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Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, gent.

Home > Family history > Ireland > Ferguson > Andrew Ferguson (died aft.1757)

Source: Ireland. Court of Exchequer. Equity Exchequer Books, 1754–1755. Abstract for the suit brought by David Ferguson, plaintiff, against John Huggins the younger & Lettice, his wife, Andrew Ferguson, John Marshall, Joseph Johnston, and Joseph Marshall & Agnes, his wife, defendants, 21st May 1754. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 56, pg. 24. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (accessed 26th Mar. 2022).

Contents :

Introduction :

This page provides a timeline of documents found for Andrew Ferguson of Farriter townland in the parish of Killeeshil, county Tyrone, followed by a discussion of the import of each and descriptions of the near relatives named.

Timeline of documents :

The following documents have been found for Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, gent., to date:

  • Memorial no. 75752 (v.109, p.245) : a marriage settlement made between John Huggins (I) of Glenarb, gent., and Andrew Ferguson, gent., and his son, David Ferguson, both of Farriter, in anticipation of the marriage of the said David and Margaret, daughter of John Huggins), dated 2nd Oct. 1736, registered 7th Feb. 1742. 1
  • Memorial no. 86876 (v.129, p.230) : Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, assignment to son, John Ferguson (dated 5th Oct. 1747, registered 10th Nov. 1747). 2
  • On 27th June 1748, Andrew Ferguson brought a suit v. [versus] John Speer, John Martin, and James Hannah. 3
  • On 26th Nov. 1750, a bill was entered by David Ferguson and John Ferguson, a minor, by the said David, his Guardian and next Friend, plaintiffs, v. Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew & John Ferguson, Richard and John Martin, defendants. 4
  • On 14th June 1751, John Ferguson entered a bill v. Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, and David Ferguson. 5
  • On 21st May 1754, John Huggins the younger and Lettice, his wife, Andrew Ferguson, John Marshall, Joseph Johnston, and Joseph Marshall and Agnes [otherwise Ann Huggins], his wife, plaintiffs, brought a bill v. David Ferguson, defendant, in the Court of Exchequer. On 9th December 1756, the Bill was withdrawn by order, 27th November 1756. 6
  • On 8th Dec. 1757, David Ferguson, gent., and John Ferguson, a minor by the said David, his Guardian and next Friend, entered a supplemental bill against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, John Ferguson, John Speer, and Henry and John Martin. 7

Discussion :

In 1729, for the consideration of £40, Andrew Ferguson purchased the lease held by John Nesbitt, gent., in Farriter townland, which Mr. Nesbitt held from Thomas White, gent., of Redhills, county Cavan, proprietor of the Manor of Ballymagrane. A covenant provided for the renewal of the lease forever. 8 , 9 10

Farriter townland lies on the southern border of Killeeshil Glebe and on the northern boundary of Culltentra townland. Farriter comprised about 260 acres, 11 and lies northeast of the town of Aughnacloy and about one-third of the distance on the modern A4 road between Ballygawley and Moygashel. According to the Placenames Database of Ireland logainm.ie, its gaeilge name is Fearan iochtarach, trans. “lower territory or domain.” On the other hand, the PlaceNamesNI project experience.arcgis.com/experience/ cites several possibilities: one, An tArachtra which was recorded in 1643, equivalent to Orritor in the parish of Kildress, and trans. “assembly, patrimony, territory;” most of the remainder are spelling variants of Farriter; and concluding with, fearan iochtarach, trans. “lower lying land.” 12

