The story is told that James Hamilton became a schoolteacher in Glasgow. In about 1587 he left Scotland by ship and due to storms unexpectedly arrived in Dublin, Ireland. He decided to stay and took up the position of master at the Free School in Ship Street. On the side, he was an informer for King James VI of Scotland and in that process was able to gain some property and eventually a title.
According to Wikipedia, Hamilton recruited tenants from the Scottish Lowlands to migrate to Ulster to farm his newly acquired lands for low rents. He persuaded members of his extended family to come and, in May 1606, the first group of farmers, artisans, merchants and chaplains arrived to form the Ulster Scots settlement. By 1611, a new town of eighty houses had been established at Bangor, where Hamilton lived. His brother John acquired lands in County Armagh and founded Markethill, Hamiltonsbawn and Newtownhamilton.
Some Stevensons were among the Scots that James Hamilton transplanted. In 1617, William, John and Thomas Stevenson settled on land that they bought from the Hamilton family. William Stevenson (born about 1595 somewhere in Scotland probably Lanarkshire) settled in Bangor, County Down; John Stevenson settled in Armagh; and Thomas settled in Tyrone.
William is said to have had five sons who married and farmed in Ireland. In 1850, a couple of his descendants, David Alexander Stevenson (b. 1829) and his brother John Stevenson emigrated to the US. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has figured out the generational connections between David (b 1829) and William (b. abt 1595)
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William Stevenson’s property was inherited by his son John Stevenson born about 1620 who married into the Hamiltons – Rachel Hamilton. Their daughter Eleanor was born in 1677 and sons included Hans “John” and James.
Another of William's sons is said to be William Stevenson d. 1627, who bought land in the parish just south of Bangor called Donaghadee on townland named Ballyraer. His son (appear to be missing a generation or two here!) William married Isabelle Orr (1744-1818) from Drumfad in the same parish. (Isabelle Orr BIRTH: ABT 1744, of Kilmood, Killinchy, Down, N Ireland married : William Stevenson 1730-1786) and his wife Isabella Orr are buried at St. Andrews Church of Ireland - Balligan Down Ireland
Their son William STEVENSON ABT 1788, Of Ballyraer , Down, Ireland; married Jane M'KEE on 24 Jul 1813, Killinchy, Down, N Ireland)
A third son of William Stevenson who emigrated to Ireland in 1617 was Alexander Stevenson who moved to Killyeagh by 1641, married Elizabeth Rainey from the same parish.(editorial comment - looks like a few generations are missing here.) They lived in Ballywalter in Inishargee. (Elizabeth Rainey, d/o Robert Rainey b. abt. 1775, b. abt. 1801 Kirkcubbin, Down, d. 1831, m. Alexander Stevenson on Feb 11, 1818, Kirkcubbin, Down.) Their son David Alexander (b. 1829) came to the US in 1850 with his brother John. John Settled in Ohio and David came further west and his descendants settled in the Nevada and Utah areas. (some websites showing Alexander’s dates as 1773-1847) Mytrees.com is showing Alexander’s parents as William and Isabella Stevenson married 1761.
Elizabeth Rainey b.1791 married Alexander Stevenson 11 Feb 1818 at Kircubbin Presbyterian Church, County Down, Ireland; She was the wife of Alexander Stevenson of Ballymullan/Ballywater; died 20 Oct 1831 aged 40; & buried Whitechurch graveyard, County Down, Ireland. Possible Children include:
vii. David Alexander Stevenson born 1 Nov 1829 Ireland and died 17 Nov 1905 Sunnyside, Carbon County, Utah, USA. He married three times . His wives names were Ann Stevenson, Sarah Carroll and Catherine Justet (1858 - 1893) . Children: David John Stevenson (1877 - 1948) and Heber Moroni Stevenson (1886 - 1956). He was buried in Orangeville City Cemetery, Orangeville, Emery County, Utah, USA
vi.Kilmood, County Down, Ireland- John Stevenson b. 1831 was the son of Alexander Stevenson; aged 20 married Jane Moorhead 6 Aug 1852
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It is very possible that my ancestor in County Cavan, Isabella Stevenson (born about 1824), is descended from one of the three Stevensons that emigrated to Ireland in 1617 from Scotland. She and her husband William English attended the Glasleck Presbyterian Church. Isabella seems to have died before the 1901 census . Isabella Stevenson is one of my brick walls and I am looking for any information on Stevensons in County Cavan.
A man that was perhaps her brother, was alive for the 1901 census. John Stevenson ,age 75, farmer, Presbyterian, lived in Horath, Newtown, Meath, next to James and Margaret Brady . Birthplace is given as Scotland . In the same house is Mary Stevenson, his wife, age 74, birthplace Scotland and Margaret Blackwood, stepdaughter 35 - Presbyterian born County Wicklow. Does anyone know this family?
I am interested in hearing from anyone who is working on the Stevenson family tree in County Down, Meath, Cavan. Other names for the farming area I am interested in include Lisagoan, Taghart, Tahart, Parish of Enniskeen, Sheognegleagh.
