My great great grandparents were Gibbons Pearson and Jane nee Wilson Pearson. Gibbons Pearson was born around 1809 and his wife Jane Wilson was born in 1812. They were married on 11 April 1831 in the Parish Church of All Saints (Church of Ireland?), at Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal, Ireland by Rev. William Ewing. They had 7 children: Gibbons/Alexander/Eliza Jane/Mary/Thomas/William Gibbons/James, all born in Leck Parish.
There is a mystery about this family's emigration to the U.S. In 1847 Jane nee Wilson Pearson traveled from Liverpool to New York City with all of her children. For unknown reasons, she and her children traveled under her maiden name WILSON. Her husband, Gibbons Pearson, was not listed on the ship's manifest. Eventually Gibbons Pearson did come to New York, but not long after his arrival he left his family in New York City and traveled upstate in search of work. A written account of his disappearance some years later around 1862-63 stated that "Gibbons Pearson was a man somewhat unsteady in his habits." This leads us to beleive that he probably suffered from alcoholism. About a year later his wife received news that her husband had been killed in a hunting accident. A record of his death indicated that he had died in 1849 in Mount Pleasant, NY. He was listed as a "pauper".
Our genealogical research places Gibbons Pearson in the townlands Woodpark, Lismonaghan and Oldtown. The Pearson clan are Presbyterians. We are interested to know if there are any Pearson descendants still living in the Letterkenny area. We would also like to know where we might find Presbyterian church records for the area dating from 1800-1860 that might give us more clues about the Pearson family in Leck Parish, County Donegal.
Thank you very much for any help you might be able to provide.
markkie1949
Sunday 1st Feb 2015, 04:31AMMessage Board Replies
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I noted the following probate abstracts for Pearsons near Letterkenny:
The Will of William Pearson late of Letterkenny in the County of Donegal Yeoman deceased who died 8 June 1864 at same place was proved at Londonderry by the oaths of John M'Auley of Letterkenny Auctioneer and John M'Auley of Ballconnelly Farmer both in said County the Executors.
Pearson Anne of Letterkenny county Donegal widow died 5 December 1926 Probate Belfast 7 August to Anne Jane Pearson spinster. Effects ?28 19s. 1d.
Pearson Annie Jane of Letterkenny county Donegal Eire spinster died 2 February 1946 Probate Belfast 27 June to Arthur Alexander Andrews bank official James Alexander Moore merchant and James William Thompson bank official. Effects ?11819 9s. 6d.
The current Irish phone book lists 3 Perasons in the area including a Charles & Sylvia Pearson in Lismongahn, one of the townlands you listed. So it would seem worth contacting them.
http://www.eircomphonebook.ie/?extlink=eircomphonebook
I know of 4 Presbyterian churches in the Letterkenny area. Letterkenny 1st has baptisms from 1821(with gaps) and marriages from 1845; Letterkenny 2nd has baptisms and marriages from 1821; Letterkenny 3rd baptisms from 1836 and marriages from 1838. Trenta has baptisms from 1836 and marriages from 1838.
Some of those records are on the rootsireland site (subscription) though I am not sure all of them are listed.
There are however copies on microfilm in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.
Ahoghill Antrim
Sunday 1st Feb 2015, 11:57AM -
My Great Great Grandfather was also from the same area. I hard Pearson was born in 1794 in Letterkennyand was married to Mary Mchlinney.
Richard and his family travelled to Australia and settled in Armidale, New South Wales, Austraila. His son Henry ad his own property in Armidale and called it "Woodpark".
Hope someone can add to the Pearson's in Ireland.
Doug Pearson
Doug Pearson
Saturday 29th Jul 2017, 02:28AM -
There is a small townland called Woodpark just outside Letterkenny (92 aces). In the 1901 census, there was 1 family living there and they were named Pearson. So that seems a fairly strong link:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Carrovady/Woodpark/1188019/
1911 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Corrawaddy/Woodpark/498014/
In 1834, the tithe applotment records list 3 Pearson farms in the townland: Richard with about 7 acres, Henry with 28 and Gibbons with 9.
http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004625691/004625691_00238.pdf
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Sunday 30th Jul 2017, 07:18AM