https://alison-stewart.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-stewart-family-of-crossnacreevy.html
John Stewart married Mary Mills in Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church (Dundonald) north of Crossnacreevy on July 9th 1859. Mary Mills was the daughter of a farmer, Robert Mills, who lived in Lisleen townland adjacent to Crossnacreevy. Sometimes she was referred to as Margaret Mills, rather than as Mary. The witnesses were Jane Shannon and Robert Mills who was either Mary's father or her brother.
( Robert Mills, the father of Mary Mills who married our John Stewart, was farming in Lisleen in 1863 and was leasing his land from a John Corbett. The two marriage records which follow here might be two of his children as well - on 16th October 1860 in Granshaw, Comber, David Mills of Ballyhanwood, the son of Robert Mills, married Sarah Shannon of Ballyhanwood, the daughter of William Shannon. This was witnesses by Hugh Corbett and William Shannon. A son of David Mills and Sarah Shannon was probably the John Mills of Lisleen who married Margaret McBratney, daughter of Robert McBratney of Granshaw, on 19th June 1885.
A few days later on 19th October 1860 in Newtownards Registry Office, Robert Mills of Ballymaglaff, also the son of Robert Mills, married Sarah Jeffry of Comber, the daughter of John Jeffry; witnesses were Archibald Miller and Mary Longridge.)
John Stewart and Mary Mills had a daughter, Esther Jane, in Crossnacreevy in 1861.
John and Mary Stewart had a daughter, Elizabeth, in Comber on 30th May 1864 but neither Elizabeth or her mother, Mary, appear in any records after this. Mary must have died young. Their daughter, Elizabeth, may also have died or they may have changed her name following the baptism (which was quite common) and she may be the Agnes who was later mentioned in her father's will. A son, Robert Stewart, was born to John Stewart and Margaret Mills in Comber on 24th March 1869, but he must also have died, since a second son by the name of Robert was later born to John Stewart and his second wife in 1871.
On 20th June 1876 at the Downpatrick Quarter Sessions, John Stewart of Crossnacreevy applied for a temporary transfer of the liquor licence which had been held in the name of his father, Joseph Stewart, who had recently died.
John Stewart later remarried. His second wife was Eliza Magowan or Elizabeth McGowan. The couple married on 26th October 1871 in York Street Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Belfast city centre; Elizabeth was the daughter of John McGowan, a labourer of Ballystockart, Comber, Co. Down. The witnesses were John Stewart's older brother, William A. Stewart, and a Martha Cummings.
The births of five of their children are recorded:
Their first child was born on April 1st 1871. Although he was christened Robert Samuel Stewart, on the census and in his father's will, he is referred to as Robert John Stewart. Robert Samuel Stewart was born in Ballystockart five months before his parents' marriage in Belfast which occurred in October 1871. His registration details name his father as John Stewart of Crossnacreevy and Eliza McGowan - a Sarah Wiley was present at the birth.
A daughter, Mariah Lamont Stewart, was born to the couple on Dec. 6th 1873. Her middle name is of interest: the Lamont name is associated with the neighbouring townland of Gransha and a wealthy Gransha farmer, John Lamont, mentions his wife Mariah Lamont in his will. When John and Elizabeth Stewart named their daughter Mariah Lamont Stewart, were they hinting at a family connection to the Gransha Lamonts?
Joseph Stewart was born at Crossnacreevy on 3rd December 1877, but he died of bronchitis in Crossnacreevy on 20th August 1879.
Their daughter, Mary Annie Stewart - later known simply as Annie - was born in Crossncreevy on June 4th 1880.
Margaret Stewart was born in Crossnacreevy on 8th February 1886 but she died of scrofula three years later on 2nd September 1889 and was buried in the local Moneyreagh graveyard.
The family of Elizabeth McGowan, who married John Stewart of Crossnacreevy in 1871, are a work in progress. A John McGowan, also the son of a John McGowan (as was Elizabeth) married Eliza Johnston, the daughter of James Johnston, in Killinchy on 21st December 1866.
Their son, George McGowan, was born at Carrickmannon on 27th November 1867; Jane Johnston of Drumreagh was present at the birth. Carpenter George McGowan of Drumreagh would later marry Harriet Glover of Moneyrea, the daughter of William Glover and Agnes Gracey, in Gilnahirk on 15th February 1893; this was witnessed by Harriet's sister, Caroline Glover of Moneyrea, and by Samuel McGowan.
