BADGER FAMILY CHRONICLES

© Christopher Earls Brennen

CHAPTER 2

EARLIEST KNOWN ANCESTORS

Map of Magherafelt area

It is clear that the Badger family has had a presence in southeastern County Londonderry and northeastern County Tyrone since the 1700s and perhaps even earlier. Perhaps the earliest record we have of a Badger in the mid-Ulster region is the inclusion of a Roger Badger in a 1740 list of parishioners in the Parish Of Ardtrea. Moreover there is a very old gravestone in the Desertcreat Parish Church graveyard (just south of Cookstown) that reads Here lyeth y body of Nathaniel Badger who departed this life March y 14th, 1764 aged 24 years. At present we have no further information on either Roger Badger or Nathaniel Badger (1740-1764). A few years later a William Badger was born about 1774, and may have been the father of Nathaniel Badger born in 1799 in Ballyeglish, a townland which is less than a mile northeast of the village of Moneymore, County Derry. Family legend recalls that William was born in Glasgow, Scotland, though the US Census records for 1860 and 1870 record that Nathaniel's father was born in Ireland. A search of the Scottish records revealed very few Badgers. In 1797 a William Badger is recorded as a member of the Salter's Cavalry, a unit of the Salter's Company who founded Magherafelt during the Plantation of Ulster.

The 1766 Parliamentary Return for the Magherafelt Parish lists Sarah Badger (widow) and William Badger as Protestants in the parish and George Badger and William Badger as Dissenters in the parish (which probably means they were Presbyterian). The 1796 Flax Growers Bounty List for County Derry includes Edward Badger of Magherafelt and William Badgers of the parish of Ardtrea.

Badger families have occupied farms in Megargy (between Magherafelt and Moneymore) and in the area south of Coagh for a long time. In the 1836 survey of the Parish of Magherafelt, in its description of the tanning of leather in the parish, the survey mentions that in 1752 there was a tanyard in the townland of Dunarnon, next to Megargy. This tanyard was situated a little below the house occupied in 1836 by Mr. James Badger, junior, but had long disappeared. Badgers have also lived in Magherafelt since the 1700s at least. The earliest Badger ancestor of whom we can be certain is Robert Badger (c.1789-c.1860) of Megargy who also occupied a farm at Druminard, Co.Derry. Megargy is just to the west of Magherafelt while Druminard is halfway between The Loop and Coagh in southern County Londonderry. However we begin this genealogy with James Badger (born about 1750) since there is a possibility that he was the father of Robert.

James Badger of Magherafelt must have been born about 1750. A James Badger of the congregation of First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt, was married to Agnes Willie of the same congregation on Dec.11, 1774.

    Old Record of the Badger Family
