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The Scarvagherin Line of the McAskies, Ardstraw,Co Tyrone Ireland

David McAskie & Isabella Boggs

David, born about 1830, was the son of John McAskie & Betty Gordon of Whitehouse - he married Isabella, daughter of Robert Boggs, a farmer from Drumbreen, Ardstraw - on 17/10/1853, at the age of 23 - considered too young by his parents. Witnesses were Matthew and Joseph McAskie. Joseph was his brother and my great grandfather

He started as a flax miller at Scarvagherin. By 1858, he had  leased 25 acres and had 3 houses and one of the 2 flax mills in the area Ulster Covenant Signatures 1912
 

Marriage Cert

Flax Mill

David & Isabella had 9 children:-

John James      Mary Ann       Robert         Elizabeth        Isabella         
Sara Jane            David              William          Thomas

John James, Elizabeth & David emigrated,

John James to New Zealand & Elizabeth & David to USA

John James(1854-1939) emigrated  to  New Zealand on the maiden voyage of the Waimate.He left Gravesend 28/10/1874 Arrived Lyttleton 25/01/1875 after 89 days. Passenger list shows John McCaskey age 20. He married Mary Cosgrove on 1 October 1877 in Southbridge. She was born 24/2/1853 in Liverpool and went to New Zealand on the Waikato arriving 3/10/1875 after 98 days. John James had a photography business in Geraldine - later sold to the Willoughby family. Mary died 03/07/1929.

They had 8 children (one adopted):-

1 Alice Elizabeth, 2  John James (Jim), 3 Ernest, 4 Alex,  5 Leslie Robert,  6 Catherine "Birdie", 7 Lily and 8 Percy (adopted).

Alice Elizabeth (1878-1961) married Charles Joseph Moore. They had 3 children Gwendolyn Alice(1904-98), Mary Kathleen (1908-95) & Roy Charles(1919-76). Only Gwendolyn married - to Mr Stevenson - I am in touch with this family.

John James (Jim) (1879-1978) married Mary McLaren - they had 3 children - I am in touch with descendants. One was Dugald (1913-2006) who married Doreen Margaret McLaren  (? - 21 Sep 2004). They lived in Wellington.

Alex had 3 children, 2 boys and a girl

Leslie Robert (1895-1941) married Yvonne Hardy in 1926 - they had 3 daughters. his daughter Audrey Joy Duncan (1927-2001) was so helpful to me with much information. She died suddenly in August 2001

Ernest died at the age of 32 and Lily at the age of 4. "Birdie" remained single.

Percy married - 3 children - family visited the Kyle family in Mournebeg Co Tyrone - descendants of John James' sister Mary Ann

A granddaughter  of John James found an article about her grandfather mentioned in the history of his New Zealand district which I understand was the town of Geraldine. He was a photographer there.

He had been presented with a gift for all the work he had done for the local community before he sailed back to Ireland in 1902 for a visit. He was pictured on steps at Scarvagherin proclaiming Edward V11 King of England

THE "WAIMATE "

This ship was the fourth ship built for the New Zealand Shipping Company, which had so much to do with the prosperity of Maoriland and the resultant population explosion. She was launched from Blumer's Yard at Sunderland in the summer of 1874 along with her sister ship Waitangi. The Waitangi was launched first, in June, the Waimate being launched in August. Both of these ships were very good looking passenger-carrying iron clippers which were also the largest and fastest of the sailing ships built for the New Zealand Shipping Company.
Both had very long careers, with only a few problems along the way

Lyttelton New Zealand - south of Christchurch,
where John James landed in 1875

Elizabeth emigrated to USA - nothing is known about where she lived - this photo was taken at the  Studio of Chandler Schutz Philadelphia See David McCaskie Smith page

   

David emigrated to Trenton New Jersey-see Trenton page  

Mary Ann (1856-1954) married James Roulston on 13 September 1883 in Castlederg 2nd Presbyterian Church.

They had 5 children -   Belle    James Andrew    David McAskie  see Roulston page       William George         Jane

Belle married  Thomas Tate from Ballymena - their son was Eric who married Elizabeth McBride.

James Andrew married Martha Waugh of Lurganbuoy Co Derry - they had 5 children

William George married Annie Boyd from Ballymena - they had no children

Jane (1894-1952) married Alfred Kyle of Mournebeg Castlederg. She was known as Nettie. They had 2 daughters Selma & Hazel. Selma married John Steele and had 2 daughters. Hazel married Andrew Henderson - they had 3 children. Hazel has given me so much assistance in compiling this McAskie branch.She has in her possession Betty Gordon's  bible 

Fragment of a letter sent to Mary Ann McAskie's grandaughter Selma from Drumlegagh Manse in 1954.

Mary Ann was approaching 100 years old & her grandchildren wanted to confirm her date of birth.

There are references to Henrietta McAskie of Creevy (1864-1957) and Mrs Smyth of Magheralough (1873-1957) - Minnie McAskie - my grandmother

Sara (1867-1891) & William (1872-1914) died at Scarvagherin  - William was elected Guardian of Castlederg Union in 1892 - had inherited Scarvagherin from his father & left it to David McAskie Smith 

Thomas married Margaret A S Orr, Mountjoy Omagh on 21 May 1903 - they had 2 children Robert & Elizabeth, both born in Comber Co Derry

Elizabeth (born 1907) married Mr Watergate - she had been brought up by an aunt in Hants England - her mother died shortly after her birth in 1907. I understand that Elizabeth's daughter married a Mr Woodgate - I have not been able to confirm that.

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Scarvagherin and New Zealand McCaskies