George McGowan of 37 Moneyrea Street would be the informant when his father, John McGowan, died aged 61 in Drumreagh on 15th February 1901. When Harriet's mother, Agnes Glover, née Gracey, died in Moneyrea on 8th June 1903, one of the witnesses to her will was David Stewart of Gransha, Moneyrea, who may be a relation of the Crossnacreevy Stewarts, both townlands being immediate neighbours.
THE WILL OF JOHN STEWART OF CROSSNACREEVY, 1892:
This is the will of me, John Stewart of Crossnacreevy in the parish of Comber in the county of Down, farmer. I hereby revoke any former will or wills at anytime heretofore made by me. I direct my executors hereinafter named to carry out or have carried out the various provisions of my will as hereinafter detailed.
I will and bequeath to my son, Robert John Stewart, all that and those my farm of land consisting of eight statute acres of thereabouts situated in the townland of Crossnacreevy aforesaid and all the dwelling house or dwelling houses and office houses constructed thereon together with the stock and effects thereon, at the time of my decease subject to the deductions, conditions and limitations hereinafter set forth.
I will and direct that my wife, Elizabeth Stewart, shall have free residence and maintenance in my son's household after my decease during the whole time of his natural life, or, in the event of any dispute or new agreement, that my wife shall have the free occupation of the dwellinghouse annexed to my present residence, and at present occupied by Mr. Robert McTeer (Matier) together with, (and taken from my effects as bequeathed to my son Robert John Stewart) 2 beds and bedclothing, 2 tables, 6 chairs, 1 cupboard and an equal division of necessary household utensils included in above bequest and further, that in the event of such dispute, my son Robert John Stewart aforesaid, shall pay to my wife annually the sum of ten pounds sterling (£10) in quarterly installments, during his lifetime.
It is also my will that my son aforesaid, shall not during his mother's life, sublet or sell the farm & property herein already bequeathed, without the consent of the executors hereinafter named, and further I direct that my son aforesaid shall pay over to my daughter, Maria, five years after my decease, the sum of ten pounds sterling (£10), and a like sum of £10 (ten pounds) to my daughter Annie eight years after my decease provided she has, at the end of eight years after my death, attained the full age of 21 years or, failing that, at such later date when she shall have attained the full age of 21 years. I also will that my son aforesaid shall pay to me daughters, Mrs. Essie Jane Vincent now of Belfast, and Agnes Stewart now of Newtownards, the sum of two shillings and sixpence each, and that he shall pay all my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses.
I nominate, constitute and appoint John Miskelly of Lisleen and Alexander Johnston of Crossnacreevy and my wife Elizabeth Stewart the executors of this my will. Dated this tenth day of March 19 1892,
John Stewart.
Signed by the above named John Stewart as his last will and testament in the presence of us both being present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses,
Richard Lyttle (minister) Moneyrea
Alexander Johnston (farmer) Crossnacreevy.
Richard Lyttle, the second witness to John Stewart's will, was the minister of the Moneyreagh Unitarian Church. He was an active member of the Gaelic League and organised Irish classes in the area, leading to a generous proportion of the local inhabitants becoming fluent in the language. He was also secretary to the Farmer and Labourers' Union, working toward improving the conditions of tenant farmers and agricultural labourers.
John Stewart of Crossnacreevy died 27th March 1892. His wife, Elizabeth McGowan (1851 - 1896) died of heart disease in the Downpatrick Asylum aged 45 on 30th November 1896.
John left his farm to his son, Robert John Stewart, and he appears in Crossnacreevy on the 1901 Census. He is 30, single and Unitarian. Although the Census has him spelling his name as 'Steweart', a closer examination of the original handwritten form reveals his family name written not only correctly but in perfect copperplate as would be expected from a good Unitarian education. (His brother, Joseph, worked initially as a writing clerk which once again point to a good early education.) In 1901, Robert J. Stewart is living alone in a 6-room house with 8 outbuildings, and is subletting the neighbouring dwelling to Robert Matier as mentioned in his father's will of 1892.
When John Stewart died on 27th March 1892 in Crossnacreevy, daughter Annie Stewart was present there.
The wife of John Stewart, Elizabeth McGowan, died aged 60 and was buried in Moneyreagh on 3rd December 1896.