  1. Robert Badger, born about 1789, is the earliest Badger ancestor known to us though his father may have been the above James Badger. In the family record Robert is listed as Robert Badger of Megargy and in the marriage record of his son James he is also given as Robert. Robert Badger is listed in the 1829 Tithe Applotment Books for "Magargie", Magherafelt, and in the Griffith Valuation of 1858-59 as having holdings in the townlands of Drumenagh (may be Druminard), Dunarnon and Megargy, Artrea Parish, Co. Derry. We note that a Robert Badger was married to Mary Cousley on Jun.7, 1825, in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin; this may be a different Robert since our Robert had children more than ten years earlier or this may have been Robert's second marriage. Also Robert Badger was farming in Druminard in southern County Londonderry in 1822 when his son, James Badger, was born. We also know that a Robert Badger, born around 1789, died at Megargy on Apr.3, 1864, at the age of 75. He was a widower and a farmer and died of chronic bronchitis. The death was registered on Apr.7, 1864, by his son, William Badger, a farmer of Megargy. Robert died between June 1851, when his son James married Mary Clark, and January 1870, when James married Maria Carnaghan. The children of Robert Badger:
    1. Betty Badger was born at Druminard about 1814. On Sep.2, 1839, in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Betty Badger was married to David McKee. David died before 1901 so that in the 1901 Census 86-year-old Betty McKee is listed as a widowed Presbyterian seamstress (born in County Derry) living in house #4, Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, near Magherafelt, the home of 64-year-old farmer Henery Dobbin and his wife, Betty's daughter, 60-year-old Eliza Dobbin. Betty is buried at Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin. Her daughter:
      1. Eliza McKee was born about 1840 and married Henry Dobbin on May 31, 1860, in Second Moneymore Presbyterian Church. She and Henry both lived in Dunarnon. Eliza was 19 and Henry was 22. Henry was a farmer. Eliza's father was David McKee, a farmer. The witnesses were James McKee and Sally Badger. In the 1901 Census Eliza Dobbin is listed as a 60-year-old Presbyterian housekeeper (born in County Derry) living with her husband, 64-year-old farmer Henry Dobbin in house #4, Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, near Magherafelt, with her mother, Betty McKee and their son, Richard. In the 1911 Census Eliza and Henry were living at House #7, Dunarnon. Eliza's mother Betty was no longer living with them and had presumably died in the intervening years. Living with them were their son Richard (an agricultural labourer), his wife Minnie (aged 35, married 4 years). Also living in the household was Eliza and Henry Dobbin's grandson David Dobbin aged 26. He had been born in Scotland and was an agricultural labourer. The children of Henry and Eliza Dobbin:
        1. Richard Dobbin was born about 1879 and is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 21-year-old farm laborer (Presbyterian, born in County Derry) living in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, with his parents. Richard Dobbin married a woman named Minnie and they are listed in the 1911 Census as living with Richard's parents along with their three children, Elizabeth aged 3, Ernest aged 2 and Mary, an infant.

