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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Fermanagh => Topic started by: ontchick on Friday 10 June 05 22:23 BST (UK)
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Would like to find information on James Henderson born abt. 1816 in Enniskillen. He immigrated to Ontario, Canada abt. 1835. His brother John immigrated in 1837.
Unfortunately that's all the info I have ???......not much to go on but try anyway...lol.
Happy searching all, Ontchick
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THERE WERE A NUMBER OF HENDERSONS IN THE PARISH OF MAGHERACROSS AND BURIED IN THE CEMETRY THERE THIS WOULD BE ABOUT 15 MILES FROM ENNISKILLEN JOHN
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There was also a Ann Henderson who married James Copeland. They lived in Lisbella(w). He was my gr gr gr grandfather. I dont have much info on him...but I am told there is alot on Hendersons.
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Hello,
I Descend from Robert Henderson (I believe his wife may have been Margaret) who had a son George married (2nd) in 1850 Mary Jane Chittick in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. They had William James, Stephen, Joseph and Anna Margaret (my great grandmother). They were members of the Parish of Magheracross. Do you think any connection?
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Hi
I just noticed that next to your "Hendersons" you have Ballinmallard, Co Fermanagh. I have Anne Henderson b 1754 who married James Copeland. Info that I have on Anne states her family was fron Cash/Kesh Hill near "Ballinmallard". Here is a qoute from info I have thru Copeland references..........
".....The daughter of Mr and Mrs Slack was married to a Mr Thomas Mitchell near Monaghan. They had 6 daughters and 1 son, their eldest daughter was married to Mr Henderson of Cash (Kesh?) Hill near Ballinmallard......and their daughter Anne was married to Mr James Copeland and resided first in Lissorty near Clones, ........(then) Lisbellaw four miles from Enniskillen, about 1776."
A little close huh? I wonder if there is a connection somewhere. I have info on the children of James and Anne and further down Copeland line....but am searching for Anne's line.
Sue in NY
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Ontchick- have you traced your Hendersons (the two brothers) in Canadaian records (census, death certificates, newspaper obituaries, local histories, etc.)? It is very difficult to search for ancestors in Ireland without more information and the surname Henderson is very common and many parts of Ulster and Fermanagh.
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I am related to a James Henderson born in Enniskillon who married a Mary Agnes Walker and immigrated to Wardsville Middlesex County Ontario in the mid 1850s.
I have been unable to trace his ancestory but Mary was the daughter of Ebenezer Walker from Ireland no other info on which county they came from.
James and Mary Henderson had 7 children Christopher Benn my Great Grandfather, Ebenezer, James, Maryann, Charlotte, Thomas and Alice.
Christopher Benn Henderson married a Mary Agnes Stinson Freeman, and farmed in the Minitonas Manitoba area in 1898 with brothers Ebenezer and James.
Christopher and Mary had 6 children William J, my grandfather, Roy, John, Gladys, Rose and George.
Any information on James and Mary would be appreciated.
Thank you
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I have phtographed quite a few grave in Magheracross old cemetry and they are available for anyone to look at. If their is any interest I can add more. The only thing I ask is that if you find any that you like, that you record the inscription underneath. All the Hendersons are included. If you google the words Flickr and magheracross Fermanagh you should find them I have some other graves on other flickr sites as well
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Hi Fin
I tried what you said and it DID NOT come up?
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Maybe depends on what browser you're using. Could this be it?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52897031@N06/
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Try searching for 'flickr' and when you find the flickr site, do a search for Magheracross Fermanagh. This should bring you to some of the graves I have photographed, and if you can read any inscriptions, it would be helpful if you were to record them on the flickr site .................Let me know if you still have problems.
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and yes Aghadowey has the right site. Couldn't have done better myself
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Fin...I looked at the graves....One in perticular caught my eye...James Copeland of Lisbellaw. I also noticed to the right side of flick page it says "Boles pictures"...LOL Are you my cousin in Ireland by any chance, and I didn't recgnize this name? LOL
Too funny if you are! LOL
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Ok...help! I thought I knew what I was looking for and found many clues in what I believe is in 'my' right direction, but then I found this thread and I'm not so certain.
