The Workmans of Antrim

from *Shipbuilders on the Clyde: Riggers* by Stanley Spencer

Thomas Workman c 1790 was a farmer in Ballymoney, Antrim in the north west of Ireland. It’s really hard finding old Irish records but in a Griffiths valuation from around 1851 Thomas is listed as living in a part of the parish called Currysheskin.

Ballymoney is close to the Giant’s Causeway and is recently famous for a connection to Game of Thrones. There’s an estate with a stunning avenue of beech trees called The Dark Hedges that became “KingsRoad” in GOT (Season 2 Episode 1) The trees were planted by the Stuart family in the 18th C.

*The Dark Hedges* at the Gracehill Estate in Ballymoney, Antrim

Thomas and his wife Lavinia Jackson had a son Jackson Workman 1815 who was born in Culdoo, Ballymoney. In 1843 Jackson married Matilda Ferguson 1816, the daughter of cattle merchant Robert Ferguson.

Wee History

1169 Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland

1536 English invasion and colonization of Ireland

1649 Oliver Cromwell invades again. As a result of war there is famine and bubonic plague, resulting in the death of between 15% and 80% of the population.

1845 - 1852 the Potato Famine kills about a million people. Another million people leave the country.

1922 Irish independence. Northern Ireland becomes part of the United Kingdom.

Around 1850 Jackson and Matilda move to Scotland with their two oldest children and Thomas, Jackson’s younger brother. They start off in Greenock then move to Dumbarton for a few years then in 1861 they show up in the Census for the first time. They live at 126 Piccadilly Street Glasgow with their four children (two had died) and a lodger. Jackson is listed as a machinist and son Thomas Workman 1848 (age 14) is a sailmaker.

In 1867 Matilda dies and her death certificate lists Jackson as a handloom weaver but in 1871 he is a marine engineer (per Thomas’ marriage certificate).

Thomas marries Annie Reid, a young widow, and they settle in the Kinning Park area. In 1881 he is still a sailmaker and they have four children, three boys and a girl Matilda Workman 1879, my great great grandmother.

Annie mum dies of heart disease when Matilda is 11. The family is back in Dunbartonshire where Thomas is a rigger.

Her father dies when Matilda is 17 and by 20 she has moved to Leith on the other side of the country. Why did she leave her brothers and move away? One of her brothers marries and moves to Australia; one dies tragically when he falls into the River Clyde. When and where did she meet George Brodrick Robertson? A restless handsome boy three years younger than her who is not ready to settle down…

I feel like Matilda had red hair but I’ll never know.

She Was Aye Workin’

Witch Hunt!