Donegore - Bryson-Wilson

[Gilby]

John Bryson of Ballybracken was married to Margaret Ballah.   I’ve just noticed the will of Elizabeth Ballah of Ballyvoy (1885) on PRONI.  It mentions her Bryson relatives, Wilson relatives and Ballah relatives.  It’s one of those really useful wills that will help tie several families together.

However, the second page of the will is partly missing.  Does anyone know if I was to view it at PRONI would it be legible or is part of the page simply missing?

[lmgnz]

I see that Elizabeth's brother James Ballagh of Ballyvoy notes that he had 7 sisters and a brother John. From Elizabeth's will at least two sisters married Wilsons and from James will it appears that one of John's  daughters ? Sarah or Hannah, married a Bryson.

[Gilby]

Yup.  I haven't got around to filling in all of the Ballah descendants yet, but I did find that not only did Elizabeth write an excellent will (for genealogists), she also erected a fantastic headstone which I recently saw in Donegore:

Erected
by
ELIZABETH BALLAH
of Ballyvoy
in memory of her grandparents
JAMES BALLAH
of Ballybracken, died 5th June, 1791
Aged 76 years
her grandmother MARY CRAIG
died 14th September, 1798
Aged 78 years
her father ROBERT BALLAH
of Ballyvoy, died 22nd September, 1821
Aged 68 years
her mother, AGNES BELL
died ?th March 1852
Aged 86 years.
Her brother, JAMES BALLAH,
of ballyvoy, died 8th October, 1859,
Aged 68 years.
Her sister JANE BUCHANAN,
of Ballymena, died 17th June, 1864
Aged 79 years.
The above named ELIZABETH BALLAH,
died 1st October 1885,
Aged 85 years.

Kudos to Elizabeth Ballah!

[Gilby]

Anne,

Just for the record, your father has shown up as a distant DNA match to my father.  If your ancestor Francis Ferguson (c1791-1886) was a son of John Ferguson of Fourmileburn or Samuel Ferguson of Standingstone, then your father would be a 6th cousin 2x removed of my father's.

It's all too distant to think of it as proof of anything, but it is interesting I think.  I'll send you an email.

Gilby

[AnneFerguson]

from Cemetries Department Newtownabbey  I got this information on Fergusons

They are all in Kilbride Old Cemetery:-
 
417
02/08/1906     42        SARAH FERGUSON
 
418
26/04/1902     59        ANDREW FERGUSON
 
419
22/08/1901     7          ANDREW FERGUSON
 
420
21/11/1905     76        MARY SCOTT FERGUSON
 
421
02/12/1910     ?          MARY J FERGUSON
25/09/1934     89        JOHN FERGUSON
14/01/1897     77        SAMUEL FERGUSON


According to some family letters and history I have come across the above resided at Balybracken. Further information:
John Ferguson of Doagh had two boys 1. Andrew 2. Sam
Sams's first marriage he had 3 boys, two went to Australia, the third son John  married a Wilson (aunt of Mrs Mahood and Bob Wilson)
Sam's second marriage was to Mary Scott Ferguson (whose first marriage was to Francis Ferguson) and their second marriage produced one son, Andrew who had 8 children
Mary Scott's first marriage to Francis Fergusn - they had 4 children, daughter Jenny married James Bryson, Nancy married McIlroy, Mary,  and William John (my great, great grandfather)
Not sure if relevant to anyone, I noticed the names Bryson and Wilson. The second marriages make it more complicated on the Ferguson side too.
Anne

[dathai]

possibly the above Mary J Ferguson died 3rd Dec 1910 Ballywee informant Samuel Mahood nephew
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1910/05414/4512822

[hallmark]

Does anyone know what became of Jemima?

Belfast Commercial Chronicle   , 12 Mar 1825   
On the 4th instant, Miss Jemima, third daughter of Mr. John Swan, of Killealy, in the parish of Killead, to Mr. James Bryson, of Drumall, in the county Antrim.

[AnneFerguson]

Yes, most likely the same Mary J Ferguson as recorded at Kilbride, thanks, Anne

[stevenson]

 ruthamy05.......I am unable to confirm information for you ......as you have not been online for many years I will still continue to look for you and yours.

hallmark...intresting find.....got me worried about Jemima.....think we need to find her.

Kudos to Elizabeth Ballah!....Hear Hear

Bryson - Wilson links to
Gardiner Alexander Stevenson Ballha Porter Neilson McMceekin Wilson Blain O'Neill etc etc