I am decended from a William Henderson (with brothers John and Mathew) born in 1815 in Fermanagh near Enniskillen and emigrated to Canada in about 1848. I stumbled on some old family notes that point to their townland being Cashel (or Cash Hill). I had assumed that to be in Inishmacsaint parish as I have also found some old parish records on line that seem to have a high probability that I am on the right track.
But then I read this thread and am confused?? There is another townland in Magheracross also called Cashel (Kash hill, Cash Hill) populated by Hendersons? Ugh!
Can anyone give me a mid 1800's Northern Ireland geography lesson, or point me to an old map online? I understand the relationship of Townland to Parish to Barony to County to Province, but without a map showing townlands, how can I sort out which one is more reasonable or appropriate to my search? Or is this one of those questions that really has no answer?
~ Dave
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The attached link takes you to an Ordnance Survey map of Ireland. If you click on the 6" historic map it takes you to a mid 1800s map which shows townlands.
http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,591271,743300,0
You have to increase the magnification till the townlands show.
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There is another townland in Magheracross also called Cashel (Kash hill, Cash Hill) .....
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to check the names of the townlands in a particular civil parish
check the townland database at www.thecore.com/seanruad
e.g. on the search page select county Fermanagh and
then enter Magheracross in the civil parish search box..
Shane
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Wow! Thanks Elwyn...This is the mapping system I've been searching for! I found what I was looking for (although the map is so cool, I think I have a new hobby).
Also thanks to Shane - you both got back so quickly. Shane, using your suggested Townland search database, I easily confirmed that Cashel (or however you want to spell it) was in Inishmacsaint Parish, not Magheracross. The Hendersons in Magheracross I highly doubt are related to me. However, Sue in NY - I think we may have a (distant) connection through Anne
~ Dave
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Hi Dave!
Yes I agree. Your info seems very interesting to me. The comment above in ref to Magheracross was by my cousin in Ireland. He is also connected to the same line and his comment was more I believe in telling me about HENDERSON graves there.
My HENDERSON were listed as being from Cash Hill/Kesh Hill (not sure). One thing I AM sure of....In a book from the 1800s in ref to Methodism (would have to check notes for exact info) it talks of how the HENDERSONS lived in Drumbulcan and the younger children would sneak out to attend mettings of the Methodist ministers of that time. (later 1700s). The parents were so mad they would deny them food, lock them in their rooms and beat them. But the children continued. It mentions how Ann HENDERSON was sent for awhile to live with the LITTLE family in Florencecourt. And a foot note on the page says how some young woman were married to men in the faith of Methodism. It says "Anne HENDERSON was married to James COPELAND of Lisbellaw". Those are my ggg grandparents!
I do have some "other" info in ref to the background of Ann. Haven't found proof yet .....but it is info that has been passed down.
Sue in NY
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Hello Sue,
Looks like we may hijack this thread for a bit.
At least you have some records. The best I have is a reference in my grandfather's old files to a book that once belonged to my gg grandfather William. It had his name, the date 1836 and Cash Hill. I believe I located his baptismal record online from old parish records for Inishmacsaint parish church (CoI). In those records, there appers to have been a whole family of Hendersons occupying Cashel townland. I'm assuming your Anne may somehow be related if she was amongst the group at Cashel?
The Methodist connection is curious. As I posted earlier, William emigrated to Canada with his 2 younger brothers John and Mathew in about 1848. William was married to Mary Jane Knox and they had a daughter Sarah Jane. Mary didn't make the voyage over and died enroute. William was Methodist. His brothers John and Mathew however remained Anglican until they died. I'm assuming (again) that William either converted or married into methodism. Your reference to methodism in your notes is curious? Cashel is a very small townland with what appears to have been only a small settlement for the family. It seems odd to me that the family unit would have been divided, Methodist and Church of Ireland. But what do I know...?
~ Dave
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I was of the opinion that Cash hill was part of Drumbulcan townland. It is right on the border of county Tyrone and many Hendersons lived on both sides of this border
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Killymendon and also Cabragh (a large townland) on the Tyrone/ Fermanagh border had many Hendersons. In fact one early map I have seen specifically marked part of a townland as "Henderson" I have been exploring and have visited the site but without much success. John Boles
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Hi John!!!!!
