Thanks for that information: so that's the birth of Major David Nelson's eldest brother:
George Nelson
born 14 April 1878 at Darraghland
parents: George Nelson & Mary Anne Nelson ms Black.
Looking at the census returns and bits and pieces, I reckon that I have two brothers of Major Nelson's mother on the 1901 and 1911 census returns:
1901 - House 1, Coolkill, Lisnaveane, Monaghan
John Black, 54 years, Head, Presbyterian, Farmer, Not married, born co Monaghan
(this will be the John Black who is a Boarder with Major Nelson's brother on the 1911 census - see my post above)
1901 - House 2, Bannaghroe, Caddagh, Monaghan
William Black, 47 years, Head, Presbyterian, Farmer, Married, born co Monaghan
Mary Black, 37 years, Wife, Presbyterian, Farmer's Wife, Married, born co Monaghan
Mary A Black, 13 years, Daughter, Presbyterian, Scholar, Not married, born co Monaghan
John Black, 10 years, Son, Presbyterian, Scholar, born co Monaghan
Samuel Black, 8 years, Son Presbyterian, Scholar, born co Monaghan
David Black, 6 years, Son, Presbyterian, Farmer's son, born co Monaghan
William Black, 4 years, Son, Presbyterian, Farmer's son, born co Monaghan
1911 - House 2, Bannaghroe, Caddagh, Monaghan
William Black, 58 years, Head, Presbyterian, Farmer, Widower, born co Monaghan
Samuel Black, 17 years, Son, Presbyterian, Farmer's son, Single, born co Monaghan
David Black, 15 years, Son, Presbyterian, Farmer's son, Single, born co Monaghan
William Black, 13 years, Son, Presbyterian, Farmer's son, Single, born co Monaghan.
From familysearch.org, a William Black and a Mary Bradshaw were married Apr-June 1881. So I reckon this is the couple in the 1901 census above. Meanwhile, their son David Black will be the Private David Black who I have already mentioned as listed with Major Nelson on the war memorial for Cahans Presbyterian Church. So that makes Major Nelson and Private David Black first cousins.
Meanwhile, the Roll of Honour for Cahans Presbyterian Church lists Private David Black's brothers: Private John Black from Banaghroe was wounded; while Private Samuel Black from Banaghroe was wounded and taken prisoner. The 3 brothers served in the same regiment: 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Another possible brother for Major Nelson's mother is Robert Black who witnessed the marriage of Major Nelson's parents. But no other evidence yet.
As I have mentioned, the war memorial for Cahans Presbyterian Church lists 5 men. So that's Major Nelson, Private David Black and 3 others. One of the others is Private David Turbitt whose details I have recorded under the "Gilliland / Conly / Ballybay" thread. The remaining 2 are Private William James Fleming and Corporal George McCullagh.
I guess that Private William James Fleming is probably connected to Margaret Fleming who was a witness at the marriage of Major Nelson's parents, as well as the other Flemings mentioned under "Gilliland / Conly / Ballybay". Using familysearch.org and the 1901 and 1911 census returns for Slieveroe, Caddagh, Monaghan, Private William James Fleming was born Oct-Dec 1893, the son of Thomas Fleming (born c 1858) and Margaret Jane Pollock (born c 1863-65) who married Apr-June 1892. The census returns list various siblings for Private Fleming, including a brother named Bradshaw Fleming, which must be a link to Mary Bradshaw who married William Black, maternal uncle of Major Nelson.
Meanwhile, I already have the birth certificate for Corporal George David McCullagh:
born 4 November 1896 at Slieveroe
father: Andrew McCullagh, Farmer, of Slieveroe
mother: Margaret McCullagh, formerly Reed and previously Jackson.
A short biography, photograph and family information for Corporal George David McCullagh can be found at:
http://www.thesilverbowl.com/biographies/McCullagh_GD.htmlThe Roll of Honour for Cahans Presbyterian Church also records Private John A McCullagh from Slieveroe who was twice wounded, and Private John B McCullagh from Stranoodin who was wounded.
Again, my post on "Gilliland / Conly / Ballybay" makes other references to McCullaghs, as well as Olivers (the Jackson family of Corporal George David McCullagh's mother had links to Olivers). All these families with links to Cahans and other local Presbyterian churches must be seriously inter-related!
Hope all this is of interest to someone. And I am still looking to directly link my great-great-grandmother Anne Nelson (wife of Joseph Gilliland) to Major David Nelson's family. Although enough circumstantial evidence seems to exist to indicate some form of linkage through other families if not the Nelsons!
David
