Hi I am looking for information regarding my great grandmother, Margaret Robinson (nee Taylor). She was born in 1864 and married John Robinson at Kilmegan church in around 1879. They lived in Wateresk and moved to Belfast in the later 1890s, but I am not sure why as the living conditions in Belfast they moved to were very difficult. I would be interested in any information about the Taylor or Robinson families.
John & Margaret married in 1878:
Griffiths Valuation for 1863 lists 3 Richard Robinsons in Wateresk. One on plot 5 in Wateresk. That was a 15 acre farm. There was also Richard Robinson senior on plot 43 which was 16 acres. Richard Robinson junior was on plot 38, a 19 acre farm. No easy way of identifying which of the 3 was John’s father. William Taylor (Margaret’s father) isn’t listed at that date.
One of the Richards died in 1874 aged 58:
His wife Catherine died in 1880. Samuel was the informant:
Samuel in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Dundrum/Wateresk/…
Administration of the estate of Samuel Robinson late of Waterask (Wateresk), Dundrum, County Down, Farmer, who died 21 July 1903 granted at Belfast, to Mary Robinson, the Widow
Another Richard died in 1877 aged 51. Informant was Margaret:
This may be the widowed Margaret in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Dundrum/Wateresk/…
According to the Jane Coburn tree on Ancestry the above Richard is your immediate line.
There was also a death in 1869 of one Richard aged 76 which is not on-line free yet. That may be the 3rd.
A widow. Apparently married to a Richard (presumably the 1869 death). She looks to be a close relation as her name appears as occupant of 2 of the farms in Wateresk in the Valuation records.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Dundrum/Wateresk/1227050/
This looks to be your Margaret Taylor's family judging by the presence of grandson Richard Robinson in it:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Dundrum/Wateresk/1227048/
Running through the 3 farms in Griffiths, the Valuation revision records on the PRONI site show plot 5 remaining in Richard’s name till 1881 when Samuel takes over. Plot 38 remains in another Richard’s name till 1873 when it goes to Ellen, then to Richard in 1875, then representatives of Richard in 1883, then Margaret in 1900. Plot 43 went from Richard to Ellen in 1875.
So it seems that Richard Robinson died in 1877, leaving John free to marry in 1878, but he didn’t stay on the Wateresk farm and instead acquired a farm of his own in Magherasaul. By 1895 he was back at Wateresk farming but by 1901 he was in Belfast. However his occupation then is still shown as farmer. There are no farms in that part of Belfast. Was he spending part of his time on the farm and part in Belfast?
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Victoria/Solway_S…
Thank you so much Elwyn. This is very helpful.
I noticed that John Robinson had stated his occupation as farmer on the census - you may be right - maybe he was still working on the farm in Dundrum on and off, My grandmother Sarah Robinson spent a lot of time on the farm in Wateresk in her early years, and it looks like her brother Richard stayed on in Dundrum too. I have no idea what happened to Richard or Margaret and John. My grandmother never talked about them. John was listed as living in Templemore Street in Belfast until around 1929 in the street directory, but I have never managed to find a death certificate for either of them or burial records, and no-one in the family seems to know.
Thank you again for all the trouble you went to find the above information - much appreciated!
I assume this is John & Margaret in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Pottinger__part_of_/Templemore_Street/223320/
The census entry would appear to indicate most of their 9 children were dead. If you look at the actual copy it indicates only 2 were alive (though there’s 3 on the census so can’t take that with total accuracy).
I looked for a death for Richard but didn’t see one though it seems likely he died between 1901 & 1911. Various trees on Ancestry indicate that daughter Maggie died in 1915 in Belfast, Susan in 1905 in Belfast and that Sarah married Robert Gildea and died in Newtownabbey in 1989. Marriage in 1919 here:
No idea what became of John & Margaret. Robinson is a common surname and therefore tricky to trace.
You are quite right Elwyn. There seem to be quite a few inaccuracies on the census form. Two of the girls died of TB which was rife at the time, and perhaps Richard suffered the same fate sadly. I was out at Kilmegan cemetery a couple of years ago and although many of the Taylors and Robinsons were buried there, I couldn't find any of their graves as many of the headstones were so badly worn away unfortunately. A local man made a note of some of the headstones in the early 1900s and that has been helpful in tracking down a couple of ancestors. His findings were published by the society for the Preservation of Memorials which can be a useful resource.
Many thanks again for your help.