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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: Gilby on Monday 13 January 14 13:46 GMT (UK)
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I don’t know whether anyone will be able to help me with this, but hopefully the information will be of use to someone. If anyone is able to help I’d be very grateful... :)
I have come across a “family register” written in a pad by some relative. Unfortunately I think there are pages missing and I’m struggling to match the BMDs with the records available online. The register deals mostly with an “Alexander” family of Mount Pleasant House, Belfast. Until I found it I didn’t even know there were any Alexanders on our tree, so I’m a bit confused about how they’re related – though I think the connection may be in the Wylie name (see below).
(The suitcase in which I found this register includes papers belonging to Fergusons, Stevensons and McCauslands, with mentions of other relatives including the Killens, Gaults and Wylies.)
Apart from the Alexander family register, the pad has a few hand-written pages with some history of the Ferguson family of “Fourmileburn”, County Antrim (so the register was probably written by a Ferguson, or someone who married a Ferguson). After some searching on the internet I found that some of these lines match almost word for word a few paragraphs in a book called “Records of the Clan Fergusson or Ferguson” – presumably someone got the book and copied the lines out – or (highly unlikely) this pad I have was written by someone who contributed to the book.
I’ll post the information contained in the “family register” below and then I’ll explain what I know and what I’d like some help trying to figure out...
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Page 1:
Family Register
Arthur Alexander, Mount Pleasant House, Belfast
Born Christmas, 1806
Mary McCune, born at Dundesart, 13th May 1806
Mary McCune Alexander died at Mount Pleasant Ho. October 15th 1872
Arthur Alexander died at Mount Pleasant House January 4th 1879
Page 2:
Samuel Miller Alexander, born 14th February 1841
Mary Wylie born 30th November 1841
Married 17th April 1862
Arthur Alexander, born at Mount Pleasant, 3rd August 1863
Sydney Robert Alexander, born at Mount Pleasant, 20th March 1865
Henry Aybrand (??) Alexander, born at Berg St (??) N. Marlyberg (??), Natal, S.E. Africa, 9th Nov 1866
James McLean Alexander, born at Mount Pleasant, 26th (or 16th/6th) March 1870
Mary Alexander, born at Mount Pleasant, 17 Dec 1874
Samuel Maxwell Alexander, born at Mount Pleasant, 29th March 1878
Samuel Miller Alexander died August 6th 1880 at Mount Pleasant
Sydney Robert Alexander, died at Sydney, N.S. Wales, 6th Mar 1887
Page 3:
Mary Wiley Alexander, born 30th November 1841, dies July 21st 1913.
Anne Morrow, died April 13th 1924, aged 83, at Mount Pleasant House. Fifty years with Alexander family, buried in their ground in Borough Cemetary, Belfast.
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So, I mentioned I thought the link to my family was in the Wylie name. My great great grandmother was Mary Wylie Ferguson (born Oct 1864, married Samuel Brown Stevenson – incidentally if you know anything about him I’d love to hear). I think (though I have no proof yet) that Mary’s parents were James Ferguson (Justice of the Peace, died 1885) and Elizabeth Wylie (born 1837). My guess is that the above Mary Wylie in the family register was Elizabeth’s sister (pure speculation).
Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find very much information about the Alexander family. I don’t even know where exactly Mount Pleasant House was, and whether it still exists. There is a Mount Pleasant off Stranmillis in Belfast, but it now consists of a terrace and 4 houses, and Google street-view has missed it out.
I could visit the Alexander grave – but which Belfast cemetery is “Borough Cemetary”?
Even if I can’t find anything, hopefully the details in the family register will prove useful to someone.
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Summary of the confusing 13-page (!?) will of Arthur Alexander who died on January 4th 1879...
Unfortunately every other page of this will appears to have been damaged – or hasn’t scanned properly, and so is almost entirely illegible. I’m not good with joined-up writing, so even in the good parts there is a few words I’m not sure about, but this is what I’ve managed to glean:
He’s a merchant of Belfast. He names his sons Samuel Millar Alexander and Robert Alexander, and the latter’s son Arthur Alexander.
There are some things about the will I just can’t get to add up. Firstly he names his wife and executor, but according to the family register she died in 1872. Secondly, he talks of “when my” son Samuel’s wife reaches the age of 21. According to the family register they married in 1862 when she was 20, so there was only a ~7 month window in 1862 in which he could have written the will for these details to make sense (and the marriage of his son may have prompted him to write the will immediately thereafter).
However, the will states that it was written on the 3rd May 1876, after his wife had died, and a long time since his daughter in law had attained the age of 21. And, to make it even more confusing, a codicil at the end of the will is dated 28th Feb 1870, before the actual will was written???
The executors of the will: "...deceased was proved on the 19 day of February 1879 and probate thereof granted to Samuel Millar Alexander one of the executors therein named. Robert Alexander the other executor having duly renounced and Mary Alexander the executrix having died in the lifetime of said testator."
