James Ferguson, Eglington, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

[aghadowey]

Mrs. Elizabeth Bell (born c1860) was a daughter of Samuel John Cunningham & Jane Ferguson-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1881/11009/8025250.pdf

[aghadowey]

Have pages more of information, etc. but won't bother posting for now

[Kristen2344]

I am a descendent of Agnes (Ferguson) Sandersfield, b 1828 Ireland, d 1907 Michigan, USA.
I am having a hard time tracing her lineage. Some documents say that her parents were born in Ireland, others say Scotland.

I know that her parents name, according to her death certificate were Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassen.  Her husband was Johann/John Berend Sandersfield of Germany (I wonder how they met, and what prompted them to emigrate to the United States?).  Here I am, 5 generations later, living 10 miles from the farm they settled on in the 1860s.

Does anyone know anything of the backstory of this family, or confirmation on parentage?  I am at a total roadblock once I get to Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassen, I cannot find their lineage anywhere.

[shanreagh]

Have you posted on this thread because it covers the Ferguson name and you believe you may be linked to James Ferguson or because the family you are seeking came from Co Londonderry originally?


Hopefully we may be able to get you some information but unless you have a strong suspicion that your Hassan/Fergusons are from Co Londonderry & connected to James Ferguson then I would suggest you ask a moderator to make a separate thread on the Derry Board called 'Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassan.'   

Is this Agnes' headstone etc?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77281123/agnes-sandersfield

Some of the family including a granddaughter on the 1900 US census. 
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMW-MPX

On this record Agnes states that she came to the US about 1860? 
Have looked at the passenger lists for her? 

It looks as if the name Sandersfield may have  originally Saadersfeld
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27Y2-KSY

Does this record tally with what you know about the family? 
So a daughter, Juliann, was born in May 1860 so that may have pushed Agnes' arrival earlier than 1860 or else she married prior to coming to the US. 

Have you found Agnes' marriage?

Just a point of interest that Agnes/Nancy in Ireland are often interchangeable 

ETA Even though spelling was fairly fluid I am used to seeing Hassan spelt with an 'a' as the last vowel. 
ETA 2 The Hassan and Ferguson names are quite well known in Co Londonderry.

[Kristen2344]

I posted to this thread because I am certain they came from Londonderry (Gortnessy specifically).  Daniel Ferguson died in Gortnessy 17 Sep 1862.  He (as well as Agnes and her siblings  John, Hannah, Andrew and Jane are mentioned previously in this thread, which is how I landed here.  I am not sure how they all tied into James.

Yes, the headstone link is for the Agnes Ferguson I am referencing.
I do believe the came to the US sometime between 1859 and 1860 as her daughter Maria was born in Ireland Jan 1859, and next child Hannah was born in New York May 1860. I have not had any luck locating a ship manifest for them.
The birth record for Julian Saadersfield is for a different family.  Agnes Ferguson married Johann/John Sandersfield and they had children named Maria, Hannah, Agnes, John, Robert (my 2nd great grandfather), Anna, and Henry.

The only reference I have found to the Sandersfield/Ferguson marriage is a year of 1854 on Ancestry, but with no source attached and it also says they were married in Michigan, USA in 1854 and we know they were not yet here so I'm not sure that can be relied on as accurate.

If you think a new thread would be most helpful, I'd be happy to attempt that.  I'm new to this site and still trying to figure everything out. Thank you so much for your detailed response!

Have you posted on this thread because it covers the Ferguson name and you believe you may be linked to James Ferguson or because the family you are seeking came from Co Londonderry originally?

Hopefully we may be able to get you some information but unless you have a strong suspicion that your Hassan/Fergusons are from Co Londonderry & connected to James Ferguson then I would suggest you ask a moderator to make a separate thread on the Derry Board called 'Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassan.'   

Is this Agnes' headstone etc?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77281123/agnes-sandersfield

Some of the family including a granddaughter on the 1900 US census. 
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMW-MPX

On this record Agnes states that she came to the US about 1860? 
Have looked at the passenger lists for her? 

It looks as if the name Sandersfield may have  originally Saadersfeld
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27Y2-KSY

Does this record tally with what you know about the family? 
So a daughter, Juliann, was born in May 1860 so that may have pushed Agnes' arrival earlier than 1860 or else she married prior to coming to the US. 

Have you found Agnes' marriage?

Just a point of interest that Agnes/Nancy in Ireland are often interchangeable 

ETA Even though spelling was fairly fluid I am used to seeing Hassan spelt with an 'a' as the last vowel. 
ETA 2 The Hassan and Ferguson names are quite well known in Co Londonderry.

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat, Kristen2344 

Your Ferguson connection are indeed on this thread along with a lot of incorrect information from the original poster, etc.

Suggest you go back through the whole thread starting with the post below then looking at the connections of John Ferguson of Grtnessy who died 1905-

Still with John Ferguson of Gortnessy who died 1905-
Derry Journal, 16 Jan.1907: COUNTY DERRY LEGACY. Dublin law courts yesterday, before the Master of the Rolls, in the matter of the estate of John Ferguson, late of Gortnessy, farmer, deceased—Alexander Buchanan and Robert Curry v. Mrs. Agnes Sandersfield and Mrs. Martha Ferguson, application was made on behalf of the executors for determination of a question whether Mrs. Martha Ferguson, the widow, was entitled absolutely to legacy of £400 bequeathed...

Agnes Ferguson (Nov.1827 L’derry-1907 Michigan) m. John B. Sandersfield (c1817). Ch.: Hannah, John, Agnes, Maria, Robert, Henry
1900 census- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMW-MPX (to US 1860)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77281123/agnes-sandersfield (link corrected)

So are John Ferguson (c1821-1905), Agnes Sandersfield (1827-1907), Hannah Ferguson & Jane Cunningham (1829-1893) siblings?

[Kristen2344]

Thank you.
I have combed the thread multiple times over.

My biggest confusion is that the marriage mentioned between Hannah (son of Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassen) and James seems off.  Not only was Hannah born in 1816, putting her much older than James, but if William Bell Ferguson b. 1870 was indeed their child, we would have been born when his mother was 54 year old.  Not impossible, but unlikely.

Is is possible Hannah and James had a son named James, who fathered the mentioned children?

[aghadowey]

Is this Agnes' headstone etc?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77281123/agnes-sandersfield

Some of the family including a granddaughter on the 1900 US census. 
https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMW-MPX

Already posted in 2019- see reply #89

[aghadowey]

I am a descendent of Agnes (Ferguson) Sandersfield, b 1828 Ireland, d 1907 Michigan, USA.
I am having a hard time tracing her lineage. Some documents say that her parents were born in Ireland, others say Scotland.

I wouldn't worry too much about birthplaces listed as both Scotland and Ireland depending on the record. It' not uncommon to see this in Ulster Scots families.

Does anyone know anything of the backstory of this family, or confirmation on parentage?  I am at a total roadblock once I get to Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassen, I cannot find their lineage anywhere.

Civil registration of births, deaths & Catholic marriages started in 1864 (from 1845 for non-Catholic marriages) so for earlier dates you largely have to depend on any surviving church records (not all pre-registration survive and of those that do not all are online).

Her husband was Johann/John Berend Sandersfield of Germany (I wonder how they met, and what prompted them to emigrate to the United States?).

No sign of a marriage in Ireland so more likely they married in U.S. or possibly Canada if Agnes arrived from Ireland to U.S. via Canada.

An incomplete Ferguson family tree in next post...