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This is a 2009 updated version of the information posted here in 2002

It may be that some of you have tried to e-mail me in the past without success, That was because I had changed my internet provider and lacked the foresight to change my e-mail address here.
I am now in Possession of information that requires this up date. I received this information because of the diligence of Jim Lyttle, the owner of this web site and Linda Hamilton a Portadown resident who did not let a bounced e-mail stop her.
My sincerest thanks to both.

I am searching for information on my Grandmother, Grand father and any of their descendants, who I now know, that on the night of the 1911 census, my grand parents, 8 of their many children and Alec McBride a servant resided at 89 Obin Street Portadown

From information on this census form I have deduced that in 1887 at 21 years of age my grandfather William Hamill married my grand mother Annie his 18 yr old fiancée.

My mother Nora, the youngest child always claimed she was the youngest of 17 children. This is not substantiated in the census however it could be possible that the older children had left home and the school age children were at boarding school.

What I think I know and what I do know

I do know that Lillie taught music and at the end of the 1914/18 war she married a NZ soldier whose name was also Hamill (Frank). They had 2 sons Ted (a schoolteacher) and Dave (a jockey, and later a builder) who both served in the NZ army during World War 2. I know that Dave visited many of his relations in Ireland at that time.
They also had 2 daughters Anna and Kathleen, Anna, a talented dancer died at a very young age of Polio.

Around 1925 Nora migrated to join her sister Lillie and later marry neighbour Russell Scott and their first little bundle of joy was me.

I vividly remember my Mother regularly corresponding with Joseph (her oldest brother) Mary, Gertie, Nellie and her youngest brother Bill who became a successful Jockey.

Bill later resided in USA (California I think) and in later life he lost a leg.

I have several photos of Bill, many of them in his riding gear, a lot of them say Bill at work or Bill at Curragh. I Googled Curragh and see that it is a racecourse at Kildaire.

Around 1925 Nora migrated to join her sister Lillie and later marry neighbour Russell Scott and their first little bundle of joy was me.

I vividly remember my Mother regularly corresponding with Joseph (her oldest brother) Mary, Gertie, Nellie and her youngest brother Bill who became a successful Jockey.

Bill later resided in USA (California I think) and in later life he lost a leg.

I have several photos of Bill, many of them in his riding gear, a lot of them say Bill at work or Bill at Curragh. I Googled Curragh and see that it is a racecourse at Kildaire.

Bill at work Bill at Curragh Bill so Billy

I know that Mary married a Jack McClure and in later life they lived at Wimbledon in England

Nellie married Andy someone (McBride seems to stir a memory) >

One of the photos is of Margaret taken in front of a large house, not a good picture but maybe someone will recognise the building.

Margaret > L To Right, probanly Nellie's husband Andy, Nellie, Bill and Margaret>

One final item that may stir someone’s memory

Around 1950 we were visited by Eric Montgomery who either lived next door or in close proximity to the Hamill family.
He was the 3rd engineer on a UK merchant ship the Port Fairy which was on a voyage to NZ and had some shore leave while here. He was to call again on the ships next visit to NZ, however half way into the voyage it broke down and had to return to its home port for repairs, while there it was then diverted to being a troopship for the Korean war and nothing else was heard from Eric.
Below is a photo of Eric and My mother.

I am hoping that may be this will stir a memory from someone and lead be to contact with a family member

John Scott e-mail jayares@tpg.com.au Phone 0755 316 941
85/33 Thornton Street
Surfers Paradise Qld 4217 johpeg@yahoo.com.au
Australia

Campbells, Early 1800s, Armagh, Parish of Montiaghs
I need help in determining the location of a Campbell family, whose “five sons” (at least) came to the US from County Armagh about 1840.

There is a good possibility they were from the Parish of Montiaghs, this information from a severely weather eroded tomb stone that reads more like “from the Parish of Malchiach” than anything else. The brothers were John, James, Patrick, Daniel and Felix, they were born in the 1820s to early 1830s.

