Biggerstaff / Bickerstaff families of Dromara

Lynn,

I looked for the 1875 Biggerstaff/Bickerstaff marriage in both Ireland and Scotland but did not find it. There are several James B’s marrying and 1 Caroline Ellison marrying but not to each other.

If you think that James was a teacher in Dromore, any records should be in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. They will be held in the EDD series of records. They are not on-line and so you would need to get a researcher to look them up for you. There may have been quite a few schools in the area, and so it might take a little time if you don’t know the name of the school. PRONI generally only have the records for state funded schools (National Schools). There were also plenty of private or church schools. The records for those probably haven’t survived.

There is a marriage on 5.1.1870 between a Joseph Biggerstaff of Enagh and Martha Kernaghan. His father was Thomas B a farmer. They married in Banbridge Register office. A witness was Samuel Biggerstaff.

A Mary Jane Biggerstaff married Thomas Ferguson on 25.12.1886. Her father was Thomas, a labourer. She lived at Tullyniskey, but her husband lived in Enagh.

There was a Thomas Bickerstaff, farmer, of Enagh who died 14.2.1890 aged 81. He was a widower. Informant was son Joseph.

Noted these families in Enagh in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/1205360/

The head is Bella (Isabella).

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/1205372/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/1205374/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/1205378/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/1205385/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Gaevaghy/Enagh/12…

The names mostly seem to fit your family and they all lived near each other.

There are several Biggerstaffs from Enagh on the PRONI wills site, including a Samuel.

Biggerstaff Samuel of Enagh Dromara county Down farmer died 31 March 1920 Administration Belfast 6 March to Helena Biggerstaff spinster. Effects £87 16s. 3d.

Also: Biggerstaff Thomas James of Enagh county Down farmer died 24 June 1922 Probate Belfast 15 November to John Biggerstaff and James Biggerstaff farmers. Effects £258 15s.

I notice that a Thomas Biggerstaff, whose father was also Thomas married Sarah Morgan in Banbridge registration area on 17.3.1869. That’s not on-line free yet but if you are interested you can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

Dear Elwyn,

Thank you so much for this information.  I noted that there were a few families of the name Biggerstaff/ Bickerstaff in both Down and Antrim, and of course, as was the case at the time, the Christian names were often reused throughout the families.  It got a bit confusing as to whom was a Bickerstaff and who retained the name Biggerstaff within the one family.   I too couldn't find any marriage in either Scotland or Ireland between James and Caroline.  To be honest, I don't think it took place at all since Caroline came out to Australia under her maiden name as a single female immigrant.    Still, they're not the first in our family not to have legally married, and I'm sure they won't be the last, though it is unusual for the time. 

Thanks for the links and tips, I'll look further into those.  I think I will have to get a researcher

Kind regards,

Lynn 

Lynn,

Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net