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Am trying to trace my grandfather's ancestry.  He  (John Gordon) was born 20 June 1894 to Catherine (nee Simpson) and John Gordon.  The Simpson line is relatively straightforward - I assume her father Alexander Simpson married twice to Catherine and Ellen both McKinley as her youngest sister has a different mother's name - family from Newtowncrommelin Ballymena.  Anyone researching this family welcome to comment.

Real puzzle is on the Gordon side before 1890s - there is a shortage of Gordon surname north Antrim on most ancestry sites, but I find a John Gordon on the birth record for mother Hanna Wilson 20 March 1864 Topp (my recently deceased ancestors are from the Topp) whose mother may have been Jane Reid as she was child's grandmother and who I suspect is the Jane Reid died 1918.  No father listed  Some ancestry sites list child as John Gordon, some John Gordon Wilson. Hanna seems to have had a child with a father named Sweeny some years later and another in Ballymena without listing father in 1876. Any help appreciated.

Have exhausted McFadden ancestry resources available to me and they have in turn exhausted me.  I conclude that the earliest I can go back with certainty for direct ancestry is John McFadden of Knockanavery born circa 1823.

Turned my attention to Taggart ancestry as Ann Eliza was my great-grandmother marrying William known as Alexander/McCaldridge/McFadden in 1896.   Marriage cert states her father George Taggart farmer of Deffrick, Billy Parish.  Her age as 25 years, born 1871 approx.

The only George Taggart of suitable age on 1901 census for the area was located at Ballyoglagh in Billy Parish, but his children are listed on irishgeneaology.ie  from late 1870s  and no registration appears to have been made for an Ann Eliza, though 1911 census shows him as married from 1874 approx, so it is possible that she was born earlier in marriage.  I have compared the quarter, volume and page no on marriages for George Taggart and Elizabeth ? on irishgenealogy.ie (tedious but it works if you have part of the info for one partner only) and reckon she was Elizabeth Erwin from Coleraine and the year seems to agree.

The Toberkeigh Presbyterian records in the local library are practically impossible to read for 1870s but I saw George's later family listed (with difficulty).

If Ann Eliza was his daughter she was probably a lot younger than stated on her marriage lines.  If she was the age stated she might be the daughter of Thomas and Matilda Taggart who have a daughter of same name on irishgeneaology.ie 1872 which would fit her age better as Ann Eliza McFadden on 1901 census, but why would she have quoted wrong forename for her father?   Perhaps her father George was another George who had no registrations of any sort?

Anyone with Taggart info in this area would be most welcome to comment. 

Thanks Aghadowey for your recent contributions.  I think the only reference to John McFadden that is my known ancestor, father of Mary Ann who married 1874 turned up last night.  27 Feb 1898 at Knockanavery widower died aged 75 in presence of his sister Jane Mabin.  Per irishgeneaology.ie  Image available, but am not too sure how to attach here.   I don't know his wife's forename to seek her out as I only got his off daughter's marriage lines.  Knockanavery seems key even to my late mother's childhood memories.

Had a look at these others, and am of the opinion that the McFaddens who had children by William McCaldrige/Alexander could be related and if so and Jane here was his daughter then these could be more grand-children of his in 1911.  Rowan33 might confirm or refute this.   I think the transcript is wrong here - I see an unmarried brother and sister not a husband and wife as the older household dwellers.

'Malcam' McFadden (transcribed as age 11 but original looks like 17) 'servant' in Taggart household in 1911-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Drumtullagh/Moycraig__Upper/114022
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001345153/

I looked 1911 census and wonder if he is one and same and the 11 on 2011 census was bad 17.  No word of father here though.  Under McFadden household Drumtullagh.

Commonwealth War Graves entry- Son of Mrs. Jane McFadden, of Mosside, Stranocum, Co. Antrim. Died 1916 and age given as 23 so born c1893 which is a big diffrence from 1911 census!

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/802684/McFADDEN,%20MALCOLM

Commemorated Roll of Honour in Mosside Presbyterian Church-
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~econnolly/rohpci/rohmosside.html

Write up and photo of him in uniform in Ballymoney Heroes 1914-1918 by Robert Thompson.
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I always heard Gran talking about her brother Sandy!  Her second youngest son was Alex, called for him and we have a Sandra in the family also called after that line.

May I ask if Mary Ann and Nancy Jane were sisters, or related in some way, and did they both have children with the  William McCaldridge/Alexander?  I know that Nancy Jane's family were associated with Toberkeigh Presbyterian Church.

And can I ask the source of the two approx years of birth?  I have got no joy either in seeking Mary Ann - uncertain if Mary Jane was actually related.   By the way, is Mary Jane's daughter Jane the mother of a young soldier Malcolm McFadden commemorated for being lost without trace at the Somme?  If so there is a lovely UlsterScots poem by a Jordan Mogey on a dedicated facebook page.