According to my the 1888 Australian marriage certificate of my husband's great grandfather James Watters, his parents were Samuel Watters and Hannah Shannon. He was from Dungannon. I found a Robert Watters in Griffiths in Doolargy, Carnteel. The name Robert was used for one of James's sons.
It was reported that James was a soldier in NSW before he moved to Queensland. I don't know if he might have been a soldier before he left Ireland.
There were reports in the family that the rest of his family May have gone to New Zealand as part of the Vesey Stewart Settlers Scheme, but I haven't been able to find any evidence of that. Apparently, a lot of George Vesey Stewart's settlers came from the Martray area in Tyrone.
Looking for any insight anyone can offer on this Watters family.
Thanks
Shelley
Shelley
Sunday 15th Mar 2020, 12:11AMMessage Board Replies
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Shelley,
Approximately when was James Watters born, what denomination was he and what was his father’s occupation?
I assume he was born before 1864 which is when birth registration started in Ireland. Prior to 1864 you have to rely on church records. Many of them are not on-line. For the Dungannon area (parish of Drumglass) the Church of Ireland has records starting in 1665, the Methodist start in 1819, 1st Presbyterian 1790, 2nd Presbyterian 1830 RC 1821. Only the RC records are on-line. For the others you need to go to PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast and look them up. (Or get someone else to do that for you). Death registration started in Ireland in 1864. I searched for deaths for Samuel & Hannah 1864 onwards in the Dungannon area but did not find any, suggesting both were dead before that year (or had left the area). Griffiths in Tyrone dates to 1860, so the family’s absence from it could point to their death prior to 1860. Having said that not everyone was listed in Griffiths, so there could be other reasons which they don’t appear there. But if they had left for New Zealand prior to 1860, that would explain their absence.
Marriage registration started in 1845, save for RC marriages which start in 1864. I searched those records but did not find Samuel and Hannah, so they seem likely to have married before 1845, in which case you again need to search church records. (Curiously there was a marriage in 1846 for a Samuel Shannon to Hannah Waters, in Dungannon).
Knowing Samuel’s occupation may help identify the type of records he may feature in.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Sunday 15th Mar 2020, 06:12AM -
sElwyn
Thank you so much for your efforts, and I do apologise for not including more information in my query. James was a Protestant, I’m not sure which. He was born in 1857. I have a date of 29 February (not sure where it came from). Samuel is listed as a farmer on the marriage certificate of James.
How interesting (Samuel Shannon and Hannah Waters). Thanks. You never know, that may lead somewhere.
I’m in Australia, so no chance I’ll be at PRONI any time soon. :)
Thanks again
Shelley
Shelley
Monday 16th Mar 2020, 01:25AM -
If Samuel was a farmer in 1832 he ought to be listed in the tithe applotment records for Dungannon (Drumglass parish). However I don’t see any Waters/Watters farms there then.
I suspect trawling the church records is probably the only way of searching for the family.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 16th Mar 2020, 08:46PM -
OK, thanks, Elwyn.
Shelley
Tuesday 17th Mar 2020, 12:30PM