Glad to see you! Not to change subject but did you get my email about Montgomery? LOL Just wondering!
Yes ...I believe you (John) and someone else did tell me Cash Hill was a part of Drumbulcan.
Dave...in ref to what you asked.....From reading some of these books from the 1800s....in ref to Methodsism...it was a time , esp during Ann's time when ministers and preachers roamed N Ireland, and other parts preaching. As I said ...in the book it says that "the younger children" (HENDERSON) were locked in rooms etc. I assume there were also older children too who perhaps did not convert. Many times these families had MANY children. Also I believe it was the same book or could've been another ..it said that eventually the HENDERSON parents also converted.
My Anne married James Copeland of Lisbellaw. He had also converted to Methodism and from books was I believe a close friend of John Welsley who started Methodism. James is mentioned in John Welsley's diary. In a book Ann is also mentioned as being very religious. I do not think it was uncommon for families to be of different beliefs, esp during a time when "this" religion was starting.
My Anne was born in 1754....so as far as your William being a brother to her...I doubt it...BUT it is very possible they were cousins..or William could've been her nephew! hmmmm? What do you think John????
Its VERY interesting to say the least.
Dave...have you ever read books on google book search? There are lots of books written by a few good writers in ref to Methodism in co Fermanagh and co Tyrone. They might be worth your looking into them. If I remember correctly there was also a George HENDERSON mentioned that I wanted to look into further.
Well we should keep in touch.....esp since your HENDERSON seems to be from the same area mine were!
Sue in NY
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Sue and John,
To be honest, I'm a newbe to all this. My grandfather and father attempted to dig up our family history in Ireland and were unsuccessful - partly because they weren't open minded enough to examine other possibilities or denominations. My gg grandfather was a staunch Wesleyan Methodist and was a big supporter of his local congregation in Cobourg, Ontario. His two younger brothers (as I said) remained Anglican. They all lived in Cobourg together in the 1850's but then the 2 brothers moved on to Toronto and family lore says they never spoke again. Again, lots of speculation, but I suspect the separation was due in part to their differing religious beliefs. But this message board is hardly the place to get into a discussion on this sort of thing!
From the Parish Church records I found online, it appears William was the first child of Mathew Henderson and Sarah Seales (Scales?) as the records also had their wedding listed only a year or two before his birth/baptism. Anne and William were definately not siblings, but she *might* have been a cousin or aunt. Who knows? I seem to be at a dead end for now as I believe I've turned over every rock the internet has to offer me. One day I would like to travel to Ireland to do some more digging, but I have a young family and travel isn't in the cards in the immediate future!
I would like to stay in touch though (with anyone who has a connection to the Hendersons from this little corner of Ireland). Collectively, perhaps we can shed some more light on our history?
One of the biggest mysteries I would like to solve is why did William and his 2 brothers Mathew and John leave Ireland? He and Mathew were carpenters and John a cooper. They were all in their late 20's early 30's when they left. Either the famine was affecting their lives, the economy was so bad they couldn't find work or perhaps there was some other tragedy that made them go? They left in 1848, the year after the tragic 1847 transatlantic crossings. You'd think that would be enough to scare anyone away from leaving so soon afterwards? I've attempted to locate them in the one or two business directories available online from the 1830's and 40's but they don't show up anywhere. I can only assume that means they weren't very successful?
~ Dave
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Hi Dave
First...just as info....let me say....
I was raised Catholic...and until I started researching I NEVER exactly knew. Seems in my research my ancestors- Hendersons/ Armstrong? Montgomery/ Copeland all or most converted to Methodism, since they were involved in either being ministers or having them in their homes in the very early years. See...my gg grandfather....whose family (g grandmother) had immigrated here in 1848 was studying to be a Methodist minister when he met a beautiful Irish Catholic girl and fell in love! Yes they married much to his family's upset...but these were my Grandparents and though my grandfather never left his religion, my grandmother a devout Catholic involved in MANY charities...we were raised Catholic. So my suprise was that most if not all cousins were Methidist! (Religion is NOT a basis I go by....wont go into that here)
As far as leaving N Ireland. You truly need to read the books I taked about...BUT here are some ideas. There was much turmoil in N Ireland in ref to REligion...and more so then "religion" it was political...so many may have left because of that. Remember HENDERSON was most likely a Scottish clan that went to N Ireland after King James Kicked out the Irish and there were many BAD feelings about that. Then you bring in religious freedom. Also the fact...oldest sons inherited fathers estates...younger sons (and many times were talking about LARGE families) had nothing..so they left to make a way for themselves.
