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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 2006-01 > 1136343631


From: "John Polk" <>
Subject: RE: [Sc-Ir] Coleraine history
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 22:0:48 -0500


There are three books by Thomas H. Mullin about Coleraine in different erasin its history:
Coleraine in By-gone Centuries. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1976.
Coleraine in Georgian Times. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1977.
Coleraine in Modern Times. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1976.
These are not genealogical works, but do mention a lot of individuals. It
should certainly serve the purpose of "background reading." Not sure how
generally available they are - I found them in Library of Congress.

John Polk


> [Original Message]
> From: Connie Shotts <>
> To: <>
> Date: 1/3/2006 3:52:00 PM
> Subject: RE: [Sc-Ir] Coleraine history
>
> I am interested in knowing more about the area of Coleraine in County
> Londonderry. Family history (from a 1914 book) has it that my
> Brewster/Bruster ancestor - James (born about 1727) was born in Coleraine
> and went with his family to America as a teen -- probably settling in what
> became Augusta County VA. I believe his father may have been Henry
> Brewster/Bruster. The Brewsters were for many generations entwined with
the
> Dunns and the Alexanders (my ggg-grandfather William Alexander married
James
> Brewster's daughter Agnes). The story goes that James Brewster and James
> Dunn were born within a half mile of each other in Ireland (Coleraine),
> lived within a half mile of each other in Virginia (Augusta County), moved
> to Jessamine County KY within a half mile of each other, and were buried
on
> their farms within a half mile of each other.
>
> I would very much appreciate recommendations for background reading on the
> Coleraine area during the 1600s and 1700s and for any hints about whether
> any records might exist for these Brewsters and Dunns.
>
> Thanks,
> Connie
>
> Connie Shotts
> Charlotte, NC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boyd Gray [mailto:]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 6:48 AM
> To:
> Subject: [Sc-Ir] Re: Gray Family
>
> Hi Janet,
>
> Five years ago, I would have been dancing up and down and throwing my hatin
> the air when I read your message to Linda about the Grays and the Boyds. My
> interest in genealogy began as a quest to find the origin of my unusual
> Christian name and I would have thought that you had given me the answer. I
> knew quite a lot about my Grays right from the start. They came from
> Macosquin Parish, near Coleraine in County Londonderry and certainly had
> connections with Scotland. I had a great aunt called Sarah Matilda
Galloway
> Gray! There were also lots of Boyds living in the parish and the
> neighbouring parish of Aghadowey but I had not been able to connect any of
> the Boyd ladies to my Grays - who were all called either James or William!
>
> And then a few months ago, a good friend in Texas discovered the link in
the
> Old Age Pensions Applications held by her FHC. Briefly, this is how it
> happened that the two names became linked and Boyd became a family name
> within the Grays. James Gray, my great great grandfather, married Eliza
> Jane Brown in 1853 and had a son called William. Robert Brewster, my
great
> great grandfather, married Mary Boyd in 1836 and had a daughter, Annie
> Brewster. Annie Brewster married William Gray in 1882 and called a
daughter
> Mary Alice Boyd Gray and she was the lady who asked my mother to put Boydin
> my name. Problem solved after almost five years!
>
> So, as you can see, although so many of the names are the same, my
ancestors
> are not your James Gray and Mary Boyd. Very spooky but just one of the
many
> genealogical coincidences I have come across over the years. However, it
> may be of interest to you to know that there were lots of Grays and Boyds
> intermarrying in this part of Ulster, and all with close connections to
> Scotland.
>
> Regards,
>
> Boyd
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 4:31 PM
> Subject: Gray Family
>
>
> > Hello Linda,
> >
> > Hope you are enjoying your new life in Pa. Saw on the latest E-mail
that
> > you have GRAYS in your family, so I am taking a long shot to see if
there
> is
> > any connection with mine.
> >
> > The 1841 census showed that JAMES GRAY & wife, MARY BOYD were born in
> > IRELAND (don't know just where) They showed up in Glasgow in 1841
> census. Most
> > of children were born in Ireland except two youngest ones, MATILDA born
> in
> > RFW & JAMES born in GLASGOW. JAMES was a shoemaker (as were some of the
> > daughters' husbands).
> >
> > I understand from family that some of the Grays & Boyds migrated to
> Canada,
> > but so far have not been able to put my finger on which ones.
> >
> > Could there be any connection with yours?
> >
> > Wishing you a happy, healthy & prosperous 2006.
> >
> > Janet
> > New England USA
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________
>
>



--- John Polk
--- Havre de Grace MD
---




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