Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Looking for Halliday cousins Mountnorris area

ArmaghLoughgilly (Armagh)

Looking fordescendants of George Halliday (1822-1895) and Margaret Lochart.

George and Margaret were wed at Mountnorris Church 24 December 1852. I have a copy of the marriage certificate.

George and Margaret Halliday had two sons. David Halliday was born approx. 1853. John Halliday was born approx. 1854. Unfortunately, Margaret passed away not long after the second child was born. Likely, George placed both sons in the care of his deceased wife's relatives or placed them in an orphanage as George had no other family in Ireland (George was born in Scotland). George remarried in 1858. I am descended from George Halliday's second marriage.

So I am trying to connect with any descendents of George's first two sons, David and John. These would be my grand uncles (half-brothers to my grandfather).

David Halliday married Margaret Jane Calvert 12 August 1885 at Warrenpoint Presbyterian Church. David and Margaret Halliday had nine children (all born in County Armagh):

Ellen Jane (1886)

John Lockhart (1887)

William K. (1888)

David (1891)

George (1893)

Margaret (1895)

Alexander (1897)

Lily (1899)

Agnes (1901)

I have copies of the 1901 and 1911 census listing David, Margaret, and the children in Tullyhappy. David is a farmer. In the 1911 census, there is a grandson listed named Earnest, age 5.

John Halliday married Agnes Sinclair 6 July 1881 at Warrenpoint Presbyterian Church. John and Agnes had just two children (both born in County Armagh):

Margaret (1882)

John A. (1890)

I have copies of the 1901 and 1911 census listing John, Agnes, and the children. John is also a farmer.

So with the ten offspring of the two sons, I am hopeful that there are still some surviving family members still living in the area today. Just not sure how to proceed from here.

Rich

Los Angeles, CA, USA

uncledoc

4 replies

Rich:

You may want to try the online Northern Ireland phonebook. Like the States, only a small percentage of phone users are in the book. I did a quick look and there is at least one Halliday entry in Mountnorris. For privacy reasons, I can't share the info without the permission of the individual. You are free to find the entry(s) and contact them.

http://www.thephonebook.bt.com/publisha.content/en/search/uk_codes/inde…

Another suggestion is DNA testing specifically the autosomal DNA test.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, I am a Halliday from Mountnorris area I live in the Halliday house which is about 120 years old and we have all them names on records in this house, a lot of history in this family . The Halliday name here is well and truest alive with numerous sons, daughters and grandchildren and great grand children. Would love to speak to you

Ryan Halliday

We also live and farm the same ground which our forefathers farmed

Ryan Halliday

Thanks much for the reply, cousin.  Glad to know that the Halliday clan is still thriving.

George Halliday's second marriage produced three daughters and two sons.  Apparently all three daughters passed away before the turn of the century.  George's two sons, William and James, worked their father's small farm in Damolly after George's passing in 1895.  George's second wife, Agnes, also passed in 1898.

The elder son, William, passed away in 1905.  Younger son James now had no family left and was a bachelor.  He relinquished the tenancy and sailed to America in September, 1905.  He secured employment with the NYC subway system as a special security officer.  James married at the ripe old age of 40 (although he pretended to be just 32).  His marriage produced five sons.  Four of the five sons served in WWII and all survived.

Have been trying for many years to trace the origin of our Scottish ancestors.  George Halliday was born approximately 1822 or 1823 in Scotland and his father's name was John Halliday.  Have contacted a Scottish genealogist (who is a Halliday clan member himself) and even he has been unable to locate anything.  The Disruption of 1843 likely caused the loss or misplacement of many church records.  George's baptismal record may be buried in a field somewhere in Scotland.

If anyone knows more about George, would welcome any insight.  Also would love to hear about George's descendants in Ireland.

Thanks very much for reaching out.  Hope and pray that all the Halliday cousins are in good health and good cheer in Northern Ireland.

uncledoc

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.