I am trying to trace my grandfathers lineage. His name was James Gardiner Major born in December 1875, Liskeyborough, Armagh. His parents were Singleton Major and Margaret Hutchinson. Singleton's father I believe was Robert Major married to Margaret Gardiner. James left Ireland to help UK fight in the Boer War. He never returned to Ireland, after the war he stayed in South Africa and married a Florence Maude Simspon. Their children were Florence, Edith (my mother) James, Singleton, Maragret, Matilda, Alice, Fanny and a brother named Balfour.
I know that James brother and sisters names were Singleton, George, Thomas, Robert, Margaret, Fanny, Abigail and Emma. James I believe was the oldest boy but had an older sister, Maragret.
I would greatly appreciate any information about James' parents, grandparents and further back.
Thank you
Wendy.
Nermal
Monday 22nd Mar 2021, 05:13AMMessage Board Replies
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Wendy,
James was born on 27th November 1875:
His parents married in Jan 1874 in Armagh register Office:
Margaret Hutchinson was from Cloghan.
Family in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Richhill/Liskyborough/1018825/
And in 1911. (Note they had 11 children, 8 of whom were still alive).
Children I can see are:
Margaret 31.10.1874 (died 1885)
James 27.11.1875
Abigail 27.12.1876
George 2.3.1878
Matilda 27.5.1879
Singleton 16.11.1880
Robert 28.2.1882
Thomas 26.2.1885
Fannie 10.4.1887 (died 1893)
Emily 24.6.1897
I looked for a death for Robert Major 1864 to 1901 in the Armagh registration area. None is listed, so either he died before 1864 or he didn’t live in that area. There’s a possible death for Margaret Major regd in Armagh 22.3.1868 aged 76. It’s not free to view. I do not know it’s definitely your family just it’s in the right area and age bracket. You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:
You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.
Several trees on Ancestry list Singleton Major’s mother as Abigail rather than Margaret. Here’s a death that matches that (which shows Robert pre-deceased her):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
For deaths prior to 1864 you normally need to rely on church records, where they exist. In this case, sadly Richill Church of Ireland lost it’s early records in the 1922 fire in Dublin and has none prior to 1878 now, so getting back earlier than you have got is going to be difficult if that’s where the family attended church.
Margaret Hutchinson’s father George is listed in Griffiths Valuation for Cloghan in 1864. His farm was plot 10, a 37 acre farm, easy enough to locate today should you wish to do so. George died in 1886, aged 77.
This looks to be Margaret’s brother in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Hockley/Clogman/1018094/
and 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Hockley/Cloghan/329932/
Probate of the Will of the late John Hutchinson, Cloghan, Richhill, Co. Armagh, Farmer, who died 9 June 1919, granted at Armagh, 5 October 1920 to Reverend Alfred Wade Johnston, Clerk and Charles B. Lambe, Fruit Preserver. Effects: £415.
Hutchinson George of Cloghan Woodview P.O. Armagh county Armagh farmer died 25 June 1953 Probate Belfast 9 February to Douglas Hutchinson farmer and George Hutchinson omnibus driver. Effects £6820 9s. 5d.
Hutchinson, Charlotte of Cloghan Woodview P.O. Armagh county Armagh widow died 8 June 1957 Administration Belfast 5 December to Henry Hutchinson retired boilerman. Effects £135.
The Belfast Newsletter of 19th April 1911 mentions that John Hutchinson of Cloghan had been elected as a churchwarden of Richill Church of Ireland so that seems likely to be the Hutchinson family church.
The tithe applotment records for 1833 list several Hutchinsons farming in Cloghan so that’s probably Margaret’s family:
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/armagh/tithe-applotments/kilmore-paris…
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 22nd Mar 2021, 07:28AM