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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Fermanagh => Topic started by: paddy_k1w1 on Saturday 21 May 11 01:14 BST (UK)
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Can someone please help me?
I want to find the gravestone/cemetery where my great grandparents are buried.
John EMERSON
born Abt 1824 [birth date not known]
died 22 March 1917, Coa, Ballinamallard near Enniskillen
marriage: 3 Jun 1862, Derrylin, Church of Ireland, Kinawley Parish, Co. Fermanagh
Mary Anne EMERSON [nee BLAIR]
born 22 May 1836, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh
[death date not known]
Children:
Mary Jane
Elizabeth
John
Robert
Margaret Ann
Thomas
William Irwin
Does anyone know if there is anywhere to access cemetery records for the Enniskillen area?
cheers
Paddy
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To start with, John Emerson is listed as Methodist in 1901 and 1911 census-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Fermanagh/Newparton/Coa/1353179
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Newporton/Coa/519277
Occassionally a Will mentions place of burial but see that John didn't leave a Will when he died- "Emerson John of Coa county Fermanagh farmer died 22 March 1917 Administration (with Will) Belfast 28 September to Ernest Emerson farmer. Effects £78 5s." see www.proni.gov.uk
The local Church of Ireland is one possibility- records will not be online and you'd have to contact the church.
Not sure about this area of Fermanagh but most Councils keep records of the cemeteries they look after on computer now so it might be worth contacting them- just checked their website and they only list 2 cemeteries (1 opened in 2006)-
http://www.fermanagh.gov.uk/index.cfm?website_Key=47&Category_key=133&Page_Key=302
My uncle belonged to Ballinamallard Methodist Church and was buried at Sydare Cemetery (not sure how far back burials go) since there's no burial ground at the church. Perhaps contact the church to see if they have any ideas- address and phone number here (http://www.yell.com/b/Ballinamallard+Methodist+Church-Places+of+Worship-Enniskillen-BT942FZ-3792222/index.html)
http://www.geograph.ie/photo/349699
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Thank you so so much. The links you've provided give me a some great options to start looking.
John Emerson's obituary mentions he was buried in Tempo graveyard, but those who have visited the cemetery, have yet to locate his gravestone. Is it possible that the name of the cemetery is noted incorrectly in the obituary?
I am travelling to Ireland next year and am hoping to find his burial plot.
thanks again for your help
Paddy
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Could it be that the Breandrum Cemetery on Tempo Road is formerly the Tempo Cemetery?
If not, can anyone tell me where the Tempo Cemetery is?
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See here (http://www.192.com/atoz/business/enniskillen-bt74/cemeteries/breandrum-cemetery/a72c39b64e8cf1a0db59e6d13b4f1a7785bbb160/comp/) for location of Breadon Cemetery.
Also came across this-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37681288@N00/3789517934/
Think it's more likely to be a burial in Church of Ireland graveyard. See here for Emerson headstones-
http://www.kabristan.org.uk/county-fermanagh-graveyards-e-l/emerson-john---fasit-mary-forsig.html
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Hello again,
It appears that my John Emerson of Coa [methodist] & his wife Mary [Mary Anne] are nowhere to be found in the Tempo Cemetery.
The author of John Emerson's obituary writes that John was buried in Tempo graveyard.
JOHN EMERSON'S OBITUARY
IN MEMORIAM
Mr John Emerson, Coa, Ballinamallard
The removal of Mr John Emerson at the patriarchial age of 93, is an event of no ordinary character. His grandfather - another John Emerson - stood by John Wesley as he preached in a little wood not far from the spot on which the family home stands. From this contemporary of Wesley he must have heard of that great and imperessive open air service. He had been gifted with a splendid constitution and had used it so wisely that after a long, strenuous life, he enjoyed the very best of health. Until a few months before his death he was able to be about as usual. He was only absent from the services in our Hall on the last four Sundays of his life. Gradually he grew weaker. At length on Thursday morning, 22nd March he passed peacefully away. On Saturday, 24th he was buried in Tempo graveyard. A service was conducted in Coa Hall [close to his late residence] by Rev. William Moore, who also officiated at the grave. On Sunday, 1st April, a memorial service was held in Coa Hall. This was peculiarly fitting, as Mr Emerson had given the ground on which the building stands, and had generously contributed to it's erection.
Mr Emerson gave his heart to God at sixteen years of age - some 77 years ago. He was a quiet, unobtrusive follower of Jesus Christ.
Private Prayer was a special feature of his religious life. In addition to his morning and night devotions, he was accustomed to retire after dinner each day and also after tea, and thus four times daily he "entered into his closet" and held communion with his Father in Heaven. It mattered not how many persons might be present in the house, or how many duties pressed, he carried out this purpose with unvarying regularity. His four sons - Thomas, John, Robert & William - followed his remains to the grave. Each of them is serving the Church of his father in this country. One of his three daughters in Mrs John Graham, of Brookeborough Circuit, and the other two, having emigrated to New Zealand many years ago, [/ihave made their home in that land.