Other people mentioned are the Reverend William Johnston, Presbyterian Minister, and Robert Meharry/McHarvy (?), Grocer [both are mentioned repeatedly in relation to the Mount Pleasant property – perhaps tenants?]. Extract about Mount Pleasant House:
“...part of my estate known as the Mount Pleasant property being all that part of the lands of Stranmillis & containing four acres three woods and one perch (?) & English (?) or thereabouts situate in the Parish of Belfast Barony of Belfast and County (?) of Antrim and held under a curtain indenture (??) for lives renewable for ever dated [February 1847] and made before James Gardner (?) of the one part and myself if the other part with the appointments unto and to the use of the Reverend William Johnston (?) Presbyterian Minister and Robert Meharry/Mcharvy (?) Grocer both of Belfast their lives (?) and assigns for ever.”
The trustees and witnesses of the will: "And I hereby appoint Mr Joseph Wylie of Ballycushon (?) Templepatrick a trustee of my will with the other trustees in my said will mentioned ? witness whereof ? ? ? set my hand this third day of May...” [1876]. Witnesses Mary Magee (?) and James McLean (?) of Belfast both.
The name Joseph Wylie and his location is interesting. The Fergusons and Gault relations were mostly from the Templepatrick area, so this Joseph is presumably a relative – maybe he was the brother of Arthur Alexander’s daughter-in-law?
I don’t know who Mary Magee or James McLean are – but the latter name appears again as a name of one of Arthur’s grandchildren born in 1870 at Mount Pleasant (see the family register). He may have been a close family friend?
The final confusing detail of the will is that it talks about sums of £2000, yet the probate abstract says the estate was under £800...?
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Will of Samuel Millar Alexander who died August 6th 1880:
http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/willsSearchResultsDetails.aspx
Timber Merchant of Mount Pleasant, Belfast. Names Joseph Barron Wylie of Ballycushon and James Ferguson of Silver Springs (both farmers in Co. Antrim) trustees (the latter is said to have “duly renounced”). Talks of one seventh parts to each of his wife and children, which seems to confirm the family register in that he had 6 children. Dated 4th Feb 1879 with a codicil on 5th June 1880. Witnessed by James McLean (him again) and Nate (?) Lavery, Grace (?) Hill Downpatrick.
Will of Mary Alexander who died 1885:
James Gault Executor. Nephews John Gault, James Gault and Robert Gault. William Alexander, son of Arthur Alexander Ballymather. Jane Ferguson, wife of John Ferguson, Annadale. Residue to sister Ellen. Witnesses Joseph M Harper (?) and Samuel J Harper (?).
[Presumably Mary was a Gault who married an Alexander. Jane Ferguson who she mentions may be Jane Gault who married John Ferguson, brother of James Ferguson who married Elizabeth Wylie. Arthur Alexander may have been he who was born at Mount Pleasant in 1863?]
Alexander family in 1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Cromac/Mountpleasant_Street/970341/
Mary (59) and son Henry A (34) ... also servant Annie Marson (58)
Alexander family in 1911 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Cromac/Mountpleasant/165718/
Mary (69) and daughter Mary (36) ... also servants Anne Morrow (69), Eliza Morrow (72) and Francis Briggs (18)
Mount Pleasant is in the census described as "4 Mount Pleasant". Maybe they sold some of the land to be built on and the house became one of several of Mountpleasant...?
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Mount Pleasant is in the census described as "4 Mount Pleasant". Maybe they sold some of the land to be built on and the house became one of several of Mountpleasant...?
No, the number, in this case 4, on the census is the enumerator's number and not part of an actual address.
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Aah, ok, thanks aghadowey.
I've now got hold of the baptism and church records of the First Donegore church, the church to which the Fergusons belonged (very kindly given to me for free - and one shudders to think about the amount of work that went into transcribing the records). I'm hoping to find some leads there, or at least to confirm some facts...
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From the 1868 Belfast street directory on the Lennon Wylie website (under "S" for "Stranmillis"), you can see that there is a Mount Pleasant House occupied by Arthur Alexander and a number of houses next to it under the label "Mount Pleasant":
http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/scomplete1868.htm
There may be other references in the street directories.
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Oh, thanks! It hadn't occurred to me to check that...
Mount Pleasant House
Alexander, Arthur, coal merchant
Mount Pleasant
1. Wylie, John, tea merchant
2. Gibb, Alexander (of Charles Tennant & Co., 42 Donegall Street)
3. McFarland, Wm., stationer's assistant
4. King, William (of Arnott & Co.)
5. Dennison, John, woollen merchant
6. Audain, Colonel
7. Russell, David (firm of MacArthur & Co., stationers)
8. Ferguson, James, woollen draper
9. Ferguson, Mrs.
I'm not sure about the layout - presumably the residence is named above the names and not vice versa? So those 9 names below are all people living in other houses at Mount Pleasant? Looking at Google maps, I'm guessing these 9 are the three detached houses plus the terrace, and "Mount Pleasant House" is probably the one at the back (west) with the fancy garden.