Andrew Ferguson was party to two registered deeds: 13

  • In 1736, a marriage settlement was executed on behalf of David Ferguson, son of Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, gent., who married Margaret Huggins, daughter of John Huggins (I) of Glenarb, gent. Andrew gave as a marriage portion to David the half townland in Farriter known as Irish Farriter. This portion was originally held by a lease granted to John Nesbitt, gent., late of Tullyvar in the parish of Carnteel, by Thomas White of Redhills, county Cavan, Esq. The memorial of the deed was registered shortly after the death of John Huggins c.1741. 14
  • In 1747, for the consideration of 5s and the paternal affection he bore his son, John Ferguson, Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, gent., assigned all his right, title, &c., in a moiety (half) of Farriter townland, to John to hold forever, subject to the yearly rent of £6, plus an annuity of £4 to be paid to Andrew during his lifetime. This parcel was part of the lease granted by Thomas White, Esq. to John Nesbitt, and which Andrew Ferguson had purchased from Mr. Nesbitt in 1729. 15

Between 1748 – 1757, the Court of Exchequer in Ireland (en.wikipedia.org) recorded Andrew Ferguson as plaintiff or co-plaintiff or named as defendant or co-defendant in several bills entered with the Court. Place names for each of the appellants and the cause(s) giving rise to the bill were omitted from the abstracts.

  • In 1748, Andrew Ferguson brought a suit against John Speer, John Martin, and James Hannah. 16 — Note: Because place names were not indexed in the Exchequer’s abstracts, we cannot be certain that the plaintiff was Andrew Ferguson of Farriter. However, it seems likely that it was, given the 1757 suit brought by Andrew’s son, David, and David’s son, John, for which, see “In 1757,” below.
  • In 1750, a bill was entered by David Ferguson and John Ferguson, a minor, by the said David, his Guardian and next Friend, plaintiffs against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew & John Ferguson, Richard and John Martin, defendants. 17
  • In 1751, John Ferguson entered a bill against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, and David Ferguson. 18 — Note: The plaintiff appears to have been Andrew’s son and David’s brother, and not David’s son, John, as the latter was still a minor in 1751.
  • In 1754, John Huggins (II) and Lettice, his wife, Andrew Ferguson, John Marshall, Joseph Johnston, and Joseph Marshall and Agnes [otherwise Ann Huggins], his wife, plaintiffs, brought a bill against David Ferguson, defendant, in the Court of Exchequer. On 9th Dec, 1756, the Bill was withdrawn by order, 27th November 1756. Noted on index: “1756 Dec.’r 8’th this Bill amended & Reg.[–] withdrawn by Ord’r 27’th Nov’r last.” 19
    — David Ferguson’s possession of land in Kedew townland might well have been the cause argued by the plaintiffs:
    • Joseph and Agnes Marshall then lived in Dyan townland, 20 holding twelve acres in Kedew while David Ferguson held thirty-seven acres in same townland, both as sub-tenants, first, of John Huggins (I) who died c.1741, and then of John Huggins (II), who died in 1756. 21
    • Agnes alias Ann Marshall was a sister of John Huggins (II).
    • John Marshall was probably the son of Joseph and Agnes Marshall. John went with his parents when they removed to Blackwatertown. 22
    • In 1741, David Ferguson had registered a deed to memorialize a bequest made by John Huggins (I) of Glenarb to his son-in-law (Ferguson) of that part of Kedew townland which David Ferguson then held. 23
    • The note dated 9th Dec. 1756 might have been written after the death of John Huggins (II) that year.
  • In 1757, David Ferguson and John Ferguson, a minor by the said David, his Guardian and next Friend, filed a supplemental bill against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, John Ferguson, John Speer, and Henry and John Martin. 24

These legal entanglements amongst near relatives were not unusual in Ireland. It is unfortunate that we can only guess at the causes underlying each bill and their resolution. It is also not unusual to arrive at this point in genealogical research, where nothing is known of the family’s origins, when they arrived in Ireland, where they lived, and to which other branches they might have been related.

No further documents having been found, including contemporary news accounts, the death of Andrew Ferguson, gent., is presumed to have occurred after the 8th Dec. 1757.

