ANN JANE CUMMINGS of Drumbee & JOHN THOMPSON of Cloughfir?

I think that the townland that the Thompson family originated was Cloughfin (sometimes spelled Cloghfin), which is in the parish of Eglish. Drumbee, the Cummings home, is also in Eglish and is close by.

I had a look at the revaluation records for Cloughfin for 1864 onwards. There were 3 Thompson farms there at that time. (They are all close to each other and that usually suggests they were related0.  Plot 8 was a 13 acres farm occupied by William Thompson. In 1892 it changed to James Dugan and in 1924 to Edward Thompson.

Plot 9 (another 13 acres farm) was tenanted by Robert Thompson. That changes to David Thompson in 1882, to Thomas in 1909 and to Isabella in 1924.

Plot 15 (a 20 acre farm) was what appear to be your immediate family: Alexander Thompson changed to James in 1874, then to James & George in 1906, to George in 1912 and to Jane Farley in 1924.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

You can locate those farms today using the maps on the Griffiths Valuation site.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

Looking at the 1901 census, there are 3 Thompson households (all farms) in Cloughfin. 2 were Presbyterian and 1 Church of Ireland.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Armagh/Ballymartrim/Cloughfin/In 1911, there were 2:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Armagh/Ballymartin/Cloghfin/

The dates given by Griffiths are often out by a year or two. The clerks revisited each property every couple of years and noted changes but clearly they relied on oral information that was not always totally right. For example, I see a death that may well be your Alexander Thompson (died 5.10.1870 aged 71) but Griffiths have him still on the farm for another 4 years. I would expect the James who replaced him was his son, probably his eldest son. (The eldest son usually got the family farm). You’ll see that James lived with his unmarried brother and sister so this should give you 3 siblings to your John Thompson who married Ann Jane Cummings.

You can view the original death certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

Some probate abstarcts from the PRONI wills site:

Administration (with the Will) of the Estate of David Thompson late of Cloughfin County Armagh Farmer who died 27 June 1907 granted at Armagh to Samuel Lappin Farmer.

Administration of the Estate of James Thompson late of Cloughfin County Armagh Farmer who died 28 April 1911 granted at Armagh to George Thompson Farmer. 

Thompson Adam of Cloughfin county Armagh farmer died 28 April 1919 Probate Belfast 17 July to John Prentice farmer. Effects £53.

Thompson Edward of Cloughfin Benburb county Armagh farmer died 23 September 1946 at Ballytrodden county Armagh Probate Belfast 30 April to Robert John Watson and Thomas Henson farmers. Effects £1911 18s. 3d.

Thompson Isabella of Cloughfin county Armagh spinster died 14 September 1953 at Ballytrodden Armagh county Armagh Probate Belfast 14 January to Thomas Irwin farmer. Effects £321 5s

The 1901 will for William and 1907 for DAvid are on-line on the PRONI wills website. For the others, the probate file is still in paper format and held in PRONI in Belfast.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm

Looking at Drumbee in the revaluation records, , I see Ann Cummins listed as renting a house (2c) on William Prentice’s farm (2a). Her name remains there till 1877, suggesting she died or left around then. (When a woman appears in Griffiths, it usually means she is a widow, so probably her husband died prior to 1864). No-one took the house over after her.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm

I checked the statutory death records from 1864 to 1889 but did not see a Margaret or Ann Cummin(g)s death in Armagh in that period.

No Cummings in Drumbee in the 1901 census. I did not find any relevant Cummings wills.

Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church, so Armagh 1st Presbyterian was probably the Cummings family church. Armagh 1st has records back to 1707 (with some gaps) so that sounds encouraging. For Presbyterians in Ireland, which church you attended was a matter of personal preference, and not necessarily the nearest or one in the parish that you live din, so you will just have to shop around for the Thompson family. I would start with Armagh 1st but if they are not there, try Armagh 2nd records start 1825) or Armagh 3rd (1837). (The 2nd and 3rd merged in 1916 and their records are held together).

I don’t think the church records are on-line anywhere. However there are copies in PRONI in Belfast. However a personal visit is required to view them. If you can’t get there yourself, you may need to employ a r

Thank you very much Elwyn for all the information you have given me.  It will certainly keep me busy.  You have provided me with a lot of details.  I really appreciate it.

                                  Carol B.