The names could be very significant. It is possible that James Ferguson could be my ggg grandfather who's main residence was Silversprings in Parkgate, Antrim - will need to look into this; he was mainly a farmer, but also owned a flax and corn mill, and could also have been involved in woollen drapery. Does Mrs Ferguson being listed at number 9 indicate that she was living in a different house, and therefore unlikely to be the wife of James Ferguson...?
John Wylie, tea merchant is also interesting. My James Ferguson married Elizabeth Wylie. Meanwhile Samuel Millar Alexander (son of Arthur Alexander of Mount Pleasant House) married Mary Wylie. I wonder if this John was a brother or the father of Mary and/or Elizabeth...
Thanks for spotting that Gaffy ;D
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Ok, I have dug up the will of "Jane Ferguson of 7 Mount Pleasant" written in 1954 and 1955 (two versions with little difference). I found this over Christmas, but I hadn't realised until I re-examined it that she was living at Mount Pleasant, or that she mentions an Alexander in her will.
These are the people she mentions:
My nephew John Ferguson Stevenson and his wife Cis Stevenson [my g grandparents]
Mrs. Helen Stevenson widow of my late nephew S.B. Stevenson [S.B.S. was the brother of John F.S. above]
My niece Mrs. Ellie Alexander of 10 Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast [!!!]
My niece Evelyn M. Gault of 10 Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast
My nephew Robert Murdoch Gault and his wife Adele Gault
My niece Mrs. Lisa Byre (?) Evans of 16c Elvaston Place, London
The list goes on to include several grandnieces and nephews and a couple of great grandnieces/nephews some of whom are still alive (and others I don't know, so may be alive). The will also mentions Canon Lindsay of Mountpleasant, and maids, nurses etc.
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Time for some family tree stuff to try and explain the names mentioned above. This is what I have so far:
James Ferguson (1826-1885) m. (in 1860) Elizabeth Wylie (1837-1916)
- Jane Ferguson (b. 1861) ... presumably died young??
- Margaret Ferguson (b. 1862) m. James Gault (b. c1848) and had issue:
- Ellen Gault (b. c1882)
- James Ferguson Gault (b. 1883)
- Elizabeth Gault (b. c 1886)
- John Gault (b. c 1888)
- Evelyn M. Gault (b. c1893)
- Robert Murdoch Gault (b. c1898)
- Mary Ferguson (b. 1864) m. Samuel Brown Stevenson (b. c1851) and had issue:
- John Ferguson Stevenson (c1890-1962) m. Cis McCausland
- William King Stevenon (b. c1892)
- Samuel Brown Stevenson (b. c1899) m. Helen
- Mary W. Stevenson (b. c1900)
- At least one other daughter (will of S.B.S. senior refers to "Daughters")
- Jane Ferguson (b. 1866)
- Sophia Ferguson (b. 1869)
- John Ferguson (b. 1871) m. Anna Cunningham (1872-1956), but had no children.
I'm assuming Jane (b. 1861) died young because having a younger sister also called Jane makes no sense. The second Jane is the Jane Ferguson of 7 Mount Pleasant in the above will. I don't know whether or not Sophia (b. 1869) ever married.
So I can explain most of the names mentioned in the will apart from Mrs Ellie Alexander and Mrs Lisa Evans. Given that Evelyn M. Gault is living with Mrs Ellie Alexander, I'd guess they're probably sisters, which means the latter is presumably "Ellen Gault" born about 1882.
Until I saw the will I did not know Samuel B. Stevenson had married someone called Helen, but I know he was in England during WW1 (based on letters in the family papers), and he may have stayed there, so my guess is that Mrs Lisa Evans is the daughter of Helen and Samuel Brown Stevenson. I just need to find the birth records now...
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I looking at my 1920 map for that area of Belfast and I can see the word "Mountpleasant" next to the terrace sitting end-on to the Stranmillis Road (as it does today) but also a large adjoining property (on the Belfast side) with two houses set back from the Road in a field / garden, this property seems to be where St. Bartholomew's Church currently is.
St. Bartholomew's Church was designed by a man called William Taggart in the period 1928 - 1930, so presumably the adjoining property with two houses in the 1920 map made way for the church in that approximate time frame.
Then I looked up Arthur Alexander in Griffiths Valuation (even though the website says it is under maintenance, it worked for me this morning):
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
I found him in Shankill civil parish, Malone Lower townland occupying a property (house, offices, and land) of just over 4 acres and when you look at the accompanying map, it is clearly marked "Mountpleasant", covers the same footprint as the terrace and two houses (+field/garden) in my 1920 map, but the terrace and one of the two houses isn't there (ie. it is a single house in a 4+ acre plot). There is a clever "slider" in the top right hand corner of the map in that website that allows you to superimpose the old map with a current map.
