Ferguson, Newton Limavady, Londonderry

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   According to the 1858 Griffiths valuation William Osborne held the whole townland of Ballyharigan "in Fee" ie he owned it. This townland was 774 acres and he sublet most of it.

Regards

[kingskerswell]

Glenys,
          I can't help much but I can give what I think are some minor corrections to the shipping record. I think that Tillydrimmy should read Terrydremont. In 1858 a Robert D. Osborne farmed there and on the 1831 census a Edward Osborne lived there. The baptism recorder was the Rev. George Steen who was the minister in the Presbyterian Church of Drumachose from 1833 until 1845 when one of the many arguments in the church took place and he became the minister of Second Limavady Presbyterian church from 1845 until 1897 just before his death. It may be of interest that he was also appointed as the Presbyterian minister of the workhouse in Limavady.
 I also think that Iniskillen should read Enniskillen which is a town in Co. Fermamagh and many miles from Limavady.

Regards

[aghadowey]

Person certifying Registry Baptism George Stern.  (Maybe you couldn't immigrate unless you were baptised.)

Yes, the minister's name was George Steen. Do you have the exact wording of the document? Baptism in any religion was not a requirement to travel but does the letter possibly say that she was baptised and is a member of his congregation in good standing (or words to that effect)? When a Presbyterian was going to leave their own congregation they would get a letter of recommendation from their minister (or clerk of Session) to bring to their new church (known as lifting your lines).

[princess41]

Kingserwell,

Thanks for that info.  I think you told me once before it was Terrydremont and when we were in Limavady last year we drove all over that area hoping to maybe locate where the Osborne's lived.  Interesting that name of Edward Osborne.  I wonder if he could have been Joseph's father or a brother.  Maybe that is where the Edward comes from with EAF.

That Presbyterian Church that George Steen was at, was it the 1st Presbyterian Church?

Henry Montgomery's native place is listed as Bellamully, Londonderry.  I can't find anything on that when I google it.  Any idea where that is or what it should read?

Aghadowey

I have a copy of the original handwritten Government document on their arrival.  It just says, Person certifying Registry of Baptism and it says George Steen.  Next it says Character and Person certifying the same..Same as husband.  State of bodily health, strength, and probable usefulness...Very good P.  No it wasn't a letter stating she was a member of a congregation.  Just an official document.

Thanks.

Regards

Glenys

[aghadowey]

She would have retained the letter from her minister, Rev. Steen, to present to a new congregation, but seems to have used it as a character reference when entering Australia.

I would suggest that 'Bellamully' was the townland of Ballymully (also in Balteagh civil parish).

[princess41]

Thanks again for helping with Ballymully.  There are so many place names in such a small area.  It is really hard to comprehend it all back in Australia.  Even though I spent two weeks in the immediate area it is hard to get my head around all these town lands.  It must be where Ballymully Cottage Farm is.  I just did a google search.  Thanks.

Glenys

[kingskerswell]

Glenys,
          The Rev Steen was minister of 2nd Presbyterian Church when it opened in 1845. The church is situated in Irishgreen Street. Limavady 1st Presbyterian Church is situated in Church Street which used to be known as Brewery Lane many years ago!! Drumachose Presbyterian Church is also in Church Street. The comparatively new Roman Catholic Church of Christ the Redeemer sits across Scroggy Road from 1st Presbyterian Church.

Regards

[princess41]

Kingskerswell,

Thanks.  It has all come back to me.  I remember looking at the gravestones.

Glenys

[majm]

The shipping record to Australia 'James Mathieson' 1841 for Ellen Jane who is now married to Henry Montgomery, after the death of William King Ferguson, states she is from Tillydrimmy Londonderry.  Father is Joseph Osborne a farmer & Mother Nancy Sproule and following it says living dead.

Hi there, 

Excuse me, but may I gently mention that It does NOT say "living dead".   It says "his wife dead".   

Princess, please have a good look through the images for other passengers on that same voyage, or at least other voyages of bounty ships in that era, and note there's other instances where it reads "his wife dead" on several other passengers entitlements.   It is a fairly standard comment for that era on those records.

Here is my transcription of both Henry's and Ellen Jane's entitlement certificates.

My transcription of two pages from the Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships, Series 5314, Reel 1329  for the Immigrant Ship James Matheson arriving in Sydney 14th April 1841.  Originals are held by the New South Wales Records Office. :   (I understand that the National Archives of Australia’s Canberra facilities would likely have copies of these in their holdings).

JM notes the words in bold are on the printed forms.  The words in italics are my transcription of the longhand responses on those forms. 

Henry Montgomery
Married Male Immigrant
Arrived by the James Mathieson
Brought out by A B Smith & Co
A Native of Beliamully – Londonderry, son of James a farmer dead and Mary Lochery his wife there.
Calling Stonecutter
Age on Embarkation  20 years May 1840
Person certifying Registry of Baptism  Geo Stein (P. Minister)
Character, and Person certifying the same  Geo. Stein – Minister  Jas Anderson &c.
State of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness   V  Good
Religion Presbyterian
Remarks R & Writes

Ellen Jane Montgomery
Married Female Immigrant
Arrived by the Ship James Mathieson
Brought out by (JM notes there’s no response to that heading)
A Native  of Tellydrimmy – Londonderry – daughter of Joseph Osborne a farmer and Nancy Sproule his wife dead.
Calling Dairy woman
Age 18 years in August 1840
Person certifying Registry of Baptism    Geo Stein
Character, and Person certifying the same   Same as husband
State of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness   Very Good P
Religion  Protestant
Remarks  Reads only
Male Children, exceeding one, and under eighteen years  (JM notes there’s no response to that heading or its subheadings : Names   Ages  Persons certifying Rgistry of Baptism)
Female Children, Exceeding one , and under Fifteen Years  (JM notes there’s no response to that heading or its subheadings : Names, Ages, Persons certifying Registry of Baptism.)  [So, the couple did not bring any children aged one year and upwards with them, although there were other couples who did bring their children with them on that voyage as per other entitlement certificates and the passenger list itself]

So Henry was noted as Presbyterian and Ellen was noted as Protestant .....

.  Both could read & write.  They came out to Australia under the Bounty Scheme.  No children allowed.
I wish I could find a bit more on this Nancy Osborne (Osbourne) nee Sproule.  It would be really helpful if I could find out if she remarried if Joseph died first and I have tried to find her date of death but haven't had any luck.

Princess, please please please go back through some of your threads and check where we clearly established that Children WERE allowed under the Bounty Scheme, and also that Nancy was already dead when the Montgomery couple embarked.    You might also note that Ellen could read, but not write, and that she was not Presbyterian.

I have edited this post to fix some grammar, add some words to help make my comments more readable  and to add the bold/italics 

Cheers,  JM