RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: Forfarian on Thursday 16 September 21 20:29 BST (UK)
-
John MacGeach Dickson was born about 1860 in County Tyrone, parents Thomas Alexander Dickson and Elizabeth Greer MacGeach. In 1889 he married Catherine Crum Denny in Dumbarton, Scotland, and the marriage certificate describes him as a barrister. There were 3 children: Christian Leslie (1891-1940), Kathleen Elizabeth (1894-1975) and Thomas Nasmyth (b 1901).
Bwteen 1891 and 1894 he moved to Kilmallock, Co Limerick, as Resident Magistrate. In 1908 he was reportedly appointed a RM in Belfast, but in 1911 he was RM in Fermoy, County Cork. He was appointed RM in Waterford in 1921. His widow died in Co Cork in 1940 at the home of her daughter Christian, who married the Reverend Francis George Mulholland Kennedy, but I have failed so far to find John's death.
I have most of the relevant BMD certificates, the 1901 and 1911 census, and what I can glean from the Irish newspapers on FindMyPast, which is not a lot. I have tried the Irish Times but found nothing that looked worth subscribing for. I tried the Irish national archives but found nothing.
Does anyone have any other suggestions please?
-
He died in Devon. There should be a copy of his will in a probate file in PRONI in Belfast. Resealed indicates he had assets in more than one jurisdiction so there should be copies in London and Belfast.
This from the PRONI wills index:
Dickson John MacGeagh of 22 Morton Crescent Exmouth Devon and of 7 Fairfield Close Exmouth Devon died 11 August 1938 at latter place Probate London 14 September 1938 to Catherine Crum Dickson the widow. Effects in Northern Ireland £210 10s. Re-sealed Belfast 14 July 1941.
-
Thanks, Elwyn.
It had just begun to dawn on me that Devon was a possibility because the notice in the Singapore Free Press of his son's engagement gives his parents' address as Fermoy, Ireland, but the report of the wedding two months later gives it as Exmouth!
Very unhelpfully, FindMyPast's index to the England and Wales Calendar of Probate omits his middle name, though it's there in the original.
I'm planning a trip to PRONI when they reopen properly so I'll add that to the list.
Much appreciated.
-
Keep an eye on the PRONI website. There’s an easing of visiting restrictions imminent (according to my sources). At the moment you have to book an appointment and can only order a max of 10 items in advance. My understanding is that you will still need an appointment but the need to order in advance is likely to be dropped. You may be able to order what you want, on the day of your visit (as used to be the case).
If you already have a reader's ticket, then sit tight. If not, you could order one now in readiness.
-
Thanks.
The plan is to go and stay with a friend who lives not far from Belfast and regularly uses PRONI so she is keeping me right about the restrictions. I'll order a reader's ticket when the visit looks likely to happen - wouldn't want it to expire before I get there :)
-
A reader’s ticket is valid for 10 years. It’s issued free. Bring photo id. They issue the tickets at reception (or there is system for applying in advance).
However there should be a copy of this will on the Wills site for England & Wales:
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Dickson&yearOfDeath=1938#wills
It’s in the indexes OK and you can order a copy on-line. That might be an easier way of getting it.
-
Probate of Catherines will in 1940 actually say's formerly of Fairfield Close,Devon
effects £335 1s 4d
executors Francis Kennedy and James W Thomson W.S
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qxo/
https://www.nationalarchives.ie/search-the-online-catalogue/advanced-search/#!/details/110589354
-
Further to Elwyn's comment ref. https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Dickson&yearOfDeath=1938&page=2#calendar The wills themselves are only £1.50 for a pdf. https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Support/Help
-
Thank you.
According to the Calendar of Probate Catherine's executors were her son-in-law Reverend Francis George Mulholland Kennedy, whom I mentioned in my first post, and James Miller Thomson WS. A WS is a member of the Society of Writers to His/Her Majesty's Signet, which is a society of Scottish lawyers.
Catherine was born in Scotland, a daughter of the Denny shipbuilding family in Dumbarton, and married in 1889, after which she spent most of her life in Ireland. It is possible that James Miller Thomson is a relative, but if not it seems curious that she would appoint a Scottish lawyer and an Irish clergyman to deal with a grant of probate (in Wales) in the jurisdiction of England and Wales.
James Miller Thomson was born in Bo'ness on 10 February 1872, son of William Thomson and Clara Mochrie Napier, and died in Edinburgh on 15 August 1953. I have not yet found any family connection to Catherine Crum Denny or Dickson.