Darbys and Courtneys of Coal Island/Donaghmore

Carolyn,

The 1880 Scottish death certificate should record William Darby’s parents names. (Sometimes death certificates contain mistakes due to an error by the informant but it’s probably the best source you have for his parents names). You can view that on-line on the Scotlandspeople site. It should also tell you William’s father’s occupation which may be helpful too. (If a farmer there may be land records to search. If a labourer/weaver then it’ll be harder).

William’s birth c 1828 is long before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864) and so you would need to rely on church baptism records. To do that you would need to know his exact denomination. Do you know that?

Donaghenry Church of Ireland records start in 1733 (with gaps); Stewartstown Presbyterian in 1814, 2nd Stewartstown Presbyterian in 1827, RC start in 1861. Copy in PRONI.

The tithe applotment records for Aghareany in 1826 list William Cortnay (plus a John Cortnay) both farming in the townland. See:

https://cotyroneireland.com/tithe/donaghmore.html

Griffiths Valuation for 1860 lists Letitia Courtney on plot 27a which is a 5 acre farm, Mary on 27b which is a labourer’s cottage; John on 23a a 6 acre farm and John again on 21 which was 14 acres, Joseph on 22a 11 acre farm.& John Courtney. These properties today are mostly adjacent to the Mullaghcreavey Rd between Castlecaulfield and Donaghmore.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

You can use the Valuation revision records on the PRONI website to follow through and see who replaced each occupant, right up to 1929.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni

These 3 Courtney households in Aghareany in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/1739050/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/1739053/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/1739054/

1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/867866/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/867871/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Donaghmore/Aghareany/867873/

Probate abstracts from the PRONI wills site:

The Will of William Courtney late of Aughareny (Donaghmore) in the County of Tyrone Farmer deceased who died 8 October 1848 at Aughareny aforesaid was proved at Armagh by the oaths of John Courtney and Joseph Courtney both of said place (Donaghmore) the Executors.

The above will is on-line and mentions sons John  & Joseph, daughter Anne Courtney otherwise Stenson (so she married a Stenson), and daughter Elisabeth Courtney otherwise McGin

Letters of Administration (with the Will annexed) of the personal estate of John Courtney late of Augharainey County Tyrone Farmer deceased who died 11 March 1874 at same place were granted at Armagh to Margaret Courtney of Augharainey aforesaid (Dungannon) the Widow and a Legatee.(Limited Grant.)

The will is on-line and mentions his wife plus son John and son Verner who was in America.

The Will of John Courtney late of Aghareaney County Tyrone Farmer deceased who died 24 July 1880 at same place was proved at Armagh by William George Irwin and William Courtney both of Aghareaney Farmers the Executors.

The above will is on-line and mentions sons William & James, and daughters Mary Jane & Susanna, all of whom appear to have been single or at least without children, at the time the will was signed.

The Will of Joseph Courtney late of Aughareny County Tyrone Farmer deceased who died 7 September 1883 at same place was proved at Armagh by Joseph Courtney of Aughareny aforesaid Farmer one of the Executors.

The above will is on-line and mentions sons William, Joseph and daughter Susanna Maria

The Will (with Codicil) of Ethelinda Courtney late of Augherainey County Tyrone Widow who died 29 December 1885 at same place was proved at Armagh by Joseph Courtney and William Courtney both of Augherainey Farmers the Executors.

The above will is on-line and she leaves everything to son Joseph. It also mentions her son John.

Probate of the Will of William Courtney (Senior) late of Augherany County Tyrone Farmer who died 18 January 1901 granted at Armagh to James Courtney Farmer.

The above will is on-line and mentions his wife Elizabeth, sons William & John, daughter Annie, son James

Administration of the Estate of Joseph Courtney late of Agherainey County Tyrone Farmer who died 7 June 1916 granted at Armagh to William Courtney Esquire

Courtney Ella Priscilla of Aughereaney Donaghmore county Tyrone married woman died 3 February 1952 Administration Londonderry 7 March to John Courtney farmer the husband. Effects £257 12s. 6d.

Courtney John of Augharainey Donaghmore county Tyrone farmer died 17 December 1958 at South Tyrone Hospital Dungannon county Tyrone Probate Londonderry 21 August to William George Irwin and George Davidson farmers. Effects £7998 0s. 3d.

The more recent probate files are not on-line but should be in PRONI in paper format if you wish to read them.

If you search the PRONI e-catalogue you may find some documents relating to the Courtney family. Vary the spelling to include all possibilities. EG:

FIN/10/10/CT5981  Irish Church Temporalities Commission. Order merging tithe rent charge in consideration of £14 12s.6d. in Aghareany, in the parish of Donaghmore, diocese of Armagh. William and James Courtney, Aghareany, Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, owner.

D476/211  17 May 1831  Assignment of 1/3 part of farm at Aughreany, Co. Tyrone. Consideration £60. Joseph Courtney, Aughareany, 1st pt. Ann Dilworth, Mullaghriffy, 2nd pt. Andrew Dilworth, Mullaghriffy, 3rd pt.

The Courtney family were Church of Ireland and lived in Donaghmore parish. Their main records start in 1747. Copy in PRONI in Belfast. There is also a church at Donaghmore Upper. Unfortunately it’s early records were lost in the 1922 fire in Dublin and they have nothing before 1877 now.

Bumped.

Dear Elwyn,

Thank you for your very full reply to my query.You certainly gave me a lot of leads to investigate.

I did obtain William Darby's Death Certificate and his father was also William, a coal miner. As they are supposed to have come from Coal Island, that makes sense. The confusion as to William jnr's father came about because on the 1851 Scotland Census Elizabeth Darby (correct age) with a son, John, born 1844, is living with a William and Rosanna Courtney. On John's Birth Certificate his father is given as "Thomas". Perhaps her first marriage was to William snr and when he died she married Thomas Darby - brother-in-law/cousin. I am not clear on Church law for this. I know that permission could be granted in the Anglican Church.

All William Darby's chidren were baptised Catholics so I assumed he would be also. 

I checked the Census links you gave and also the Probate for Wills. I would say that they were related to my Elizabeth (Courtney) Darby as two of the families has daughters "Susanna" which was Elizabeth's mother's name.

From this I would say that those Courtneys in and around Auhareany in 1901 and 1911 and their descendents are distant cousins.

Thank you again for all your help.