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Gills, Buchanans and  Kerrs from Ardstraw Co Tyrone

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Gill gravestone

Gill descent

Likely Gill descent

Brothers 1 Jeremiah and 2 William John Gill

1 Jeremiah Gill, Urney, born 1804 married in 1829 to Mary Jane, born 1808

Children - John born 1829, George Robert, born 20 Jan 1831, Orville and Harriet

Town of Newtownstewart  PARISH OF ARDSTRAW 1824 Commercial Directory  Gill Jeremiah, linen merchant

Orville married  Emma Victoria Kerr (1851-1899) born in Ratyn Ardstraw, Co Tyrone, Ireland on 13 Feb 1872. He died quite young in 1881

2 William John Gill  had son Jeremiah (1843-1914) who married his cousin Orville's widow 17 May 1883

Emma and Orville had the following children:-

Baby born 1876 (died young)        John             Mary Ann (Molly) (1878-1954)    and                  Elizabeth (Lily) born 1880

Emma and Jeremiah had a further 4 children:-

Kathleen  born 1883,        Frances,         Louise born 1888  and   William Alfred 1894 -34


Ulster Covenant Signatures 1912

John Gill
    John Gill
John was manager of a Linen Mill in Belfast. In 1933 he and his wife Cis went on a cruise to Norway In 1934 he bought a new car to tour Scotland. He was almost stone deaf and attributed it to intermarriage. The Kerrs married their cousins very often. They were a proud family and only their own were good enough.

Molly married James Gore (1878-1935) in Ireland. They emigrated first to Canada and then from 1914 they lived in Billings, Montana, USA - at 4002 Second Ave S Billings.
3 children - a daughter Patricia born in 1911 in Bangor Ireland, a son Alfred James (1913-1997) born in Canada and a daughter Mary Phyllis born 24 October 1919 in Billings.

Patricia (graduated from college 1934) and married Henry W Fox 1911-1994. They lived in Iowa City Iowa  She died on 20 Apr 2000. Their daughter lives in Maryland USA
Henry's father was Rev H. H. Fox, of English parentage, the rector of All Saints' Church, Pontiac, Michigan 1905-1914 when he became eighth rector of St. John's Detroit Michigan. In 1920, Dr. Fox was elected Bishop Suffragan of Montana. Henry's mother was Alma, of German parentage.
The 8th rector - H H Fox
The 8th rector - H H Fox

Alfred James married Ernestine Ross 1916-2001, in 1906 - daughter of William Ernest and Jeanette from Fromberg Carbon MT  Alfred and Ernestine died in Yellowstone Billings . William's parents were born in Ohio and Jeanette's parents were born in Scotland. Ernestine had 2 brothers John and James and a sister Betsy who married ? Marcus and lived in Sweet Grass Co MT


As reported in The Helena Independent Dec 13 1924 - Alfred Gore son of Mr. & Mrs. James Gore had both his legs broken when a car crashed into a light truck. He was rushed to St. Vincent's hospital on 10 December with compound fracture to both legs.Also in the same journal on 26 Dec 1942 "a soldier was sentenced to one year for assault charges - "Carl Sellers (army Parachutist) must serve a year in state prison for assault. He was charged with stabbing Alfred Gore, 29, student pilot at the Billings Airport on Dec 20th. Gore's Condition was reported serious at a Billings Hospital."

Phyllis married Warren Francis and they were living in Teton Village Wyoming in 1997

Kathleen married and stayed in Ireland        Frances married and moved to Montana USA     

Louise
married Robert Gore, brother of James who married her sister Molly - and moved to Winnipeg Manitoba 


William Alfred (1894-1934) married Maltilda Jane Foster (1903-1988) from Derrygoon on 29 December 1925 in Drumlegagh Presbyterian Church. William farmed at Ratyn

They had 4 children Kathleen Elizabeth, Gwen Gill, John David and William Alfred Gill

Kathleen died in 1934. John David (1931-1999)  and William Alfred (1934 -1998) farmed at Ratyn in Ardstraw parish

Gwen (1929 - 1988) married John Raymond Smith (1914 - 1997) They went to New Zealand but came back to reside at Portstewart, Co Derry


Harriet -  sister of Orville above - married Matthew Arlow - they resided at Ligoniel Belfast

2 daughters were Harriet Alice (1879 -?) and Mary Catherine Frances (1876 -?)