      Nancy Badger Family about 1900. Standing: Kenneth D. Overstone, Samuel O'Hara (family friend), Lloyd Overstone, Adelaide M. Overstone. Seated: Mary S. Overstone, John Douglas, Adelaide A. Douglas, John Douglas.
      (courtesy of Delia Thompson)

    2. Nancy Badger was born in 1817, the daughter of farmer Robert Badger of Megargy where she was living at the time of her marriage on Jul.31, 1845, in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, to John Douglas, born about 1826, a bachelore schoolteacher from Parsonstown, County Offaly, (now known as Birr) and the son of farmer Hans Douglas. The witnesses to the marriage were James Badger and John Wilson. John was influenced by a Revivalist preacher and became a well-known Baptist preacher in Ireland. He and his family left Ireland sometime between 1871 and 1881 for they then appear in Newport, South Wales, then briefly in Brixton, London, and then the Isle of Wight where John died in 1910. Nancy died in Feb. 1888 in London. Nancy and John Douglas had seven children, all born in Ireland:
      1. Elizabeth Douglas was born on May 9, 1849, in Waterford, Ireland, and married William Dickenson Howieson in October 1877 in Monmouthshire. In 1901 the family were living in Acton, Middlesex. Elizabeth Howieson died on Feb.13, 1929, at the age of 79. William and Elizabeth Howieson had 5 children:
        1. Kathleen Howieson was born on Nov.21, 1878.
        2. Douglas Howieson was born in 1880 and died the same year.
        3. Norman Howieson was born on May 21, 1881, and died in 1957.
        4. Gladys Adelaide Howieson, known as Dolly, was born on Jun.18, 1883, and died on Aug.18, 1957, in Brighton, Sussex. Gladys married Harry Hornsby Clifford Gibbons and they had a daughter, Molly Rosamund Gibbons, born on Jan.10, 1918, and died about 2008 in Lewisham, London.
        5. William J. Howieson was born about 1884 and died the same year.
      2. Martha Douglas was born on Aug.14, 1850, and died on Jun.6, 1861, at the age of 10 years.
      3. John Douglas was born in Aug. 1852 in Birr, Ireland, and married Emily Susan Berrell (born in Lambeth, London) in 1878 at St. Saviour, Southwark, London. John and Emily then lived in Waterford, Ireland, for some years and all their children were born there. They were back in England by the time of the 1901 census when they were residing at 99 Forest Road, Nottingham, with their four younger children and a live-in cook/domestic servant. In 1911 John and Emily were living at 11 Wellington Square, Nottingham, and the children had all left home. John had an MA and had followed in his father's footsteps becoming a Baptist Minister. John died on May 10, 1916, at the age of 63 in Nottingham. John and Emily Douglas had 5 children:
        1. Caroline Anne Douglas, known as Carrie, was born on Feb.24, 1879, and married Frederick Fisher. Caroline died on Dec.25, 1969, at the age of 90 in Lewisham.
        2. Mabel Emily Douglas was born on Oct.22, 1880, and married Dr John Henry Shaxby. They had a daughter Sylvia Margaret Douglas Shaxby who was born on Jan.12, 1911, and died on Apr.25, 1988, at the age of 77 in Lewisham. Sylvia's first husband was Gilbert Taylor who died in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Her second husband was Phirozshah Dorab Mehta (1902-1994) whose family lived in London. They had 2 sons. Mabel died on May 5, 1939, at the age of 58.
        3. Ethel Adelaide Douglas was born on Sep.2, 1882. Ethel died on May 1, 1964, at the age of 84.
        4. John Angus Douglas was born in 1884 and married Constance Goodliffe from Nottinghamshire. John died in 1939.
        5. Muriel Berrell Douglas was born on Oct.2, 1885.
      4. William J.Douglas was born on Mar.31, 1854, and died on Sep.21, 1857, at the age of 3 years.
      5. Agnes Douglas was born on Apr.4, 1856, and died on Jan.18, 1876, at the age of 19 years.
      6. Adelaide A. Douglas was born on Sep.30, 1857. In 1881 she was living in Newport, Monmouthshire, with her parents John and Nancy and sister Mary. At the time of the 1891 census Adelaide was unmarried and living with her married younger sister Mary and her husband at 12 St. John's Road, Newport. Adelaide was a governess. She died on Sep.27, 1939, at 42 Queens Road, Hoylake, Cheshire, though her address was 113 Canning Street, Liverpool. She was a spinster. Administration was granted in Liverpool on Nov.16, 1939, to Mary Shaw Overstone (effects £1044 17s 2d).
      7. Mary Shaw Douglas, known as Minnie, was baptized at Loughaghry Presbyterian Church, County Down, on Nov.6, 1862. The family were then living in Loughaghry. In 1890 Mary married Lloyd Overstone (1865-1951), born in Newport as Lloyd Overstone Jones, but dropped the Jones before he married. The 1901 Wales census records Lloyd and Mary Overstone and their two children living at 41 Summerhill Avenue, Newport. Lloyd's occupation was given as solicitor and notary. They had a live-in domestic servant. Mary died in Liverpool in 1942, and Lloyd died at the age of 86 in Weston-super-Mare. Mary and Lloyd had a son and a daughter:
        1. Kenneth Douglas Overstone was born in Newport in Oct.1892 and died in Weston-super-Mare in 1976 at the age of 84.
        2. Adelaide Mary Overstone was born in Newport on Sep.13, 1894, and married Richard Thomas Stephenson (1901-1963). They had 3 daughters. Adelaide died in 1980 in Luton, Bedfordshire, at the age of 86.