I reckon that is Mountpleasant house, see what you think.
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This is so cool! I didn’t know you could view this for free online. I’ve found the Mount Pleasant House, and I agree – it’s a perfect fit. The house looks unaltered judging by google maps, I’d assumed the bits at the back were recent extensions, but that is how it’s shown on Griffith’s.
Is there any way we can tell what date the maps are? Sometime between 1825 and 1844 wikipedia tells me. Also, what do all the numbers ("14", "3B") etc correspond to - and is there a way to search them to see who owned a plot of land, rather than the other way around?
I wasn’t quite sure how your 1920 map shows it... does it have the original house, with a terrace, and opposite the terrace where there are now three houses + church there are two houses. So those two houses were knocked down between 1920 and 1928 to be replaced by three houses and a church as it is now...?
The 4 acres matches what Arthur Alexander talks about in his will (1879). He also seems to talk about two tenants: Rev. William Johnston and Robert Meharry/Mcharvy – maybe these two lived in the two other houses on your 1920 map. The terrace may have been built after the extra two houses (between 1879 and 1920)?
That all seems to make sense, unless I’m getting it all arse about face...
Thanks very much again Gaffy ;D
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Hi
I am researching Lieutenant John Ferguson Stevenson.
I am not sure but you may have posted on the Great War Forum about him.
There are a series of extracts from his letters. He was made POW in May 1918.
David
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From marriage notice in the Dublin Freeman's Journal of 21st April 1862, it would seem that Samuel M Alexander's wife, Mary Wiley [stet], was the youngest daughter of the then late E. D. Wiley of Ballycushan House, County Antrim.
Certainly, there were Wileys in Ballycushan at time of 1901/11 census. One with name E Davis Wiley, perhaps a descendent of the aforementioned E D Wiley.
And mention of a Wiley at Ballycushan in an old post on Rootschat:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0xtn/
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Scotmum – thank you very much. That has led me to a little breakthrough. I followed the link and found Mary Wylie had exactly the right D.O.B. to be the one who married Samuel Millar Alexander. Then at the weekend I finally found this notice in the Belfast Newsletter April 28th 1860:
“April 26, in Templepatrick Trinitarian Church, by the Rev.H. M. C. Hamilton, assisted by the Rev. U. J. Gillespie, Donegore, Mr James Ferguson, Four-mile-burn, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Mr E. D. Wiley, Ballycushion, Templepatrick.”
So there we go – that answers one of the main questions I had in mind when I created this thread. Now I know how the Alexander family were related and why some relative wrote down the family tree. By the way, where does one access the Dublin Freeman’s Journal – is it available online? (I couldn’t find Mary’s marriage in the Belfast Newsletter.)
I’ve started to realise how useful the Belfast burial records are... Grave K 343, City Cemetery, Belfast:
Mary Alexander NK 11 January 1949 13 January 1949
Mary Alexander 71 Years 20 July 1913 22 July 1913
Samuel M Alexander 39 Years 6 August 1880 9 August 1880
Jane Wiley 76 Yrs 13 June 1884 16 June 1884
I reckon Jane Wiley (b. c1808) was the wife of Ezekial Wylie (b. 1805).
Also, the grave next to this (K 342) is Ann Morrow (died 12 April 1924, aged 83), who was mentioned in the family register as a long-standing servant of the family (she also shows up in the census).
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I’ve been to visit the old Donegore graveyard where I found the grave of James Ferguson and Elizabeth (nee Wylie) and James’ parents. The first Jane Ferguson, born in 1861 did indeed die young (that year). Elizabeth Wylie was born in 1830, not 1837 (I don’t know where I got ’37 from).
I now have more information on Samuel Brown Stevenson. His wife was Helen Isabella Reid. They had a daughter called Elizabeth Finlay Stevenson (1915-1999), who married Frederick Arthur Bishop who was principal private secretary to two prime ministers; Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan. They also had a son, again called Samuel Brown Stevenson (at least 4th in a line), who was born in 1922 in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Unfortunately he died during the Second World War on the 14th January 1944. He was an RAF navigator, and he’s buried in the Netherlands, so I’m guessing they were shot down.
I no longer think the Lisa Evans mentioned in the will of Jane Ferguson was a daughter of Samuel B and Helen I Stevenson. For a start, she was just a niece, not a grandniece – which puts her in the same generation as Samuel. Also, I now know they had a daughter called Elizabeth (or Betty), so I doubt they’d have had a Lisa too. So, I think Lisa Evans must have been Elizabeth Gault.
I still need to find a few marriage records to confirm that. I would update (and correct) the family info I posted at the top of page two, but I can’t edit the post, so I’ll have to post it again below...