I had a relative...Alexander Armstrong...whose brother and sister had already left for America, but who had a son with Asthma and was "told" by the doctor..."Go to America" because it would be better for the son! Now...who would've thought of THAT? But see....It could be ANY reason. No work.....new prospects...health...
If anything...you have to understand that "our" ancestors were much more willing to take a chance then we are!
I hope this info helps a little. I guess my trying to "understand" them...has helped me in my search. Again...try reading those books. It helps!
TC...and always here to lend an idea!
Sue in NY
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I found these post and was very excited, so I copied my post from another site and pasted it here in hope that some one here can help me. My GGG Grandfather was James Henderson, they where Wesleyan Methodist and it has been passed down VERY STRONGLY that we where members of the Gunn Clan of Scotland. I have not had any luck finding anything outside of Canada and the US. But then again I'm not a pro at this. Just really interested in my family. And no I have no clue on the townsland.
Any help ????
I am looking for my ancestors:
James Henderson b.abt 1802 Fermanagh d.24 Oct 1874 Ashfield, Huron, Ontario
Married:
Jane Herrington b.1807 Fermanagh d.1877 Ashfield, Huron, Ontario
Children:
Francis b.27 Feb 1835 Fermanagh d. 4 Apr 1899 Fargo, ND
Married Sarah McKnight 1862 Goderich, Ontario
Lived in Minnesota
Margaret b.21 Sep 1837 Fermanagh d.15 Mar 1917 Bruce, Ontario
Married William Ritchie Huron Co, Ontario
Lived in Canada
Charles b.1843 Fermanagh d. 1888 Ontario
Married Catherine Pearson 1881 Gray, Huron Co, Ontario
Lived in Canada
Elizabeth b.1844 Fermanagh d. Unknown
Married Peter Schenck 25 Oct 1866 Huron Co, Ontario
Lived in Wisconsin
Wesley b.20 Dec 1850 Huron Co, d.1935 Kinloss, Bruce Co. Ontario
Married Sarah Jane Irvin 22 Apr 1877 Bruce Co, Ontario
Lived in Canada
Would like to find James folks & Jane's. Jane's maiden name was gotten from Wesley death cert. under mothers maiden name. (Herrington or Harrington)
Mike
Moderator's Note: if you can help with information or suggestions please respond on Mike's separate thread-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,527852.msg3825190.html
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Hi Mike,
Welcome to the thread! I'm not sure what to tell you about James? It would be really helpful to know what townland he was from just to isolate which group he belonged to. I only know of my GG grandfather William having 2 brothers. There is nothing else in our records to show that he had any other siblings. But I do know that there were other Hendersons (cousins?) living on the same townland of Cashel. Unfortunately, Fermanagh is a big place and Henderson seems to be a relatively common name - although I haven't had much luck scouring the internet to find much evidence of their presence in this time period. I need a visit to PRONI, but that a whole other story.
The methodism angle is a bit of a red herring (in my opinion) when researching. I mean it's helpful if you know and you can go searching for records in a particular place. But I've found being open minded has got be more leads. None of the records in Northern Ireland are good, but the methodist ones are terrible if they exist at all.
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Thanks for the reply, but I guess I should have been on a different tread. Sorry new at this.
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Hi all
Just another researcher trying desperately to locate her Hendersons in Fermanagh.
I have a JANE Henderson, b. c1811 who married possibly in MAguires Bridge area c.1839 a John COULTER. 1839-1940 they had a daughter ANN likely in Maguires Bridge area (or so her obit claims). My Grandfathers diaries claim they were from Maguires bridge as well. Apparently John Coulter was a weaver by trade (although he was always a farmer in Canada). Jane and John and baby Ann emigrated to Canada before 1843 when son GEORGE was born in Montreal. His baptismal certificate is signed by a MARY Henderson. In 1844 daughter MARY was born Her baptismal cert is signed by ANN Henderson and MARY Henderson. In 1946 son WILLIAM was born. His Baptismal record is signed by an ELIZABETH Henderson. By 1851 the Coulter family appear on the 1851 and1861 Census for Etobicoke, Ontario.
