Hello Jeanne and Margaret, I noted your recent posts in the excellent Co.Tyrone Digest.
Margaret, will know my name because we are both researching disparate, Co.Tyrone WILSON, ancestors, who ended up migrating to the Gerringong region, of New South Wales, Australia in the 1850’s. Margaret and I have never been able to establish a connection between ‘our,' Wilson lines. I have used Family Tree DNA to confirm several WILSON descenant lines in the U.K, U.S.A, and Australia. ‘My’ DNA proven, WILSON'S were specifically from the Townlands of Cavandoragh, and Whitehouse. I have a letter, shared with me by a fellow genealogical researcher: Jerry L.Ross from Texas, USA. The letter is from my Great-Great Grandfather, Joseph Wilson, to 2 of his sons who had newly emigrated to the U.S.A in the early 1850’s. The letter is very newsy; in that it mentions several relationships, (some that I have not yet been able to pierce together). I have attached a full transcript of the letter, as shared with me by Jerry L.Ross; to the bottom of this email. I would draw your attention to the following excerpt: "Dear Mathew I will be expecting a letter from you soon or at least as soon as you can let Mr. Charles Stuart know that his Father is well and would be glad to get a letter from him as soon as possible he would wish to know how far you live from John McCays Whitehouse people are all well-Be please to let Mr. John McCay know that the gold Dollar that he sent his Mother came safe to hand be pleased to let Mrs. McCay know that Glenknock people are all well and Nancy has her brave young son I think it may be a month old now namely John Saml and Nancy and the Son was in Cavandoragh on Sunday last seeing her Mother-Indeed Robert Wilson Grigan is in a very sickly state at present I think he will not recover at this time Mary and the children are well David and his Mistress are well Thos McConnell and Isabella and Children are well David and Mrs. Wilson from Omagh was down a few days ago fishing for pikes at Derg River but caught none Thos Stewart was with them and James McCay but the had no success-Give my best Respects to Mr. John McCay Mrs. And Family his Father and Mother is in good health at present —" I note that Joseph Wilson’s from Cavandorragh’s, 1853 letter specifically mentions: “Thomas McConnell, Isabell and children are well, as well as David and Mrs. Wilson visiting from Omagh, fishing for pikes at Derg River, but not catching any. I have been unable to unravel where, Thomas McConnell, fits in, and exactly what my Wilson’s relationship was with, David and Mrs. Wilson from Omagh, perhaps you might be able to connect the dots? Maybe this information will mean something to you. I share in the hope that it does. Please know that the "Robert Wilson Grigan,” mentioned as being, "in a very sickly state at present, and unlikely to recover," did indeed die within the year. ‘ Grigan', is a nickname attached to Robert Wilson, to distinguish him specifically, as Joseph Wilson’s daughter, Mary Wilson’s husband. Robert Wilson ‘Grigan’ died in 1854. Mary Wilson his widow, (born Wilson), went on to marry James Porter and emigrated to Australia with the children from her 1843 marriage to Robert Wilson from Magheracrigan, (Joseph Wilson, B:1844. William Wilson. B:1846. Robert Wilson. B:1848. David Wilson. B:1850, and Eliza Wilson. B:1853). Mary and her children travelled under her new husband, James Porter’s surname. They arrived in Australia aboard the ‘Vocalist,’ in 1856. Joseph Wilson had a son, (and his daughter Mary had a brother), named Robert Wilson, so when Mary Wilson, married a Robert Wilson, from the Townland of Magriggian; to sort out the Robert’s, Joseph Wilson and my ancestors referred to Mary’s husband as, 'Robert Wilson Grigan', presumably short for Magriggian. As these names are all part of the same paragraph and train of thought when my G.G.Grandfather Joseph Wilson put pen to paper, in 1853, then perhaps there is a relationship between the Wilsons of Magriggian, and the Wilsons from Omagh and Thomas McConnell???? This is entirely speculation on my part, but it might provide you with other avenues to pursue in your searches. With kindest regards and best wishes Janet Fairless (nee Wilson) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Phone: 0403 161 280 [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> My direct line of descent from the Cavandarragh, Co.Tyrone, 1853 letter writer, Joseph Wilson. Joseph Wilson - married - Eliza Ross (Great Great Grandfather) Andrew Wilson - married - Susan Muldoon (Great Grandfather) David Wilson - married - Hazel Bowen. (Grandfather) David Wilson - married - Joan Armstrong (Father) Janet Wilson (me) Shared by: Jerry L.Ross. Texas, United States. From: JoAn Hewitt Bell, Hebron, Indiana 2002 This