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Author: martinmcdowell3
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.close/294.5.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1...
Message Board Post:
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know that I have still been working on the Close family and may have a potential scenario based on new evidence I have uncovered.
Firstly I'll start with John Close and Matilda Graham. We have four confirmed children for them - Letitia, William, Eliza and Thomas. Letitia was born 1833 and Thomas last in 1839.
We know they lived in Mutton Burn, the townland where my John Close was born and raised as well. My John Close married Eliza Cameron (1830-1904) and had at least 8 children between 1848 and 1864. John moved to Lockstown where he died in 1865 aged 46 placing his birth in 1819.
Now we also have another Thomas Close who married a Sarah Cameron in the area in 1858. His father was recorded as John Close and as it can't be the same Thomas who was the son of John & Matilda it is likely that this was a son of my John. Now Eliza would be too young to be Thomas' mother so it could be that my John Close was married previously and his first wife gave birth to this Thomas about 1837/38.
The really interesting development that could potentially link all these bits together is a death I have found for a Martha Close in 1867. Now this Martha was a 70 year old widow and was living at Lockstown, most likely in the household of my John Close's widow. This places her birth around 1797. The person who registered her death was Sarah Close, the only candidate in the area being the Sarah Cameron who married Thomas Close nine years previously.
If Martha was my John's mother it would explain her presence in the household and would add weight to the fact that the Thomas Close (Sarah's husband) was my John's son.
Now the really interesting thing is that my John had a daughter Matilda who died in 1866 of typhus fever in Lockstown...but her gravestone gives her name as Martha. If these names were interchangeable then it is very likely that Matilda Graham is the 'Martha' who died in 1867, meaning that she is my John Close's mother as she was living in his house after his death.
Here's how the family would look if I'm right:
John Close & Matilda Graham, both born about 1797
Their first child is John Close (who married Eliza Cameron) about 1819 then they have Letitia, William, Eliza and Thomas up to 1839. As baptisms at Ballycarry Presbyterian only survive from 1832, any earlier children of John & Matilda aren't recorded.
My John Close (1819-1865) then married twice, first wife unknown is mother of Thomas Close (born about 1838) and then second wife Eliza Cameron.
The other Thomas Close, son of John & Matilda, married Margaret Jane McCormick 1867.
It is usual for names to reappear within families hence we have Johns and Thomas' on both generations. My John Close also had children Letitia, Eliza and William just like John & Matilda did.
I know this reply may be long-winded but it is the only way that one family from Muttonburn can all fit together as they are obviously all closely related (pun intended).
All comments apreciated!
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