Hello, my name is Sheila W (nee Roxborough). amy father James Roxborough youngest of 15 children born to Ellen Bradley. Ellen a catholic was employed as a servant/domestic by my widowed grandfather William Roxborough on 1911 census had 2 children by him. Another child of Williams from his previous marriage to Elizabeth Roxborough nee McCahon (died 1906 aged 33 yrs) was Sarah Roxborough. Sarah was Presbyterian like my grandfather.
The 2 other children Ellen and Annie, born out of wedlock to Ellen and William were listed as Roman Catholic, surname Bradley. Almost every year they had another child surnamed Bradley until 1920 when they married and had more, Ernest Roxborough Presbyterian and my father James Roxborough a Presbyterian, born 1923. When he was born his father William was 81 years old, William was 50 years older than Ellen. He was actually 33 years older than Elizabeth his 2nd wife who was born in 1873. William died in 1926 at age 84, my father was only 3 yrs old, his mother Ellen died at age 49 in 1939. They are both buried in Aghadowey Parish Church cemetery.
After Annie and Ellen their first 2 daughters together were born they then had William who was born in 1910 and only died in 2005 aged 95 years. He lived in the same place all his life where my father James was born also on Ardreagh Road, a long whitestone building also occupied by Doherty family for many years. William and Ellens other children were Richard aka Dick, Matt who had a farm at the Island, Nelly, Ethel, Emily, Sadie, Ann, Jane, Lily and Evelyn. I met them all except Sadie, Annie (not to be confused with Ann) young Ellen and their half sister Sarah who was only 18 months when mother Elizabeth died. William my GF apparently had a first wife he went to America with but she stayed there (not sure about any children or names), he returned to NI. Apparently a Roxborough became a Rough Rider in Theodore Roosevelt campaign with Spanish/Cuba in late 19th century. Who he belonged to not sure but would like to know.
The Simpson sisters who lived not far from my Dad were very fond of him, we used to visit them when we went over the there, also the Jamiesons. My Dad as a young lad worked at Aghadowey Creamery. My Dad left Aghadowey when he was 18 years with his brother Ernest (aka Ernie who had a glass eye as Ellen their mother got kicked in the field by a horse or cow when pregnant with him and caused his eye to come out in utero). Dick went to England, Ann, Lily, Ethel, Nelly, Emily. Jane married Jim Riley and they had a mushroom farm in NI. Most Aghadowey people would have known my Uncle Willy, died at 95, he would have been an icon in the community. He never married like some of the other siblings.
If anyone there can help me with anything at all I would be so grateful. I live in Queensland Australia and returning to Aghadowey next year with my brother from the UK, we hope to put any missing pieces together with what we already have. Matt had our 2 boy cousins, I remember them well and if it were at all possible to meet up with them one day that would be great. I was last in Aghadowey in mid 60's and it is a place always in my heart. If anyone can shed any light on our GD William born 1840 and the name of his first wife that would be good too. Hoping to hear from someone real soon. It was a great guy called Elwyn Soutter who put me onto this site, he has been a legend in helping me so far. Thanks to anyone who can help with whatever information you may have. Cheers, Sheila.
