Visiting Castlederg Tyrone April/May 2020

Lawler,

I can see births for Isabella on 4.6.1866 and Sidney on 31.12.1869, both in Listymore. I did not see any of the other births. That suggests they were all pre 1864 when birth registration began. This looks to be the family in the 1901 census. 5 children present, and unmarried:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Listymore/Listymore/1722441/

Here’s the family in 1911 with a sister Martha (born c 1855) who was not present in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Listymore/Listymore/852369/

I don’t see a birth that fits for James Watson, the nephew in the 1911 census.

Robert Watson died at Listymore 19.7.1889 aged 73. The informant was his daughter Annie (who doesn’t appear in the 1901 census). Jane Watson died 5.8.1905 aged 80. Sidney was the informant. Some of the ages need to be taken with some flexibility. Folk didn’t always know their ages in the 1800s and many are guesses.

I saw this probate abstract on the PRONI wills site:

Watson David of Listymore county Tyrone farmer died 6 September 1926 Administration Londonderry 11 February to Sidney Watson spinster. Effects £29 10s.

David died intestate but there should be a probate file in PRONI in Belfast which might tell you a little more about him.

David & Robert Watson of Listymore are mentioned in the Tyrone Constitution of 24th September 1909 when, at an electoral court, nationalists objected to either man being on the electoral register. David Watson appeared and after evidence, both objections were struck out.

(Note: Normally such an objection would be raised if there were doubts about the person being eligible to vote, often on the grounds they lived somewhere else).

Robert Watson of Listymore is mentioned in the Derry Journal of 5th October 1931 when he was fined 1/- (1 shilling) for riding a bicycle without a rear light or reflector.

Robert Watson junior of Listymore is mentioned in the Derry Journal of 8th November 1933 together with his brother in law Alexander Wallace, of the same address, when both were fined £25 for illicit whiskey distilling. A creamery can with 15 gallons of wash (ie part-made whiskey) had been found on Watson’s land. Wallace denied all knowledge of it, but also admitted he had a previous conviction for illegal distillation. Wallace’s defence pointed out that the whiskey had been found “about 15 yards from the Free State border” and suggested that someone from the Irish Free State (the modern Republic of Ireland) had planted the whiskey there.

Robert Watson of Listymore is mentioned again in the Derry Journal of 1st April 1938 when it was reported that, after a sharp pursuit of one and a half miles, he had killed a large vixen and her 4 cubs in the townland of Tullydoortans. Two of the puppies had white tails.

Robert Watson of Listymore is mentioned again in the Derry Journal of 7th October 1938 for catching lots of foxes. Since August, he had “accounted for 12, mostly all alive…”

Alexander Wallace married Annie Watson on 17.12.1930, registered in Strabane. 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.

Robert Watson farm is listed in Griffiths Valuation for 1859.  He had plot 3 in Listymore which was a 43 acre farm. That farm today is on the Grove Rd, just north of Castlederg. I searched the modern phone book for that area but did not find any Watson or Wallace listed in Grove Rd. However that’s not conclusive as so few people use landlines these days.

I hope this helps your search.

Hi Elwyn,

Many thanks getting back to me about my family.  I  haven't gone on line to Groni or Proni as yet, as I have had the Grandchilden here over the weekend. It is a shame that Ireland Cencus are unavailabile as it would make it so much easier to follow people  as they move around over the years.

We had worked out through Griffith Valuation where the land is that Rogert and Jane farmed and am going to go and drive past it while I am there. It would be nice if I can make contact with some of the family over there. I didn't know anything about this family until I strated my research, as my mother and her siblings were seperated as children. 

 I had a good laugh about what you said about Robert and Alexander and the whiskey , as Mary was also up before the court in1908 for making beer that was more than 3 per cent. Looks like it runs in the family.

Regards 

Trish Cron