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James Ferguson (1826-1885) m. (in 1860) Elizabeth Wylie (1830-1916)
• Jane Ferguson (1861-1861)
• Margaret Ferguson (b. 1862) m. James Gault (b. c1848) and had issue:
1. Ellen Gault (b. c1882) ... possibly married --- Alexander?
2. James Ferguson Gault (b. 1883)
3. Elizabeth Gault (b. c 1886) ... possibly married --- Evans?
4. John Gault (b. c 1888)
5. Evelyn M. Gault (b. c1893)
6. Robert Murdoch Gault (b. c1898)
• Mary W Ferguson (b. 1864) m. Samuel Brown Stevenson (b. c1850) and had issue:
1. Unknown Stevenson (1887-1887) stillborn
2. Samuel Brown Stevenson (c1888-1926) m. Helen Isabella Reid
3. John Ferguson Stevenson (c1890-1962) m. E.F. McCausland (b. 1894)
4. William King Stevenson (c1891-1932) m. Grace --- (b. 1895 in Canada)
5. Mary W. Stevenson (b. 1899) m. --- Brown
• Jane Ferguson (b. 1866)
• Sophia Ferguson (b. 1869-1935)
• John Ferguson (1871-1922) m. Anna Cunningham (1872-1956), but had no children.
According to the gravestone in Donegore, Sophie Ferguson died “at her residence, 7 Mount Pleasant Belfast.” So she was living with (or next door to) her cousins, the Alexanders of Mount Pleasant.
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Just to update this thread.
Ezekiel D Wiley of Ballycushan baptised 13 Oct 1805 was the son of Hugh Wiley of Templepatrick. I have a couple of known sisters ( Isabella b1803 and Fanny b 1808) and my own 3xgt grandmother Mary Wiley baptised 13 March 1799 was likely another sister. Mary married James Graham of Ballycushan and the names Ezekiel Davis/ David Wiley carry on through 3 generations of Grahams in Antrim.
Ezekiel Wiley married Jane Barron in 1828. John Barron married another possible sister of Ezekiel, Ellen Wiley on 16 Sep 1820. These records are extracts from the record office microfilm CR4/12a/1
Isabella Wiley married a Samuel Alexander on 11 Feb 1824. I think it is likely that the this Samuel Alexander is from the same family that Ezekiel's daughter married into in the next generation.
Cheers
Linda
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Hi Linda, thanks for posting that.
I'd love to join up Samuel Alexander with these Alexanders of Mount Pleasant. I've been wondering for a while now what their connection was with the Antrim-Ballyclare area - especially since there were Alexander families in the neighbourhood.
Another name that I've started to see popping up is McCune (Arthur Alexander b1806 married Mary McCune b1806). Maybe the McCunes were from the area too.
Do you know if John Barron who married Ellen Wiley was any relation to Jane Barron who married Ezekial Wiley?
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I'm not sure if I've mentioned it here before, but the family register had within it a memorial service leaflet for the funeral of Rev. Robert Workman on the 15th February 1921. For ages I wondered what the connection was - but I think I've now more or less cracked it.
Firstly, I know the Newtownbreda Church was the local Church for several members of my family (Gilbert, Stevenson and McCausland branches). In fact my grandparents even married there.
Secondly, thanks to help from various people I've found on the internet, and a book called "Robert Workman of Newtownbreda" I now know of at least 5 family connections (so far):
1. Robert Workman had a cousin of the same name who married Jane Service (whose mother was a Workman). Jane had a sister Margaret who married Sir James Porter White Corry and his niece, Bethia Adelaide Corry married my great granduncle, Thomas Gilbert.
2. Robert and Jane's youngest son, Francis Workman, married Sarah McCausland, my 1st cousin 3 times removed.
3. The Rev. Robert Workman himself married Sarah Peile Davis. Her sister, Jane Agnes Davis married Josias Cunningham and their daughter Anna Wise Cunningham married John Ferguson, my great great granduncle (see the family tree about 3 posts up).
4. Rev. Workman had a daughter, Emily Davis Workman who married James William Corry, brother of the Bethia Adelaide Corry mentioned above.
5. One of his other daughters, Genevive Sarah Peile Workman married Edward Brice Killen, a 1st cousin, 4 times removed of mine.
I had great fun finding all that out :) I'm not sure whether it is strictly relevant to this thread, but since the Workman memorial thing was in the Ferguson/Alexander family register I think it is, sort-of...
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I have a couple of updates to my research on this subject.
Firstly, I was browsing the Belfast burial records when I noticed that when the Stevenson graves (C2 107 and C2 108) were first registered/bought (?) the address for Samuel Brown Stevenson was “7 Mount Pleasant” (when I visited I was allowed a look at the book). This was the last place of residence for the earliest Stevenson burial – a stillborn child – in 1887.