Annie Stewart and John McKnight:
Annie Stewart, daughter of the late John Stewart of Crossnacreevy, married John McKnight, the son of Hugh McKnight, in St.Anne's, Belfast, on Christmas Day 1896. At the time of the wedding, she was working as a laundress and was living at 88 Little Patrick Street, Belfast, as was the groom, John McKnight. The wedding witnesses were Robert John Stewart, Annie's brother, and Lizzie Matier, who was the daughter of Robert John Stewart's tenant in Crossnacreevy, Robert Matier. Lizzie would die aged only 31 in Crossnacreevy on 9th March 1907; the informant was her own brother-in-law, William McKibbin of Moneyrea, who had married Lizzie's sister, Susanna Matier, in Moneyrea on 17th July 1891. Lizzie, who witnessed Annie Stewart's 1896 wedding, was most likely a friend of the bride since I haven't found any family link between the Matiers and the Stewarts.
Annie Stewart and John McKnight had children in Belfast. Hugh McKnight was born at 38 Well Street on 7th January 1898, Jane McKnight was born at 14 Kingscourt Street on 27th January 1905, Lizzie Mary McKnight was born here on 3rd July 1907 and Robert McKnight was born on 27th June 1909 at 14 Kingscourt Street.
Annie Stewart died of tuberculosis (phthisis), aged only 36, on 18th August 1916; her son, Hugh, was the informant.
Hugh McKnight, a riveter of 11 Moneyrea Street, later married Ann Jane Weir, a shirtmaker of 25 Conlig Street, the daughter of dealer Thomas Weir. David and Jeannie Culbert were the witnesses.
John McKnight, the widower of Annie Stewart, died at 11 Moneyrea Street, Belfast, a retired coal docker, on 2nd April 1959 - his unmarried daughter, Elizabeth Mary McKnight, administered his estate.
John McKnight had been born to Hugh McKnight and Jane Sinclair in Ravara. Hugh McKnight or McNeight was the son of the moulder David McNeight of Carrickmannon, while Jane Sinclair was the daughter of the weaver Robert Sinclair of Ravara. Their wedding witnesses were John B. Gallagher and a member of the Osborne family (illegible).
Hugh McKnight and Jane Sinclair had an astonishing amount of children in Ravara:
Ann McKnight in Ravara on 10th December 1864.
Elizabeth McKnight on 1st June 1866.
David, who might be known as Daniel later, was born on 5th September 1868.
Ellen McKnight on 2nd May 1871.
Martha McKnight on 19th January 1873.
John McKnight, who married Annie Stewart of Crossnacreevy, was born in Ravara on 5th October 1875.
Henry McKnight on 15th April 1879 but who died.
Henry McKnight born 12th December 1879.
Catherine McKnight born 18th November 1881.
Robert James McKnight born 10th April 1884 - Robert James died of TB aged only 20 in Ravara on 20th September 1906.
There were other children also - Hugh David McKnight, the son of John McKnight and Jane Sinclar, married Mary Jane Simpson of Listooder, Co. Down, the daugher of David Simpson, in Gilnahirk on 24th August 1888. This was witnessed by Annie Montgomery and by another of the McKnight siblings, Daniel McKnight. The family of Hugh David McKnight and Mary Jane Simpson settled in Crossgar, Killyleagh, where their children were born.
Hugh David McKnight of 63 Saul Street, Belfast, was the informant when his father, Hugh McKnight, died in Ravara, aged 60, on 29th May 1903.
Daniel McKnight, son of John McKnight and Jane Sinclair, was living at 3 Wensley Street, Belfast, on 15th October 1894, when he married Caroline Watterson, the daughter of John Watterson. Caroline didn't live too long - she died at 29 Canton Street on 24th November 1897. The informant of death was her sister-in-law, Martha McKibbin, who had witnessed Caroline's 1894 wedding to Daniel McKnight. The second witness had been Martha's husband James McKibbin. When Martha McKnight married James McKibbin, son of an earlier James, on 14th May 1894, her brother, Daniel, and his fiancée, Caroline, were the witnesses. Following Caroline's early death, Daniel McKnight moved in with Martha and James McKibbin - in 1901 they were all together at 184 Templemore Street, Belfast.
In May 1908 in Gilnahirk, yet another of the McKnight siblings got married. Catherine McKnight married Willliam Seay of Clontinaglare, Kilmore, the son of William Seay. The witnesses this time were the bride's brother, Hugh David McKnight of Crossgar, Killyleagh, and a niece, Selina Donaghan or Donegan.