is a copy of the letter from her great-great-great grandfather (Joseph Wilson, Sr.) to her great-great grandfather (Joseph Wilson, Jr.) soon after the latter came to America. The original was in the possession of a relative that moved to Canada. JoAn’s Great Aunt, Alta Wilson had the letter long enough for JoAn to make a copy, which was of very poor quality, so she typed a version of the letter so it could be read. She didn't correct grammar or spelling. Cavandoragh 2nd August 1853 Dear Mathew and Joseph We were looking out with great anxiety for a letter two weeks before it came to hand on 26th July it came to our house which we were all over joyed to hear of you being all well we were afraid that something had taken place with Joseph on his passage that prevented him from writing but we find by the letter that he had a pleasant passage we considered here that the weather was altogether favourable the wind blew from the Nor. East the first four weeks after you left home we considered that you ought to been on the Costs of America at that time we had no stormy weather here during the time you were on Sea the weather was very pleasant and extremely warm. Dear Joseph I am well pleased to find that you are at work with cousin Charles Stuart and his Brothers and its my advice to you to continue with them take his advice in all you do and by all means be catious of the company you keep the day your letter came to us there came one from Joseph and John from California the are in good health and still continue with the same man that the agreed with first....Mathew and Joseph Your Mother met with a very unfortunate accident since Joseph left home on 21st June one of the Beescaps hived and went into the Scap without any trouble it seems their new lodgings did not please them the set out the next morning about 10 o'clock in the Evening the same out again and away the started Andw followed them to McFosters Mountain lost sight of there but the lighted at one of the Marquis cottages the got that evening and all the boys went over to the cottages expecting to get the hive the did not get it but during the time the were away your Mother was helping me in with the cows and one them give her a push and threw her down and with the fall put her loine bone out of joint we sent for Doctor Hemphill and get it put in again she can step through the house now with two staffs she is greatly recovered considering the way she was in the first four weeks she could not move out of the bed we expect in a short time she will be well again .... Dear Joseph You wish to know if we sold any the Horses David sold his brown horse that he bought from John Leitch but at loss from the way he bought him Robert sold our little mare in Derry fair at 21 guineas and he bought a grey horse from John Leitch at 16 pounds he had this horse before you left home he is an excellent horse and that is the one we have now. Robert sold the stary cow and bought a heifer like the cow we got from Wm Kinlock her very colour but handsomer Joseph tell Mathew that I will be expecting a letter from him shortly the best new I have to tell you is that the potatoes seem to stand it out this year but the flax crop is but short in every where generally on account of the summer being so warm the corn is short also this day we are puling our flax indeed its but short and thin on the ground let William Huey know that his Father was in our house when your letter came to hand he was very much gratified to hear it well pleased to find that he has joint work with Mr. Charles Stuart and Brothers he was seling the heifer that he bought from Willin to my David in our house he bought her in our house the price L 8-7-6 that is where Wm heifer is now where Wm heifer is now Dear Mathew I will be expecting a letter from you soon or at least as soon as you can let Mr. Charles Stuart know that his Father is well and would be glad to get a letter from him as soon as possible he would wish to know how far you live from John McCays Whitehouse people are all well-Be please to let Mr. John McCay know that the gold Dollar that he sent his Mother came safe to hand be pleased to let Mrs. McCay know that Glenknock people are all well and Nancy has her brave young son I think it may be a month old now namely John Saml and Nancy and the Son was in Cavandoragh on Sunday last seeing her Mother-Indeed Robert Wilson Grigan is in a very sickly state at present I think he will not recover at this time Mary and the children are well David and his Mistress are well Thos McConnell and Isabella and Children are well David and Mrs. Wilson from Omagh was down a few days ago fishing for pikes at Derg River but caught none Thos Stewart was with them and James McCay but the had no success-Give my best Respects to Mr. John McCay Mrs. And