1871 They are living in Toronto, Peel and 1881 and 1881 the family is in Chinguacousy. Jane Henderson Coulter dies there in 1888. Her ON death does not name her parents.
I am assuming that JANE, ANN, MARY AND ELIZABETH Henderson are all sisters, or Mother and sisters or perhaps a sister-in law. Possibly they all emigrated together to Montreal. I have no clue what happened to any of the other 3. I have Jane well documented. But thats all folks. after 30 years of research.
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Hi again
I am currently working on a database of all the potential Hendersons in Fermanagh (basically pre 1850) on Ancestry. It is currently a private tree (if you can call it that) . I would be happy to send anyone who is interested an invite. I am hoping you can add to the tree and connect some of the families. None of this is really proven. It is gathered from all over the web. It is a desperate attempt to find a family for my Hendersons (see my other post).
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Hello,
I found your postings re HENDERSON in Enniskillen. I am tracing my own line from that area.
Robert 'David', born about 1768, and Anjelina, born abt 1779, HENDERSON left Enniskillen in 1818 with 8 children - John N., 1798; William T., 1801; Robert, 1805; James, 1808; David, 1809; Margaret, 1813; Elizabeth, 1815 and George, 1816. The family arrived in Saint John in the Spring of 1818.
They may have come on the same vessel as another HENDERSON family, Andrew and Susannah (SLACK) HENDERSON and their son, George. Andrew left journals telling about his life and mentioned that he 'traveled with kin ' from his home in Northern Ireland to the New World. The parts of the journal which may have mentioned the kin were cut out by Andrew himself in later years.
Many of the names I have seen in this forum are mentioned in Andrew's journals. His sisters went to Cash Hill to look after an aunt (I believe on the ARMSTRONG side of the family.)
Andrew had several brothers for which I have names but nothing else. ( William, George Henry, Joseph, Mitchell).
Does any of this ring any bells? The family was strongly Methodist beginning with Andrew's parents, George and Elizabeth (ARMSTRONG) HENDERSON, although some of the brothers retained their Anglican roots.
I am anxious to find out more about Andrew's older brothers and also the family of my Robert 'David'.
Thank you for your time and any help you can offer, particularly on where to get information in Enniskillan when you don't know parishes concerned.
Donna Lee
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Hi,
I would love to believe that all these folk, and all of us were/are connected. Since this isn't so far back, perhaps we can all connect through DNA. If we connect there, it makes the search for paper proof more eminent. There are probably records we can search but, currently it must be done in Ireland and it is page by page searching. Both my sister and I have tested at Family Tree DNA. I am happy to give you access to my Henderson database on Ancestry. None of it is connected just names right now. Since this is your first message I cant send you my email online here at rootschat, with my email. Make a couple more postings and we can communicate privately.
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I am not sure my Robert 'David' HENDERSON is related to Andrew HENDERSON, but circumstantial evidence sure points that way. My stumbling block is knowing how to work the N.Ireland end. Any help would be appreciated.
Donna Lee
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Dhontario you mentioned about religious differences. I have researched this and the differences were between the Primitive Wesleyans and the Methodists.
When Charles Wesley died, he had requested that the funeral service should be conducted by the Church of England The Wesleys never intended to set up a separate Methodist Religion. It was meant to be an offshoot of the C of E.
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Sue in NY,
That is a very intriguing story about how families would punsih the younger generation for attending Methodist meetings.
By any chance do you remember the title of the book on Methodisim that you found this information?
Thank you!
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Hello all,
I’m a little late joining back into this thread, but better late than never as they say.
I’ve been in contact with several of you here, Mike is my 2nd cousin (but we knew that long before DNA testing), and DNA and Y-DNA have proven I’m related to others here also.
Mike did a Y-DNA test several years ago which shows our Hendersons from the parish of Derryvullan are related to Donna’s line from Drumconnis (Magheracross parish) and Dave’s line from Cashel (Inishmacsaint parish). Additionally, land records show a VERY close relationship between William Henderson of Cash Hill (then a farm and now a sub-townland in the townland of Drumbulcan, Magheracross parish) and Donna’s line at Drumconnis.
