Hutchinson and Thompson families in Magherfelt from 1800 to 1880

Mollcons:
I searched the Flaxgrower's List 1796 and found the following list of Hutchinson's who were growing flax on their lands in Derry:

https://www.failteromhat.com/post1796.php

There is likely to be some relatives of George on this list. Do any names of the parishes in this list stand out to you, that you may have come across before? I think Artrea is a parish close to Magherafelt. 

I also checked the applications for Old Age Pensions and we seem to be in luck:

http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/details.jsp?id=41243

This here is an explanation of how the 1841 and 1851 census search forms (later destroyed in a fire in 1922) were used for Old Age Pension applications:

http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/home.jsp

The William Hutchinson listed as George's father on the census search form is likely the same William Hutchinson growing flax in 1796 in Dunboe and Desertmartin, Londonderry. The Hutchinsons growing in the same area, ie Esther, Widow Jane, John, are very likely close relatives. It appears George had a brother called John, who also applied for a pension:

http://censussearchforms.nationalarchives.ie/search/cs/details.jsp?id=41242

Do you know if George ever lived or was linked to the townland of Ballymoney in Londonderry. He appears in two directories on the subscription site www.findmypast.ie as from the townland. 

Right, so in Griffiths Valuation, there is one Hutchinson in the parish of Magherafelt:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&Submit.x=49&Submit.y=16&familyname=Hutchinson&firstname=First+Name&baronyname=&countyname=LONDONDERRY&unionname=&parishname=MAGHERAFELT

However, in the townland of Ballygurk in the nearby parish of Tamlaght, which is mentioned on George's pension slip, there is four Hutchinsons:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&PlaceID=830804&county=Londonderry&barony=Loughinsholin&parish=Tamlaght&townland=%3Cb%3EBallygurk%3C/b%3E

The Hutchinson's landlord is listed as "Worshipful Company of Salters":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Salters

http://family.kiwicelts.com/21_Places_and_History/History_Salters.html

http://www.oxfordloyalorders.com/abod_the_Salters.htm

I haven't been able to find much on Margaret Thompson yet, but I'll keep looking. Possibly more to come on George also. Hope some of this so far helps and if you have any questions on the documents or things you want to look for, ask away!

All the best,

Alicia

Alicia

Thanks for that very detailed information. I will follow it up. I do know that my great grandfather moved south to Mountshannon in Co Clare where he married a local girl Alice Clarke whose family history is much more detailed than George's. Son George Thompson Hutchinson was a policeman in the RIC finishing up as a sargeant in Limerick City.

Chris

Dear Chris:

I noted your comment about Mountshannon and I know several local volunteers who might be able to assist you with that side of the research if you are interested.  Let me know.

All the best,

Jane

Hello Jane

Thanks for the offer. I have already been to Mountshannon several times over the last few years, and have I think exhausted all the information available for both George Thompson Hutchinson and his wife Alice Clarke. I had thought that George's parents had moved down to Mountshannon from Magherafelt, but recent evidence indicates that neither of them did.

This is an update, based upon recent information gleaned since making this post.

George Hutchinson (gg grandfather) was born in 1820 and died on 4th November 1889. His wife Margaret Thompson was born in 1823 and died on 17th March 1878. I believe they lived in Megargy. Their son (my g grandfather) was born in 1846 and joined the RIC in 1868 and was posted to Mountshannon in Co Galway (at the time). He met his wife while serving there and following his marriage was relocated to serve in Limerick City where he stayed until he died in July 1923.

I would still like to know details of George and Margaret. Both were presbyterian I know.

George Hutchinson and Margaret Thompson do not seem to have been married when they baptised their son George at the Magherafelt Church of Ireland on March 8, 1846.  (Records of the Magherafelt Church of Ireland, PRONI MIC 1/1/1/A).  Both wer from Megargy.  In the 1831 census there were two Thompson households in Megargy:  James and Alexander.

You say the family lived in Megargy, but I note that Margaret was in Ballygillen when she died and George was in Rusky when he died. He was a labourer and they did move about a bit to follow the available work. I think they moved from Megargy between 1846 and 1859.