See also :

Footnotes :

  1. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 75752 (v.109, p.245): John Huggins of Glenarb, parish of Aghaloo, county Tyrone, to Andrew and David Ferguson of Farriter, parish of Killeeshil, county Tyrone (dated 2nd Oct. 1736, registered 7th Feb. 1742). Microfilm copy held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (Belfast). Archival ref. MIC/311/72 (accessed by Alison Kilpatrick, Nov. 2003); and copy on microfilm held by the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, archival ref. FHL microfilm no. 522823 (accessed at SLC on 4th May 2016); digital images online at FamilySearch, Int’l. familysearch.org (transcript by Alison Kilpatrick; submitted to Nick Reddan’s Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland  irishdeedsindex.net, 12th July 2016. ↩︎
  2. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 86876 (v.129, p.230): Andrew Ferguson of Farriter assignment to his son, John Ferguson (dated 5th Oct. 1747, registered 10th Nov. 1747). Microfilm copy held by the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, archival ref. FHL microfilm no. 522833 (accessed at SLC on 4th May 2016); digital images online at FamilySearch, Int’l. familysearch.org. Annotated transcript by Alison Kilpatrick; index and transcript submitted to Nick Reddan’s “Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland” irishdeedsindex.net, 12th Aug. 2016. ↩︎
  3. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin). Equity Exchequer Books, 1627–1884. Abstract for the suit brought by Andrew Ferguson against John Speer, John Martin, and James Hannah, defendants, on 27th June 1748. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 50, pg. 61. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 3rd Jan. 2024). ↩︎
  4. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin). Equity Exchequer Books, 1749–1751. Abstract for the suit brought by David Ferguson and John Ferguson, a minor, against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew and John Ferguson, and Richard and John Martin on 26th Nov. 1750. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 32, pg. 219. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 3rd Jan. 2024). ↩︎
  5. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin). Equity Exchequer Books, 1751–1754. Abstract for the suit brought by John Ferguson against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, and David Ferguson on 14th June 1751. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 33, pg. 9. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 3rd Jan. 2024). ↩︎
  6. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin). Equity Exchequer Books, 1754-1755. Abstract for the suit brought by David Ferguson, plaintiff, against John Huggins the younger and Lettice, his wife, Andrew Ferguson, John Marshall, Joseph Johnston, and Joseph Marshall and Agnes, his wife, defendants, on 21st May 1754. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 56, pg. 24. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 26th Mar. 2022). ↩︎
  7. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin). Equity Exchequer Books, 1751–1754. Abstract for the suit brought by David Ferguson, gent., and John Ferguson, a minor, against Francis White, Charles Herdman, Andrew Ferguson, John Ferguson, John Speer, and Henry and John Martin on 8th Dec. 1757. Records held by the National Archives of Ireland (Dublin), archival ref. vol. 35, pg. 123. Digital image online at FindMyPast.co.uk (extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 3rd Jan. 2024). ↩︎
  8. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 75752 (v.109, p.245), op. cit. ↩︎
  9. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 86876 (v.129, p.230), op. cit. ↩︎
  10. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 212795 (v.325, p.49) : John Ferguson [the elder], son of Andrew Ferguson , assigned to the Rev. William Nixon, bachelor, one moiety of his half of Farriter townland, containing about sixty-six acres two roods (dated 4th Mar. 1775, registered 12th July 1777). Digital image online at FamilySearch Int’l. familysearch.org, archival ref. FHL film no. 531696 (accessed and extract made by Alison Kilpatrick, 16th Jan. 2024). ↩︎
  11. Ibid. ↩︎
