COTTON INFORMATION FOR VISIT IN JUNE FROM NZ

GV tells us that George Cotton had plot 9 in Killybasky, which was a farmhouse, outbuildings and around 8 acres. Nearby on plot 3a was John Cotton with 13 acres. He?s likely to be a relative (a brother perhaps).

Plot 9 today is on the south side of the Muff Rd BT45, near Dunleath?s Pub, at Churchtown. That?s a mile or so west of the A29 Moneymore Rd. You?ll likely need either a large scale map or local knowledge to identify it with certainty.

The revaluation records show plot 9 changing from George to John Cotton in 1880. It changes again in 1921 from John to Sarah Jane Clarke (whose maiden name was Cotton). She remained the owner in 1929 when that series of records finishes.

The records also show that plot 3a changed to George Cotton in 1868, and then to John in 1876 (so it looks as though the 2 farms had been combined. Presumably John senior died with no offspring to inherit). By 1877, John Cotton has plots 1,2 & 3. In 1921 it changes to Mathew Clarke (who had married Sarah Jane Cotton). He remained the owner in 1929 when that series of records finishes.

Here?s plot 9 in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Lisson_Upper/Killybaskey/1533940/

And in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Lissan_Upper/Killybasky/614632/

Sarah Jane Cotton married Mathew Clarke in 1916. The marriage is registered in Magherafelt Oct ? Dec 1916 Vol 1, page 953. Sarah Jane was the Cotton?s only child so she inherited the farm. Her mother died intestate. Here?s the abstract (summary) of her probate file. The full file is held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.

Cotton Rachel of Killybaskey Lissan county Tyrone widow died 2 December 1933 Administration Belfast 5 June to Sarah Jane Clark married woman. Effects ?10.

I don?t see any Clarke households in Muff Rd listed in the current phone book but half the population are ex-directory these days so that?s not conclusive. You may need to knock on a few doors to find out if any descendants are still in the area. You could also search GRONI?s records to see whether Mathew & Sarah Jane had any children. (You would need to visit GRONI?s offices in Belfast to do that).

Thank you so much for that information Ahoghill Antrim

That is so useful.  I shall be spending 3 days in Dublin researching before I start travelling.  I shall take your advice.

kind regards

Kerry (NZ)

Kerry,

If the focus of your research is on families in Co Londonderry, then you may find that the majority of records you may want to research are probably held in Belfast rather than Dublin. Worth bearing in mind.

Elwyn

Elwyn,

Thank you, yes.

Kerry