Irwin Family from Limavady

I 'think' our family has an Irwin connection in that I think Ann Irwin (Nancy to her family) married an Isaac Ramage/Ramsey on 31/5/1843 at Tamlaghtfinlagan church which is just out of Limavady.  Their son Irwin/ Erwin Ross Ramage married Catherine Harris in 1870 and emigrated to NZ in 1885 & 1886. They left Ireland after Nancy Ramage died. Ross & catherine were my g/grandparents.

The Irwin family around Limavady is large (understatement) 

There are at least two other researchers that I am in contact with who have Irwin connections to the areas above.  There were Irwins who owned the Mill in the Roe valley.  

I am not sure which family of irwins you are from but not that you have put yourself on the Drumachose parish.  

Our Irwin Ross Ramage was a farmer at Shanreagh but was most remembered in his family and by the family who brought the Shanreagh holding as an inspired gardener and this trait has carried on down the generations.  My grandmother and her family owned a large sheep farm in northern Hawkes Bay NZ from the 1890s to the 1950s.  

Thanks for that information about Irwins from Limavady.

I'm aware of another family of Irwins in Nelson, New Zealand where I live now, who are also from Limavady originally, though not our family. So I had an inkling there were lots there. It isn't a very common name here in NZ.

Interestingly, first names that are very common in our family are the same as in the other family of Irwins, especially Samuel and William. I understand my family of Irwins came out around the time of the NZ goldrush in the late 1800s and ended up farming around the south of the South Island, although all my immediate family now live in the north of the South Island around Westport, Golden Bay and Nelson. My brother lives near San Francisco, California.

Thanks again for the information.

We have names such as Isaac, Joseph  and Benjamin Irwin. Do you know grandparents  etc . Would you like me to put you in touch with the other two Irwin researchers - one in UK and the other in US?    One of them has quite a large family tree and it has Samuels, Johns, James  etc etc on it.  I would need to ask him or put you in touch with him if you wanted to look at it.  The other is looking for an Elizabeth Irwin who married a James Baird.  

If you have not done searching  in ireland for Irwins you will find that the NZ drought of Irwins is not so over there! Some are spelt   irvine. 

I am not sure how far along you are but if you have not seen this website then you might find some of your people on the databases on it. 

http://www.billmacafee.com/

Also on Griffiths Valuation

The 1901 & 1911 census will give you an idea of the names of those who were left behind  and you may find naming patterns replicated .  

Shanreagh/Cathy