  12. The words, upper and lower, were usually used to define the position of two townlands, having the same name, with respect to a river. If a townland lay upstream or closer to the river’s source, its name was accompanied by the suffix, “upper.” In contrast, a “lower” townland lay farther from the source of the water course than its “upper” counterpart. However, there is no river running through Farriter townland, and thus the “upper” designation requires explanation.
       In this instance, was the “lower” designation meant to suggest lower lying land? This seems to fall flat, as the 2nd Ordnance Survey map shows that Killeeshil townland stood 446 feet above sea level, whereas Farriter stood at 400 feet, with a hill reaching 450 feet.
       Had Farriter once been part of the glebe land at Killeeshil and subsquently severed, thereby placing Farriter in a less important position? ↩︎
  13. It is possible that other memorials of deeds involving Andrew Ferguson were registered, but these have not been discovered. ↩︎
  14. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 75752 (v.109, p.245), op. cit. ↩︎
  15. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 86876 (v.129, p.230), op. cit. ↩︎
  16. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin), Equity Exchequer Books, 1627–1884, 27th June 1748, op. cit. ↩︎
  17. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin), Equity Exchequer Books, 1749–1751, 26th Nov. 1750, op. cit. ↩︎
  18. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin), Equity Exchequer Books, 1751–1754, 14th June 1751, op. cit. ↩︎
  19. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin), Equity Exchequer Books, 1754-1755, 21st May 1754, op. cit. ↩︎
  20. Registry of Deeds, Ireland (Henrietta Street, Dublin). Memorial no. 76215 (v. 108, p. 248): William Brown of Dyan Archibald, parish of Aghalow, county Tyrone, set a lease to Joseph Marshall of Stragan [Stragrane], parish of Aghalow, of a tanyard in the Dyan, same parish, for a term of 31 years; citing John Huggins of Glenarb, parish of Aghaloo, one of the witnesses (dated 9 September 1736; registered 9 April 1743); microfilm copy held by the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah (FHL film no. 522823); copy made in Salt Lake City 4th May 2016, transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, and submitted to Nick Reddan’s “Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland” irishdeedsindex.net, 5th Aug. 2016. ↩︎
  21. Hamilton, Margaret, later Countess of Corke & Orrery, and John Boyle, Earl of Corke & Orrery. Caledon Estate Lease Book. Copy held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (Belfast); archival ref. PRONI D2433/A/5/3 (accessed 12th Oct. 2017). Citing lease granted to John Huggins (I) in part of Kedew townland on 1st May 1735; sub-tenants: Joseph Marshall, who held 12 acres, David Ferguson, 37 acres, and James Mc Kinny, 2 acres, a house, garden, and one cow’s grass, all of whom held under John Huggins (II) who died in 1756. ↩︎
  22. Registry of Deeds, Ireland. Memorial no. 124337 (v.185, p.576): Lease granted by Richard Dawson of Dublin, Esq., to Joseph Marshall of the Dyan, merchant, in a plot of ground in Blackwatertown for a term of fourteen years, renewable (dated 16 Feb 1757; reg’rd 6 May 1757). Digital image obtained at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah; archival ref. FHL film no. 461379. Transcribed by Alison Kilpatrick, with index and transcript submitted to Nick Reddan’s “Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland” irishdeedsindex.net, 2nd Oct. 2016. ↩︎
  23. Registry of Deeds, Ireland (Dublin). Memorial no. 73771 (v.106, p.283) : Will of John Huggins (I): Bequest to David Ferguson (dated 7 April 1741, registered 23 April 1742). Digital image obtained at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, 13th May 2016; archival ref. FHL film no. 522822. Abstract by Alison Kilpatrick, 12th July 2016. ↩︎
  24. Ireland. Court of Exchequer (Dublin), Equity Exchequer Books, 1751–1754, 8th Dec. 1757, op. cit. ↩︎

End notes :

Source citation for this page: Kilpatrick, Alison. Andrew Ferguson of Farriter, gent. Published to Arborealis, online at arborealis.ca/records/irish-deeds/surname-index/ferguson/andrew-ferguson, accessed [insert date].

All rights reserved. Alison Kilpatrick ©2023–2024.

Published 12th July 2016; updated 13th Jan. 2024; edited 7th Feb. 2024.