Selina's mother was Margaret McKnight who was the wife of a commercial traveller, James Donaghan; Selina had been born at 11 Ravensdale Avenue, Belfast, on 24th November 1889.
Agnes Stewart and John Downs:
John and Annie McKnight were the witnesses at the marriage of Annie's sister, Agnes Stewart, a servant of 40 Little Patrick Street, when she married the widowed John Downes of 10 Leopold Street. Little Patrick Street was where Annie Stewart had been living when she married John McKnight in 1896.
The wedding of Agnes Stewart and John Downes took place on 23rd September 1903 in St. Anne's, Belfast, the church where the girls' uncle Joseph Stewart had married Elizabeth Madine in 1859.
Earlier in 1901, Agnes Stewart had been a servant working in the house of the elderly Isaac Finlay at 69 Court Street, Newtownards.
John and Agnes Downes settled in Loughriescouse, Newtownards, where they had son, John Downes, on 23rd May 1905.
John Downes, husband of Agnes Stewart, was the son of James Downes of Dundonald, Co. Down, who had married Jane McIllwrath, the daughter of Hugh McIllwraith, on 17th January 1847, aged 29. John's father, James, was himself the son of an earlier John Downes and the witnesses to the wedding were Robert Young and Henry or Henny Ogle.
John Downes married as his first wife Mary Edmond in 1871 and had children in the Newtownards area - William John Downes was born on 1st December 1871 in Ballyorran, James Downes was born in Killarn on 9th November 1873, Elizabeth Jane Downes was born in Walk's St, Newtownards, on 24th June 1877, Robert Hugh Downes was born in Newtownards on 27th December 1879, Andrew Charles Downes was born in Market Street, Newtownards, on 31st July 1885. There were other children too - Teresa born circa 1876, Agnes Mary born circa 1880, Catherine born circa 1892, and Leanna.
The family of John Downes and first wife, Mary Edmond, were tragically wiped out by tuberculosis. Two month old Catherine was the first to die, aged only two months, at Market Street, Newtownards, on 13th January 1893 - she was killed by scrofula, a side effect of TB. Her sister, Lizzie Downes, died aged 16 of tuberculosis in Market Street on 20th March 1894.
Next to die of the disease was the childrens' mother, Mary Downes, née Edmond, who died aged 50 at Market Street on 21st June 1895. Her son William was the informant, but he too succombed to TB, a 23-yr-old cardriver, on 10th October 1895; his brother, Robert Hugh, was present. Housepainter Robert Hugh Downes died of tuberculosis in Market Street on 12th May 1897. His sister, Agnes Mary Downes, had died of TB in Market Street, on 16th May 1896, followed by sister, Teresa, aged only 20, on 3rd December 1896.
Only one of the sons of John Downes and Mary Edmond survived the epidemic - Andrew Charles Downes, who had been living with his father in both 1901 and 1911, married in St. Matthew's Catholic Church on 12th October 1918. His bride was Martha McKeague of 56 Killowen Street, the daughter of soldier James McKeague. The witnesses were James Rogers and Teresa G. McGrey.
John Downes of Loughriescouse died there on 10th May 1929 - his will named his beneficiary as his widow Agnes.
Agnes Downes, née Stewart, died in Loughriescouse on 11th March 1940 - this was announced by the 'Newtownards Chronicle' and by the 'Northern Whig'. She was buried in Movilla Cemetery.
Maria Lamont Stewart and John Swain:
Maria Lamont Stewart, who had been born in Crossnacreevy to John Stewart and Elizabeth McGowan on Dec. 6th 1873, married John Swain/Swaine a labourer of 13 Hartley Street, the son of a watchmaker Alexander Swain. The couple married in St. Anne's, Belfast, on 21st October 1898, and this was witnessed by Thomas Holland and a Lizzie McGowan who might conceivably be a relation of the bride's mother Elizabeth McGowan. The marriage registration records Maria Stewart's father, John, as a cardriver, rather than a farmer.
John Swain's father, wachmaker Alexander Swain (between 1838 and 1845 - 1879) was the son of tobacconist Hugh Swain and Esther Mayne of 15 Claremont Street, Ballymacarrett. On 24th July 1859 in Belfast, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of a Hugh Anderson.
