Ervine Ancestors

Chris,

I think you may have 2 different Abraham Ervins mixed up. There was one from Co Antrim (father Robert) who married Ann Douds (Dowds) in 1865, and  another from Co Down who married Elizabeth Ann Brown in 1860.

This looks to be Abraham Ervin’s marriage to Elizabeth Brown in 1860. They married in Annahilt Presbyterian, in Co Down. (Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that may well be where the Brown family attended church). Abraham’s father was James Erwin (not Robert) and Abraham lived at Drumlough. Elizabeth at Magheradartin and her father John Brown was again a farmer.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

Griffiths Valuation c 1860 lists Abraham Irwin in Drumlough. That suggests his father was dead and he had taken over the farm. It was plot 13a, a 28 acre farm. (On the modern Drumlough Rd. Still a farm today looking at it on Google Earth).

James Irwin is listed in the 1834 tithes as farming in Drumlough:

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/down/tithe-applotment-books/dromore-parish.php

Griffiths lists a John Browne in Magheradartin. He had plot 24 which was a house & 44 acres, and also another 11 acres on plot 28. 

Annahilt Presbyterian church has records from 1801 onwards. There’s a copy in PRONI in Belfast. They may contain Elizabeth Anne’s baptism and that of any siblings.

John Brown died in 1895 aged 70. His wife was still alive. Daughter Jemima was the informant:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1895/05918/4680277.pdf

This may be Jemima’s marriage to Robert Gilliland in 1902:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1902/10281/5741740.pdf

A Christina Brown, farmer’s widow died in Magheradartin in 1914. Not clear who her husband was though he was dead by 1901, so she's a possible wife for John Brown:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1914/05298/4473221.pdf

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballyworphy/Magheradartin/1240612/

PRONI’s wills site has 10 wills for Brown of Magheradartin. There were several farms on the townland so some research may be required to work out who was related to who.

Probably your first step to trace the Brown family would be to search Annahilt Presbyterian’s baptism records for around 1841 when she was born, to see who Elizabeth's mother was. (Elizabeth gave her age as 19 when she married in March 1860, so should be baptised around 1841. Search 5 years either side as not all ages were accurate and not all baptisms were undertaken immediately after birth).

If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

Here’s the marriage for the Co Antrim Abraham Ervin (Erwin/Irwin) who married Ann Douds:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

Oh wow thank you so much - I will follow this up. I had not realised how important the county is. I have been told by my father that Abraham's wife was referred to as Annie and that his father was james and that they had something to do with the linen trade. I so appreciate your quick response

Half the population of Ulster were involved in the linen trade in one way or another. Most farmers grew flax (the raw material for linen) and many farmers and labourers wove it, on hand loom weaving machines, at home in the winter months.

If Abraham’s wife was known as Annie, then maybe that’s the Abraham who married Annie Douds (Dowds)? This is them in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ormeau/Upper_Frank_Street/1213662/

And 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ormeau/Cregagh_Road/227174/

Annie died 9.2.1907. Abraham died 7.10.1926 Belfast aged 85. Son James died 15.9.1960 & daughter in law Edith 3.2.1960.  All 4 are in grave C3 125 in Dundonald Cemetery.

Probate abstracts from the PRONI wills site:

Ervine Adam of "Glynfern" Cregagh Road Belfast retired joiner died 14 October 1926 Probate Belfast 7 December to Robert Ervine insurance agent and James Ervine engineer's representative. Effects £173.

Ervine, Edith Jane of 13 Castleview Road Belfast died 3 February 1960 at the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast Administration Belfast 11 April to James Ervine retired manufacturer's agent the husband. Effects £5.

Ervine, James of Lynhurst 13 Castleview Road Belfast retired traveller died 15 September 1960 at the City Hospital Belfast Probate Belfast 2 December to Abram Stanley Ervine corporation official and William Dennis Ervine research chemist. Effects £2618 11s. 11d.

The wills themselves should be in PRONI in paper format. PRONI will copy them for you, for a fee.

Hello Elwyn

My apolgoeis I have not been able to communicate for a while,  Thank you for all your help - it appears that Annie Douds it was .......I have looked up Dundonald Cemetery as well which is awesome.   I do have a newspaper obituary of when my gggrandfather Robert passed away which mentions that it was only a few years after his father Abraham had passed.  In the meantime a distant cousin based in USA has requested that I try to find out which brother/s emigrated there - the family seem to have decided that it is EASY finding Irish information hahahaha when it is actually all due to you and the wonderful volunteers - it is sincerely appreciated.

Regards

Chris

Chris,

You want to find out which brothers emigrated.  Whose brothers are we talking about? Is it Abraham Ervine/Erwin or Annie Dowds? Or is it their children, you are interested in? Brothers to Robert?

In the 1865 marriage, Abraham gave his address as Drumkeely, Dundermott. That’s about half way between Ballymena and Ballymoney, some 40 miles north of Belfast. Annie gave a Belfast address but I am pretty sure she too came from around Drumkeely. Douds is a common name there. There’s plenty of them buried in Clough graveyard. They married in Clough Presbyterian Church. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church.  Unfortunately Clough Presbyterian lost all it’s early records in a fire and they have no baptisms earlier than 1865, so if that’s the church the 2 families attended, finding siblings will be hard going.

Abraham’s son Robert Ervin was born 25.12.1867:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1868/03457/2269259.pdf

The address is in Ballymacarrett which is around the shipyards, so I would guess that Abraham worked in the shipyards, probably for Harland & Wolff. He had retired by 1911 but otherwise he might have helped build the Titanic.

There was a son James born c 1875 but I cannot see a birth certificate for him. Nor can I immediately see any other children to that couple. 

Chris,

You want to find out which brothers emigrated.  Whose brothers are we talking about? Is it Abraham Ervine/Erwin or Annie Dowds? Or is it their children, you are interested in? Brothers to Robert?

In the 1865 marriage, Abraham gave his address as Drumkeely, Dundermott. That’s about half way between Ballymena and Ballymoney, some 40 miles north of Belfast. Annie gave a Belfast address but I am pretty sure she too came from around Drumkeely. Douds is a common name there. There’s plenty of them buried in Clough graveyard. They married in Clough Presbyterian Church. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church.  Unfortunately Clough Presbyterian lost all it’s early records in a fire and they have no baptisms earlier than 1865, so if that’s the church the 2 families attended, finding siblings will be hard going.

Abraham’s son Robert Ervin was born 25.12.1867:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1868/03457/2269259.pdf

The address is in Ballymacarrett which is around the shipyards, so I would guess that Abraham worked in the shipyards, probably for Harland & Wolff. He had retired by 1911 but otherwise he might have helped build the Titanic.

There was a son James born c 1875 but I cannot see a birth certificate for him. Nor can I immediately see any other children to that couple. 

Hello Elwyn

You must think I keep dropping off the earth ..............we have a problem in South Africa at the moment with daily "load shedding" where there is no electricity for hours on end - very frustrating as it leaves me trying to catch up on a million things when the power does come back on.  Hence delays ...again my apologies.

Yes I am trying to trace which brother/s went to the USA.  My grandfather William Frederick Ervine (born 1905) believed it was his uncles (his father Robert born 1867 siblings) but I think it may possibly have been his grandfather's siblings (Abraham Ervine born 1843). I see there is an Ellis Island site - is that an option..

Much appreciated and thanks as always