    3. William Badger was born about 1819 and married Annabella Simpson in Cookstown Second Presbyterian Church of Ireland on May 31, 1849. At the time, William and Annabella were both living in Megargy where their fathers were farmers. William's father was Robert Badger. William lived to the age of 97 years. Family history recalls that he had children named James and Liza. As the eldest son of Robert Badger he inherited the principal family farm and home in Megargy about 1.5 miles southwest of Magherafelt, right next to Ballymoghan and Ballymoghan House and just off the road to Moneymore. Megargy is also near to Dunarnon and Dunarnon House which are closer to Magherafelt. The Griffith valuation of the 1860s lists his father, Robert Badger, as holding the farm in Megargy. In the 1901 Census William Badger is listed as an 81-year-old widowed Presbyterian farmer (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with his daughter Eliza Badger and his "granddaughter", Lizzie S.B. Kane. In the 1911 Census he is listed as a 92-year-old widowed Presbyterian farmer (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with his daughter Eliza Badger and his granddaughter, Lizzie Kane. William Badger of Megargey, Moneymore, signed the Ulster Covenant in the Lecumpher Presbyterian Church on Sep.12, 1912. William Badger died in Megargy, Co. Derry on Sep.18, 1916. Probate of his will was granted to James Badger, farmer, and Samuel Story Badger, chemist. The children of William Badger:
      1. Eliza Badger, the daughter of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1850 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Oct.13, 1850. In the 1901 Census she is listed as a 50-year-old unmarried housekeeper (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with her father. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 61-year-old (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with her father. Eliza Badger of Megargey, Moneymore, signed the Ulster Covenant in the Lecumpher Presbyterian Church on Sep.28, 1912. The following granddaughter of William Badger may or may not be a daughter of Eliza:
        1. Lizzie S.B. Kane was born about 1880. In the 1901 Census she is listed as a 21-year-old unmarried dressmaker (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with her grandfather. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 31-year-old (born in Co.Derry) living in Megargy, Ballymoghan, Co.Derry, with her grandfather.
        James Badger (1852-1941) with daughter
        Elizabeth Hastings at Dunarnon farm
      2. James Badger, the son of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1852 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Apr.4, 1852. On Apr.2, 1878, James Badger, a full aged, bachelor farmer of Megargy (father: William Badger, farmer) was married in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church to Eliza Latimer, a full aged spinster of Cranny (father: John Latimer, farmer). They eventually took up residence in the Dunarnon House just a short distance from the ancestral house at Megargy for their two youngest children are registered as resident there. In the 1901 Census, 49-year-old Presbyterian farmer James Badger and his 48-year-old wife Eliza are listed as living in House #5, Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Londonderry, with their nine living children as indicated below. In the 1911 Census, 59-year-old Presbyterian farmer James Badger and his 58-year-old wife Eliza (married 33 years) are listed as living in House #8 (which may be the same house), Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Londonderry, with the children indicated below. James and Eliza Badger of Dunarnon, Moneymore, both signed the Ulster Covenant in the Lecumpher Presbyterian Church on Sep.28, 1912. The first edition of Maitland's history of Magherafelt, published in 1916, was subscribed to by James Badger of Dunarnon, Magherafelt. James Badger of Dunarnon, Magherafelt, farmer, died on Feb.18, 1941, leaving his estate (effects £695) to his sons, William Badger and Robert Badger, farmers. James and Eliza Badger had children:
        1. Maggie Badger, the daughter of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born in 1879 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Aug.29, 1879. She is listed in the 1901 Census as a 22-year-old seamstress living with her parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. On May 28, 1907, in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Maggie Badger, a full aged spinster from Megargy (father: James Badger, farmer) was married to Lennox Paul, a full aged, bachelor, carpenter of Cranny (father: Robert Paul, farmer). In the 1911 Census, 27-year-old carpenter Lennox Paul and his 29-year-old wife Maggie Paul are listed as living in Lisalbanagh, Brackagh Slieve Gallion, County Londonderry, with their daughter, Sarah:
          1. Sarah Elizabeth Paul was born on Jun.1, 1908, and is listed in the Lecumpher Presbyterian Church records. She is also listed in the 1911 Census as a 2-year-old living with her parents in Lisalbanagh, Brackagh Slieve Gallion, Co. Londonderry.
        2. William Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born about 1881 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 20-year-old unmarried farmer's son living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. William Badger was married to Dina Elizabeth Ewing in Desertmartin Church of Ireland on Feb.26, 1908. In the 1911 Census William is listed as a 30-year-old married farmer's son living with his 33-year-old wife Dinagh at his parents home in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. The children of William and Dinah Badger:

          Jim Badger at Dunarnon.Jim Badger's 4 eldest children at Dunarnon.
          (courtesy of Jennifer Corbett)
          Lizzie, Jim and Marion Badger at Coolshinney County Primary School in 1920.

