TODD FAMILY HISTORY

Prepared by Kerrie Alexander 2012

Due to the lack of Irish records we don’t how long our branch of the Todd family has been living in the parish of Ardstraw in north-west Tyrone. The earliest record found so far is the 1796 Spinning Wheel List.

1796 SPINNING WHEEL LIST

As described previously in the Patterson Family History this list of persons awarded a spinning wheel for planting an area of flax was compiled and published in 1796. Listed below are the Todd men from the parish of Ardstraw who received spinning wheels.

Alexander TODD 3 spinning wheels planted three roods of flax

John TODD 2 spinning wheels planted two roods of flax

Robert TODD 1 spinning wheel planted one rood of flax

One rood was equivalent to a quarter of an acre or a tenth of a hectare.

Robert Todd was probably the father of Margaret Todd who married John Patterson. John and Alexander are possibly his father and brother.

ROBERT TODD c1775 – Between1841-1851

ROBERT TODD was born c1775 and married Isabella LOVE. His name appears in the following documents:-

1807 LEGAL DOCUMENT

Bond between James & William Henderson of Dunrevan, Ardstraw and Alexander Todd of Fyfin, Ardstraw. In the sum of £40 to secure a loan of £20. One of the witnesses was Robert Todd. Dated 13.1.1807 [1]

1833 TITHE APPLOTMENT RETURNS

Tithes were an income tax on farming - usually about one tenth of the annual income. These were used for the upkeep of the Church of Ireland and were paid from the time of the Reformation.

Parish of Ardstraw Townland of Fyfin

Robert Todd farmed twenty five acres of which ten acres were first quality land, nine acres were second quality and six acres were third quality. His annual rent was £11/18/4 ($23.84)

1833 MARQUESS of ABERCORN RENTAL BOOKS

MANOR OF STRABANE Townland of FYFIN

Robert Todd rented a farm from the Marquess of Abercorn

1835 ABERCORN ESTATE LEASES

RELETTINGS Same rent, same covenants. Dated 31 January 1835

Lease between James Marquess of Abercorn of 1st part & Robert Todd of Fyfin, farmer of 2nd part. For the life of James Hamilton Jr Esq or twenty one years. That farm of land in Fyfin as at present in use & occupied of Robert Todd of 25 acres 2r & 33p in the manor of Strabane. Rent of £11/14/6½ ($23.45) to be paid each 1st May & 1st November. Signed by Robert Todd. Has “William Todd” in pencil written on front of the lease.[2] This would be the same land listed in the Tithe Applotment Returns and in the Abercorn Rental Books.

1836 MARRIAGE OF MARGARET TODD to JOHN PATTERSON Jr

In December 1836 the marriage took place of John Patterson Jr to Margaret Todd. The following newspaper announcement was found in the Londonderry Sentinel of 31 December 1836:-

At Glengush, by the Rev. Matthew Clarke, Mr. John Patterson, of Ballybogan, to Margaret, daughter of Robert Todd, Esq., of Glengush.

Glenglush is a townland adjoining Fyfin. Perhaps the Todd’s lived in a house at Glenglush but their land was definitely in the townland of Fyfin.

1841 IMMIGRATION OF THE PATTERSON FAMILY TO AUSTRALIA

Many of John Patterson’s relatives had immigrated to Australia and this could have been the impetus that led John and his wife Margaret to leave Ireland and settle in Australia. They, accompanied by John’s daughter Mary Ann presumably from a previous marriage, boarded the Adam Lodge in May 1841and arrived in Sydney the following August. Margaret’s parents Robert and Isabella Todd were still alive at this time.

1849-1855 MARQUESS of ABERCORN RENTAL BOOKS

MANOR OF STRABANE Townland of FYFIN

The rental books from 1849 to 1855 have been searched and showed that Robert Todd rented a farm for which he paid an annual rent of £12/12/-. In the year 1852/1853 the name “Alex” appears alongside the name of Robert which signified that the leasehold had been taken over by Alexander Todd as his name then appears in the following Rental Books. Robert Todd must have died in the early 1850s. I believe Alexander Todd was the son of Robert and a brother of Margaret Todd who married John Patterson.

