There are three books by Thomas H. Mullin about Coleraine in different eras in its history: Coleraine in By-gone Centuries. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1976. Coleraine in Georgian Times. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1977. Coleraine in Modern Times. Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1976. These are not genealogical works, but do mention a lot of individuals. It should certainly serve the purpose of "background reading." Not sure how generally available they are - I found them in Library of Congress. John Polk > [Original Message] > From: Connie Shotts <cshotts@carolina.rr.com> > To: <Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 1/3/2006 3:52:00 PM > Subject: RE: [Sc-Ir] Coleraine history > > I am interested in knowing more about the area of Coleraine in County > Londonderry. Family history (from a 1914 book) has it that my > Brewster/Bruster ancestor - James (born about 1727) was born in Coleraine > and went with his family to America as a teen -- probably settling in what > became Augusta County VA. I believe his father may have been Henry > Brewster/Bruster. The Brewsters were for many generations entwined with the > Dunns and the Alexanders (my ggg-grandfather William Alexander married James > Brewster's daughter Agnes). The story goes that James Brewster and James > Dunn were born within a half mile of each other in Ireland (Coleraine), > lived within a half mile of each other in Virginia (Augusta County), moved > to Jessamine County KY within a half mile of each other, and were buried on > their farms within a half mile of each other. > > I would very much appreciate recommendations for background reading on the > Coleraine area during the 1600s and 1700s and for any hints about whether > any records might exist for these Brewsters and Dunns. > > Thanks, > Connie > > Connie Shotts > Charlotte, NC > > -----Original Message----- > From: Boyd Gray [mailto:boydgray26@utvinternet.com] > Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 6:48 AM > To: Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [Sc-Ir] Re: Gray Family > > Hi Janet, > > Five years ago, I would have been dancing up and down and throwing my hat in > the air when I read your message to Linda about the Grays and the Boyds. My > interest in genealogy began as a quest to find the origin of my unusual > Christian name and I would have thought that you had given me the answer. I > knew quite a lot about my Grays right from the start. They came from > Macosquin Parish, near Coleraine in County Londonderry and certainly had > connections with Scotland. I had a great aunt called Sarah Matilda Galloway > Gray! There were also lots of Boyds living in the parish and the > neighbouring parish of Aghadowey but I had not been able to connect any of > the Boyd ladies to my Grays - who were all called either James or William! > > And then a few months ago, a good friend in Texas discovered the link in the > Old Age Pensions Applications held by her FHC. Briefly, this is how it > happened that the two names became linked and Boyd became a family name > within the Grays. James Gray, my great great grandfather, married Eliza > Jane Brown in 1853 and had a son called William. Robert Brewster, my great > great grandfather, married Mary Boyd in 1836 and had a daughter, Annie > Brewster. Annie Brewster married William Gray in 1882 and called a daughter > Mary Alice Boyd Gray and she was the lady who asked my mother to put Boyd in > my name. Problem solved after almost five years! > > So, as you can see, although so many of the names are the same, my ancestors > are not your James Gray and Mary Boyd. Very spooky but just one of the many > genealogical coincidences I have come across over the years. However, it > may be of interest to you to know that there were lots of Grays and Boyds > intermarrying in this part of Ulster, and all with close connections to > Scotland. > > Regards, > > Boyd > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <JustJanet223@aol.com> > To: <Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 4:31 PM > Subject: Gray Family > > > > Hello Linda, > > > > Hope you are enjoying your new life in Pa. Saw on the latest E-mail that > > you have GRAYS in your family, so I am taking a long shot to see if there > is > > any connection with mine. > > > > The 1841 census showed that JAMES GRAY & wife, MARY BOYD were born in > > IRELAND (don't know just where) They showed up in Glasgow in 1841 > census. Most > > of children were born in Ireland except two youngest ones, MATILDA born > in > > RFW & JAMES born in GLASGOW. JAMES was a shoemaker (as were some of the > > daughters' husbands). > > > > I understand from family that some of the Grays & Boyds migrated to > Canada, > > but so far have not been able to put my finger on which ones. > > > > Could there be any connection with yours? > > > > Wishing you a happy, healthy & prosperous 2006. > > > > Janet > > New England USA > > > > > > > > ______________________________ > > --- John Polk --- Havre de Grace MD --- jfpolk@earthlink.net