Neilson/Nelson & Johnston's from Garvagh-Aghadowey

[Granma Anne]

Mary Anne Neilson/Nelson (1860-1940) is my mother's paternal grandmother. Her parents were Joseph Neilson/Nelson (abt 1821-1883) & Jane Johnston (abt 1820-1894). Both were from Gortnamoyagh, Parish of Errigle, Londonderry.

Family knowledge shows that Joseph and Jane had 11 children while living in County Londonderry.  They were married in First Garvagh Presbyterian Church 11 Jan 1843-I have seen a copy of this entry-barely readable but it is them.

CHILDREN-all born in Derry:
James abt Nov 1843
David 25 May 1845 - Sep 1912
Wallace 15 Feb 1847 - 19 Jun 1825
Samuel abt 1849 - 12 Jun 1948
Elizabeth Jane abt 1851 - 31 Jan 1933
Catherine abt 1854 - 12 Jul 1918
John abt 1856 - 9 Oct 1927
Mary Anne abt 1860 - 17 Aug 1940
Joseph - Feb 1861 - 5 Oct 1937
Margaret Jan 1863 - Oct 1929
Thomas James abt. 1862- 5 Aug 1932 (correcting this date based upon 1891-1901 census  data)

The family moved to Scotland, thus the death entries were fairly easy to find as well as marriages by those that did marry.

Family records show that Joseph Nelson's parents were David Nelson & Jane Agnes Dobbins-the way the name Jane gets historically bounced around I wonder if it was a nickname. Jane Johnston's parents were James Johnston & Catherine Jane Currie. Currie is spelled this way on most of the records I have of Catherine Jane, though my eyes are always looking for the other spellings, Plus it was spelled Curr or Corr on one of the children's marriage certs. But, it definitely was Currie on Joseph's death record. I am descended from Mary Ann.

Can this information be confirmed?
Granma Anne

[jeanhemm]

In addition to 'Grandma Anne's' posting regarding Joseph Nelson of Gortnamoyagh/Gravagh/Caw - it would appear that Joseph had the following younger siblings:

Jane Nelson c 1826
Elizabeth Nelson c 1829
Peggy Jane Nelson c 1831
Cahtren Nelson c 1831
Willm Nelson c 1834
Thomas Nelson unk
David Nelson unk

I am descended from this line, my father was Joseph Nelson great grandson of Joseph Nelson who married Jane Johnston.  Most of the names mentioned have been carried down in the naming conventions with some Scottish variations.

[jeanhemm]

Joseph Nelson c 1821 and Jane Johnston c 1820 - Their daughter Elizabeth married Robert John Woodend in 1870 in the Parish of Erigal, Londonderry. 

They had two children - Sarah Jane and Robert John - both born in the Parish of Dalziel, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Jean

[aghadowey]

Joseph Nelson married 12 Jan.1843 1st Garvagh Presbyterian Church to Jane Johnston. Unfortunately pre-registration (1845) marriages don't give any other details.
Their daughter Elizabeth Nelson married in same church on 15 Dec.1870 to Robert John Woodend- both from Gortnamoyagh.
Have more details from local records.

[jeanhemm]

Joseph Nelson married 12 Jan.1843 1st Garvagh Presbyterian Church to Jane Johnston. Unfortunately pre-registration (1845) marriages don't give any other details.
Their daughter Elizabeth Nelson married in same church on 15 Dec.1870 to Robert John Woodend- both from Gortnamoyagh.
Have more details from local records.

Thanks for the marriage date of Elizabeth Nelson & Robert Woodend.  I have been searching records on the Internet without much joy.  As I live in Scotland it is quite difficult for me to go to the records office in Londonderry and so far I've not had a lot to go on as Johnston was and probably still is a common name in Ireland.  Although I found the Ulster Covenant of 1912, which was signed by over 980 people with the Nelson surname.  I can't imagine that were over 980 descendants from this family living in Ireland . 

The Nelson family left Ireland in the late 1860's - Elizabeth and Robert Woodend, Elizabeth's brothers James, David, Wallace and Samuel emigrated to Scotland appearing on the 1871 census living in King Street, Motherwell  the rest of the family followed at some point during the 1870's and appeared in the Parish of Dalziel on the 1881 census.  I was born in the Parish of Dalziel and my father was the great grandson of Joseph Nelson (c1821 in Gortnamoyagh) and he was named Joseph Nelson after his grandfather and great grandfather.

My Nelson ancestors started with Joseph Nelson c1821 , his father David and grandfather who I believe was also known as David (late 18th early -19th century)-  a farmer I think.  Granma Anne posted some information at the start of this chat, can you confirm that it is correct?  It would be wonderful to actually have confirmation that this is the family that I am descended from.

Would you have any information relating to Joseph's siblings - Thomas, David, Jane, Elizabeth, Pegey Jane, Cahtren and William?

Once again thanks for the Woodend & Nelson marriage details.

Jean

[Granma Anne]

Hi Agahadowey!