The plot thickens! I’ve had Alexanders, Fergusons, possibly Wileys, and now Stevensons living in this tiny corner of Belfast. I didn’t expect that when I started this thread. [Edit: by the end of this post I could also add Gault to that list.]
I’ve now been shown how to look up the valuations records on PRONI, so I had a good hunt through for all I could find on Mount Pleasant. As Gaffy had discovered, the terrace wasn’t there in the earliest (Griffith’s?) valuation, but I’ve found it was added in in the 1865-1881 book (so that narrows down the date of construction).
There is a red ink note when the terrace is added to the valuation book which says, “a terrace of large good houses in progress, will not be ...[complete?]... in some months yet.” Is there any way to tell what date the different colours of writing were?
I wasn’t sure if the Alexanders had had to sell half the garden for the development, but it looks like Arthur Alexander himself was behind the project, as he continued to be the “immediate lessor” until his death (1879) when his wife Mary (nee Wiley) took over. After her death in 1913 the landlord is “Reps Arthur Alexander.” Does anyone know what the reps means --- represent?
The earliest entry for Arthur Alexander I can is as a tenant in Mountpleasant, Stranmillis Rd, with immediate lessor listed as “Rep Rev Geo. M Black” (there’s that ‘rep’ thing again).
It gets interesting again in the 1915-1930 valuation book after Mary (nee Wiley) Alexander’s death. Mary had been living at No4, Mountpleasant and her name was stroked out to be replaced by Margaret Gault (whose husband James died in 1906). Margaret’s two unmarried sisters, Jane and Sophia Ferguson, moved into No7 (that one which keeps popping up). (The sisters’ mother was Elizabeth Wiley, sister of Mary Wiley.)
Going back a bit to look at this House No7. In the 1882-1897 valuation book, the period during which the Stevensons apparently stayed there, the occupier was Anna Ferguson. I’ve no idea who she was! Bearing in mind Samuel Brown Stevenson (Jr) married Mary Wiley Ferguson, I think this Anna was probably a close relative. But the only Anna Ferguson I can find on my tree is Anna Wise Cunningham who married John Ferguson (brother in law of SB Stevenson) – but she was only born in 1872 – and her husband John didn’t die until 1922 – and anyway, they lived at Silversprings in Parkgate, not Belfast.
To be solved...
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Just to let you know. The reps are the representatives and usually appear after the occupant has died and before estates are settled.
Re the James Alexander who married Ann Barron in 1841, not seen on this thread but in private message, there is a will for a James Alexander snr of Sizehill who died 1890.
The probable corresponding death puts James birth at c1811 so there is a good chance he is the husband of Ann Barron. The will does not mention a wife so she probably pre-deceased James. One son John and several daughters are named.
In looking for this James , I cam across the Will of another James Alexander of Holestone who died 1887 & named a granddaughter Elizabeth Ferguson Alexander.
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Imgnz,
Don't know if this is relevant but James Alexander married Elizabeth Ferguson In Downpatrick Civil Registrars Office in 1857.
Regards
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Thank you Kingskerwell,
I have just been looking through the Fergusons in the 1901 census to see who was where. Only there were so many that I have so far just kept to the Donegore families. Adam B Ferguson of Muckamore, was one of the executors of James Alexander of Holestone. I haven't reached Holestone Fergusons in the census yet.
James Alexander of Holestone was married to an Elizabeth so that looks like it could be his marriage or possibly that of his son James. I have yet to match up the family named in the 1887 Will with census records to get their respective ages sorted out. I do not know if Elizabeth Ferguson from presumably Downpatrick is related to either of the two Templepatrick Ferguson families.
Cheers
Linda (NZ)
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I have just found that Elizabeth Ferguson Alexander, born 28 Oct 1880, was the daughter of Robert Alexander and Elizabeth Robinson.
Robert was another of the sons listed in James Alexander's Will of 1887. So it seems likely that the 1857 marriage was for Robert's parents, James Alexander and Elizabeth Ferguson.
Only Robert's brother Andrew who inherited the farms at Hoelstone, appears in Holestone in 1911.
:)
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Are you still looking for information on the Alexander family of Mount Pleasant? I am the granddaughter of James McLean Alexander and I have plenty of info.
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Hi.
Yes. We probably know a bit more about this family than we did when I first posted, but I would love to hear more!
James McClean Alexander was a first cousin of my gg grandmother Mary Wylie Ferguson. My great grandfather was actually born at 7 Mount Pleasant (presumably at his aunt’s house).
Gilby
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Hi
Yes Gilby and I are still active on the Wiley front. I have just had my DNA tested through Ancestry and am very interested to find any other Wiley descendants who have done the same. So far I don't know any apart from Gilby, who did not have his DNA tested on Ancestry. :'(
But just to go over old ground this is our shared family
Family of Hugh and Mary Wiley of Ballycushan Templepatrick.