Their father was John, who was a 21 year pensioned veteran of the British Army, and his father was Charles Campbell, a “loom weaver” who died at the age of 107. Unfortunately I have no idea where or when John or Charles died.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Al Lee in Texas USA

email: alee65@earthlink.net

This photo was sent by John Clancy of New Jersey, USA. it shows some of his ancestors outside their family home believed to be in the Birches/Maghery area. The family name was Alderdice, all that John knows that this house was at Portadown, near Lough Neagh, the family lived there between 1893 to 1900.

John and family will be visiting the area next Spring, if any viewer can add some information on this family he would be delighted to hear from you, he can be contacted at: clancy2@optonline.net

Bob Gay of Maryland, USA is trying to find information on his ancestors, McAlinden, Campbell and Kelly. The photo on the left was taken on Coney Island about 1905, it shows the McAlinden family. Annie (nee Campbell) holding Patrick, next is Sarah (Bob's grandmother), then Mary, next is James holding Kathleen. Annie and James had two more boys, James b. 1908 and John b. 1912. During this period, Bob's grandfather James was the islands caretaker for Lord Charlemont. Notice the cottage in the background, this was built about 1895 and remains in pristine condition, cared for by the local council.

Bob's grandparents, Thomas Clark Kelly (1895-1962) and his wife Sarah McAlinden (1897-1976) both went to Maghery School. In 1914 Thomas went to Canada, the same year Sarah left for USA, a few years later they met up in Buffalo, New York. Shortly after that Thomas went to serve in WW1 in France, on returning to New York he and Sarah married in 1920, they lived in New York, then for some time in Ohio and eventually settled in Maryland about 1930.

Bob can be contacted at: Bobby2607@aol.com

Kathleen Donnelly of California hopes some locals can help her trace relatives. The photo shows her grandfather standing beside a seated friend. His name was Patrick J. Beattie, born about 1875-1880 in Portadown, he married Catherine Matthews, they had a daughter, Agnes and lived in Belfast from 1900 until his death in the early 1940's. For awhile during 1903 he and Catherine spent some time in South Africa. Her grandfather, Sergeant Major Patrick fought in the Boer War, it is not known if he served in WW1. It is believed that Patrick was the son of a 'mixed marriage'.

Can anyone identify which regiment the uniform belonged to?

Kathleen can be contacted at:

Kathleen Donnelly, Northridge, CA. 91324 USA

or e-mail me and I will pass on any messages.

Doreen Russell (nee Kirkpatrick) from Chilliwack, B.C. Canada sent this photo taken about 1920. It shows her great-grandfathers shop in Edenderry on the corner of Bridge Street and Watson Street, His name was Thomas Gibson, he married Sarah Collins.

On the Watson Street side of the shop is painted 'Edenderry Stores'. These premises are now owned and occupied as Joe Weir's Motor Accessories. The building has not changed a lot.

If anyone can add information on this family please e-mail me and I will pass on to Doreen

From Pat Churchill, New Zealand.

Mary DYNES (nee TATE) is the old lady, seated. She is my
ggg-grandmother. With her are her daughter Isabella PEARSON (nee
DYNES) who married to baker Andrew PEARSON. The boy is my
g-grandfather William PEARSON, Isabella's son.

Mary TATE was married to William DYNES who was b Derrycaw, Drumcree
1814 and died 1847. He was the son of William DYNES b 1785 d 1845 who
had a brother Francis.

Isabella was born in Drumcree in 1847 and married Andrew PEARSON in
1867 at the Parish Church of Drumcree. Andrew was the son of Andrew PEARSON. He
also had a brother George.

Isabella and Andrew's son William was born in Portadown in 1868.

I think Andrew may have died young as Isabella and her son William
emigrated to New Zealand in 1882 when Isabella was 35 and William 15.
Isabella's siblings, William John, Francis, Priscilla had already
emigrated here in 1862.

Am also looking for the family of Thomas McDOWELL, b Portadown 1837,
who emigrated to New Zealand in 1861.

Love to hear from anyone who might be connected. Pat Churchill, New Zealand churchll@ihug.co.nz