John Swain, who married Maria Stewart in 1898, had been born to Alexander and Elizabeth on 13th May 1870 at 2 Princes Street, Belfast. There were also two daughters - Easter or Esther, named for her paternal grandmother, was born at Princes Street on 13th January 1869, and Anna Swain was born on 27th September 1865 at 2 Prince's Street. Watchmaker Alexander Swain died young in 1879.
Alexander Swain's father, tobacconist Hugh Swain of 15 Sir Henry's Buildings, 15 Claremont Street, Ballymacarrett, died on 21st January 1873, leaving a will. His wife, Esther, née Mayne, was to get the profits of his two businesses at 19 Queens Square, Belfast, and at 15 Sir Henry's Buildings, as well as all benefits from his freehold properties at 14 and 15 Claremont Street, including two extra buildings in Claremont Lane.
Hugh Swain divided his properties between his sons, Henry, Alexander, Hugh and John. A daughter, Charlotte, had died earlier on 13th December 1863 at 15 Sir Henrys' Buildings. Hugh Swain's widow, Esther, died on 8th July 1877 at 69 Albertbridge Road - this was the home of her son, Henry Swain, who would die there on 10th July 1886, leaving a widow Elizabeth, and children - hairdresser Henry Swain who married Annie Steadman in 1888, Mary Swain, Esther who married William Jeffrey on 31st August 1877, and Charlotte who married James Wilson.
Hugh Swain, picture framer, the son of tobacconist Hugh Swain and Esther Mayne, married Isabella Trimble and settled at 26 Claremont Lane, where he died on 10th July 1884. His daughter was Annie Swain who married, in St. Anne's on 25th December 1910, Peter Maxwell, the son of Dunlop Maxwell.
Earlier, Maria and John Swain had a son, John, whose birth doesn't appear to have been registered, but son John Swain of Killinchy Woods, Co, Down, died aged 10 of tuberculosis in Queen Street Hospital on 2nd August 1905. The death was registered by his uncle, John McKnight of 32 Kingscourt Street.
The Swain family had been living together in 1901 at 28.1 Kenbaan Street, near Castlereagh Street. John Swain was working as a labourer in a distillery at the time. Further along the same street, at 28.1 Kenbaan Street, was the family of Maria's sister, Annie and John McKnight. In the same house, but at number 28.2 was an unmarried Elizabeth McGowan, aged 25, who might be the Lizzie McGowan who had witnessed the Swain marriage of 1898. On the census return, she named herself as a relation, presumably of the McKnights with whom she was sharing a house. And immediately next door to Lizzie McGowan at 29 Kenbaan Street was the elderly journeyman tailor, Samuel McGowan, and his unmarried daughter, Jane, who had been born in Paisley, Scotland. These might also be relations, or might be complete strangers.
By 1911 both Maria and John Swain had disappeared. Their eleven year old son, Hugh Swain, was lodging in Ballykeel, Moneyrea, with the family of Fletcher Blakeley McAuley and Jane McKibbin, who had married in Moneyrea on 22nd November 1901. Fletcher B. McAuley was the son of the late William Steele Dickson McAuley, while Jane was the daughter of the later Robert McKibbin and Susanna Hogg. Robert McKibbin had died at Ballykeel aged 49 on 24th January 1906; the informant was his son John Alexander McKibbin.
Esther Jane Stewart and James Vincent:
John Stewart's eldest daughter, Esther Jane Stewart, married James Vincent, an engineer of Belfast in Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church on September 24th 1881. She gave her residence as Mountpottinger in south Belfast. He was sometimes known as Albert James Vincent.
James Vincent had been born in April 1859 in Bedminster, Somerset, just south of Bristol, to the engineer Charles Vincent and his wife Harriet Parslow, who had moved to Belfast in the 1870s.
The grandfather of James Vincent, who married Esther Jane Stewart in 1881, was James Vincent of Somerset, who had been born in Somerset, possibly Long Ashton, in about 1786, although all the records give different dates. A mason, he married Elizabeth Lewton who had been born in 1779 in Long Ashton to William Lewton and Florence Huchisson.
Elizabeth Lewton and James Vincent married on 13th July 1806 in Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, just north of Long Ashton. Elizabeth Lewton would die on 11th January 1864 in Long Ashton; her husband, James Vincent would die there on 24th February 1874. Apart from a brief period in the 1840s spent in Barrow Gurney, Somerset, the family spent the greater part of their lives in Long Ashton, Somerset.
