Ferguson, Gortnessey & Cunningham, Primity

[canberraterry]

Greetings from Australia.

I am a beginner tracking down my family history, and I have just discovered that my Great Great Grandmother was a Jane Ferguson, who married Samuel John Cunningham in the Gortnessey Meeting Place on 17 February 1847. Thereafter the Cunningham family worshipped at Christ Church, Limavady.

Jane's father was Daniel Ferguson who had a farm at Gortnessey.

Samuel Cunningham had a farm at Primity.

I have no further information about Jane other than their children's names and (most) birthdays.

Can anyone offer any assistance with details of Jane or Samuel?

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   I find it odd that a family ,living in Primity which is at New Buildings, would travel all the way to Limavady to worship. A Samuel Cunningham certainly had a farm in Primity in the Griffith's Valuation and the two children born in 1867 and 1869 were both registered in Clondermot ie Londonderry. Distance is about 22 miles from Primity to Limavady.

Regards

[aghadowey]

PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk) lists the following which gives a Limavady connection-
"The Will of Samuel John Cunningham late of Primity County Londonderry Farmer who died 19 January 1889 at same place was proved at Londonderry by Jane Cunningham of Primity Widow one of the Executors." and "Double Probate of the Will of Samuel John Cunningham late of Primity County Londonderry Farmer who died 19 January 1889 granted at Londonderry to John Cunningham of Limavady in said County Auctioneer one of the Surviving Executors."

And for Ferguson, Gortnessy-
"Probate of the Will of William Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Farmer who died 14 August 1898 granted at Londonderry to William Doherty of Ardnaguinog Eglinton and John Payne of Avish Gortnessy both said County Farmers."
"Probate of the Will of John Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Farmer who died 15 November 1905 granted at Londonderry to Robert J. Curry and Alexander Buchanan Farmers."
"Probate of the Will of Martha Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Widow who died 1 April 1911 granted at Londonderry to Alexander Hall Farmer."

[canberraterry]

aghadowey,

Many many thanks for your response which has added another couple of pieces to the puzzle.

kingskerswell,

Thank you also for your interest. You raise a valid point which I can't really answer in respect of Samuel and Jane. As I understand it, Samuel bequeathed his farm to his oldest son, John, who then ceded the rights to it to his brother Andrew, (who subsequently sold it to the railways), so he could enter business in Limavady.

From what remains of the family memory, it appears that John moved initially into Catherine Street, and then to a property in Main Street (No 5?), which was then compulsorily acquired possibly due to historic significance. He then purchased both 6 and 8 Main Street together. He and his family lived in one, while the other was established as a school which was run by his elder daughter, Ada Cunningham, my Grandmother, until she married in 1913 and left Ireland to travel the world with her husband before settling in Australia in 1919.

My auntie met the son of the subsequent owner of the Main Street house here in Canberra where he had also settled some 20 or 30 years ago. Small world!

Thank you again for your interest and assistance. I am still very interested in more details of the Cunninghams and Fergusons if anyone has any information to offer.

[canberraterry]

kingskerswell,

I just noticed your interest in the Browne family. The John Cunningham mentioned above married Jane (aka Jeannie) Browne, daughter of John Browne and Margaret Rutherford Andrews. If this is the same family and if you are interested, I have some details of John and Jane's descendents (my family).

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   Many thanks but that is not my Browne. Are you aware that the 1901 and 1911 census are on line?
See www.census.nationalarchives.ie I have just been looking at the entries for Adeline Cunningham in Main Street Limavady.

Regards

[aghadowey]

Here's the Cunningham family in 1901 census-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Limavaddy/Main_Street/1526108/

Adeline's birth registerd as Adelaide Rutherford Cunningham Oct./Dec.1879 Limavady district (volume 1 page 626).
IGI (www.familysearch.org) lists her birth- 6 Oct.1879 (parents John Cunningham & Jeannie Browne.
Aso, Samuel John Cunningham born 30 Apr.1877 (mother Brown).

[canberraterry]

Thank you both for your further help. I have no doubt that the census information (which I was unaware was on line) will be very useful.

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   A 1910 Directory of Limavady states that a Ladies School in Main Street was run by Miss Cunningham B.A.

Regards