RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: Tillymum on Thursday 21 August 08 21:01 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone - I'm new to this, so hope I've posted in the right place. Looking for information about the Wilsons. My g.grandfather was John Wilson born c.1864 (deduced from marriage cert. - states he was full age). He married Elizabeth (Lizzie) McNeill on 23 March 1889 at Terrace Row Third Presbyterian Church, Coleraine. It states on the certificate that he was a widower and that his fathers name was Alex. I would like to find out how many children they had. I know for sure they had 3 boys - Danny,David (my grandad) and Robert, but there has always been talk in the family of another child who was sent away to Canada.My mother said it was all hushed up and no-one ever talked about it. Now could this other child have been from John Wilsons first marriage or is he just a rumour. Any help with the Wilsons or McNeills would be greatly appreciated.
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I had a look on Griffiths Valuation for Wilsons in Coleraine and there about 10, including
occupier : WILSON ALEXANDER
lessor : MCDONNELL JOHN
county: LONDONDERRY
parish : COLERAINE
townland : COLERAINE & SUBURBS (PART OF)
sub-division 1 : BACK LANE (OFF STONE ROW, UPPER)
the date for this entry is 1859. Let me know if you want any more details.
I have two separate Wilson lines in my history one from Cambridgeshire via Yorkshire and the other from Kings Count/Offaly. This Offaly branch we believe originate somewhere in northern Ireland. We were always told that the N.I. Wilson line was connected to the US president Woodrow Wilson!
welcome to RootsChat! - and good luck with your search
Shane
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Welcome to Rootschat Tillymum. Hopefully we'll be able to help you but first a few questions.
1889 marriage- name and occupation of Lizzie McNeill's father and her residence? also John Wilson's residence and his father's occupation? names of the two witnesses?
Have you found John Wilson and family in 1901 census? did they stay in the Coleraine area?
There are lots of Wilsons and McNeills in the Coleraine area and more information would really help to search for them.
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Hi Shanew147, thanks for the information. I'm fairly new to all this and still learning about the best places to look for information. All I have about Alex Wilson is that he was a labourer (at time of sons marriage). Anything else you can tell me would be appreciated. Incidentally, you mention a connection to the Wilsons in Cambridgeshire - thats where I am. My mother came here when she was 16, met my dad, and the rest as they say is history! Thanks again for your help.
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Tillymum- I can check lots of Coleraine sources but only if I have more information.
1889 marriage- name and occupation of Lizzie McNeill's father and her residence? also John Wilson's residence and his father's occupation? names of the two witnesses?
Have you found John Wilson and family in 1901 census? did they stay in the Coleraine area?
There are lots of Wilsons and McNeills in the Coleraine area and more information would really help to search for them.
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Hey aghadowey, thanks for the welcome. Lizzies father was James McNeill and he was a shoemaker. Johns father (Alex Wilson) was a Labourer. At the time of marriage both John and Lizzie were residing in Coleraine. Witnesses to the marriage were Rose Ann McClarty and Hugh McClarty. I do know that one of the sons Danny stayed in Coleraine (Mount Street) one died and the other - my grandad Davy Wilson moved to Portrush. As I mentioned there is talk of another son (sent to Canada). But I'm afraid I know nothing about John and Lizzie, I'd love to know what happened to them. Your help is greatly appreciated.
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Sorry aghadowey - forgot to say that I hadnt found John Wilson in the census.
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Will do a bit of digging and let you know what I do and don't find.
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Thank you so much, look forward to hearing from you.
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One more question- residences (streets or townlands) of John Wilson and Lizzie McNeill in 1889?
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in Slater's Directory for 1881 there is
John Wilson Farmer in DUNBOE PARISH.
Williiam Wilson Farmer in KILDOLLAGH PARISH
and about 16 Boot & Shoe Makers - but no McNeills..and no sign of any McClarty
In 1870 Slaters theres a similar number of Boot & Shoe Makers - but no again McNeills...
there is however Wilson John, 5 Captain street - Boot A. Shoe Maker (the s in Wilson is unclear in this - it could be Wilton)
I also just spotted an Alexander Wilson, Railway place - Spirit & Porter Dealer.
My Cambridgeshire Wilson ancestor is one of my problem people he lists his birthplace as Chatteris in about 1844 but first appears on a census in Yorkshire in 1871 possibly via Lincolnshire.
So my Wilson ancestor started of near you and ended up on this side of the Irish sea and one of yours did the reverse! - small world!
Shane.
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Aghadowey - John and Lizzie McNeill lived in Mount Street, Coleraine for a while - am presuming this was after their marriage. Don't know how long for or where they went after that (if indeed they went anywhere - they could have died there.)
My grandad, his brother Danny and another brother Robert all lived there as children. David and Robert both worked in a foundry in Mountsandel Ave, Coleraine. Robert died first, David joined the Navy and after that went to live in Portrush. Danny lived in the house in Mount Street until he died. Hope this helps. Thanks.
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Thanks for your help Shane, I really appreciate it. Being across the water makes it difficult to access records. I did come over to Portrush and Coleraine in 2006 to do some digging around and found out a few things. I could do with another trip I think. And yes it is a small world. Chatteris is just a few miles away from where I live.
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Aghadowey - just sorted through some notes I have - found another address. They must have lived in Woodbine Terrace, Coleraine at some stage, because one of the sons:Robert (born 1903) was aged 22 when he died on 14/7/25. Hope this helps.
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Address I wondered about was their addresses on the marriage certificate as that might be where their families lived.
Woodbine Terrace address is vital. Will check burial records when I can but depends on when I can get some free time in Coleraine (and next week is looking hectic).
McClarty was/is a Coleraine name. Ulster Covenant (1912) lists Hugh McClarty, Coleraine and also Ellen and Lily (no Rose).
'foundry in Mountsandel Ave.' was Kennedy's foundry.
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I have an Extract of Entry in the Register of Marriages from Emerald Ancestors, it just says Coleraine in the residence column. Thanks for offering to check records for me.
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Blimey -sometimes I can't see for looking - just looked at Grandads birth certificate, it states that he was born at 'Commons, Coleraine', so presumably they all lived there. This was in 1897. Sorry to mess you about Aghadowey.
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Just to clarify something before I go put together the tea- Woodbine Terrace was not a street name but the name of a terrace of houses on Mount Street. 'Commons' makes sense- Long Commons also in Coleraine.
Kennedy's foundry would have emplyed a large number of workers most of whom lived nearby. Was started by Hugh Kennedy of Ballycaghan, Aghadowey Parish.
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I am putting up the head of headholds for coleraine 1901
www.irishpalmers.org.uk
You can access these records in Ballymena Library or PRONI for yourself without paying.
Here are some Wilsons:
Name: Alexander Wilson
Year: 1901
DED: LD10: Coleraine
Townland: 88: Queen Street
Household Number: 2
Number in Family: 4
Name: John Wilson
Year: 1901
DED: LD10: Coleraine
Townland: 50: Circular Road
Household Number: 1
Number in Family: 6
Not all streets are in the database yet. There is a Hugh McClarty and sme McNeills too.
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Thanks for that FionaLorraine. I am going to spend some time looking around your site, it looks as though it will be very useful. Once again, many thanks.