John Stringer 1806 and Susannah Collins 1804

John Stringer (1806 - 1848) and Susanna Collins (1804 - 1847)

John Stringer was born Abt. 1806 in County Tyrone, Ireland. He died Abt. 17 Apr 1848 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Burial on 17 Apr 1848 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland).

Susanna Collins is the daughter of Francis Collins and Sarah. She was born Abt. 24 Mar 1804 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). Christened on 24 Mar 1804 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). She died Abt. 07 Jul 1847 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Burial on 07 Jul 1847 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland).

They were married on 22 Jul 1825 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). They had 8 children.

Children of John Stringer and Susanna Collins:
+     1. William Stringer. He was born Abt. 30 Apr 1826 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland).
+     2. Sarah Stringer. She was born Abt. 24 Aug 1828 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland).
       3. Jane Stringer. She was born Abt. 20 Mar 1831 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland). Christened on 20 Mar 1831 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). She died Bef. 1836 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland). Burial Bef. 1836 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). She probably died as an infant, since they re-used the name Jane in 1836.
+     4. James Stringer. He was born Abt. 09 Nov 1833 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland).
+     5. Jane Stringer. She was born on 17 Jun 1836 in Caledon, Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland).
+     6. John Stringer. He was born Abt. 09 Jun 1839 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
       7. Susanna Stringer. She was born on 23 Mar 1843 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Christened on 24 Mar 1843 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). She died Bef. 1844 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Burial Bef. 1844 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland).   She probably died as an infant, since they re-used the name Susanna in 1844.
      8. Susanna Stringer. She was born on 01 May 1844 in Derrykintone, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Christened on 12 May 1844 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland). She died Aft. 1866 probably in the USA. She was mentioned in a 1866 letter from William to his sister Jane.

Notes for John Stringer and Susanna Collins:

Caledon is a village in southeast County Tyrone, near the border of County Armagh. The map shown is by Lewis, 1837, engraved at the time the family lived in Caledon. Derrykintone is about 2km southwest of Caledon. Since John was a butcher, and his grandson James F. is listed in the 1920 and 1930 censes as a butcher, this may be a family skill/occupation.

Church of Ireland Aghaloo, St. John's Caledon Baptisms 1801-1825: 24 Mar 1804 Susannah Collins daughter to Francis and Sarah Collins, Caledon. Her age at death (44) indicates that she was born abt 1803, so this is probably her.

Church of Ireland Aghaloo MIC/583/25: John Stringer of the Parish of Caledon, Labourer, to Susan Collins of the same Parish, Spinster, were married in this Church by License with consent of parents this Twenty Second day of July in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Five. By me James McCreight, Curate This marriage was solemnized between us: John Stringer Susanna Collins. In the presence of James Blair, John Stringer. Bride, groom and witnesses were able to write their names. Despite being described as "Susan" by the Curate, the bride signed her name "Susanna".

From the baptisms of their children, they lived first in Mullaghamossa [sometimes Mullaghamore], then moved to Derrykintone between August 1836 and June 1839. Sometimes he is described as a "labourer" and sometimes a "butcher". "Labourer" is a generic term for manual work, which could include butchery, so it is safe to assume that his trade was that of a butcher. His assumed brother, Thomas, was also described as a butcher in the baptisms of his children. This leads to further indicate the familiar relationship of John and Thomas, and that being a butcher was a family trade, passed down from father to sons. The only houses in the townland of Derrykintone are the estate cottages where the Earl of Caledon's estate workers lived [i.e., James Du Pre Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon (27 July 1812-30Jun 1855)]. The houses are still standing (2009). That he moved to Derrykintone indicated that he was then in the employ of the Earl, probably as a butcher. Records of the Earl, Griffith's Valuation in 1858 and Tithe Applotment records 1825 do not indicate which of the four residences was occupied by the Stringers. However, by 1858, the residence on the right end when facing the residences was occupied by a Thomas Collins. It is possible that he had been taught the butchers trade and took over when John Stringer died and his family shipped out.

The cottages at Derrykintone still stand, one of which is shown at the left, on Annaghroe (a townland less than 1km west of Derrykinton) Road (Photograph by Kenneth Allen )

Church of Ireland Aghaloo, St. John's Caledon, Burial Records (MIC/1/326/A/5): Susan Stringer Derrykintone aged 44 years buried 7 Jul 1847, graves are unmarked wooden crosses.

Church of Ireland Aghaloo, St. John's Caledon, Burial Records (MIC/1/326/A/5): John Stringer Derrykintone aged 41 years buried 17 Apr 1848.

Jane died 1747 followed by John in 1748, leaving the children William (just 22), Sarah (19), James (14), Jane (11), and John (8). William was probably already in transit to the US, or left shortly after his father's death:
Irish Immigrants: New York Port Arrival Records, 1846-1851 Name: Stranger, William Age: 21 Gender: Male Embarkation: Liverpool Ship: Burnholm Occupation: workman/woman Passengers: 158 Compartment: Steerage Native Country: Great Britain Destination: USA Arrival Date: 17 May 1847 Transit Type: Staying in the U.S.

After 2 years, and probably some communication from William, who had settled in New Jersey, the following entries appear in the Earl of Caledon Cash Book (D266/337/F): 3 Apr 1849 By cash paid to Sarah Stringer for Expenses of herself, her brother and sister to Belfast on way to America account Lord Caledon SL154By cash paid expenses of the late John Stringer's 3 children to America Account Lord C Do154 Px 15 14s.

During the famine years many landlords participated in assisted emigration schemes (due to benevolence or guilt or just to get shed of them), and the above corroborates the immigration record of Sarah, Jane and James:
Ancestry.com immigration records: the ship Hannah Kerr, arriving May 5, 1849 into New York City from Belfast, Ire., contained the passengers: Jane Stringer (12 yo), James Stringer (15 yo) and Sarah Stringer (19 yo). These are the only Stringers on the Hannah Kerr, but the next passenger is Eliza Collins 18.

Altogether, William, Sarah, James, Jane John, and probably Susanna all emigrated to the USA. Only Sarah and Jane lived in Monroe Twp., Benton Co., IA. Correspondence between John and Jane and William and Jane has survived, as well as CDVs of John and William (that are even mentioned as having been enclosed with the letters). That 6 survived the famine is probably a testament to the father's occupation of butcher to Lord Caledon.

Other Stringers from the Caledon area emigrated as well: Robert Stringer (b.1805), son of William (and probably a brother of the above John) emigrated with his family in 1849 to Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada; Susan Stringer (b. abt 1809), probably another sibling of John, and her husband William McWilliams (b. abt 1816) emigrated in the late 1830's to the Sydney area, NSW, Australia.

Return to Index