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Joseph Foster b.1848 Imigrated to NZ in 1874

ArmaghLoughgall (Armagh)

Joseph Foster (1848-1895), married Sarah Jane McLelland (1848-1905) at the registar's Office in the City of Armagh on 20th April 1874. Joseph's father was a farmer, also named Joseph Foster. Sarah's father, also a farmer was Robert McClelland.

Shortly after their marriage, they sailed to New Zealand on the "CARISBROOK CASTLE" as assisted imigrants, arriving at the port of Lyttleton, South Island,on 2nd September 1874.

I do not knowif Joseph had any siblings, or what happened to his parents. His father is listed in the Griffiths Valuation in the Parish of Loughgall at Drumharriff, (page 31). Looking on Google Map, the area of land occupied wason both sidesthe present Red Lion Road, at the intersection of Ballymagerry Road. I wonder if there is a cemetery in this locality? They were Anglicans, (Church of Ireland?).

Sarah's father Robert is also in the Griffiths Valuation, in the Parish of Kilmore, at the area of Annahugh, (page 63). This location is onwest side of Annahugh Road, about 300-400 metersnorth ofRed Lion Road.

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2 replies

The revaluation records show Joseph Foster on plot 8 (a 12 acre farm) until 1882 when Francis replaced him. That usually indicates that Joseph had died. (There?s a death regd in Armagh for a JF who died in 1881 and who was born c 1797, so that might be him). In 1914 the farm was purchased under the Land Act (previously it had been rented). In 1922 Edward Foster replaces Francis, again indicative of Francis? death. Edward?s name remains against the property in 1929 when that series of records finishes. (There are later records in PRONI up to the 1960s but they are not on-line).

There are no Fosters listed in Drumharriff in the 1901 or 1911 censuses, suggesting they lived elsewhere.

The revaluation records show Robert McKeever on plot 20 in Annahugh (a 6 acre farm) until 1883 when briefly Robert Johnston is the tenant. In 1884 it reverts to Robert McLelland. In 1899 it changes to Hannah McLelland then in 1902 to Hannah McKeever, suggesting probably that following Hannah?s death the farm had been sold. 

Here?s Hannah McClelland in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Kilmore/Annahugh/1018173/

There was another McClelland farm (plot 26) nearby who may be related:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Kilmore/Annahugh/1018193/

Here?s the other McLelland farm in 1922:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Kilmore/Annahugh/330010/

Some probate abstracts for one of the McLelland families (I could find none for the Fosters).

Probate of the Will of David M'Clelland late of Annahugh County Armagh Farmer who died 3 April 1900 granted at Armagh to Richard M'Clelland Farmer and John M'Clure Merchant. Effects ?531 13s. 6d.

The above will is on-line on the PRONI site.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/WillsSearchResults.aspx

Administration of the estate of Richard M'Clelland late of Annahugh County Armagh Farmer who died 8 May 1903 granted at Armagh to Caroline J. K. P. M'Clelland the Widow. Effects ?623 15s. 4d

McClelland, Richard Hamilton of Annahugh House Loughgall county Armagh farmer died 11 July 1962 at Banbridge Hospital county Down Probate Belfast 11 January to Donald Ridgwell Cable chartered secretary. Effects ?20786 3s.

For graveyards, I would start with Loughgall Church of Ireland but sometimes families had plots in other churchyards, not necessarily the church they attended. You would probably need to make local enquiries about that.

The Church of Ireland does keep burial records (though not every burial seems to make it into the records). This is what PRONI holds:

Baptisms, 1706-29, 1779-1820 and 1830-86; marriages, 1706-29 and 1779-1845; burials, 1706-29 and 1779-94; publication of banns, 1815-30; confirmations, 1828-63; vestry minutes, 1774-1885. Later records still with the church.

 

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for your promt and informative reply to my inquiry re: Joseph Foster (1848-1895) and his wife Sarah Jane McLelland (1848-1905). Your access to the land data, linking Francis F. to the property at the Drumharriff location is a break through. I have found Francis 65, his wife Sara Jane 60, daughter Sara Elizabeth 27, and son Edward Francis 24, (married 34), in the 1911 Census, but not in the 1901 survey, so must have been missed for this Census.

In the past, I have been aware of Francis F. in the 1911 survey, but no link, and not being in the 1901 survey made it look like they may have arrived at this location post 1901. Thanks to your research, I am now reasonably sure that Francis is an older brother, (b. abt 1846), and would have had first preferance to the family land, and possibaly giving Joseph incentive to imigrate to N.Z.

And because son Edward Francis Foster, (in the Census), superceedes Francis with the land ownership in 1922, from your information, it seems a reasonable conclusion. There are four living childeren stated in the 1911 Census, and only two listed. I suspect there may have been two older daughters possibly married and living at another location for this survey.

It was thought that Sarah Jane McLelland's Father, Robert, had an older brother, David, so the information on David McLelland is also appreciated.

Thank you for researching this information, I will persue some of the threads that you have provided.

Cheers - John Foster. (N.Z.).  

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