Hello, I am wondering if someone can help with finding the parish name that I thought was called Banagher, as that is a parish group that I would like to join on this website. Based on my research to date, I think that my great-great-grandfather (Benn Mercer) was a farmer in Auglish Townland in Derry (near Dungiven?) before he emigrated to Canada in 1883.
The most common spelling of the townland is Aughlish. It’s in Banagher civil parish.
Griffiths Valuation (1858) lists a Samuel Mercer farming in Aughlish. He had plot 4 which was 72 acres, plus a share of common grazing on the nearby hillside.
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml
Samuel died in 1877 aged 70. Interestingly his death certificate says he was an architect as well as a farmer. An unusual combination of professions.
His wife Elizabeth died in 1880:
Benn was the informant for the death. Possibly his parents deaths left him able to emigrate?
Thomas Mercer marriage here, son of Samuel. Perhaps the same family?
2nd marriage for above Thomas:
3rd marriage for him:
Another son of a Samuel from Derrylane:
Thank you for this. Yes, I think that Thomas Mercer is related. There is a British Civil Service Evidence Of Age that was completed in 1867 by "Samuel Mercer of Newtown Limavady Builder & Farmer" that I found on the FindMyPast website. What is amazing is that Samuel doesn't just attest to the age of his son Samuel Mercer, but he also lists the names and birthdates of all his children. One of those children is Thomas Mercer b.24 January 1844. Another is Benn Mercer.
The Nov 3, 1877 Coleraine Constitution (also found via FindMyPast) had a short mention re Samuel Mercer's death. It noted that "in the town of Limavady he carried on the business of architect and builder, and erected the Town Hall, the new market, the Railway-place, and many private houses in Limavady."