore 1913 thenhe and Bessie lived in  Delhi or New Delhi where he became the chief of Police.

Any information about these Herons would be much appreciated.

On my searches I found a Francis HERON chief trader of the Hudsons Bay Co, Red River Settlements in Rupertland 12 Aug 1840. Perhaps this can be of help to someone.

Frances,
Inverness.SCT.

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Heron [Co Down] family trees exist in the Blackwood Family history manuscript trees in LinenHall library, Belfast. The Volume references are 23p1 Greenfield, 25, 29, 31, 42T, 45, 75, 86 Reid.
 I suggest you ask them for photocopying estimates if they think your knowledge relevant and be prepared to pay the extra for post and packing. However if the material is really relevant when you get it, I suggest a further donation to this unique library that is always needing extra funds. Linen Hall Library,17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT15GB, Northern Ireland, Telephone: +44 (0)28 9032 1707,  Fax: +44 (0)28 9043 8586, Email:info[at]linenhall.com.
Good hunting Jim

[Fransmoi]

Very grateful for this excellent informaton, Jim. I'm fairly sure Bessie & Frank Heron had no children so a backward look at their line will suffice unless I find them on a UK census or India site.
Cheers,
frances.

[aghadowey]

Going through older posts and came across this one. By now you might have been able to find more information but if you haven't done so the following might be of interest.

PRONI now has Will extracts online (www.proni.gov.uk) and searching for Heron + Maryfield brings up 5 items: Sarah Heron d.1867, John Heron d.1870, Mary Heron d.1913, John Heron d.1917, William Cowan Heron d.1917 (the last 2 at least mention a Francis A. Heron). It might be searching just the surname in the extracts and checking all entries.
PRONI also have 1912 Ulster Covenant database (click on link to view signatures).

Another new site is 1911 census for Co. Antrim and Co. Down which were put online (free) a few days ago:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search 

[Newgent_for_life]

Anyone descended from these HERONS of Ireland ?
And who was James HERON, Rosavo, Holywood also in 1861 Belfast Street Directory ?

Dear Fransmoi,
The following may be of interest to you.

James Heron of Rosavo, Cultra, County Down was the second son of John Heron of Maryfield, Holywood, County Down who was the third son of Francis Heron, of Ardigon, Killyleagh, County Down. James, as you correctly mention, was a Director of Ulster Bank. He was baptised 15th. May, 1816, m. 25th. April, 1848, Nerissa Rosavo (ob. 7th. November, 1904), only daughter of Charles Hutton, of Rosavo, County Dublin, ob. 1st. November, 1868, having had issue. Rosavo was eventually sold and in recent times was a nursing home. More recently and sadly it had its name changed to Richmond Private Nursing home.

Yours, etc.,  Newgent_for_Life.

[Newgent_for_life]

Anyone descended from these HERONS of Ireland ?
On the marriage certificate of Oct 4 1922 his usual residence is Maryfield, Holywood ,County Down, Ireland and his parents named as Francis Adens Heron ( gentleman !) and Mary Martin Heron nee Smith.

Dear Frances,
Another piece of information with ref to the above.

Francis Adens Theodore, of Maryfield, Holywood, County Down; DL., JP, b. 26th April 1849, was the son of James of Rosavo. He married 1st. 28th April, 1874, Charlotte Amelia (ob. 18th. July, 1875, aged 22), dr. of John Langtree, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and had issue;
1a.  Charlotte Amelia, b. 5th. July, 1875; osp. 5th. June, 1945. Francis A.T. Heron m. 2ndly. 1st. August, 1876, Mary ( ob. 15th. October, 1929), dr. of David Smyth, of Jesson, Bengal, and ob. 2nd. May, 1939 having by her had issue as their second son;
2a.  Francis Adens Theodore, OBE, Ind. Police Service.

Etc., Newgent.
Frances,
Inverness.SCT.

[Fransmoi]

Thank you all for such excellent information !
Frank Heron as we knew him and grt Aunt Bessie on their return from India died within months of each other in Scotland.  He in Loanhead on 18th Jan 1950 and Bessie while on holiday at my maternal Grandmother's house in Elgin on 24 May 1950. Gran had died and Bessie took the house for a time though their home was in Esher ,Surrey.
Frances.

[kingskerswell]

An item of passing interest regarding the Francis Heron mentioned in the first posting. It is taken from the Londonderry Sentinel of 25 Apr 1840.

Francis Heron of the Hon. the Hudson Bay Company died at Prospect Hill Co Donegal on the 11th inst.
Mr. Heron Emigrated from Ramelton in 1811 aged 17 years and worked his way up to become proprietor of the Hudson Bay Company. He died in his 40th year leaving a widow and a young family.

There are several Herons mentioned, mainly associated with Presbyterian Ministers.

Regards

[Newgent_for_life]

Dear Fransmoi,
Are you aware that the family you are researching in County Down originally came from Galloway. For a complete genealogy family tree refer to Burke's Irish Family Records, 1976 edition. For a broader look at the family, refer to "History of the Lands and Their Owners in Galloway",  by P.H. McKerlie, 1878, (vol iv). The Heron lands are near to Wigtown.

Yours, etc.,  Newgent.