Satisfied with length of days, having lived an upright and honourable life in the fear of God, and having enjoyed a peaceful eventide, he passed into the light and joy of his Master's presence. W.M.
I am wondering, as he was a strict Methodist, could he have been buried in the Sydare Cemetery?
I am wondering if anyone has the book by Elliott, David R., [Sydare Methodist Cemetery, Magheracross Parish, County Fermanagh. Color plates of cemetery, maps, and over 1200 people listed in inscriptions. Comprehensive index] & could look up if my Emerson is listed in it?.
Cheers
Paddy
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If the obituary says he was buried at Tempo graveyard then he was- it's entirely possible that there either was no headstone erected, that the hreadston is now illegible or that the headstone has fallen down or been removed/vandalised.
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If John 'Emerson's funeral service was held in the Coa Hall, where would his actual burial records be registered?
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There are very few burial records kept. Presbyterians don't keep burial records, Church of Ireland does usually have burial registers (although many pre-1880ish ones destoyed after being sent to Dublin for safe-keeping) but often didn't record burial for those not belonging to Established church.
Sometimesa minister would keep a note of funerals of congregation/funerals attended so perhaps contact the church to see if there are any clues.
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Hello Paddy,
My GG Grandfather was Robert Emerson, born in or near Enniskillen about 1810. I see there'e a Robert among John's siblings and since I cannot seem to find his exact birth record nor his parents, I'm wondering if this is the same family. Robert immigrated to Canada(that's where I'm from) and I found his tombstone in a pioneer cemetery. The inscription on the tombstone read: " Robert Emerson
died 1894 Age 84 yrs CM(or GM). Joined Loyal Orange Lodge no. 1711 County of Fermanagh Ireland 1831." I traced Lodge #1711 and was told it was at Ballydoolagh a hamlet near Enniskillen. It is now defunct and I'm told the records probably went to HQ in Belfast but I can't get anything from them.
I was also told that a large percentage of birth records from the area were destroyed in the Easter uprising. Hitting a stone wall I gave up a few years ago. Yesterday I googled by chance and found your entry. ... Could this be the same family?? my email is (*) I'd like to converse if you don't mind. Bob Emerson
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
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Welcome to Rootschat :) you'll need to remove your email address but once you have 3 posts you'll be able to use PM (Personal Message) system.
Civil registration of births started in 1864 and all survive. Some Church of Ireland registers which had been sent to Dublin for safekeeping were lost- perhaps this is what you've been told?
Do you know what religion your Emerson family was?
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I'm thinking Methodist as some Emerson's were and the gravemarker has GM or could be CM after his name - it's weather worn. My father was Presbyterian and then United --my mother she was green :)
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If you go back to your earlier post- click on 'modify' remove your email address then click 'save' (otherwise a moderator will remove it)
Lots of Methodists in Fermanagh so that's quite possible. Methodist churches were arranged into circuits, none of their records went to Dublin (so might survive)- will have a look to see what might be available.
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Methodism took a lot longer to become established as a separate denomination in Ireland than was the case in England. In Ireland there was considerable resistance to separating from the Church of Ireland. It was 1818 before Methodists could conduct their own baptisms. However because of the continuing loyalty to the Church of Ireland and other factors, many Methodists continued to use the Church of Ireland for sacraments for many years after this date and it was 1871 before all Methodists routinely performed their own baptisms.
For marriages the law allowed Methodist Ministers to marry from 1845 onwards. However in the mid 1800s there were only a few Methodist Ministers (Methodism relied heavily on lay preachers). So the shortage of Ministers contributed to the continuing practice of marrying in the Church of Ireland.
So to summarise, you are unlikely to find any Methodist baptisms much before 1830. No marriages before 1845 and only a few for many years after that. If there are no Methodist records in the location you are interested in, I would search the Church of Ireland instead, as that’s the most likely place to find the relevant event.
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Thanks for that Elwyn ...very helpful. Sounds like you've studied well.
BobE
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My information came from Robin Roddie who is a retired Methodist Minister and is in charge of the historical section at Edgehill Theological College in Belfast.
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Elwyn has explained it very well :)
Looking at a current map, Ballydoolagh roughly in the area between Enniskillen and Ballinamallard which fits with the details for John Emerson earlier in the thread. Your Robert may, or may not, be related but I did find other early Emersons in the area, including this one-
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/FERMANAGH-GOLD/2007-01/1168292528
There were some Methodist links under Fermanagh Resources (at the top of this board) but most of them no longer work and I am not able to update any old posts.
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Thank You so much --might be making some headway here-- I received a nice response from Paddy as well--Wonderful!