Agnes (Nancy) born c 1798 married John McBride of Craigarogan
Mary (Wylie) bapt 13 Mar 1799 married James Graham of Ballycushan d 1881
Ellen born c 1800 married John Barron of Ballynalough d 1878
Isabella bapt 28 Jan 1803 married Samuel Alexander of Umgall d 1848
Ezekiel D bapt 13 Oct 1805 married Jane Barron or Roghfort d 1854
Fanny Scott bapt 6 Jan 1808 died 1811
Mary Wiley who married Samuel Miller Alexander (=parents of James McLean Alexander) was the daughter of Ezekiel D Wiley.
Samuel Miller Alexander was the son of Arthur Alexander and Mary McCune.
Samuel's uncle was the Samuel Alexander of Umgall who married Isabella Wiley.
I only know one son for James McLean Alexander and that is John Osmond MacDonald Alexander born Sydney 1916 and died Northumberland 1984.
We cannot post details of living people or email addresses but when you have enough posts (?3) then we can private message. Or maybe we can already but you can't.
Cheers
Linda
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I’ll concentrate on Samuel Miller Alexander b 1841 and his older brother Robert Alexander b 1837(?). Both sons finished their education in Germany. Their father Arthur (or possibly his father) built Mount Pleasant House in the 1830s; by the 1960s its name had been changed to Summerhill, and it was demolished I think in the 1970s.
Robert married Anne Gregg at Derryvolgie House which was built by Anne’s father. They moved to Liverpool where Robert founded the Sun Shipping Co in 1874, which became part of the Hall Line in 1899. Robert was also a director of the Suez Canal company. Their son Ernest Wright Alexander 1870-1934 was a much-decorated Major-General in WW1.
Samuel Miller Alexander met Mary Wiley b 1841 when they were best man and bridesmaid at Robert and Anne’s wedding at Derryvolgie. Sam inherited his father’s timber business but neglected and lost it. Their children were
Arthur b 1863 moved to Australia and had family there
Sydney Robert b 1865 died in Sydney, Australia 1887
Henry Aylward b 1866 in Natal, moved to Canada and had family in British Columbia
James McLean b 1870
Mary b 1874 didn’t marry
Samuel Maxwell b 1878 married a Gault and had family in England.
James McLean (Jim) Alexander was a civil engineer and worked all over the world: surveying (on muleback) and building the highest railway in the world in Bolivia, and the Broken Hill railway in Australia; surveys in Greece and Haifa; managing the construction of the hydro scheme and paper mill at Corner Brook, Newfoundland. His only child was John Osmond MacDonald Alexander, my father, who was born during Jim’s time in Australia.
Mary Wiley’s mother, Jane Barron b 1808 who married Ezekiel Davis Wiley, was very tall with red hair. She was one of seven sisters who were each left a farm by their father.
Lucie
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Hi Lucie,
Thanks very much for all this information. I’m going to be away for a day or two but I will want to ask lots more questions when I’m back!
Your branch of the family seems to have been all over! Where have you ended up yourself? I live in Northern Ireland – I grew up not far from where the Wileys and Barrons farmed. (I am your 3rd cousin 2x removed by the way.)
Do you happen to know if this Arthur Alexander was the father of Arthur who married Mary McCune?
In Loving memory of Arthur Alexander, died 9th October 1817, also his great-grandson, Ian Malcolm, died 24th June 1994.
Mary Wiley’s mother, Jane Barron b 1808 who married Ezekiel Davis Wiley, was very tall with red hair. She was one of seven sisters who were each left a farm by their father.
What a fantastic piece of information!! Does this come from a letter or something from someone who knew her?
We have found out quite a bit about Joseph Barron and his seven daughters. I knew some of his sons-in-law ended up farming land he’d owned, but I didn’t know he’d given a farm to each daughter.
We’re pretty sure he was married to Elizabeth Fee, but we don’t know who the parents were of either. Do you?
Thanks,
Gilby
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Hello- I’ve recently just had a breakthrough and discovered the family of my great x2 grandmother: she was Agnes Elizabeth Walker and as far as I can see she was the great granddaughter of Hugh Wiley 1748-1828.
I’m still trying to get my head around all of this on ancestry but sounds like some of you here might be my distant relatives! I have had a DNA test so would be interesting to connect on ancestry and see if there’s a match...
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Yes we would be related. Gilby and I are 5th cousins once removed.
I have tested on Ancestry and I do have a 4th cousin DNA match in the family of Agnes Walker nee Graham, granddaughter of Hugh Wiley. (I can't tell from your Rootschat name if that is you, but my DNA match is to the Agnes Elizabeth Walker line.). As I have only just found the family of Agnes and William Walker in Greyabbey I have been adding them to myAncestry over this last week.