          1. Elizabeth Badger, "Lizzie", the daughter of William and Dinah (Ewing) Badger of Dunarnon, was born on Dec.26, 1908, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church. She is listed in the 1911 Census as a 2-year-old living with her parents and grandparents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. Elizabeth was attending Coolshinney County Primary School in 1920. We think Elizabeth married a man named Pattison.
          2. William James Badger, known as "Jim", the son of William and Dinah (Ewing) Badger of Dunarnon, was born on Apr.12, 1911, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church. Jim was attending Coolshinney County Primary School in 1920. William James Badger married a woman named Sarah; they continued to farm in Dunarnon and had eight children (among them Edith Badger whom CEB met in 2012 in Lecumpher graveyard).
          3. Maggie Marion Badger, the daughter of William and Dinah (Ewing) Badger of Dunarnon, was born on Apr.12, 1911, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church. Marion was attending Coolshinney County Primary School in 1920.
        3. John Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born about 1883 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 18-year-old unmarried grocer's assistant living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry.
        4. Sarah Badger, the daughter of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born about 1884 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 17-year-old unmarried seamstress living with her parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry.
        5. Elizabeth Badger, the daughter of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born on Dec.12, 1885, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 15-year-old scholar living with her parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. On Nov.14, 1910, Elizabeth Badger was married to Samuel Hastings in St.Anne's Church of Ireland, Belfast. In the 1911 Census, Samuel and Elizabeth Hastings are listed as living in House 13, Rathcoal Street, Windsor, Antrim. Samuel is listed as a 28-year-old Belfast-born Presbyterian butcher and Elizabeth is listed as a 24-year-old County Derry-born Presbyterian wife. They have just recently had a child, no longer living. Later they had at least one child, a daughter, Doris Hastings who married ? Boucher and had a son Derek Boucher.
        6. James Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born on Jul.14, 1887, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, and is listed in the 1901 Censusas a 13-year-old scholar living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry.
        7. Samuel Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born dead in 1890 and was registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Oct.30, 1890.
        8. Anna Bella Badger, the daughter of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger, was born on Jul.9, 1891, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 9-year-old scholar living with her parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. In the 1911 Census Annabella is listed as an unmarried 20-year-old living with her parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. On Mar.20, 1914, in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Anna Bella Badger, a full aged spinster from Dunarnon (father: James Badger, farmer) was married to Francis Gilmour, a full aged, bachelor, mason of Derrygarve (father: Arthur Gilmour, butcher) (in the 1911 Census, 25-year-old unmarried stonemason Francis Gilmour is listed as living in Derrygarve, Castledawson, with his 72-year-old mother Annie Gilmour).
        9. Samuel Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger of Dunarnon, was born in 1894 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Nov.23, 1894. Samuel must have died before the 1901 Census for he is not listed in that census.
        10. Robert Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger of Dunarnon, was born on Jan.13, 1897, and registered in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 4-year-old living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. In the 1911 Census Robert is listed as a 14-year-old scholar living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry.
        11. Thomas Badger, the son of James and Eliza (Latimer) Badger of Dunarnon, was born about 1899 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 2-year-old living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry. In the 1911 Census Thomas is listed as a 12-year-old scholar living with his parents in Dunarnon, Ballymoghan, County Derry.
      3. Margaret Badger, the daughter of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1854 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Jun.18, 1854.
      4. Robert Badger, the son of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1855 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Nov.18, 1855.
      5. Sarah Jane Badger, the daughter of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1857 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on May 3, 1857.
      6. Margaret Jane Badger, the daughter of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1859 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Jul.3, 1859.
      7. Arabella Sophia Badger, the daughter of William and Arabella Badger of Megargy, was born in Megargy in 1861 and was baptized in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Oct.20, 1861.

      Map of south Londonderry showing Druminard

      Camlin House circa 1860. Camlin House circa 2010.

