James Ferguson, Eglington, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

[aghadowey]

Ah ok. So what is the Bell connection with Ferguson? My immediate thoughts before was it was Hannah's maiden name but her name was Ferguson.

Perhaps just named after local schoolmaster? There was a William Bell at Gortnessy (right near Gorticross)-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Gortnessy/1527962
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Eglinton/Muff_or_Eglinton_Town/598796

[aghadowey]

Hannah Ferguson was with her son in 1901 census-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Waterside/Dunfield/1540083

I already posted this in reply #55 (page 7)

[scotmum]

Poor newspaper copy, but Hannah's death notice appeared in Derry Journal and confirmed she was relict of the late James Ferguson, late of Rammoth, Gortnessy. Her burial was at Glendermott New Burying Ground.

[aghadowey]

Good find, scotmum. Didn't come up in my earlier searches but just found this intriguing snippet-
Derry Journal, 12 May 1915: DERRY CHANCERY SUIT. ... and another v. Bell and others—came on for determination of questions under the will the deceased. The summons was brought by Robert John Curry and Alexander Buchanan, executors of the will of deceased, who was farmer at Gortnessy, county Derry. The defendants are next-of-kin of the deceased: Mrs. Elizabeth Bell, 19, Westland Avenue, Derry, Mrs. Rebecca M'Monagle, 44, Great James Street. Derry, and John Ferguson Payne, of Gortnessy. The question for ...

Think this might be the deceased in question-
Probate of the Will of John Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Farmer who died 15 November 1905 granted at Londonderry to Robert J. Curry and Alexander Buchanan Farmers.

Londonderry Sentinel, 18 Nov.1905: Ferguson— November 15, at his residence, Gortnessy, John Ferguson. [lnterment in Gortnessy burying-ground this (Saturday) morning, 18th inst., at eleven o’clock. Friends will please accept this...

Age 90 and looks like R.J. Curry was brother-in-law (may not be the same one that was executor)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1905/05579/4566985.pdf

[aghadowey]

John Ferguson Payne- nephew [possibly great-nephew] of John Ferguson (aged only 80 in 1901)-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Gortnessy/1527944
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Gortnessy/598890

John Ferguson Payne's mother was Curry-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1893/02283/1856874.pdf
His parents-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Avish/1527850
Mother Sarah & other son in 1911-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Avish/598819
Father John died just days before census-
Probate of the Will of John Payne late of Avish County Londonderry Farmer who died 29 March 1911 granted at Londonderry to Robert John Currie Farmer

Probate of the Will of Martha Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Widow who died 1 April 1911 granted at Londonderry to Alexander Hall Farmer.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05396/4506696.pdf

[aghadowey]

Probate of the Will of William Ferguson late of Gortnessy County Londonderry Farmer who died 14 August 1898 granted [11 Sept.1899] at Londonderry to William Doherty of Ardnaguinog Eglinton and John Payne of Avish Gortnessy both said County Farmers. Will mentions son William Ferguson, wife Catherine Ann otherwise Adams and a maid named Mary Moore.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1898/05821/4648151.pdf

If this is William's son William then this explains bequest to maid and 1 shilling to William after wife Catherine Ann's death!
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Gortnessy/598894
Ten years earlier William's mother is a widow Mary Ferguson- I don't think so
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lough_Enagh/Gortnessy/1527948

John Ferguson Payne's mother Sarah died months after 1911 census-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05388/4504041.pdf

Probate of the Will of Sarah Payne late of Avish County Londonderry Widow who died 8 September 1911 granted at Londonderry to William Doherty and Robert John Currie Farmers.

[aghadowey]

Catherine Ann (Adams) Ferguson died 1899-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1899/05797/4640008.pdf

William James Moore, son of Mary, born 1871 Gortnessy-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1871/03285/2203992.pdf

[aghadowey]

I know this thread seems to have started rambling a bit from to search of WBF's family but things are starting to come together.

Remember that Hannah Ferguson's father supposed to be a Daniel Ferguson according to extract of her 1861 marriage.

According to this post, there was a Jane Ferguson of Gortnessy married 1847 Samuel Cunningham. Her father was also a Daniel.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=557435.9

So, thinking Jane (Ferguson) Cunningham could be a sister of Hannah (Ferguson) Ferguson, I started researching Jane and her family.

Jane Ferguson (1829 Gortnessy-1893) m.(17 Feb.1847) Samuel John Cunningham
Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGX3-186
Probably quite a few children born 1847-1863 but these 3 born after civil registration-
1. Rebecca Cunningham (1865 Primity-aft.1936) m.(1892) Hugh McMonagle (c1868-1933)
2. Samuel Cunningham (1867) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPY2-TY9
3. Robert Cunningham (1869-1935 Canada)
     Birth https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPD2-Q2H
     Death https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLRB-CRC

I knew the name Rebecca McGonigle had come up somewhere before. Here's the newspaper article (extract)-
Derry Journal, 12 May 1915: DERRY CHANCERY SUIT. ... and another v. Bell and others—came on for determination of questions under the will the deceased. The summons was brought by Robert John Curry and Alexander Buchanan, executors of the will of deceased, who was farmer at Gortnessy, county Derry. The defendants are next-of-kin of the deceased: Mrs. Elizabeth Bell, 19, Westland Avenue, Derry, Mrs. Rebecca M'Monagle, 44, Great James Street, Derry, and John Ferguson Payne, of Gortnessy. The question for ...

So, Rebecca McGonigle (daughter of a Jane Ferguson), Mrs. Elizabeth Bell & John Ferguson Payne (son of Sarah Curry whose sister married John Ferguson) connected to John Ferguson (d.1905) of Gortnessy.

According to extract of marriage of John Ferguson & Martha Curry his father was a DONALD Ferguson but IF it has been misread and father was DANIEL then everything makes sense (not sure what is going on with 2nd extract- LDS error?)-Marriage- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGNR-VXQ
? marriage https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGYQ-N9SW

continued...

[aghadowey]

Still with John Ferguson of Gortnessy who died 1905-
Derry Journal, 16 Jan.1907: COUNTY DERRY LEGACY. Dublin law courts yesterday, before the Master of the Rolls, in the matter of the estate of John Ferguson, late of Gortnessy, farmer, deceased—Alexander Buchanan and Robert Curry v. Mrs. Agnes Sandersfield and Mrs. Martha Ferguson, application was made on behalf of the executors for determination of a question whether Mrs. Martha Ferguson, the widow, was entitled absolutely to legacy of £400 bequeathed...

Agnes Ferguson (Nov.1827 L’derry-1907 Michigan) m. John B. Sandersfield (c1817). Ch.: Hannah, John, Agnes, Maria, Robert, Henry
1900 census- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSMW-MPX (to US 1860)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77281123/agnes-sandersfield (link corrected)

So are John Ferguson (c1821-1905), Agnes Sandersfield (1827-1907), Hannah Ferguson & Jane Cunningham (1829-1893) siblings?

The 1915 article might explain how WBF got the middle name of Bell.

More to follow...