My latest discovery this week is the family of their son William Walker who was a teacher at Cloughey when his father William Walker died in 1890. William Walker junior married in 1877 and his daughter Caroline was born in Portavogie in 1878 (home of William's wife Mary Jane McVeigh). This is all in Co Down but William had moved to Spamount St, Belfast by 1901 and a clerk to a wine merchant, so safely back in Antrim territory.
Cheers
Linda
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You will probably already know about these people, but I will post the information in hopes that it might help another researcher:
Oct. 1865--Fisherwick Place Church, Belfast
James Blow, Esq. of Dunadry, to Anna, eldest dau of
Johy Wylie, Esq., Mount Pleasant, Belfast.
Feb. 27, 1867--At Bournemouth.
Death of Alexander D., eldest son of John Wylie, Esq.,
Mount Pleasant, Belfast
June 11, 1867--Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church
Edward Dale, Jr., Esq. of Cork, to Eliza Jane, eldest daughter
of James Ferguson, Esq., Mountpleasant, Belfast
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Hi FRC76,
Yes, I think that makes you something like my 6th cousin. I’ve done DNA testing too, but so far my results are only on FTDNA and GEDmatch.
Gilby
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On the question of John Wylie of 1 Mount Pleasant…
Northern Whig, 8th Jan 1872:
WYLIE - January 7, at 1, Mount Pleasant, Belfast, John Wylie. His remains will be removed for interment in the New Burying-ground, Antrim Road, on Wednesday morning, the 10th inst., at ten o'clock.
Clifton Cemetery - Registry
1872 January 7
John Wylie
(Paralysis)
Aged 77
Merchant
1 Mountpleasant
Native of Larne, Co Antrim
12, Grave Number 19
His family connection with Mount Pleasant continued through till 1909 with William Wylie’s death at 8 Mount Pleasant in 1909. He was living with his brother-in-law James Blow who was still there in 1909. Skip forwards 30 years and…
Belfast Newsletter, 2nd May 1940:
Wylie - May 1, 1940, at her residence, Ingleby, Mount Pleasant, Belfast, Mary, last surviving child of the late William A. Wylie, Rushvale, Ballyclare. Funeral private. No flowers, please.
It is possible John Wylie (c1795-1872) of Mount Pleasant (native of Larne) was related to William Andrew Wylie (1800-1881) of Rushvale, who probably grew up near Ballynure. I’m not aware of any connection between them and my Wylie family of Ballycushan, Templepatrick.
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James Ferguson of 8 Mount Pleasant moved to 5 Fountainville Avenue in about 1876 and died there in 1881. He was buried in Balmoral Graveyard:
In Loving Remembrance of ANNE CLARK WIFE OF JAMES FERGUSON who died 13th May 1873.
And of his daughter ADELAIDE MARTHA who died 20th Sept 1875.
Also his infant son JOHN MACNAUGHTAN who died 9th Jan 1862.
The above JAMES FERGUSON died 17th Jan 1881, aged 81 years.
Also his son WILLIAM DEEBLE FERGUSON died 29th Nov 1936 aged 80 years.
I guess James Ferguson and Anne married in about 1840-5. I’d love to find their marriage to see if there was any connection to the Fergusons of Parkgate/Doagh, but so far I’ve no evidence for it.
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I take it that the Ferguson family of Doah/Parkgate is the family of James Ferguson (1826-1885) who married Elizabeth Wiley (1830-1916) daughter of Ezekiel Wiley?
The reason I ask is that I have just been contacted through Ancestry by someone who belongs to their grandson James Ferguson Gault (b1883) and wife Elizabeth Patterson who emigrated to Canada. I see in my tree that James Ferguson who married Elizabeth Wiley was the son of John Ferguson (1796-1834) and his wife Margaret Gault. From memory I think they were from Doah.
Cheers
Linda
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Hi Linda – yes, my Fergusons of Parkgate go like this (skipping out a few people):
William Shaw FERGUSON (c1754-1834) m. _____ LYNDON
John FERGUSON (1796-1834) m. Margaret GAULT (1801-1869)
Sophia FERGUSON (1820-1890) m. John GAWN (1814-1888)
James FERGUSON (1826-1885) m. Elizabeth WILEY (1830-1916)
Jane FERGUSON (1861-1861)
Margaret FERGUSON (1862-1947) m. James GAULT (1848-1906)
Mary Wylie FERGUSON (1864-1943) m. Samuel Brown STEVENSON (1850-1911)
Jane FERGUSON (1866-1955)
Sophia FERGUSON (1869-1935)
John FERGUSON (1871-1922) m. Anna Wise CUNNINGHAM
William FERGUSON (1828-1854)
Alexander FERGUSON (1830-1910) m. Eleanor MARTIN (c1834-1916)
Jane FERGUSON (1833-?)
John FERGUSON (1835-1890) m. Jane GAULT (c1842-1893)
Three Ferguson-Gault marriages in total.