Ferguson/Sandersfield family of Gortnessy/Londonderry early-mid 1800s

[Kristen2344]

Hello,

I am new to this, so I hope that I am following proper protocol.

I am attempting to do some geological research on my 3rd great-grandmother, Agnes (Ferguson) Sandersfield.

Agnes Ferguson: born 15 Nov 1828, Gortnessy Londonderry, died 5 Nov 1907 Flint, MI USA
married (date unknown, place unknown) to:

Johann "John" Berend Sandersfield who was born in 1823 in Germany. Johann's parents were:
-Carsten Sandersfield 1795-1835 (records say he died in the Baltic Sea, I'd love to learn more about that)
-Maria Blumenthal b. 1796

documents point to Agnes' parents being:
Daniel Ferguson b. 24 Aug 1789 Glasgow, Scotland
Hannah Hassen b.  abt 1792 Scotland

disclaimer: I am not certain of the parents detail.

I do have DNA confirmation that Agnes had the following siblings:

 Andrew Ferguson  b 8 Dec 1822 Londonderry, d. 19 Jun 1894 Michigan, USA
Jane Ferguson  b.  1829 Gortnessy, Londonderry, d. 1893 Ireland


based on documentation, it is likely Agnes had the following siblings as well:
-John Ferguson 1810-1905
-Hannah Ferguson 1816
-Robert Ferguson 1822-1867

Agnes and Johann Sandersfield were parents to the following children:
-Maria Sandersfield b. Jan 1859 Ireland
-Hannah Sandersfield b. 28 May 1860 New York, USA
-Agnes Sandersfield b. 2 Jul 1862 New York, USA
-John B. Sandersfield b. abt 1865 New York, USA
-Robert Sandersfield b. 9 Nov 1866 Michigan, USA
-Anna Sandersfield b. abt 1869 Michigan, USA
-Henry Sandersfield b. Oct 1869 Michigan, USA


What I am hoping to discover:
1. Confirmed parentage for Agnes as well as their parents
2. Marriage record for Agnes Ferguson/Johann Sandersfield
3. Emigration information (based on children's birth locations, they arrived in New York between 1859 and 1860)
4. Any additional historical information on the family, origins, culture, etc. I know very little of Irish history and would love to learn more!

[shanreagh]

Just to avoid duplication of effort there are two long threads already on Ferguson families in Co Derry

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=811819.0

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=557435.0

In view of the  precise queries from OP perhaps it would be best for her queries for Daniel Ferguson and Hannah Hassan to be dealt with on this thread.

[shanreagh]

The link showing the death of Johann Sandersfield shows that his mother was Mina Bloomingdale.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.anyPlace=germany&q.givenName=johann&q.surname=sandersfield&q.surname.exact=on

Bloomingdale sounds a teensy bit not German unless it is a transliteration.

In the north of Germany near Denmark there were lots of fisherfolk who fished across the North Sea to the north-east of England around Grimsby/Hull.  Also in the Baltic.  I have relations by marriage who have Danish connections and whose names are Mina.....not short for anything, just Mina.

ETA from FS it may be that the name was formerly Bloomingthal or Bluminger.  If she is also German then her first name may be Wilhemine 

[aghadowey]

Marriage record for Agnes Ferguson/Johann Sandersfield

As I already posted on earlier thread-
"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."

Confirmed parentage for Agnes as well as their parents

See these two topics-
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=498742.0
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=442233.0

The Fergusons seem to have been Presbyterian and were likely Ulster Scots background (lots online to read). You seem to think Agnes Ferguson's parents were both born in Scotland but the link to Scotland could equally be a generation or two back.

A Daniel Ferguson was listed in Tithe Applotment Books at Gortnessy in 1834.

Another Ferguson topic here-
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=463027.0

[Kristen2344]

The link showing the death of Johann Sandersfield shows that his mother was Mina Bloomingdale.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.anyPlace=germany&q.givenName=johann&q.surname=sandersfield&q.surname.exact=on

Bloomingdale sounds a teensy bit not German unless it is a transliteration.

In the north of Germany near Denmark there were lots of fisherfolk who fished across the North Sea to the north-east of England around Grimsby/Hull.  Also in the Baltic.  I have relations by marriage who have Danish connections and whose names are Mina.....not short for anything, just Mina.

ETA from FS it may be that the name was formerly Bloomingthal or Bluminger.  If she is also German then her first name may be Wilhemine

VERY INTERESTING, thank you! Both my Aunt and I have unexplained Danish ethnicity on our DNA test (which I know isn't 100% reliable, but maybe it's not as far off as we had thought!)
Most records have her as Maria or Mariah., and her father's name as Carsten Blumenthal, born and died in Harmenhausen (Berne), Niedersachsen, Germany.  She had a son named Carsten Sandersfield, so this would make sense.  But now you have me thinking....  Here is a helpful website with Sandersfield lineage.
http://www.diers-friesen.de/dateienmhp/pafliste/pafg596.htm#12631

[shanreagh]

In the 1880 US Census JB Sanderfield says both parents are from Germany.

https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&q.anyPlace=germany&q.givenName=johann&q.surname=sandersfield&q.surname.exact=ond

[shanreagh]

Re 4.  Thanks for the Sandersfeld Germany file. 

Re
documents point to Agnes' parents being:
Daniel Ferguson b. 24 Aug 1789 Glasgow, Scotland
Hannah Hassen b.  abt 1792 Scotland

Have you got documents to support these births please?  The first one seems very precise as though from a birth certificate.  If so what are the parents names for Daniel? 

Here is a website to poke around in. 
http://www.billmacafee.com/index.htm

There are some older files showing muster rolls etc from 17th century and details from the 18th century.  I would think/feel that Agnes' parents may have been born in Ireland possibly to Irish parents.
There are Hassans on this roll and quite a few Fergusons. NB the idea that it may have been O'Hasson.
http://www.billmacafee.com/1740returns/1740religiousreturnsulstername.pdf

'2417 5 Hassan O'Hasson James Antrim Toome Manybrooks Not specified Not specified
5429 853 Hassan Hassan John L'Derry Loughinsholin Desertmartin Not specified Not specified
6095 1519 Hassan O Hassan Peter L'Derry Loughinsholin Kilcronaghan Not specified Not specified'

Re this birth
-Maria Sandersfield b. Jan 1859 Ireland
Where has this come from please? 

The townland of Gortnessy is described here
https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/tirkeeran/clondermot/lough-enagh/gortnessy/

[Kiltaglassan]

The townland of Gortnessy is described here
https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/tirkeeran/clondermot/lough-enagh/gortnessy/

Here it is also on OpenStreetMap, indicating its location in relation to Derry/Londonderry city.
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/5136691#map=13/54.9964/-7.2630

[shanreagh]

On this record on FS there is an Agnes Ferguson emigrating to US (New York) on the ship Thetis from Belfast.  She arrives on 22/10/1847. 

https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:KDXX-N5F