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A quick follow up. On MyHeritage, I have now made another Watton DNA match, this time to a great grandson of Robert Watton of Mooryet, as mentioned in Families of Ballyrashane. My DNA match is in his mid-70s and still farms in the area. Thanks to this and other DNA matches, it's now looking almost certain that my ancestor William Watton, my four times great grandfather, was Robert's brother, and that Robert's father, Alexander Watton of Ballyrashane is my 5 x great grandfather. My William would also appear to be the weaver of that name who died at Ballylough, Bushmills, on 21 AUG 1902.

Thanks again. I live in Scotland now, so it may be a while before I can visit, but it is on my to do list!

Chris

A bheil ùidh sam bith ann an leabhar-iùil sloinntearachd sgrìobhte sa Ghàidhlig? Chan eil mi cinnteach dè an ùidh a bhiodh ann (agus tha mi ach ag ionnsachadh a' Ghàidhlig fhathast!), ach tha mi a’ smaoineachadh mu bhith a’ sgrìobhadh fear aig àm air choreigin san àm ri teachd (ma 's urrain dhomh!). Mòran taing.

I have not been on this thread in a good while, but last night I made a DNA connection on my Watton line through MyHeritage, which may be about to break a longstanding brick wall.

I have several previously confirmed DNA connections to my three times great grandfather William Watton, born about 1846 in the barony of Coleraine, and who later married Eliza McLaughlin in Coleraine town in 1876. William was the son of William Watton, weaver, who in turn must have been born in the 1820s, although I suspect from Co. Antrim on the other side of the boundary to Coleraine barony (there are no Wattons in the 1831 census for Co. Londonderry). I had previously considered that this William's father might have been an Alexander Watton, who died in 1859 in Coleraine. If so, Alexander is my 5 times great grandfather, but until now I have been struggling to find proof.

The DNA connection I made last night, and which is also confirmed to my known Watton cousins in Australia and Canada, is for a descendant of an Agnes Watton, born about 1826, who married Henry Boyd in Glasgow in 1854. Her daughter's birth record in 1855 confirms Agnes was from Co. Antrim, and the Glasgow death record for Agnes from 1916 confirms her parents to be Alexander Watton (occupation blank) and Ann Murchy, both deceased. We share just 16.7cM. It seems very likely that Agnes and my four times great grandfather William (the weaver) were siblings, which I am now working to try to substantiate.

I have some additional details on the children of this Alexander:

James Watton b. abt 1819 died 19 JAN 1864 Tradeston, Glasgow - married to Elizabeth Wallace. parents noted as Alexander Wattan (sic), farmer, and Ann Murphy, both deceased.

Ann Watton, d.o. Alexander Watton, labourer, md Daniel Mooney at Ballyrashane 29 NOV 1847.

Jane Watton, d.o. Alexander Watton, labourer, md John McIlwaine at Ballyrashane 10 JUL 1849. She was resident at Carnglass, Ballyrashane.

Robert Watton, s.o. Alexander Watton, weaver, md Elizabeth Blair at Terrace Row (3rd Coleraine) 14 DEC 1855. He was resident at Carnglass.

Griffiths Valuation noted only one Alexander Watton in Ireland, resident at Lisnisk townland in Ballyrashane. It's possible this was Alexander senior (and published after he died), or a son of the same name.

If anyone else has a connection to Alexander I would be interested to hear from you – and if you have DNA tested, I'd be interested to see if we match also (I have results hosted on Ancestry, MyHeritage and GEDMatch).

Thanks

Chris