Mackey/Harbison of Terrydoo, Limavady

[terrydoo73]

This is a difficult one.  I am in the process of putting names on a family headstone and we are unsure of the date of birth for both members.  They are husband and wife John and Martha Harbison of Terrydoo, Limavady.  Martha died 6 January 1954 and John a year later on 17 January.  We reckon Martha was 59 but being originally from Donegal we have no way of checking!  John was about 75.  They are buried in Balteagh Presbyterian Church outside Limavady.

We would really love to check out Martha's family connection but do not know where to start - possibly a marriage certificate??

[aghadowey]

When and where would the marriage have taken place? Is Martha's maiden name Mackey?

[terrydoo73]

In the 1911 census John is living at Terrydoo with his sister so the marriage must have taken place after this and before the first child being born in 1916.  Martha's maiden name was Mackey and came from Donegal but where we don't know.

[aghadowey]

Found the marriage in civil registration index-
John Harbinson/Martha Mackey
Oct./Dec.1915 Stranolar registration district volume 2 page 351

See here for details on marriage certificates and how to order them:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,433042.0.html

[terrydoo73]

THank you so much - this is a great start!

Now could we go back a generation?  John's father was Stewart who married a Nancy Mullan and we are looking for details of their marriage - 1870 to 1875.  We want to find out where they married and who and what Nancy's father did as there is some question over this.  They married in Limavady Northern Ireland

[aghadowey]

Stewart Harbison in 1901 census-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lislane/Terrydoo_Clyde/1526520

DEATH: Stewart Harbison, age 79, Apr./June 1909 Limavady registration distric volume 1 page 486

MARRIAGE: Stewart Harbison 1876 Limavady registration district volume 16 page 863

BIRTH: John Harbinson 5 Jan.1880 Drumachose district

Have a look at Introduction to Irish Records and My Ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?.

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   Stewart Harbison and Nancy Mullan married on 13 Nov 1876 in Balteagh Church of Ireland.

Regards

[terrydoo73]

Thanks for this information - most interesting as their eldest son James was born on 16 September 1876!  Is there any way of finding out what Nancy's father's occupation was.    The reason we ask is the dispute we have over the second son (my husband's direct ancestors).  It states that Stewart was living at Ballycrum when John was born and then when he died he was living at Terrydoo Clyde (he was a labourer then became a land owner).  There is a belief in the family that Nancy brought a bit of money into the marriage hence his being able to buy the land which we now own. Perhaps the marriage certificate might prove this?

Now how would we be able to find out about Stewart's family.  We are assuming they are all buried in Balteagh Church of Ireland in a family plot but as it is not mapped would there be a way of finding out for instance if he had brothers or even what his parents names were?  We know by Stewart's death certificate that he was born in 1830 and as records do not really start until 1864 I am assuming we might draw a blank here??

I have drawn a blank at getting hold of a marriage certificate for John and Martha Mackey as the link doesn't appear to work to apply online but we have death notice cards which we assume are of Martha's family stating they were buried in Convoy Presbyterian Church Donegal so perhaps this is where they were married?

[aghadowey]

"I have drawn a blank at getting hold of a marriage certificate for John and Martha Mackey as the link doesn't appear to work to apply online"
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,383526.0.html
(this was part of the information I posted earlier)

"Is there any way of finding out what Nancy's father's occupation was."
You'll need to get the marriage certificate to see her father's occupation.

"It states that Stewart was living at Ballycrum when John was born and then when he died he was living at Terrydoo Clyde (he was a labourer then became a land owner).  There is a belief in the family that Nancy brought a bit of money into the marriage hence his being able to buy the land which we now own."
It's most likely that the family were tenants (even most farmers did not own their land) and were later able to become the owner when that particular piece became available under Land Act.