The children of James and Elizabeth Vincent, all baptised in All Saints, Long Ashton, Somerset:
1) William Lewton Vincent, born 3rd October 1810, and baptised in Long Ashton 14th July 1811. A musician, WIlliam Lewton Vincent married a woman named Elizabeth, and lived all his life in Bedminster, just south of Bristol. Amongst their children were William born 1835, James born 1838, Henry born 1840, John born 1852 and Florence born 1844.
2) Elizabeth, baptised in All Saints Church, Long Ashton, Somerset 13th May 1819. James Vincent was a labourer.
2) Florence Lewton Vincent, baptised 7th July 1816; James was a mason. On 12th August 1850, she married Benjamin Brooks Mapstone, a gardener of Long Ashton. Their children were Albert Mapstone born 1852, Florence Mapstone born 1854, Benjamin Mapstone born 1855, Mary Mapstone born 1857. In 1871, the widower father of Florence Vincent, James Vincent, was living with the family in Long Ashton. He was living on dividends and shares.
4) John Vincent, baptised 7th July 1816 alongside his sister Florence Lewton Vincent. A coachman, he married Ellen and worked in Wales, then Bristol. They had sons John and Robert Vincent.
5) Ann Vincent, born 27th April 1821, baptised Long Ashton 17th August 1828. Father a mason. In 1841, both Ann and her older sister, Florence, were working as maids in the home of Jane Edwards in Long Ashton. She would later marry Augustus Poole Cullimore in October 1869 in Bedminster, Somerset.
6) Mary Anne Vincent, born 8th February 1824 and baptised in Long Ashton 17th August 1828. Father James a mason.
7) Henry Vincent, born 23rd March 1826, and baptised Long Ashton 8th January 1832. James was a mason. According to the 1841 census, Henry had a twin, Mary Vincent, whose baptism details haven't survived. Henry worked as an engineer, in common with his younger brother Charles, in 1851, and married Fanny Mitchell, the daughter of Joseph Mitchell of Hutton. In 1871, Henry was running a beerhouse in Long Ashton, and had a son, Henry James Vincent in about 1861.
8) Charles Vincent, born 23rd April 1830, baptised Long Ashton 8th January 1832. Died Belfast 1902. This was the father of James Vincent who married Esther Jane Stewart in Belfast in 1881.
Charles Vincent worked as a blacksmith while living at home with his parents in Long Ashton in 1851.
Charles Vincent, engineer, married Harriet Parslow, the daughter of John Parslow, on 26th October 1851 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, although this address may merely have been where the marriage was registered. Harriet's father, John, was a mason of Long Ashton, as was Charles Vincent's father James Vincent. Harriet had been born circa 1833.
By 1861 Charles and Harriett Vincent had moved to Bedminster, Somerset, just south of Bristol, where he worked as an engine driver. It was while the couple were living here in Bedminster that their two sons were born - Charles Vincent in 1856, and Albert James Vincent, later called the simpler James Vincent, in April 1859.
The family moved to Belfast around this time.
Charles Vincent, engineer of Belfast, was mentioned in the London Gazette of 11th December 1874, as the inventor of improvements in windmills.
By 1901 Charles Vincent, engineer, was living at 44 Hillman Street, Belfast, aged 69, an engineer at a works. He would die, aged 71, on 17th January 1902 at 85 Hillman Street. With him in 1901 at 44 Hillman Street was his second wife, Antrim-born Rosie Vincent. The widowed Charles Vincent, son of the English mason, James Vincent, married Rosina Duncan who was the daughter of farmer Nathaniel Duncan. The witnesses were Rachel Duncan and Sidney (? family name faded). This wedding occurred on 8th January 1896 in Trinity Church, Belfast.
A possible daughter of engineer Charles Vincent and Harriet Parslow was Harriet Vincent who had been born in Cardiff, Wales, in about 1866 and who married, on 6th October 1894 in Carlisle Memorial Church, Belfast, the Englishman William John Gee, an electrician of 167 Spamount Street, whose father was the clerk George Gee, and who had been born in Belgium. The witnesses to the wedding were Violet A. Courtenay and Sidney Whiteside Campbell - watchmaker Sidney Whiteside Campbell would also witness the second marriage of Albert James Vincent, the widower of Esther Jane Stewart, when he married Margaret Jane Cobain in 1897. Harriet Vincent and William John Gee were living at 49 Hillman Street in 1901, while James Vincent, was at number 39, and James's father, engineer Charles Vincent, was at 44.
