Some may know that Co.Tyrone has a 'son' that went to the Moon. Col. James Benson Irwin was an Apollo 15 astronaut and can trace his roots back to Pomeroy (Altmore).
https://www.ancestryireland.com/about-us/50-years-of-the-ulster-historical-foundation/from-pomeroy-to-the-moon/I found that via marriage I am very very loosely connected to the same family ancestors and I'm trying without much success to find all the Irwin family members from early 1800s.
I know his great grandfather was Thomas Irwin born some time around 1807. He died Aug 28th 1892 with the stated age of 85. His daughter-in-law Ellen Irwin (married to Alexander 1875) was present at his death. It was also stated at the time of death he was a widower so indicating his wife (Sarah nee. Pherson) had previously died. Her death can be found Mar 3rd 1890 (aged 76). This time her son Alexander is present at death.
What's been suggested is that Sarah was the second wife of Thomas Irwin but while I can find no evidence myself of this I suspect it's likely but who the first is remains a mystery.
On the Griffith Evaluation for Altmore one Thomas Irwin can be found sharing a property with a Robert McKittrick. It so happens that Thomas' daughter Mary Ann Irwin marries a widower named Robert McKittrick in 1857. Mary Ann remarries Henry Young (a farmer) in 1870 suggesting that Robert McKittrick had previously died. In fact there's a death record for a Robert McKittrick aged 80 years old in Dungannon in 1869. This would make him much older than Mary Ann if it's the same one. Only record I can find for a Mary Young death (widow of a farmer) is in 1917 aged 86.
Next born is likely Sarah Irwin. She goes on to marry William Johnston (my connection is here) in 1858. Their children seem to settle in Australia with their son Robert Johnston being quite the character and gold prospector. There's photo of him complete with revolver on the hip, cowboy hat and boots and travelling by camel in the Australian outback.
Alexander Irwin seems to be the first born son around 1839.
In 1844 John Irwin arrives and it's from him that that we get our astronaut. John marries Mary Jane Benson Apr 16th 1879 (a minor). They later move to the USA and Mary's death certificate records her birth as Jan 1st 1865 making her only 14 when married. However I can't find any birth for Mary that fits this date.
Here's where we seem to have a few years gap and then three more children, Matilda, Rebecca and Thomas. They are baptized 1852, 1856 & 1859 respectively. I've not yet done two much research on these so far.
What I'm particularly interested in is finding the marriages for Thomas Irwin and the death of his first wife if if it indeed turns out that he was married twice. I'd also like to find the birth or baptism records for the all other children.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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