RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: tsidey on Wednesday 02 May 12 19:27 BST (UK)
-
Thomas Beckett born about 1805 possibly in Aghadavy but certainly Antrim. Married Matilda Whyte 28 December 1828, probably Aghadavy. There are several Becketts in the 1851 census for this townland of Aghadavy. Thomas & Matilda left for America about 1850 with 6 or 7 of their children. Some came in 1851. There is rumor that they left in a hurry because of a disagreement with a British soldier. They moved to Troy, New York which is near Albany.
I am looking for connections with Becketts who stayed behind. There was Mathew (1800-), James (1804-), William (1806-). these are all close in age to Thomas and may have been brothers. I would also like to know which church Thomas & Matilda were married in.
Many thanks,
Tia
-
A possible connection to the BECKETTs of "Clover Hill" Aghalee - now owned by Jack Irvine ..... ??
Descendants married into the KEARNS / WEATHERALL families .....
*Moderator Note:email address removed in accordance with Rootschat policy
-
I am interested in this search as we are Becketts from Aghadavey who left for South Carolina in 1789. My great grand uncle went back in 1920's and found Becketts still living on the original farm and got names & all. These names you have listed are family names still and I wouldn't be surprised if they are some of the same. I am living not too far away from Aghadavy and hope to get up there soon. Do you have any other info about where they lived? thanks!
-
The only information I have on Becketts in the U.S. is on the lot who settled in New York state in Troy and Albany. The little bit I had passed on to me about the Aghadavy connection came from one of the original family's daughter's descendants. Would love something new to chew on.
Thanks,
Merry Christmas
Tia
-
Hi,
The 1862 Griffiths Valuation shows several Beckett families in this townland. The enumerator has used the spellilg BICKETT. See http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=placeSearch
Regards
-
thanks for the reply! I will try to get my dad to post a bit up on here as I think I may not put up his website info?
-
I have a bit more on Thomas Beckett born 1805, died 1858 in Albany/Troy, N.Y. This was given to me by another member of the family.
Father Mother
Thomas Beckett Matilda Whyte Beckett
Born 1805 Died 1858 Born 1811 Died 1888
Associated with the lords and Dukes of the town of Belfast. Followed the hounds on hunting trips, enjoyed life until the year 1848 when he got in trouble with a British officer which cost him a lot of money. Then the failure of the Banks of England when he and his father lost all of their money (The Panic of 1847 was started as a collapse of British financial markets associated with the end of the 1840s railway industry boom.) He then decided to come to America, picked up quickly, disposed of their belongings. Two of their chairs to Lord Downshire to stand in his bay window. To Lord Donegall - a buffet which on account of its age, they called Methusala. It was made of small pieces of wood and very hightly polished - a beautiful piece of furniture and highly valuable. To Dr. Weathershead numerous things of value.
So they set sail for America. They met a great storm - and were blown right back to where they started. They waited for the ship to be repaired. It took three months to come over.
My father was a broken hearted man, he went into business, our store the corner of Grand and Hamilton, the other corner Lark and Lumber, Albany, N.Y. He stood it for nine years then died of a broken heart, leaving my mother with ten children.
-
There are a couple of Beckett links with my Gilbert family of Aghagallon (not far from Ballinderry).
In Aghalee on the 3rd Feb 1847, my 1st cousin 4x removed, William Gilbert married Mary Beckett, daughter of Matthew Beckett.
A couple of years earlier, in 1845, William Gilbert's sister Jane married Samuel Turtle, son of John Turtle.