From another of Mike’s Y-DNA matches, I was given some very interesting information that seems to prove that almost all, if not all, the Hendersons of Magheracross and Derryvullan parishes of County Fermanagh were/are related, and then there is the DNA evidence that shows a relationship with the Hendersons at Inishmacsaint also.
There does seem to be some discrepancy, however, with Ann Henderson and James Copeland. The book that some refer to, HISTORY OF METHODISM IN IRELAND by Crookshank, does tell of how badly some of these young converts were treated by their parents, however, I wonder if the footnote that talks about Ann was possibly hand-written in? The reason I’m wondering is because there does not appear to be a footnote that is part of the book which states this. The book only mentions a “Miss Henderson” who “was obliged to leave home for a time, and retire to the house of Mr. Little, near Florence Court.” It doesn’t give her first name.
The part that is really confusing is that William Henderson of Cash Hill wrote a 1765 Indenture and a 1780 Will. In the 1765 Indenture, William states that his daughter, Ann, was married to a man named Maxwell (not Copeland). Also, Ann was William’s daughter by his first marriage and her birthdate is about 1745, not 1754.
In William’s 1780 Will, he mentions James Copeland and a son and daughter of James’, but unfortunately not the name of his wife. I have James married to Elizabeth (likely Elizabeth Jane) in my tree, not Ann, but after reading this thread, that must be wrong? Could James Copeland been married to Elizabeth, OR, is it possible that Anne was first married to a Maxwell, and then sometime after 1765 she married James Copeland? Does anyone have anything concrete that says James Copeland was married to Ann? It would be nice to have something concrete that Ann was the one who was married to James Copeland.
Another oddity is the information that you provided Sue, that states, “The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Slack was married to a Mr. Thomas Mitchell near Monaghan. They had 6 daughters and 1 son, their eldest daughter was married to Mr. Henderson (this would be the William above) of Cash Hill near Ballinamallard…and their daughter Anne was married to Mr. James Copeland and resided first in Lissorty near Clones, then Lisbellaw four miles from Enniskillen, about 1776.” Do you remember where you found this information? Again, it would be helpful to know for sure where this information originated because it seems some information was missing from that account.
As Donna mentioned, William Henderson of Cash Hill (who was married to Jane Mitchell), their son George Henderson (also mentioned in the book) had a son named Andrew who wrote many journals of which 26 remain. In these journals Andrew talks about his family by name so we have some information we know for sure to be correct.
According to Andrew’s journals, William Henderson was first married to a woman we have no information on, but they had four children. Jane Mitchell (the oldest daughter mentioned above who married Mr. William Henderson) was first married to Joseph Hurst and had four children. When William’s first wife and Jane’s husband, Joseph, passed, that is when William Henderson and Jane (Mitchell) Hurst married and had five children together. The information that states “their oldest daughter was married to Mr. Henderson” seems to have left out that that she was first married to someone else.
Sue and Lilyione, I completely agree with you about the Hendersons of County Fermanagh being related and so far, DNA seems to prove that theory – at least for the Hendersons of Magheracross, Derryvullan, and Inishmacsaint parishes. Lilyione, I believe you have been in contact with my cousin, Audrey. We have been doing the same thing as far as a Henderson database. I would appreciate it if you would take a look at my tree on Ancestry and let me know your thoughts, and I’d love an invite to view your tree as well if you are still willing. I will also gladly share the documents I mentioned above with anyone who is interested.
I apologize for my VERY long post, but for those of you who know me or know of me, LONG emails are just what I seem to do! ;-)
Thank you, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing back from you.
Loni
(Lana Henderson-Lucas family tree on Ancestry)
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I went back over my notes, and I believe I understand the confusion and I have a theory that may help explain this confusion…
Here on RC, Sue in NY wrote: “…The daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Slack was married to a Mr. Thomas Mitchell near Monaghan. They had 6 daughters and 1 son, their eldest daughter was married to Mr. Henderson of Cash Hill near Ballinamallard…and their daughter Anne was married to Mr. James Copeland and resided first in Lissorty near Clones,…(then) Lisbellaw four miles from Enniskillen, about 1776” She said she found this information through Copeland references.
