Wow, Tom! What a remarkable welcome in Newtownstewart; you are a most fortunate researcher experiencing both generous Ulster hospitality and great research successes. Many researchers reading your experiences will be turning green. Good luck in removing those extra pounds gained with the all those buns, cakes and pies – they are a great trap.
Thanks for the update, enjoy the rest of your trip and may it be just as successful, Len Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 ________________________________ From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2018 7:47:13 AM To: Len Swindley; Tom Chambers Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: [CoTyroneMailingList] New to CTI, looking for informationonChambers family Len, all After yesterday’s disappointment with not finding John Chambers (3rd great grandfather) headstone, today was an exiting turnaround! First, the sun came out this evening so we could get a good look at the beautiful rolling countryside as we drove through Ardstraw on our way to dinner in Castlederg. But, more important, we stumbled upon some great contacts. The waitress at the Castle Hotel said she knew a John Chambers. A short walk to the butcher and we got his phone number. Called and got referred to his father John (Jackie) Chambers. Got his number. Called and his wife said to call back later. The waitress referred us to a shop owner who is also the undertaker. Bob said his mother Beulah loves genealogy and he would have her get in touch with us later. So we went in search of Moyle Cottage where Sir Thomas Maclear (and my 3rd great Grandmother, Martha) were born. We went down the driveway which was close to the area where I thought the Moyle House was. Bingo. We were welcomed with open arms AND Tea with treats. Derek then proceeded to give us a 5 hour tour of all the places we wanted to see. The Moyle House where they live, house where Moyle Cottage was, the Milltown mill building ruins, Baronscourt, John Chambers home and farm, and last but not least, Beulah, his sister! Yes more tea and pie. I am not sure if this John Chambers is related, but I can now check that out. When we got back to the hotel, waiting for me at the bar were two copies of the book Newtownstewart Remembered. Jim the guy in charge of the Church of Ireland Cemetery grounds remembered that I was trying to find it. A wonderful day! Tom Sent from my iPhone On Jun 14, 2018, at 11:52 PM, Len Swindley <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hello Tom, Welcome to the reality of genealogical research in Ireland. The Chambers headstone was transcribed in the parish graveyard (St. Eugene’s CHURCH OF IRELAND), not at the Catholic Chapel (which also has the same dedication). Sadly, the headstone (if that is what it was) may have toppled, or if a gravestone, now covered in turf; the grassed areas may contain many buried memorials. There is an online index which confirms that the headstone was in the Church of Ireland graveyard: Kabristan Archives http://www.kabristan.org.uk/kabristan-indexes/20-the-kabristan-archives-online County Tyrone Graveyards - Part III - C <722D06DA79864AE08F1216A7707BE684.jpg> Hope you are enjoying the beautiful north Tyrone countryside Len Swindley Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 ________________________________ From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2018 7:28:03 AM To: Len Swindley; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [CoTyroneMailingList] New to CTI, looking for informationonChambers family Len, et al. We are in Newtownstewart and have not found the Chambers gravestone. We looked at the Church of Ireland cemetery in Newtownstewart (on Main Street). We looked at the St Eugene cemetery (Glenknock on Plumbridge Rd). And finally we looked at the Old Ardstraw Protestant cemetery. Most of those gravestones were about the right age for John and Martha. Ideas? Tom Sent from my iPhone On Feb 25, 2018, at 11:08 AM, Len Swindley <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hello again Tom, Thanks for your message and update. Your post contains vital information re. your connection to the Maclear family. The transcription on the Chambers headstone in the graveyard of Ardstraw Parish Church (St. Eugene’s Church of Ireland, Newtownstewart) reads: Sacred to the memory of JOHN CHAMBERS who died 3rd January 1867 aged 71 years. Also his wife MARTHA CHAMBERS of Newtownstewart who died June 1866 aged 72 years and his sister MARGARET LYNCH, Moyle who died 19th February 1879, aged 72 years. Kabristan published a selection of headstone inscriptions (50), but this is a very large graveyard with hundreds of memorials, so only the surface has been scratched. It is a similar scenario with the Patrick Street Graveyard in Strabane where thare are 451 headstones with legible inscriptions, but only 50 have been copied by Kabristan. Martha’s death was announced in the Londonderry Journal June 13 1866 [Died] June 9, at Newtownstewart, county Tyrone, Martha, the beloved wife of Mr. John Chambers, in the 73rd year of her age. Turning to the Maclears, the attached obituary for Sir Thomas Maclear will interest you, also the reference to Margaret Lynch of Moyle Cottage: Londonderry Journal January 14 1840 [Died] on Sunday, the 29th ult., aged 77 years, Mr. James McAleer (sic), Moyle Cottage, near Nn.-Stewart, county Tyrone. In all the relations of life deceased was much respected, and his death is very much lamented by his friends and acquaintances There is also a distinct possibility of a Maclear headstone in St. Eugene’s graveyard; it would be searching for during your visit to Newtownstewart. Hope this is useful and regards, Len Swindley Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 From: Tom Chambers<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, 25 February 2018 1:41 PM To: Len Swindley<mailto:[email protected]>; [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: RE: [CoTyroneMailingList] New to CTI, looking for informationonChambers family Len Some updates on my research regarding the Chambers family in Newtownstewart. First, I have documented information that John Chambers and Martha McClear (McCleir) were the parents of Mary Ann Chambers (Wildey, McGowan). This is from her Disinterment Document. At the bottom of this document it lists the Occupation of her Father as “Linen Merchant”. Mary Ann and Thomas Chambers are both buried at the Green-Wood Cemetery in NYC. I received information from the cemetery that is consistent with all of this. I am trying really hard to find the obituary for Thomas Chambers, but to date, no success. By the way, I found records of John and Martha buried at Ardstraw from the Kabristan.org<http://Kabristan.org> Archives. I went back to look at the passenger list for the John Stuart 1852 and determined that the Thomas Chambers is probably not my relative since it shows a family of Chambers with wife and two children. So back to the drawing board to find how and when he got to the USA. At this point it looks like we will visit Newtownstewart around June 14-15. In the meantime, I’ll keep plugging away. Thanks for your help. Tom <MACLEAR, MOYLE COTTAGE, NEWTOWNSTEWART CO TYRONE.doc>
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