Not sure whether you have this but here’s what appears to be George’s daughter Eliza Jane marrying in 1870, when living in Ballygillen. Note that she married in the Church of Ireland, suggesting that she, at least was of that denomination.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1870/11400/8185956.pdf

Another daughter Mary married William Watson in Saltersland Presbyterian church:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1876/11167/8091167.pdf

Daughter Margaret married Edward Watson in Saltersland Presbyterian in 1879. A Sarah Ann Hutchison was a witness, so perhaps another sister.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1879/11072/8051583.pdf

Sarah Ann married Thomas Johnston in 1890, again in Saltersland Presbyterian:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1890/10715/5906239.pdf

I searched Griffiths Valuation for 1859 and found George living in Ballygillen More then. He seems to have lived there from then until at least 1878 when Margaret died. George had plot 12b which was a labourer’s cottage on James Brown’s farm (plot 12a). The location today is on the Ballygillen Road. Judging by what I can see on Google Earth, sadly the cottage is long gone and it’s just agricultural land now. James Brown’s farm is still there and appears to be  trading as Thomas Scott & Sons, seed merchants.

It looks to me as though at least from 1859 onwards George and family mostly used Saltersland Presbyterian church.  Their baptism records start in 1848, marriages in 1845. There’s a copy of the baptisms in PRONI and the marriage records are on-line on the irishgenealogy site.

George & Margaret appear to have married before the start of statutory marriage registration in April 1845. If they married in Saltersland then there is no record to find.  But they might have married in one of the other churches in the area. (Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church). If Presbyterian then I’d try Moneymore 1st (records from 1827) or Magherafelt 1st or one of the Presbyterian churches in Cookstown.  And Magherafelt 1st seems to have some baptisms so it’s worth checking too. (The Minister of M'felt 1st kept visitation books for 1823 - 32, and a couple of other years. These are notes of who was in his congregation based on visits to their homes. A sort of mini census by townland, it mentions deaths, migration and so on. An excellent source for family information. They are in PRONI).

I don't see any Hutchisons in Ballygillen in the 1831 census (nor in Megargy).  But the name is common in the general area. Plenty of families to choose from.

You ask for information about George’s life.  I have no specific information about him personally, but typically a labourer would rent his cottage from a farmer for an agreed number of days work a year on the farm, after which he’d be free to take any other work available. Rent could be paid in cash, and sometimes was, but mostly it was by working. It was largely a barter society. In the winter months, when there wasn’t much work on the farm, the labourer and his family would often earn extra money by weaving. This was done on a hand loom weaving machine that could be packed away if not needed. Similar to the machines still used in the Outer Hebrides today to make Harris Tweed. The rest of the family would assist with spinning and the many other associated activities. 

If not employed on the farm or weaving, George might take any other labouring work that was available, eg Government road building schemes or he might have gone to Scotland to assist with the harvest there. Tens of thousands of labourers did that each summer.

George would have lived in a single story house with 2 or 3 rooms and a thatched roof.  Such cottages are rapidly disappearing these days but I have attached a photo of a row of 3 typical labourers cottages taken not too far from Ballygillen.  The ones in my photo have had thatch replaced by metal as it's more durable. Thatch only lasts about 20 years. A bare earth floor, outside dry toilet and fairly limited facilities. The property would have had a patch of land with it for George to grow vegetables and keep the odd chicken etc. There are better examples than mine in the Folk & Transport Museum at Cultra in Belfast. 

Elwyn and Ron

Many thanks for the contributions you have made. I will try to use these in my further investigations. I believe George and Margaret may have had a son, Andrew born in 1849 in Ballinderry by Moneymore.

Chris Jones

Chris,

Andrew’s year of birth is before the start of birth registration, so you need to search church baptism records to confirm that birth. If Presbyterian and born in Ballinderry, nearest churches are Moneymore and Coagh (baptism records start 1839). There are copies in PRONI.

Is this Andrew in 1886:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1887/10801/5939047.pdf

He was living in Killymuck then and was a widower. Likely 1st marriage here in 1877 to Margaret Dunn:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1877/11133/8076678.pdf

Margaret’s death in 1884:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1884/06310/4809374.pdf

Likely children to his 1st marriage:

Mary 7.3.1878

Robert 9.4.1879

William 24.11.1881

Margaret 20.12.1883

Didn’t see any born in N. Ireland to the second.