I'm sure both Jeanhemm and I would be greatly interested in any other additional details you may have gleaned from the parish records. It appears we are both connected to Joseph and Jane through their children MaryAnn and Joseph.  Each of us has chunks of information passed down through the family and we have been able to fill in much of the forward stuff. We both would like to  get confirmation of some of the "gray area" data i.e., correct birth dates for Jane and Joseph's children.

Plus we know it would be a big stretch to try and find Joseph and Jane's birth dates.

As you know working on all of this sometimes means moving in fractions and when you get an inch you are elated.

Thank you for your assistance.
Granma Anne

[aghadowey]

Did a bit of digging in 1st Garvagh records last night. Unfortunately Nelsons were not a family I extracted from the original records and am relying on information posted on Bann Valley site for the Visitation records. Data is full of all sorts of horrible errors so it all needs to be checked, but here goes...

1840 Visitation- Gortnamoyagh- David Nelson, Margaret, Joseph, David, Eliza, Catherin, Peggy Jane.
This list makes sense (i.e. Joseph b.c1821, Eliza c1829, Catherin c1831, Peggy Jane c1831). David's wife (I presume it is his wife) listed as Margaret. David Nelson supposed to be married to Jane Agnes Dobbins. Perhaps she died and David married again- more in a bit.
Next two households are listed as Dabbin (original needs to be checked). Possibly David Nelson came to Gortnamoyagh at the time of his marriage?

1796 Visitation not Nelsons at Gortnamoyagh but there are Nelsons at Tamneymore (not far away).

Now, there are 2 marriages in 1st Garvagh (these I have from the original):
David Nelson m.1840 Margaret Woods and
David Nelson m.1849 Margaret Johnston.

Also in 1840 at Gortnamoyagh are James Johnson, Kitty, Eliza, Jenny, James, Wallace, Kitty, Mary Ann, William, Margaret. Joseph & Jane (Johnston) Nelson had a son Wallace, so the Jenny listed in 1840 could be Jane Johnston.

I also copies from the receords several Nelson marriages (all with father named David so not easy to sort out):
Ellen m.1860 John Roxborough
John m.1873 Margaret A. Hutchinson
Mary Anne m.1876 Alex. Chambers
George m.1876 Fanny Anne Dunlop (this is in Moneydig Presbyterian Church)
Margaret m.1880 William McConnell (Aghadowey Presbyterian Church)
William m.1883 Martha Jane Ritchie.

Maybe one, or both, of you will be able to sort some of these Nelsons out better.

[jeanhemm]

Hi Aghadowey

Thank you for all your hard work, however if you can confirm any of the following I'd be floating in the air

Gortnamaigh (Gortnamoyagh)

Entry 313
David Nelson Junr
Jane Nelson
Joseph Nelson
Thos Nelson
David Nelson

Entry 317

David Nelson (Snr)
Margaret Nelson
Joseph Nelson
Isabella Nelson

Garvagh Visitation List August 1825

This would be the family I am looking for - I believe this is my Joseph - the son of David Nelson and Jane Agnes Dobbins - I have this information from his death certificate.

I think that the close proximity of these two entries connect the family when one is David senior and the other David Jnr  - Father and Son and David Jnr also has a son David.

Garvagh  Visitation List August 1840 Part 2

Still in Gortnamaya
checking entries FO74

Joseph Nelson (is this David Jnr's Brother)
Betty (Johnston) (was she previously married to Unk Scott)
Scott Nelson 

Entry F076
David Nelson  (is this David Jnr)
Margaret (wife )(is this Margaret Woods)
Joseph (My gt gt grandfather)
David   (married Margaret Johnston)
Eliza 
Catherin   
Peggy Jane 

1796 Garvagh Visitation List

Tamny more

There are three Nelson females living in Tamny-more

Entry 302
1451 Cathren Canning (is this David Snr - Married Sister) (we have no idea of age to make any sort of judgement)
1452 Mary Nelson (is this David Snr mother, Aunt Sister)

Isabella NELSON (is this David Snr Sister - Aunt, Mother)
Mary Nelson  (is this David Snr Sister - Aunt, Mother)

(No numbers with this one - below the first)

[aghadowey]

Joseph Nelson m.1829 at 1st Garvagh to Elizabeth Scott.

1st Garvagh baptisms show several children born to David & Margaret Nelson: Robert, 2nd child, born 15 May 1843, John born 19 Feb.1846.
There is also a Jane Isabella born 1 July 1863 but she might belong to another David & Margaret.

Visitations- could David Nelson Sr & Margaret be same as David Nelson & Margaret in 1840? Perhaps David (Jr) & Jane Agnes had died sometime between 1825-1840?.

Unfortunately it is difficult to be sure of families from the other information available.

Came across the following marriage at Second Garvagh (Main St.) Presbyterian Church: 14 Feb.1884 Thomas Nelson, full age, bachelor, farmer, Belle Centre Logan Co Ohio, son of David Nelson, farmer, to Eliza Cassidy, full age, spinster, Ballyagan, dau. of Henry Cassidy, teacher. Witnesses: Henry A. Cassidy, Hester Cassidy.

Thomas and Eliza might have gone to U.S. after their marriage- perhaps passenger list would yield further details.