    4. James Badger, our ancestor, was born in 1822 in Druminard. He left home shortly after the potato famine in the mid 1840s to serve as a land steward for an estate in Camlin, County Roscommon. Since James was not the eldest son of Robert Badger and therefore not destined to inherit his father's farm. His brother, William Badger (see above), was destined for that inheritance. Camlin is about 7½ miles south of Boyle and comprises Camlin House and a village which lies south east of the estate. Camlin House was one of the Irwin estates. James was in charge of the farming, the cattle, horses, machinery and the workers connected with all these. On Jun.27, 1851, in Boyle he married Mary Clark (father David Clark), a young school teacher from Gilnahirk. The marriage record states that James's father was Robert Badger. The family record also states that Mary was born in 1820 in Castlereagh, County Down. [Anne Hobbs writes: "For a span of years from about 1852 to 1860 James and Mary Badger lived in Camlin House, Boyle, Co.Roscommon and their first six children were born there. Mary was the daughter of David Clark, a farmer. James was still working as a land steward at the time of his marriage. The task of administering the extensive estate was onerous due to the departure of numerous workers and tenants during the famine and the utter poverty of those that remained. The Griffith Valuation of 1858 lists James Badger as leasing (managing?) a very substantial property in Camlin, Co.Roscommon, from John Irwin (a minor). The property consisted of a large 3-storey house valued at 14 pounds, about 300 acres of land and farm buildings. James and Mary Badger managed things well and so they saved money hoping to purchase a farm of their own. James, Mary and their children left Camlin somewhat precipitously in 1863. In September 1862 a Bryan Harrington had died in Boyle workhouse. James Badger was a guardian of Boyle Union and so had been involved in the payment of relief for Harrington and also the transport of Harrington to the workhouse. It was James Badger who got the Relieving Officer of Boyle Union to strike Harrington off the relief list and he was indirectly accused of having a bad motive for doing this. James was very concerned that his honour was at stake and asked to be examined under oath. He insisted on swearing the Scottish oath by raising his arm, and not by the book, and explained that he took Harrington off the list for relief on the basis that two of his children were earning money and living in the same house. The other guardian members thought too much fuss was being made about the issue and that James Badger was being overly sensitive. However, on Nov.24, 1862, the entire stock, crop, farming implements and household furniture of James Badger was auctioned. An auction notice on 15 November stated “To be let the house and demense of Camlin, situate within two miles of Boyle and four from French Park. The farm contains about 200 acres of excellent grazing land and the house is commodious and in excellent repair”. The cancelled books for the townlands of Carkfree, Camlin and Carrowkeel show that James Badger was replaced in all of his holdings by a Thomas Stewart in 1863. The valuer noted in pencil for two of the townlands “Gone to the North” and “Went to the North”. The family moved back to the family farm in the townland of Druminard, County Tyrone in about 1862 and their last child was born there. Things went well for years until Mary at the age of more than 45 became afflicted with dropsy. Her case was severe and there was little that could be done. She was confined to bed for about one year, receiving treatment and light diet. Shortly after her forty seventh birthday she passed away on May 25, 1869, at the age of 48. The cause of death was given as ascites 6 months and dropsy 3 months. Her death was registered on Jun.24 by James Badger of Druminard. She was buried at Saltersland Presbyterian Church. During the period when Mary was so ill they kept a hired girl to do the heavy work. There was a very friendly family living on another farm not too far away. Their name was Carnaghan. One of the girls, called Maria Carnaghan, born in 1837, about thirty seven years of age, came over every day to help in caring for Mary to attend to the cooking and see that the children went to school regularly. This young woman appeared to have no beaux at all. She soon got accustomed to the ways of things and kept the children very nice. After Mary died, it just seemed they couldn't get along without Miss Carnaghan so she continued to come over every day as usual."].
      Badger ancestral home in Druminard
      About one year later, on Jan.12, 1870, at the age of about 48, James married Maria Carnaghan (or Kernaghan) in Moneymore Second Presbyterian Church. In the 1901 Census of Ireland James (the second) is listed as a 79-year-old Presbyterian farmer and head of a household in Druminard, parish of Salterstown, County Londonderry. He is living with his 60-year-old wife, Maria, who was born in County Derry; living with them are his sons, 39-year-old James Badger and 25-year-old T. (or F.) Wilson Badger. Additional residents in the home are a 62-year-old Presbyterian visitor and widow Ann Story (Maria's sister, see Chapter 4) and a 24-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic servant by the name of Andrew ?ona (born in County Derry). We note that living next door are 58-year-old farmer, Samuel Carnaghan, and his 16-year-old son, William Carnaghan (see Chapter 4). James Badger died on Aug.3, 1907, of paralysis following a series of strokes and is buried at Saltersland Presbyterian Church. Maria died just a month later on Sep.14, 1907, of cancer of the stomach and liver and is buried in the same graveyard. Their son Thomas Wilson Badger was living at Druminard and registered the deaths. The children of James Badger are described in the next chapter.

