Help with townland Gortcorbery & Sherrard Family

[SherrardMLS]

Greetings from the USA-
My grandfather, Robert Andrew Sherrard was born March 21, 1896 to William John & Elizabeth (Dickson) Sherrard in Gortcorbery townland.   Gortcorbery should be near Limavady or Coleraine.  I have not been able to find any information on Gortcorbery but have found a Gortcorbies.  I would appreciate any information on either Gortcorbery or the Sherrard family which you believe may be helpful.  My grandfather immigrated to the US c1910 via Canada I believe and settled in Michigan.  He served in WW1 in the United States Army.  I remember as a teenager visiting a Presbyterian Church in Coleraine(?)with an inscription honoring my grandfather. 

thank you so much for any help you can offer me~
Marylou

[aghadowey]

Marylou- First of all, welcome to Rootschat.

Townland of Gortcorbies is in parish of Drumachose (near Limavady) & there are lots of Sherrards in that area. Gortcorbies means something like "garden of the yellow round hill" and was under the London company of Haberdashers.

William John Sherrard m.1889 in Co. Derry to Elizabeth Dickson. Sorry the index didn't have an exact date of place.

Family more likely to attend a church near Limavady- what you remember is probably the Roll of Honour listed ones from that congregation who were killed or served in the war.

[maryderry]

marylou, looked at griffiths valuation for drumachose co derry 1858-59. two sherrard, william .catherine street newtown limavady. william. market house street newtown limavady.
 found this on bivri. wondered if she was your elizabeth.   elizabeth mary dickson. dob 19-6-1872. place of birth city of derry. parents thomas dickson and  jane johnson.

                                     happy new year to you and yours. mary.

[SherrardMLS]

Thank you so much to you both for helping me.  I just found a letter of my grandfather's in which he wrote about visiting Limavady and remembering his youth in Limavady.  (I had thought he grew up in Coleraine but I was wrong.)  I really appreciate the information you have both shared with me.  I cherish my Irish heritage.  It continues to bring a unique richness into my family. 
Happy new year to you!   

[JKK]

Marylou, I just ran across your 30 December 2006 entry regarding your grandfather, Robert Andrew Sherrard, born March 21, 1896 near Limavady, Ireland. I suspect that your grandfather may very well be a relative of Robert Andrew Sherrard, born in the U.S. on May 4, 1789 who was my great-great-great grandfather on my mother's side.
My R.A.S. ancestor was the son of John Sherrard (born 1750) and Mary Cathcart (born 28 September 1751) who emigrated to the U.S. from Newtown Limavady, Ireland. John Sherrard's father was William Sherrard (born 1720) and mother was Margaret Johnston. This line of Sherrards is related to the Sherrards of Steubenville, Ohio although my closest Sherrard relatives now live in the Helena, Ohio area.
 
Any chance that our family trees are connected? I'd also be interested in what your grandfather recalled about Limavady as a young man. Here's hoping that you eventually get this. Thanking you in advance for a reply.

John

[Tees]

Found this marriage registration:

William John Sherra married Elizabeth Dickson on 23 Oct 1889 in Maghera Presbyterian Church in the Parish of Maghera, in the district of Magherfelt in Co Derry (Londonderry).

You can use this information to order a marriage certificate from either GROs (General Register Office) in Roscommon, Ireland or Belfast, NI.

Cheers,

Tees

[SherrardMLS]

Dear JKK-
Sorry it has taken me so long to post.  I only know of my family who emigrated  to the US via Canada in 1916.  The Sherrards eventually settled in Michigan.  I have no history of my family as far back as you do.  I don't know if our family trees are connected.  Unfortunately my grandfather has passed away years ago and with him are his stories other than vague happy memories we carry with us.

and dear Tees,
Thank you for your information as well.  I do appreciate your feedback.

[aghadowey]

JKK- Sherrard is a very common surname in the Limavady area and it would be extremely difficult to connect all of them.