Elwyn

I had spotted the Thomas Scott & Sons site on Ballygillan Road on Google Maps. Just next door on the junction with Rusky Road is another business called Hutchinson Feeds which did make me wonder if it could be connected with my family. What do you think?

Chris Jones

Chris,

It seems to be a family business so may be local to the area. No harm in asking them. On the other hand Hutchison/Hutchinson is a common name in Co Londonderry. There were 355 in the 1901 census/

http://www.hutchinsonsfeeds.com

Hi, I'm not sure if this is still going but...

My Name is Joe Watson and I have been researching my Family tree and it turns out that the Edward Watson that Married Margaret Hutchinson on the 23rd August 1879 in Saltersland Presbyterian Church was my Great-great Grandfather. He had a son before he married Margaret about 5 years before called Edward Jr and thats how im related! I would love to know what ever happened to Andrew Watson the son of Edward and Margarets, who was born on the 8th January 1882 and if he has any living decendants as I would love to meet.

Joe - I just discovered your post today. I have found a probate record for an Andrew Watson which mentioned his wife Annie for the death on 20 Dec 1958. I do not have any more information as yet.

Elwyn

I have been doing some more research on George Hutchinson and his wife Margaret Thompson. I have found her baptism which was in Sep 1822 at Desertlyn in the Church of Ireland. Her father was Alexander and his wife was Ellen who apparently lived at that time in Ballycomlargy (I cannot find this on Google Maps, though). The Desertlyn church seems to be fairly close to Ballygurk where it appears George Hutchinson spent most of his married life.

I am currently trying to find out more about George's parents (William Hutchinson and Sarah Shannon) and will try to make some time to visit PRONI to find out more about all of them.

I do know a lot more about George's parents (William Hutchinson (1799-1881) and his wife Sarah Shannon(1797-1894). William was a farmer according to various documents. His father may have been called Jonathon (1768-1835).

It would be nice to have more information about these members of my family.

Mollicons,

I can see from William Hutchinson’s death certificate that he farmed in Ballygurk. His son John was the informant, and also lived there.

2 William Hutchinson households living in Ballygurk in the 1831 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinsholin/Tamlaght/Ballygurk/1/

Above family had 2 males and 2 females plus 2 servants. (The servants indicate he was likely a farmer).

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinsholin/Tamlaght/Ballygurk/16/

Above had 2 males and 2 females and no servants. (Possibly a labourer).

1827 tithes tell us that there was only one William farming in Ballygurk then so the other William was probably a labourer.

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/tyrone/tithe-applotment-books/parish-of-tamlaght.php

Griffiths Valuation for 1857 lists William Hutchinson in Ballygurk. He had plot 1 but was gone from that plot by the early 1860s. He (or another William) reappears on plot 5 a 20 acre farm (off the modern Ballygruby Rd) some time after 1864. I think this must be his son John marrying in 1882:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1882/10955/8004456.pdf

Family in 1901 census (John’s age to be taken with a pinch of salt).

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Loop/Ballyquirk/1535114/

Same family in 1911 (John’s age a bit more probable):

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/The_Loop/Ballygurk/615740/

4 Hutchinson households in Ballygurk in 1911 census.

There are plenty of references to Hutchinsons of Ballygurk in the British Newspaper Archives but none before 1850. And I can’t find any to William or Sarah.

PRONI name search lists a Thomas Hutchinson (dissenter) in the 1766 religious census of Ballygurk.

No relevant entries in the PRONI e-catalogue. Not sure I can tell you much more about William or Sarah. There won’t be many records of them that far back.

I may have found further evidence of Margaret Thompson's family. The 1831 census shows in Ballyscullion that there were two Alex Thompson's (one senior and the other junior). The latter may be Margaret Thompson's father, I think. I have not found any other evidence of Margaret's birth (in 1823), but this does prove that she was CofI as both Alex's were shown as Established Church.

Does anyone have any further information that may be helpful?