1851 CENSUS OF IRELAND

Parish of ARDSTRAW Townland of FYFIN

Isabella TODD aged 70; widow lived with her two sons aged 40 and 25 and one granddaughter

This was Isabella Love, the widow of Robert Todd. As previously mentioned over and over again when dealing with Irish research, it has proved impossible to build up a complete family tree for the Todd family due to the destruction of many records during the Irish Civil War and due to the fact that Presbyterian records for the parish of Ardstraw do not commence before c1836 and in those early years are very patchy and in some places illegible. I believe Robert and Isabella Todd had a family of at least four children, Alexander, John, Margaret and William Love.

CHILDREN OF ROBERT & ISABELLA TODD

	Child’s name	B & D	Spouse	Year Married
1.	Alexander	c1800-1872	Frances McINTIRE	1853
2.	John	c1800-1888	Unknown Rebecca -------	1830 1839
3.	Margaret	c1814-1892	John PATTERSON John MAXWELL	1836 1878
4.	William Love	c1817-1908	Elizabeth WHITE	1857

1. ALEXANDER TODD c1800 - 1872

ALEXANDER may have been the eldest son and was born c1800. Around the age of fifty three married Frances McIntire (McIntyre) on 18 March 1853 at Clady Presbyterian Church in the parish of Ardstraw. I don’t think they had any children. As mentioned above Alexander appears in the Marquess of Abercorn’s rental books as having taken over his father’s leasehold at Fyfin c1852.

He next appears in the 1860 Primary Valuation of Tenements (Griffith's Valuation). This valuation was taken to assess property and assign taxes. The tenant, property owner, address, property rented, area and valuation are listed.

GRIFFITHS VALUATION Parish of Ardstraw Compiled in 1860

FYFIN Ordnance Survey (O.S.) Map #16

No on O.S. map	Occupier	Immediate lessors	Description of tenement	Acres	Land ratable	Annual value of buildings	Total annual valuation of ratable property
1 a)	Alexander Todd	Marq of Abercorn	House, offices and land	25 acres 1 rod 10 perches	£12/5/-	£1/5/-	£13/10/-
1 b)	John Todd	Alexander Todd	House & garden	3 rods		10/-	10/-

According to this document Alexander was leasing a farm of 25 acres on which there were two houses and outbuildings. He leased one house to his brother John Todd at an annual rental of 10/- ($1). Although this doesn’t sound like it would have been much of a house it was actually double the annual rental of many other houses which were mostly lived in by the catholic farm workers. William Todd (see below) whom I believe was a first cousin of Alexander Todd leased number 2 in the townland of Fyfin.

Alexander was listed as a pew-holder & stipend payer at Clady Presbyterian Church in 1862. He died on 22 April 1872 at Fyfin and was buried in Ardstraw Cemetery. His will was proved at Londonderry District Registry on 18th May, 1872 by the oath of William Todd of Fyfin, farmer, one of the executors. His effects were valued at £70/15/-.

An extract of the will dated 11th June, 1863 follows:

I Alexander Todd sound in mind but not knowing how soon my change may come, make my last Will this. After death I bequeath my body to the dust, hoping and trusting that God will have mercy upon my soul through Jesus Christ, my only hope. I dispose of my worldly goods as follows: I bequeath to my brother William Todd of Fyfin, all the lands which I hold under the Marquess of Abercorn or may hold at my death together with all the chattels appended thereto, that is to say, the dwelling house and furniture, the offices and any other house or gardens that may be on the farm together with the stock, crop and farming utensils and it is my will also that at my brothers death his son Alexander should have the farm provided he be an industrious boy and obedient to his parents and that my executors be satisfied that he maintains the above character. I do hereby constitute or nominate Mr Robert Entrican of Stoneyfalls and my Brother William Todd my Executors to see this my last Will and Testament executed. Given under my hand this 11^th day of June 1863, to which I affix my name in the presence of the following subscribing witnesses. Signed: Alexander Todd

Witnesses present: Rev James Budd, Sion; Edward McIntyre, Stoneyfalls.