Engineer Charles Vincent's son was Charles Vincent, a boilermaker who was living at 23 Duncairn Gardens, in 1901.
Charles Vincent Junior, who had been born in Bedminster, Somerset, in 1856 to engineer Charles Vincent and Harriet Parlsow, was married to Rose Annie Douglas, a second wife. Charles Vincent Junior had married, firstly, Annie Ferguson in Belfast in 1877. The children of Charles Vincent, boilermaker and of Annie Ferguson were Finlay Vincent born 20th August 1879 who died in 1880, Harriet Vincent born 16th May 1878 at 23 Garmoyle Street, Charles Vincent born at 187 North Queen Street on 8th July 1882, Maggie Vincent born at 197 North Queen Street on 5th March 1881 who was staying with her grandfather Charles Vincent in Hillman Street in 1901, Sarah Vincent born 1883, Agnes Vincent born 1886, Annie Ferguson Vincent born at 121 New Lodge Road on 4th Febraury 1886, John C. Vincent born 1887 and Hessie/Esther born 1885, all in Belfast, Co. Antrim. Hessie may have been named after Esther Jane Stewart who had married James Vincent in 1881. Hessie/Esther Vincent died, aged only 15, in 1901. By 1911 this family were living at 7 Duncairn Gardens. Charles Vincent, widowed boilermaker and son of engineer Charles Vincent, married, as his second wife, Rose Anne Douglas, a widow of Portrush who was the daughter of farmer Jeremiah Douglas. They married in Fortwilliam Church on 6th November 1894, and the witnesses were Hugh and Wilhelmina Cochrane.
Rosa Annie Vincent, wife of boilermaker Charles Vincent, died on 30th October 1916 at 13 Rainey Street; her son, John J. Cowley, was the informant of death.
The daughter of boilermaker Charles Vincent and Anna Ferguson was Harriett Vincent. Harriet married a bookkeeper, Thomas Hunter, the Belgium-born son of the late Samuel Hunter, in Cliftonville Church, Belfast, on 5th August 1912; the witnesses were William and Thomasina Hunter.
Records from the Belfast Street Directories:
Hillman Street runs parallel to Duncairn Gardens, and is around the corner from Lepper Street and close to the New Lodge Road. From 1890 this Vincent family appeared in the street directories in this area. In 1890 and 1892 Charles Vincent, boilermaker, was at 121 New Lodge Road, then 128 New Lodge Road, while his brother James, also a boilermaker, rather than his later profession of rivetter, was at 10 Lepper Street in 1890. By 1895, Charles Vincent, boilermaker, was noted at 32 St. John's Terrace, Duncairn Gardens, while his brother, the rivetter James Vincent, was living at 10 Upper Lepper Street; they were both noted here in 1896. By 1897 Charles Vincent, boilermaker, was at 48 Duncairn Gardens while James was still at Lepper Street. Their father was noted as H. Vincent, rather than Charles, but was noted as an engineer at 85 Hillman Street in both 1896, 1897 and 1900. James's brother Charles Vincent, boilermaker died at 18 Duncairn Gardens on 2nd January 1937.
a) Charles Vincent, born 17th July 1882 at 3 Orchard Street, and Henry/Harry, born 8th August 1894 at 10 Lepper Street. Present at Charles Vincent's birth in 1882 was a Margaret Stewart of 6 Cosgrove Steet, who might be Esther Jane Stewart's aunt, the wife of William A. Stewart. Alternatively she might not be related in any way, the name being a pure coincidence.
b) Robert Vincent, born at 68 Hanna Street, on 18th January 1889 but who died shortly afterwards.
c) Esther Jane Vincent who was born at 10 New Lepper Street on 28th February 1893; she died of measles and diarrhoea aged only five months at 10 Upper Lepper Street, on 27th July 1893.
d) Henry Vincent born 8th August 1894 at Lepper Street.
e) William Vincent who was born at 10 Lepper Street on 13th October 1895, but who died of pnuemonia aged only 13 months on 11th December 1896.
Esther Jane Vincent, née Stewart, died aged 36 on 1st March 1897, having contracted phthisis/tuberculosis a few years previously. Her husband was named on the death certificate as riveter Albert James Vincent of 10 Upper Lepper Street.
Albert James Vincent, widower, son of engineer Charles Vincent, remarried following Esther Jane's death. On 27th December 1897 in Fortwilliam Church, he married Margaret Jane Cobain, daughter of farmer Samuel Cobain. This was witnessed by watchmaker Sidney Whiteside Campbell and Mary Agnew.
