LOUDON FAMILY

I note that you have Robert born in Drumeneagh and Richard born in Dromena. Those are just different spellings of the same place. Both would be pronounced the same way. The standardized version today is Drumenagh but you will see many variations in the records. (Similarly you will see the spelling of your family surname appear many different ways. The idea of a single "correct" version is very much a 20th century pre-occupation and is not a concept that would have troubled our ancestors. Expect the spelling to vary in Irish records.

William is listed in the 1831 census in Drumenagh, at which time his family consisted of 4 males and 4 females, all Church of Ireland. Living nearby were Edward and David Loudon who are likely to be close relations. Edward had 5 males and 5 females in his family  and David had 4 males and 6 females.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinsholin/Artrea/Drunmenagh/14/

Griffiths Valuation for 1859 shows William Loudon?s farm in Drumenagh. He had plot 23 which was a farmhouse, outbuildings and 17 acres. That property today would be on the Ballynagarve Rd, a mile or two north of Ballyronan.

I also notice 2 other Loudon farming nearby on plot 6. David senior and David jnr. They might be related.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

The revaluation records show William leaving around 1865 which tie sin with your information. He was replaced briefly by Hugh Rock and then by John Murphy.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/dcal_proni_val12b/RelatedVolume.aspx?5262

There were 2 Loudon farms in Drumenagh in 1901 who may well be related:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Ballyronan/Drumenagh/1532359/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Ballyronan/Drumenagh/1532369/

Drumenagh is in the parish of Artrea. Artrea Church of Ireland records are the ones to research, if you have not already done so. Their baptism and marriage records start in 1811. The parish records from 1829 onwards are on-line on the rootsireland site but for the earlier ones you would need to get someone to look them up for you in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.

http://www.rootsireland.ie

Here?s some probate abstracts (summaries) taken from the PRONI wills site.

Administration of the estate of David Louden late of Drumenagh Magherafelt County Londonderry Farmer who died 16 January 1882 granted at Londonderry to William Louden Farmer

The above file was destroyed in the 1922 fire, and only the abstract survives.

Probate of the Will of John London late of Drumenagh County Londonderry Farmer who died 5 February 1897 granted at Londonderry to George Forbes Weaver and William J. M'Guekin Blacksmith both of Ballyronan said County

The above will is on-line on the PRONI site.

Louden Caroline of Drumenagh county Londonderry widow died 25 September 1932 Probate Londonderry 28 October to Joseph P. Kerlin M.D. Effects ?162 2s. 11d.

Administration of the estate of David Louden late of Drumenagh Magherafelt County Londonderry Farmer who died 16 January 1882 granted at Londonderry to William Louden Farmer

The above two probate files do exist but are not on-line yet. They are held in PRONI.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/WillsSearchRe…

Hi,

Richard Derby Loudon was my great grandfather so I would be interested to hear from whoever posted this.

I know my cousins Ian and Val are genealogists  Hi to them if they are the ones posting the above, buit I would delighted to hear from more distant relatives also. 

Stuart Derby Loudon

Brisbane, Australia

Stuart@loudonlegal.com.au

Hi there,

(A different) William Loudon was my great grandfather (1857-1927). I am working through my Grandad's diary and apparently his dad, William, had a farm called  'Drumenagh' near Magherafelt, producing primarily flax for linen making.    His family moved to the Transvaal because of the gold rush at the time.  He married Florence H Brooke in 1894 in JHB.

If anyone has connections to this family line, would be lovely to hear from you:).

Claire Long (nee Loudon)

New Zealand

claire.long.nz@gmail.com

Claire,

Drumenagh wasn’t the name of a farm. It was the name of the townland where the family lived. A townland is an Irish administrative area. Drumenagh is 602 acres of mainly agricultural land. In the 1901 census there were 37 houses and a total population of 175. They all shared the same address, Drumenagh. Your townland alone was enough to identify you and get a letter delivered.

Birth registration started in 1864 in Ireland (1845 for marriages). Prior to those dates you need to rely on church records.

Some of the Loudon/Lowdon family from Drumenagh seem to have attended Woods Chapel Church of Ireland. (I have seen marriages for them there). You might therefore find your family’s baptisms etc there. The following records exist, and a copy is held in PRONI in Belfast. Note that there was a census of the parish in 1829 which might throw up some names.

Woods Chapel (Armagh diocese)

Baptisms, 1807 (or 1808)-97; marriages, 1808-45; burials, 1808-89; vestry minutes, 1792-1895; poor list, 1818; seat list, 1826; confirmations, 1809, 1816, 1824, 1837, 1840, 1843, 1846, 1849, 1856, 1859, 1866, 1870 and 1876.

Census of the parish, 1829.

You mention the farm growing flax. That was common in that part of Ireland (Ulster being the home of the linen industry). However typically it would also have grown potatoes, hay, oats and so on. Plus they would have had a few cows, a pig or two.

Hello from New Zealand,

William Loudon is my fourth great uncle and Jane is my forth Aunt.  I am related through the Port side of the family which I have been researching.

It seems they emigrated to New Zealand and William and Jane are both buried here.

Here is a link to their headstone and details of their deaths. https://billiongraves.com/grave/William-Loudon/13169622?referrer=myheri…

Kind regards

Louise

Hi again,

Jane Loudon's parents were Ambrose Port born in Londonderry 1785 - 1862 and Rachel Port (born Palmer) (1790-1857). They are both buried in Ballinderry by Moneymore.

Hope that helps?

Warm regards

Louise