Trying to Trace family in Londonderry

[carol80]

I am doing research for a friend.
I have started in New Zealand and worked back. ( This is NOT my family )
What i have so far;

Part inscription from Head stone in New Zealand;
 also David Stevenson of the Diamond Londonderry, Ireland died Auckland 21 August 1883 aged 66 years - also wife Ellen Matilda Stevenson died 21st May 1894

Think they married in 1843 Ireland.

Have family arriving in New Zealand;

Ref; Daily Southern Cross 22 November 1862 pg 3
Arrival of the "Ida Ziegler" left Plymouth 24 August.
Passenger's on board.
David Stevenson, Mrs Ellen, Elizabeth M, David, William E, John Torrens, James A , E M Stevenson.

Griffith's Valuation Record Information;
Tenant; David Stevenson, County; Londonderry, Barony; Londonderry, Union; Londonderry, Parish;Templemore ( South Ward), Townland; Londonderry, Place name; The Diamond.

To me it looks like the same family but have done very little research in Ireland. (Cannot find my own family.)

Help needed to find Birth Marriages Deaths for this family. Just point me in the right direction.
I believe David Snr's Father to be a Hugh Stevenson.Have found a Hugh on Griffiths Valuation in the right area but nothing more.
Any help you can give me is much appreciated

 Carol

[scotmum]

From Londonderry newspapers:

.      Stevenson —August 21, at his residence. Nelson Street, Auckland, New Zealand, David Stevenson, formerly of Londonderry

.      1868  TENDERS are invited for the Erection of a DWELLING-HOUSE, for Hugh Stevenson, Esq., at CRAWFORD-SQUARE,


1870... Hugh Stevenson, Esq. The meeting was held in one of the large rooms of Mr Stevenson’s beautiful mansion, Crawford Square.

December 30, at New Plymouth, James Alexander Haldane Stevenson, youngest son of David Stevenson, of Auckland. New Zealand, and nephew of Hugh Stevenson, Crawford Square, aged 22 years     

Stevenson— May 21, at the residence of her son, Nelson-street, Auckland, New Zealand, Ellen Allison, widow of the late David Stevenson, formerly of Londonderry

[scotmum]

As David seemed to have a brother Hugh. Consider checking will of a Hugh Stevenson, Date of Death :16 November 1883 Date of Grant :   29 January 1884

can be viewed for free at PRONI website. He was aged 68yrs and living at Northland House.

Later timescale :. http://www.diamondwarmemorial.com/soldiers/view/1108

Lots of entries in various newspapers across various years, for Stevensons of Northland House.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Londonderry_Urban_No__1/Northland_Avenue__part_of_/1535414/

Mention of a David Stevenson master baker in Londonderry 1860 (in trade for 25yrs).

Various mentions 1850s of HughStevenson, baker.

[scotmum]

Can see about thirty trees on Ancestry that look to be David, brother Hugh, father Hugh etc. Obviously, any/all details would need thoroughly researched (some entries within some trees look dubious).

[carol80]

Thank you scotmum.
You are great. I now know i am on the right line.
A paper put out by a University in New Zealand said the family was Scottish.
And yes that is the New Zealand family i have been following.
The family were baker's in New Zealand so the trade went down the line.

Thank you for help and time. It is most appreciated.

Carol

P.s.  I do not belong to Ancestry but will have a look later this week at my local library.
Again Thank you.

[Elwyn Soutter]

A paper put out by a University in New Zealand said the family was Scottish.

Having a Scottish surname, living in Co. Londonderry and being Presbyterian all point strongly to the Stevensons being of Scottish origin (as is half the population in that area of Ireland).  The main settlement of Scots came in the 1600s, when at least 100,000 settled there (representing something like 10% of the entire population of Scotland at the time). They mainly settled in the counties of Ulster, which includes Londonderry. So I’d expect that’s probably when the family moved to Ireland.

[carol80]

Thank you Elwyn.

After reading your post that makes sense.

I have not read the paper as yet so will have a close look at it.

You learn something new every day.

Thank you.

Carol
 

[Elwyn Soutter]

Thank you Elwyn.

After reading your post that makes sense.

I have not read the paper as yet so will have a close look at it.

You learn something new every day.

Thank you.

Carol

At the closest point, it’s only about 11 miles from Scotland to Ireland so your ancestors didn’t really have very far to go.

By the 1700s and 1800s many Scots settlers (known as Ulster-Scots here in Ireland, and Scots-Irish in North America) were leaving again, for the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well back to Scotland or to England.  That’s not to say the odd Scottish family didn’t arrive then but they’d be bucking the trend. Yours most likely arrived in the 1600s. They are unlikely to have arrived much before that because Presbyterianism was only established in Scotland in the mid 1500s and brought to Ireland by the settlers.  So they couldn’t have come before that, as they’d likely have been Roman Catholic if they did.

[maryderry]

This is Hughs burial details.

Deceased Hugh Stevenson
Parents Hugh & Mary Stevenson
Place of Birth Ramelton
Place of Residence Crawford Square
Age 67 years
Date of Death 16/11/1883
Date of Burial 19/11/1883
Grave Location i-a-128
Cemetery Derry City cemetery
Proprietor Hugh Stevenson Dec.