This is from my notes on John Gilbert, father of the above William and Jane:
One of John Gilbert's children married a Turtle and another a Beckett. CEB Brett's book, "Buildings of County Antrim" features Laurel Hill in Aghalee. This house was owned by the Turtle family while the farm next door was owned by the Becketts. On the 14th December 1890, Isaac Cousins Turtle of Laurel Hill, only son of the late William John Turtle died, aged 38. In his will Isaac directed that all his land that he be "possessed of or entitled to whether leasehold [or] freehold and chattles to be sold and the proceeds to be divided equally between [his] two unmarried sisters Mary Letitia and Harriet Turtle." In 1891 Laurel Hill was bought by James Quinn who moved in with his wife (Jane Graham) and children. On the 23rd September 1931 James Quinn's son William married his neighbour Annie Elizabeth Beckett. As a result of this union the two farms were combined. These Turtles and Becketts were presumably related to the spouses of John Gilbert's children.
Other marriages:
On the 18th March 1880, Samuel Beckett of Aghalee married Mary Elizabeth Turtle, eldest daughter of William Turtle of Ballinderry.
There was also a Beckett-Gilbert marriage in 1978, but that's a bit recent to talk about here.
-
Hi tia I came across this thread while searching on Google! I am a beckett still in ballinderry James 1804 was my GGG Grandfather I can help you with your questions possibly. How are you related and who was James parents?
Aaron
-
Hi Aaron,
What I really would like to know is more on Thomas Beckett who was born in 1805 and married Matilda Whyte. As the story goes, they had to leave in a bit of a hurry after the family went bust in the Panic of 1847 when they lost all their money. I know nothing of Thomas's parents or siblings or what kind of a life they lived before they left. It sounded like they might have had a bit of dosh but then stories become embellished over the years. I do know that he died in Troy, N.Y. in 1858 leaving his wife Matilda, to raise a bunch of kids. Four out of the 15 that I know of, died before crossing the pond. Any info would be most welcome or if you can point me in the right direction where I might look, that would help to.
Cheers,
Tia
-
There are a couple of Beckett links with my Gilbert family of Aghagallon (not far from Ballinderry).
In Aghalee on the 3rd Feb 1847, my 1st cousin 4x removed, William Gilbert married Mary Beckett, daughter of Matthew Beckett.
A couple of years earlier, in 1845, William Gilbert's sister Jane married Samuel Turtle, son of John Turtle.
This is from my notes on John Gilbert, father of the above William and Jane:
One of John Gilbert's children married a Turtle and another a Beckett. CEB Brett's book, "Buildings of County Antrim" features Laurel Hill in Aghalee. This house was owned by the Turtle family while the farm next door was owned by the Becketts. On the 14th December 1890, Isaac Cousins Turtle of Laurel Hill, only son of the late William John Turtle died, aged 38. In his will Isaac directed that all his land that he be "possessed of or entitled to whether leasehold [or] freehold and chattles to be sold and the proceeds to be divided equally between [his] two unmarried sisters Mary Letitia and Harriet Turtle." In 1891 Laurel Hill was bought by James Quinn who moved in with his wife (Jane Graham) and children. On the 23rd September 1931 James Quinn's son William married his neighbour Annie Elizabeth Beckett. As a result of this union the two farms were combined. These Turtles and Becketts were presumably related to the spouses of John Gilbert's children.
Other marriages:
On the 18th March 1880, Samuel Beckett of Aghalee married Mary Elizabeth Turtle, eldest daughter of William Turtle of Ballinderry.
There was also a Beckett-Gilbert marriage in 1978, but that's a bit recent to talk about here.
Hi
Are you by any chance Matt? Member of NIFHS?
I have Matthew in my tree born approx 1815.
Maggie
-
Hi Maggie - yes, that's me. What do you know about Matthew Beckett?
@ Aaron - do you happen to have a Beckett family bible (or similar) with family information recorded inside?
-
Hello
I have recently started researching my mother's family - Becketts of Ballinderry.
I have discovered that there seem to be several lines in fact (but pretty certainly from a common ancestor who no-one knows as we do not have records far enough back).
The 1815 Mathew Becket lived at Portmore according to both the 1851 census and the Griffiths listing of 1862. I think he has at least a great-great-grand-daughter still in the area.
I reckon that Aaron's 1805 ancestor was a younger brother of my great-great-great-grandfather - the houses were beside each other on the Griffiths map.