As his wife Frances is not mentioned in the will it would seem she had died before 1863.

The following is the wording on the headstone for Alexander Todd:

The burying ground of Alexander Todd,

who died 22nd April 1872 aged 70 years

2. JOHN TODD c1802 - 1888

JOHN was born c1802 and was married twice, his first wife’s name is unknown but he had two daughters by her. His second wife whom he married c1839 was Rebecca by whom he had two sons Robert and Alexander. An extract of the 1851 census of Ireland for the townland of Fyfin states John was aged forty, his wife Rebecca was thirty three and his children were Mary, Isabella, Robert and Alexander. He was also living at Fyfin at the time of the 1841 census. It is difficult to know when John was born as his age of forty in the 1851 census gives a birth year of c1811 and his age given on his death certificate in 1888 states that he was eighty eight giving a birth year of c1800. I am inclined to think he was born in the first few years of the 1800s.

At the time of the 1860 Griffiths Valuation he was renting a house and garden from his brother Alexander for the annual sum of 10/- ($1). According to the General Valuation Revision Lists I believe John moved to the nearby townland of Listymore in 1865 and purchased the leasehold of the thirty nine acre farm of Patrick Farren. This land is shown as number 2 in the 1860 Griffiths Valuation and at that time was held by a Robert Farren, presumably Patrick’s father.

Almost eight months after John executed his will he died at Kilstroll (Kilstrule) in the parish of Ardstraw on 22 October 1888 at the age of eighty eight. His will was proved at the Londonderry District Registry by Alexander Todd and his effects were valued at £109. His wife Rebecca died in 1896. An extract of his will follows:-

I, John Todd of Listymore, knowing the uncertainty of life and at the same time being of sound mind and judgement do make this my last will and testament…To my son Alexander I give and bequeath my farm in Listymore together with all the stock and crops and farming utensils thereon….also all the house and …old furniture therein, also give and bequeath to my son Alexander all my money whether in Bank or otherwise due me and also to my son Robert Todd I give and bequeath to him the sum of Ten Pounds Sterling to be paid to him after my decease by the said Alexander Todd, aforesaid and also to my wife Rebecca I leave her her bed and board, houseroom &c in the house which we are now living at present to be decently provided for in diet and clothing by my son Alexander aforesaid and if she is not satisfied to remain with him there, at any time she pleases to leave him she is to be paid by my son Alexander the sum of Fifty pounds Sterling and I appoint my executors William Pollock of Fyfin and my son Alexander Todd of Listymore aforesaid to carry out all that is herein contained given under my hand at Fyfin this 29^th day of February 1888.

Signed: John Todd. Witnesses present: William Temple, Andrew Pollock.

John’s elder son Robert was a carpenter and married Jane Stewart. They had at least seven children. By the time of the 1901 census Jane had died and Robert had married Eliza Rutledge, a widow with a daughter Maud. They lived in a small house at Mageralough about eight kilometres south of Fyfin which they rented from Matthew Smith. The next census (1911) showed Robert was still alive but was a widower and he lived with his son Robert, also a carpenter, his wife and four little girls. They had moved slightly west to Carncorran Glebe.

John Todd’s younger son Alexander married Margaret c1881 and had two daughters and a son John. He was a farmer and inherited the leasehold on his father’s thirty nine acre farm at Listymore. According to the 1911 census of Ireland the family lived in a four room cottage with three front windows and eight outbuildings consisting of a stable, cow house, dairy, piggery, fowl house and a barn. William was one of the many thousands of men and woman who signed the Ulster Covenant on 28 September 1912. Alexander died on 10 January 1918 aged seventy one. His son John then took over the property.

3. MARGARET TODD c1814 - 1892

MARGARET was born c1814 and married John Patterson Jr in 1836 and immigrated to Australia in 1841 aboard the Adam Lodge. After John’s death in 1876 Margaret married farmer John Maxwell, who was also from the parish of Ardstraw. She died in 1892. Her story is told in the Patterson section.