Albert James Vincent, riveter, who had been married to Esther Jane Stewart, died on 6th December 1926 at 2 Esmond Street, Belfast; administration was granted to his son, Charles Vincent, riveter. James Vincent's second wife, Margaret Jane Vincent, also of Esmond Street, died the same year on 23rd June - administration was granted to two farmers, James Cobain and Hugh Myers.
VINCENT--June 23, 1926, at her residence, 2 Esmond Street, Margaret Cobain, the dearly-beloved wife of James Vincent. Her remains will be removed from above address for interment in Oshe Burying-ground, on Friday, 25th inst., at 2-00 o'clock. JAMES VINCENT.
On 27th September 1904 in St. Anne's, Charles Vincent of 58 Mount Collyer Street, the son of riveter James Vincent and Esther Jane Stewart, married Annabella Gordon of 10 Crimea Street, the daughter of engineer David Gordon; the witnesses were Mary Smith and Leonard Money. A daughter, Margaret Vincent, was born in 1906. Present in the household in 1911 was Annabella's grandmother, Annabella Gordon, who had been born in Co. Monaghan in 1836, and who had been blind for two years.Albert James Vincent, riveter, who had been married to Esther Jane Stewart, died on 6th December 1926 at 2 Esmond Street, Belfast; administration was granted to his son, Charles Vincent, riveter. James Vincent's second wife, Margaret Jane Vincent, also of Esmond Street, died the same year on 23rd June - administration was granted to two farmers, James Cobain and Hugh Myers.
On 3rd April 1916 in Fitzroy Street, Belfast, the widowed riveter, Charles Vincent, son of James Vincent and Esther Jane Stewart, married as his second wife, Annie Louise Shields, the daughter of gardener James Shields. This was witnessed by John Orr and Nettie Molloy.
On 13th July 1914 in St. Anne's, Henry Vincent of 50 Old Lodge Road, rivetter, and son of James Vincent and Esther Jane Stewart, married Mary Jane Gault Gilmore of 13 Keswick Street, the daughter of tin smith Joseph Gilmore. This was witnessed by John Magill and Annie Hopper.
A daughter of soldier Henry Vincent and Mary Jane Gault Gilmore, was Margaret Waddell Vincent, who had been born at 15 Keswick Street on 25th January 1915.
Mary Vincent, née Gilmore, died of TB at 15 Keswick Street on 1st May 1917; her husband, Henry Vincent, was noted as a soldier and riveter at the time of her early death.
He remarried - on Christmas Day 1917, Henry Vincent of 50 Old Lodge Road, riveter, married Catherine Adelaide McConnell of 9 Loftus St, the daughter of schoolmaster William Loftus McConnell. The witnesses were James Loftus and Ella McConnell.
It's interesting that the middle name of Henry Vincent's daughter was 'Waddell'. On 29th September 1906 in St. Mark's, a David Vincent of 19 Bloomfield Street, the son of James Vincent (no extra information is provided on the marriage registration, but David was probably the son of James Vincent and Esther Jane Stewart) married Annie Waddell, the daughter of labourer David Waddell. They had Sarah Vincent on 27th December 1906, David Vincent on 20th August 1908, Robert Vincent on 22nd May 1910 at 315 Beersbridge Road (father David was a postman), Elizabeth Vincent on 2nd February 1913 and Herbert Vincent on 13th May 1915 at 91 Bread Street. In 1915 when Herbert was born, his father, David, was a sergeant with the Iniskilling Fusiliers.
Robert John Stewart:
Robert John Stewart inherited his father, John's, farm in Crossnacreevy. He seems to have been linked closely to Lizzie Matier, the daughter of Robert Matier and Isabella McCullough. Robert J. Stewart and Lizzie Matier were the witnesses at the 1896 wedding of John Alexander Kennedy, son of John Kennedy of Crossnacreevy, to Mary McKibbin, daughter of Robert McKibbin of Ballykeel.
'The Belfast Newsletter' of 24th November 1916 advertised the dale of the property, consisting of 9 acres, two houses, and suitable for market gardening or a poultry farm.
Hi. I found your blog. My name is Carol Vincent and I am the granddaughter of David Vincent (b. 20 August 1908). Interesting to read the history of the Vincent family.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you found it interesting. Looks like we're related! Always good to track down another link in the family.