Family his Father and Mother is in good health at present --- Please to let the Revd Mr. McAskey that his Father and Mother and Family are all in the enjoyment of good health-Serah Ann Buchanans Father Mother and Family are all well-Give my best respects to Ross and Jenny and Serah and their Father and Mother is in good health but I cannot tell you any more about the California letter for I did not hear it-Give my best respects to Mr. Edward McClean and tell him that I think long to get a letter from him-let Mrs. Betty Caldwell know that her letter came the same day your came Her brother in laws and Sisters are all well Dear Mathew and Joseph remember time in this world is very uncertain it requires people to be busy with their Maker and bear it in mind on all occasions that you are to be Accountable to Your Mother for the deeds done in the Body and recollect that this is the advice of your Father God only knows how long I may be in the habit of writing letters my eye sight is failing and I am fast on the decline Myself I am quite lame I have no hope of every being better- When you write your Mother would be glad to know how your seastore of provisions stood with you and if any particular occurred on your passage write us along letter and all the new you can recollect of nothing more worthy of writing but if anything taken place worthy of giving word I will not neglect to give you an early account of it The Lord be praised we are all in reasonable state of health at present I recollect of nothing more Dear Mathew and Joseph I remain Yours Affectionately Joseph Wilson To Mr. Mathew Wilson And Joseph Wilson Philadelphia America This was wrote in great hurry if any mistakes please To excuse NB when you write direct your letters as follows Joseph Wilson Cavendoragh By Castlederg to Magherairigan Ireland Joseph Wilson's naturalization papers were filed in Porter County, Indiana on July 20, 1857. They stated that he was born in Ireland, was about 25 years old and that he had emigrated from Londonderry to Philadelphia on June 20, 1853. > On 11 Feb 2025, at 10:32 am, EVELYN CARDWELL via CoTyroneList > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hello Jeanne and Margaret > > > Just a quick comment about the marriage record you found on Matthew Wilson > who is mentioned below. There are at least two places named Cappagh in > County Tyrone. The parish church of Cappagh that is mentioned in the > marriage record is about two miles outside Omagh, it's in a lovely setting > near the Strule river. Hope this helps. > > Evelyn > > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] > Sent: Monday, February 10th 2025, 21:52 > Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Re: McConnell > > > Hi Margaret, > > I’ve been looking for the parents of your James Wilson b 1843. > > Did you get that year from his headstone, or is there other information that > supports it? > > I would go with his parents being Matthew Wilson and surname McConnell, > because it is from his marriage info and would have come from himself, not > others who often get it wrong in the death information. Or maybe his mother > was a McConnell at the time of his marriage, and his dad died, and his mom > remarried? Who knows? > > I did find one marriage in Tyrone that’s a possibility. > > Matthew Wilson married Eliza Jane Mcconnell on 23 Dec 1845 in Cappagh. > > It’s not Mary, and Cappagh is 20 miles from Omagh, but I thought it might be > worth consideration. > > I sympathize with you trying to find the right James Wilson in Tyrone. > > My GG Grandfather Patrick Wilson was supposed to be James, according to his > death registration. But I can’t find Patrick’s birth (or marriage) info > anywhere. > > Who would think it would be hard to find information on a Patrick Wilson who > was Presbyterian? Ah well. > > Jeanne from the Great White North (of Canada, lol) > > ================================= > Send a Message to the List - [email protected] > List Archive - > https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > > <https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com> > Join the list by sending an email to - > [email protected] > To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected] > Unsubscribe by sending an email to - > [email protected] > ================================= > > > ================================= > Send a Message to the List - [email protected] > List Archive - > https://list.cotyroneireland.com/empathy/list/cotyronelist.list.cotyroneireland.com > Join the list by sending an email to - > [email protected] > To receive the Digest version, send an email to - [email protected] > Unsubscribe by sending an email to - > [email protected] > =================================
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