4. WILLIAM LOVE TODD c1817 - 1908

WILLIAM LOVE was born c1817 and was given his mothers maiden name as his middle name. At the age of forty he married Elizabeth/Eliza White, daughter of Robert White on 23 March 1857 and they had at least seven children. William farmed at Fyfin and on his brother Alexander’s death in 1872 he inherited his leasehold of twenty five acres. His second son John immigrated to Australia about 1883 and married his cousin Martha Patterson. About 1889 William purchased his farm from the Abercorn estate.

William was listed in the 1901 census of Ireland as an eighty two year old farmer living at Fyfin with his wife Eliza aged sixty five, his son Alexander aged forty and two farm servants. One was a male aged sixty who helped on the farm and the other was a sixteen year old girl who helped in the house and dairy. Their home was built of stone with a thatched roof and two front windows and consisted of between two and four rooms of which the family lived in two. As well as the house the farm had eight outbuildings. Eliza died in 1905 aged sixty nine and William died 31 August 1908 at Fyfin aged ninety one.

Probate of the will with one codicil of William Todd was granted at Londonderry District Registry on 21 December 1908 to Alexander Todd and William Todd, farmers. His estate was valued at under £300.

Unfortunately I have only a very brief extract of his will which was written and signed on 5 August 1907 as follows:-

From out of my farm at Fyfin, £100 owed by me to William H. Todd of Fyfin.

The farm at Fyfin, all stock, crops and farming implements to my son Alexander Todd.

From out of my farm at Stoneyfalls and Concess, £50 to my daughter Margaret Todd.

Charge the same farm, the debt owed by me and my son Robert Todd to Robert Henderson Todd, solicitor, Londonderry.

Stoneyfalls farm to son Alexander Todd - he is to work said farm until debt to Robert Henderson Todd is paid.

My son Alexander Todd as residuary legatee

My sons Alexander Todd and William Todd my executors

A codicil to the will was written and signed on 23 November 1907.

To my daughter Isabella Todd £10. This and the £50 to my daughter Margaret Todd, to be paid twelve months after my death.

Witnessed by Alexander Todd of Fyfin and William Todd of Dreenan, Castlederg, sons of the testator.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM & ELIZA TODD

	Child’s name	B & D	Spouse	Year Married
1.	Alexander	1857-1913	Unmarried
2.	Robert	c1859-	Rebecca	1910
3.	John	c1861-1932	Martha Jane PATTERSON	1884
4.	William Love	1862-?	Margaret Jane ____	1886
5.	Margaret	1866-?	?
6.	Isabella	1870-?	?
7.	James	1875-1950	Rebecca ____	c1908

SONS OF WILLIAM LOVE & ELIZABETH TODD

1. ALEXANDER TODD 1857 - 1913

ALEXANDER, the eldest child of William and Eliza was christened on 15 December 1857 and never married. He inherited his father’s twenty five acre estate at Fyfin and farmed this with the assistance of his younger brother James.

At the time of the 1901 census he was living with his parents at Fyfin. By the 1911 census both his parents had died and he was still at Fyfin and was the head of a household that included his brother John, his wife Rebecca and their baby daughter. He was still living in the same house but this time three rooms were used by the family. Alexander died in 1913 aged fifty six.

2. ROBERT TODD c1859 - ?

ROBERT was born about 1859 and was a farmer like his brothers. He was mentioned in his father’s will as owing a debt with his father to his second cousin, Robert Henderson Todd, a solicitor of Londonderry. This debt was to be paid out of the farm at Stoneyfalls and Concess. Research into the 1901 census showed Robert was living at Stoneyfalls with his unmarried sister Maggie and a twenty year old farm servant Joseph McElhill. The 1911 census showed that fifty year old Robert was living with his thirty six year old wife Rebecca (maiden name unknown) whom he had married in the previous year. A twenty five year old farm servant, Frances Quinn, was also listed. The house had six rooms, four front windows and was probably made of stone. The outbuildings consisted of a stable, cowhouse, piggery, fowl house and a barn.