Sue also mentioned that according to the book, History of Methodism, Ann Henderson was sent for a while to live with the Little family at Florencecourt, however, the book only says, “Miss Henderson” but doesn’t mention a first name. Sue said that there is a footnote that says, “Anne Henderson was married to James Copeland of Lisbellaw”, but both these notes must have been handwritten in later because they are not part of the book.
Also, here on RC aghadowely shared a Flickr link to James Copeland’s headstone (last photo on that page) – which also includes his wife, ELIZABETH Copeland, and their daughter, Ann Thompson. These photos of the Old Magheracross Cemetery were taken by “Magheracross Boles” 13 years ago by John Boles who still lives in Ireland and is a known descendant of James and ELIZABETH Copeland.
The very last portion of the stone with Anne’s date of death and age is cut off in the photo, but the full text per John Boles via a later email reads: "Here lieth the body of James Copeland late of Lisbellaw who died the 22nd day of June 1815 in the 61st year of his age. Also of Elizabeth his wife who died the 6th day of January 1819 in the 62nd year of her age. And of Anne Thompson their daughter who depd (departed) this life the 8th day of August 1819 in the 28th year of her age".
https://www.flickr.com/photos/52897031@N06
This clearly shows that James was married to Elizabeth, not Anne. However, even James’ FindAGrave listing only has the first part of the inscription with his information, but disregards the information about his wife Elizabeth and daughter.
These names and dates match the death records at the Ireland Genealogy Project Archives:
James COPELAND
Lisbellaw
24/6/1815
Elizabeth COPELAND
Enniskillen
8/1/1819
Ann THOMPSON
Enniskillen
9/8/1819
https://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/fermanagh/churches/magheracross-bur.htm
*Notes: The dates in Ireland use the format day-month-year. Also note that names were spelled as they sounded, so spellings can vary, as in the case of Ann(e) above.
It appears that after James passed, Elizabeth went to live with their daughter, Ann, at Enniskillen, who then passed just a month after her mother.
Here is my theory… I think all the information is correct, but the interpretation needs some context and clarification.
I think it’s very likely that Mr. William Henderson of Cash Hill was in fact married to the eldest daughter of Thomas Mitchell of Monaghan, but this would have been William’s first wife, with whom he had a daughter named Anne, born about 1745. William’s first wife passed away sometime shortly after the birth of their fourth child, Frances, who was born about 1752.
According to William’s grandson’s journals, after his grandfather’s first wife passed, William then married Jane Mitchell who had first been married to Joseph Hurst. In those days it was very common if someone’s spouse passed away, many times the remaining widowed spouse would then marry a sibling of their spouse - which would fit perfectly with the accounts above.
The wording of Sue’s account, “their eldest daughter married Mr. Henderson” sounds to me like a first marriage, it does not sound like an older woman who had been married, had children, and was now widowed when she married Mr. Henderson, so I think it is very possible that William’s first wife was the eldest Mitchell daughter – the oldest sister of his second wife, Jane Mitchell.
So William’s wife and Jane Mitchell’s husband had both passed and then they married each other, and THEIR oldest daughter, Elizabeth, born abut 1757 (much closer to Sue’s date of 1754 for who she believed to be Anne) and she (Elizabeth) is the one who married James Copeland - just as James Copeland’s headstone shows, “wife Elizabeth”.
I think the confusion is likely just a misunderstanding of who “their” daughter was. Someone wrote that “their” eldest daughter, Anne, married James Copeland, but I think someone just assumed it was Anne knowing she was William’s eldest daughter, not knowing “their” was referring to William second marriage to Jane Mitchell, and “their” eldest daughter, Elizabeth. We know William’s oldest daughter is in fact Anne, so it was assumed it was Ann when someone wrote that footnote in Sue’s book.
So, in other words, James’s Copeland’s wife was not the oldest daughter from William’s first marriage, but the oldest daughter of his second marriage, and it was this daughter, Elizabeth, who married James Copeland, just as the records show.
There is no way to know for sure at this point if William’s first wife was in fact his second wife’s oldest sister, but we do know with certainty it was his second wife who was Jane Mitchell and we know their oldest daughter was Elizabeth, and it was Elizabeth who married James Copeland.