    5. Sarah (or Sally) Badger, daughter of Robert Badger, was born about 1840 and married Andrew McFarland, son of Walter McFarland, in Moneymore Second Presbyterian Church on Nov.22, 1866. Andrew was a widower living at Ballymughan whose first wife, Sarah McKinney, had died during the preceding year. Sarah Badger was living in Megargy and her father was Robert Badger. Lizzie Badger was one of the witnesses. At the time of the birth of their son, Andrew, the family were living at Ballymughan, parish of Magherafelt, and Andrew was still a farmer. Sarah gave her name as Sally Badger (there was just one Sally McFarland in the whole of Ireland on the 1901 census). In the 1901 Census 60-year-old Sarah McFarland (born in County Tyrone) is listed as the wife of 65-year-old farmer Andrew McFarland living in house #11, townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with six of their children (they are Church of Ireland). Sarah must have died prior to the 1911 Census for in that return Andrew is listed as a 72-year-old widowed farmer. Sarah is buried at Lecumpher Presbyterian Church. The children of Andrew and Sarah McFarland:
      1. James McFarland was born about 1864 and must have been the son of Andrew McFarland and his first wife. In the 1901 Census he is listed as an unmarried 35-year-old farmer's son (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with his parents. In the 1911 Census he is listed as an unmarried 48-year-old farmer's son living in Cavan with his father.
      2. Sarah Jane McFarland was born on Nov.17, 1865, the daughter of Andrew McFarland of Ballymoghan and his first wife, Sarah McKinney. Sarah Jane was baptized in Saltersland Presbyterian Church three years after her birth and after her mother's death; she was baptized on the same day as her younger brother, Andrew. In the 1901 Census Sarah Jane is listed as an unmarried 37-year-old farmer's daughter (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with her parents. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 50-year-old farmer's daughter living in Cavan with her father.
      3. Andrew McFarland was born on Jan.27, 1868, according to his civil birth record and must have been the child of Andrew and his second wife Sarah (Badger). At the time the family were living at Ballymughan, parish of Magherafelt, and Andrew was still a farmer. Sarah gave her name as Sally Badger. He was baptized at Saltersland Presbyterian Church on Nov.22, 1868. Andrew must have died young for he does not appear in the 1901 Census.
      4. Matilda McFarland was born about 1872 and is listed as an unmarried 28-year-old farmer's daughter (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with her parents. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 39-year-old farmer's daughter living in Cavan with her father.
      5. Emily McFarland was born about 1875 and is listed as an unmarried 25-year-old farmer's daughter (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with her parents. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 37-year-old farmer's daughter living in Cavan with her father.
      6. Alexander McFarland was born about 1877 and is listed as an unmarried 23-year-old farmer's son (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with his parents.
      7. David McFarland was born about 1880 and is listed as an unmarried 20-year-old farmer's son (born in County Tyrone) living in the townland of Cavan, Lisnacloon, County Tyrone, with his parents. In the 1911 Census he is listed as an unmarried 34-year-old farmer's son living in Cavan with his father.

    6. Mary Badger was first married to James Reid in Lecumpher Presbyterian Church, Desertmartin, on Mar.28, 1845. Upon James's death Mary, the daughter of Robert Badger was married in Magherafelt on Feb.14, 1862, to James Vance, the son of Adam Vance. Mary is buried at Lecumpher Church near Desertmartin.

  2. Nathaniel Badger, son of Jorge (James?) Badger, was baptized in First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church on Jun.22, 1773. He may have been a brother to Robert.

  3. James Badger, son of James Badger, was baptized in First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church on Apr.25, 1779. He may have been a brother to Robert.

  4. John Badger of Megargy must have been born about 1790. He could have been the son of the above James Badger and brother of Robert. He had children:
    1. James Badger, son of John Badger of Megargy, was baptized in First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church on Sep.27, 1813.
    2. John Badger, son of John Badger of Megargy, was baptized in First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church on Dec.6, 1815.
    3. Rosana Badger, daughter of John Badger of Megargy, was baptized in First Magherafelt Presbyterian Church on Jul.15, 1818.
    4. William Badger, born to John Badger of Megargy, was baptized in First Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt, on Jun.15, 1820. This may be the William Badger of Ballygruby.

