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The Allison Grave at St.Aidan's |
The Allison family is now in its 10th generation
in Magilligan. Maud Allison explains
some of the family history here...
There are
two flat slabs on the ground (seen left)
which record the family back to its first generation,
commemorating John
Allison who died in 1736 and his wife, Jane
Clark, who died at the young age of
just 24 years in 1684.
Also buried here is his second
wife, Mary Fleming who lived to
the age of 78 in 1733. John survived both
of his
wives.
The 2nd generation of the Allisons
was William, son of John & Jane.
The 3rd was Joseph Allison and
Maud tells a marvellous story about him...
It was customary for the rent
agent to visit the farms every year to collect
the rent for
the land. On a particular year when he
visited Joseph Allison's farm Joseph was not
at home.
His wife invited him to come back and share
dinner with them. While preparing that dinner,
she felt it was appropriate to set the table
using some silverware that she had been given
as a present.
The rent agent came and had dinner
with them as planned. Afterwards, when it came
to discussing the next year's rent, he told
Joseph
that
his rent had just been increased. Joseph knew
that none
of his neighbours had had their rents increased
and was very angry and demanded to know why.
He was told that "anyone who can afford
silver tableware can afford to pay more rent".
On hearing this, Joseph went
into a rage and promptly tore up
the rent
papers.
He declared
that he would sooner go to live in America than
pay extra rent here. He was as good as his word
and he and his family duly packed their things
and set sail for Philadelphia. As things turned
out though, their ship was wrecked near Sable
Island, south of Halifax, an area renowned
for shipwrecks.
So instead of arriving in Philadelphia, the Allison
family found themselves in Nova Scotia, where
they settled and began their new life.
The story doesn't end there...
Joseph's grandson, Charles, moved to
Sackville, New Brunswick and became a wealthy
merchant there.
It was Charles who founded the first university
in Canada, the Mount Allison University which
still operates today.
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The Morrison
Grave at St.Aidan's
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Like so many others around Northern Ireland,
the graveyard here at St. Aidan's has a number
of
war graves.
One
small
cross
marks the burial place of D.McCooey of
the Royal Irish Fusiliers who was drowned at
Magilligan Point in 1915. Willie recalls that
years ago a local man, by the name of Joe-John
Kelly, was paid five shillings (25p) a
year to maintain this grave and cut the grass.
Another war grave commemorates William
Ross Morrison, who was killed in action
at Darnanelles during the Gallipoli campaign
of WWI. |
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The grave of St. Aidan beside the old gable
wall |
St. Aidan's grave is here in the churchyard.
He was an Irishman of note who served in the great
Abbey on the Island of Iona off the Western shore
of Scotland. His grave is readily spotted as it features
an unual design of corbelled stones forming the shape
of a coffin.
There is also a curious hole in the
ground at the corner of the grave. It has been a
tradition for hundreds of years for people to put
their hands into this hole and try to bring out a
handful of sand from within the grave! This sand
is said to have healing properties.
Musicianship and longevity are two
qualities definitely associated with Magilligan.
In addition to the music talent already mentioned,
Magilligan
was
the
home
Ireland's
most
famous Harpist, Denis O'Hampsey,
who is
buried
here in
St Aidan's Churchyard.
Blind from the age of three as a result
of Smallpox, Denis lived to the age of 112 years.
In 1745
he was presented with a medal of the Jacobite emblem
by Bonnie Prince Charlie whom he had played for.
Denis married at the age of 86 and soon afterwards
found himself with a daughter. Both his wife and
his daughter are buried here at St. Aidan's.
In November 1998 Limavady
Borough Council erected a memorial to this musical
genius at the O'Hampsey family grave.
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Some relevant weblinks: History from Headstones: Limavady
Borough Council:
Bishop Hervey on YP&M: () Sable Island:
Mount Allison University:
Gallipoli Campaign: Please
note that the 91福利社 is not responsible for the content
of external internet sites.
If you enjoyed this article you may like to read
some of the others in this series, exploring community
history through headstones... click
here
Your Replies:
Colin- Jan '07
mount allison university was not the first university
founded in canada.
Caitlin - Apr '07
Caitlin Allison Age 6 and Sam Allison age
4, Tenterden, Kent, England. 10th generation Allisons
- hello to all the Allisons out there and well done
to Granny Allison back in Ireland.
Bre' - Feb 06
Being a direct decendant of the Allisons, this was
a wonderful article to read. I had never heard the
story of the silver spoons before, and thanks to you
was able to pass it onto my mother who was delighted
to know what brought the Allisons to Canada! It was
also very special to me to see the pictures of the
graves of John and Jane Allison; something that I
may have never seen otherwise. You painted some marvelous
pictures for me and also answered some very important
questions, as well!!! Thank-you!
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