WILLIAM ROXBOROUGH

Sheila,

This looks like Wm & Jane in 1901 & 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Bovagh/Bovagh/1519476/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Bovagh/Bovagh/590601/

William & Jane appear to have married in 1864 and to have had 6 children who were alive in 1911. Their marriage is registered in Coleraine in 1864 Vol 11, page 485.

Jane Roxborough?s death was registered in Coleraine Oct ? Dec 1919, est year of birth 1845.

According to the PRONI wills site, this William appears to have died in 1930, not 1926.

Roxborough William of Bovagh county Londonderry farmer died 24 October 1930 Probate Belfast 14 June to Robert Kennedy farmer. Effects ?32.

Only the abstract is on-line. If you want the will, you would need to get a copy from PRONI.

The revaluation records show Richard Roxborough on plot 14 in Bovagh. The name changes to William in 1885.

Digging a bit more, I found this other William Roxborough who was already a widower in 1911, living with Ellen Bradley whom he married in Apr ? Jun 1920. I suspect two separate families have been mixed up. The Wm married to Jane Dempsey was not the man who married Ellen Bradley.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Aghadowney/Seygorry/651982/

There?s a birth registered in Coleraine for Sarah Roxborough on 10^th Dec 1904 in which the parents are named as Wm Roxborough and Elizabeth M?Cahon. There?s a death of an Eliz Roxborough in Apr ? Jun 1906, est year of birth 1873. So it looks as though the Wm who later married Ellen Bradley was previously married to Elizabeth M?Cahon not Jane Dempsey.

By the way, the names Ellen and Helen are interchangeable in Ireland.

Elwyn

Elwyn, I have 4 messages, 3 unread, yours first.  Thankyou so much for this information, you have been so helpful.  There has been a lot of confusion over the years, my Dad said his mothers name was Helen, William her first son to William Senior called her Helen which is on the Aghadowey Parish Church website saying "in memory of my father William Roxborough died ... 1926 aged 84 yrs and mother Helen died ...1939 aged 49 yrs.  My brother went to Ireland back a bit and discovered a stone in the churchyard, it was new and my dads parents names and some of his brothers and sisters names were on there, I have a photo I can download if anyone wants it.  It says ELLEN on this stone, so you are so right about Helen and Ellen being entwined.  I am astonished my Grandfather William only married Ellen in 1920, they had 10 children by then!! She was definately his maid/housekeeper, apparently he employed her to look after children from his previous marriage originally.  I have a photo of Ellen with my Dad and some of his siblings taken after William died, my Dad looks about 4.  They are all nicely dressed with a small cortage on their chests.  My Dad remembered his mother always having money in her purse he said, then by 11 he left school he said to help bring money in so it must have been running out.  William (Willy) the eldest born 1910, lived till 95 years, never married. Richard (Dick) Matthew (Matt), Ernest (Ernie) never married, Nelly, Ethel, Emily never married, Annie, Jane, Lily, Evelyn and Sadie, my dad always called her Sadie never married but there is a Sarah on the new stone in the Aghadowey church yard, never heard of her, then my Dad James (Jim).  I have the first and last in correct place but the middle ones I need to get their DOB's.  But one was born every year anyway! One of my Roxboroughs was a ROUGH RIDER in the late 19th century Theodore Roosevelt campaign, if anyone has any information on this I would be very very grateful.     

Im so excited.  I now know why the name Sarah has been put on the newer stone in Aghadowey Parish church yard.  It is Sarah, Williams daughter from his marriage to Elizabeth M'Cahon.  I shall now send for that marriage certificate.  Elizabeth as you say was born in 1873 and that means William her husband was at that stage 33 years old.  Now, my brother and I have been told for sure that William did go to America with a FIRST wife who did not want to return to NI so she stayed there. We have lost the phone number and address for a long lost cousin who told us this, the son of Lily my dads sister. William had 2 different wives much younger than himself after that.  I know William bought 2 farms and possibly 3 on return from America.  One at a place known as The Island, strange name but I remember going there as a young child and by then Matt one of my Dads bros was in charge of it.  It wasn't far from the other farm my Dad was born in and where his eldest bachelor bro Willy was living (Doherty's lived next door).  It was a long whitestone building on the Ardreagh Road, Aghadowey, not far from the church.  There is a whole Roxborough pew there, I saw it, no wonder with all those children!  Does anyone know the exact location of The Island farm?  I have so many good memories as a child going there and will return with my bro next year, a lot more knowledgeable now and becoming moreso.  Thanks again so much Elwyn, I really appreciate you getting back to me. 

Hello Elwyn again, Sadie was the only sister of my Dad I didn't ever get to meet, I knew all the rest as my Dad kept in touch with them and we would visit them.  Elwyn, if you email me on myblackbubba@mail.com I would be very happy to share something very personal regarding my dad's family, you have been so helpful and its been very vital for me to find out about William my grandfather.  My brother first sowed the seed when he questioned his age at time our Dad was born.  I had never given it much thought really, just grew up accepting he was "a bit older" than his mother.  Now the penny has really dropped.  Thanks again, you have helped me a lot so far.  Just want now to find out the woman he went to USA with that stayed there.  Anythings possible.

Dear Sheila,

I am a descendant of James Roxborough , brother to William Roxborough (m. Jane Dempsey) if my research is correct !

Best Regards

Ady