  5. William Badger may have been born about 1800 and could have been another son of James Badger and brother of Robert. It is likely he married a woman named Mary since that name was given to two older granddaughters. William is only known to us as the father of:
    1. William Badger was born in Co.Derry about 1828. The Griffith valuation of the 1858/59 records that William Badger held land in Ballygruby, Artrea Parish, Co. Derry. Ballygruby is about one mile due east of the town of Moneymore in County Derry. On Feb.15, 1870, in the Ballinderry Church of Ireland, William Badger, full age, bachelor, farmer of Ballygrooby (father: William Badger, farmer) was married to Jane McGuckian, full age, spinster of Ballydonnell, parish of Ballinderry (father: William McGuckian, farmer). Richard McGuckian and Rolland Cummings were witnesses. William was about 42 at the time of the marriage. In the 1901 Census, William Badger is listed as a 72-year-old Presbyterian farmer (born in Co.Derry) and widower living at house #21 in Ballygruby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. Living with him are his three unmarried children listed below. Jane must have died prior to the 1901 Census. William must have died between the 1901 and 1911 Censuses. Daughter Jane Badger of Ballygruby, Moneymore, signed the Ulster Covenant in the Saltersland Church on Sep.28, 1912. The children of William and Jane Badger:
      1. Mary Ann Badger was born on Dec.15, 1870, and is recorded in the records of the Second Moneymore Presbyterian Church. She is listed in the 1901 Census as a 28-year-old unmarried dressmaker born in Co.Derry living with her father in house #21 in Ballygruby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. In the 1911 Census she is listed as a 35-year-old unmarried Presbyterian dressmaker born in Co.Derry living in Ballygraby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. Mary Ann Badger of Ballygrooley, Moneymore signed the Ulster Covenant in the Saltersland Church on Sep.28, 1912.
      2. William George Badger was born on Nov.18, 1872, and is recorded in the records of the Second Moneymore Presbyterian Church. He must have left home or died before the 1901 Census.
      3. Thomas Badger was born on May 5, 1874, and is recorded in the records of the Second Moneymore Presbyterian Church. He is listed in the 1901 Census as a 25-year-old unmarried farmer born in Co.Derry living with his father in house #21 in Ballygruby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. In the 1911 Census he is listed as a 31-year-old unmarried Presbyterian farmer born in Co.Derry living in Ballygraby, Moneymore, Co.Derry.
      4. Jane Badger was born on Feb.13, 1881, in Ballygruby. She is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 16-year-old born in Co.Derry living with her father in house #21 in Ballygruby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 25-year-old born in Co.Derry living in Ballygraby, Moneymore, Co.Derry. Jane Badger of Ballygruby, Moneymore, signed the Ulster Covenant in the Saltersland Church on Sep.28, 1912.
    2. John Badger was the son of William Badger and may have been born about 1830. John was married twice. On Oct.13, 1853, John Badger, of full age, bachelor, farmer of Ballygrooby, parish of Ardtrea (father: William Badger, farmer) married Ann Huston, of full age, spinster of Gortade (father: James Huston, farmer) in Maghera Church of Ireland. John and Ann (Huston) Badger had a daughter, Ann, who was christened in Moneymore Second Presbyterian Church on Sep.17, 1854. Ann may have died in childbirth or at least prior to 1857. On Feb.24, 1857, in Molesworth Third Presbyterian Church, Cookstown, John Badger, full age, widower, grocer of Moneymore (father: William Badger, farmer) was married to Jane Crooks, full age, spinster, of Ballymenagh, parish of Derryloran (father: William Crooks, farmer). William Badger of Ballygrooby and James Anderson of Ballygrooby were witnesses. John and Jane Badger were living in Moneymore during the period 1858-71. This may be the John Badger of Bridger Street, Moneymore, Co. Derry, who is included in the Griffith Valuation of 1858-59. The children of John Badger of Moneymore:
      1. Ann Badger, daughter of John and Ann (Huston) Badger of Moneymore, was christened in Moneymore Second Presbyterian Church on Sep.17, 1854.
      2. Mary Badger, daughter of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Feb.19, 1858.
      3. William Badger, son of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Mar.19, 1860.
      4. Jane Badger, daughter of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Jul.28, 1862.
      5. Benjamin Badger, son of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Mar.23, 1864.
      6. Rachel Badger, child of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on May 13, 1866.
      7. Margaret Badger, daughter of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Jun.27, 1868.
      8. Thomas Badger, son of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Feb.25, 1871.
      9. George Badger, son of John and Jane (Crooks) Badger of Moneymore, was born in Moneymore on Nov.28, 1873.

Last updated 10/20/09.

Christopher E. Brennen