Kerr descent

Jeremiah married a Emma Victoria Kerr (1851 - 1899) born in Ratyn (See Gills above)    Her parents Andrew Kerr and his wife Eliza Kerr (?- 1894) were cousins. Andrew's father was James from Ardstraw and Eliza's father was Joseph (1774-1846) from Magheracreggan 

1829 Freeholder’s Register for Co. Tyrone - James & Andrew Kerr of Ratyn registered

Andrew's sister Isabella married Samuel Fyffe of Lisnagirr in 1857 - contact Fyffe descendant for more information

Andrew and Eliza had the following children:-
Andrew, John Joseph, Emma, Sarah, Jonathan, Ann, James Alfred and  Harriett Eliza

Thought
Thought to be Andrew
John Joseph of Dublin
John Joseph of Dublin
Thought to be Jonathan
Thought to be Jonathan
Thought to be James Alfred
Thought to be James Alfred

James Alfred and Harriett Eliza
James Alfred and
Harriett Eliza

A Kerr daughter
A Kerr daughter
Obituary to Mrs Eliza Kerr Ratyn Ardstraw who died 22/09/1894

Mrs. (Eliza) Kerr, Rateen, relict of the late Andrew Kerr, and sister of the late Rev. John Alexander Kerr, D.D., L.L.D., Exeter, departed this life on September 22nd (1894), after a few weeks illness., amidst a large circle of sorrowing friends. Her remains were removed to Drumclamph burying ground, on Tuesday morning, 25th ult. The chief mourners were - Mr. J.J. Kerr, Dublin, A. Kerr, Rateen, (sons), Mr. J .illegible and Mr. R. Wilson, Fintona, (sons-in-law); those present at the funeral - Dr. (illegible) Scott, Mr. J.R. Gailey, J. (illegible) Leitch), Mr. J. McAskie, Mr. J. (illegible), J.J. Fife, Mr. J. Gailey, Mr. (illegible) J. Stewart, Mr. S. Neilands, Mr. J. McLoughlin, Mr. M. Sharkie, Mr. R. Neilands, Mr. G. Clarke, Mr. J.A. McFarland, Mr. A. Gailey, Mr. R. Fife, Mr. A. McLoughlin, Mr. J.J. Smith, Mr. T. Smith, Mr. J.J. Scott, Mr. J. Sproule, Mr. J. Kerr, Mr. J. Craig, Mr. S. Fife, Mr. W. Porter, Mr. W. Young, Mr. R. Huey, Mr. S. Carson, Mr. J. Wilson, Mr. J.J. Oliver, Mr. A. Gailey, Mr. R. Young, Mr. D. Wilson, &e. The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths. The Rev. A. Leitch officiated, and the Rev. R.H. Ludlow, Methodist minister, led the prayer.

Rev. John Alexander Kerr above

Rev. John Alexander Kerr was born in Co Tyrone and educated by Mr.Hill, He entered Trinity.College.Dublin on 6 June, 1836, aged 17,and obtained his B.A. and Div. Test (2nd Class) in 1841, and LL.B. and LL.D, in 1878. He was ordained Deacon in 1842, Priest 1843, Curate Carrickfergus 1845, Curate Dromore 1850, Perpetual Curate Whitehouse from 1863-65, Rector Donegore from 1865-72, and Perpetual Curate Jordanstown from 1873-82. He moved to England to become Rector of Clyst St. Mary, Exeter from 1884 until his death at the Rectory on 3 Mar 1894. He was also an art critic and book reviewer. Source: St. Patrick's Church Jordanstown 1868-1958 by Rev. William McCappin.


Buchanan descent

William Alfred married Maltilda Jane Foster (1903 - 1988). She was the daughter of Arthur Foster of  Kilstrule. She married and was widowed twice. Her first husband was William Alfred Gill who died in 1934. Next she married Ernest Buchanan - they had one child.

Joseph Buchanan, Drumclamph served notice of intending to register Freehold in 1829

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