It is curious to note that in the Griffith Valuation of 1860 a Francis McIntyre leased adjoining properties in Stoneyfalls and Concess townlands and it could be speculated that this man was the father of the Frances McIntyre who married Alexander Todd (uncle of Robert Todd) in 1853. Perhaps the land at Stoneyfalls and Concess came into the Todd family through this marriage and as Alexander and Frances didn’t have any children, the leasehold on this land was passed through the Todd family to Robert Todd.

3. JOHN TODD c1861 - 1932

JOHN was born about 1861 and as a young man decided that a better future awaited him in Australia. He may have been enticed to come to Australia soon after the death of his Aunt Margaret’s second husband John Maxwell in 1883. Margaret was left the farm and its profits during her lifetime and she would have needed help to run it. Her only son John Patterson, who could have helped her to run the farm, may have been estranged from the family due to his marriage in 1877 to a Catholic girl.

At Millbrook, the home of his aunt Margaret Patterson, he married his first cousin, Martha Jane Patterson on 25 September 1884. Martha was thirty three years old, ten years older than John. John was a grocer and he and Martha lived their early married life farming at "Millbrook", Mt Keira. For further information on the life of John Todd see Chapter 22.

4. WILLIAM LOVE TODD 1862 - ?

WILLIAM LOVE was christened 18 June 1862 and was given the names of his father. At some time he decided to move from Fyfin possibly because he and his brothers could not all make a living from the 25 acres the family leased from the Marquess of Abercorn and later owned. He settled at Dreenan in the parish of Termonamongan about seven miles from Fyfin and married Margaret Jane (surname unknown) in 1886. Margaret was some years older than William and sadly they didn’t have any children.

According to the 1901 census they lived in a stone house with a slate roof, four rooms and three front windows. As well as the house the farm boasted six outbuildings. They employed a male servant to help with the farm chores. By the time of the 1911 census they were living on their own and it is hard to tell if they were still living in the same house as the property now had nine outbuildings and the house had five rooms. The nine outbuildings consisted of a stable, cow house, calf house, piggery, fowl house, barn, turf house, potato house and a shed.

William was one of the many thousands of men and woman who signed the Ulster Covenant on 28 September 1912. An item in the Belfast Gazette of 19 August 1927 mentions a Land Purchase Commission in the estate of Emily Annie HUMFREY, widow and lists William Love Todd of Dreenan who held land subject to a judicial rent fixed between 15 Aug 1896 and 16 Aug 1911. As yet I do not know when William died but Margaret died in 1933 and was buried in Termonamongan Cemetery. I suspect William died some time after this date.

5. JAMES TODD 1875 - 1950

JAMES was born on 9 June 1875 and is a mystery man during his early years. I am unable to locate him on the 1901 census, his entry may have been wrongly transcribed or he may have left the country and gone elsewhere. However by the time of the 1911 census he was married and living with his eldest brother Alexander on the family farm at Fyfin. He married Rebecca (surname unknown) c1908 and they had a daughter Margaret Jane, a son Alexander and other children presently unknown to me. Upon his brother Alexander’s death in 1913 James inherited the Todd farm at Fyfin. Like his brother William, he too signed the Ulster Covenant on 28 September 1912.

Amazingly I found an obituary on the internet for James’ daughter Margaret Jane that was published in the Northwest on 10 June 2009. She had lived to be almost one hundred years old and what tales she would have been able to tell us had I known she was still alive.

MARGARET JANE BARROW (NEE TODD)

Born 16th October 1909, 2nd daughter of James and Rebecca Todd, Fyfin, Castlederg. At 18 she started her nursing career in Hope Hospital, Manchester, qualifying in General Midwifery, Fever and Mental Nursing and moved to become Ward Sister in Bexhill Hospital, Kent. At the age of 30 she was appointed Matron in Strand Road Mental Hospital, a position she held until she retired in 1971. During these 32 years she was actively involved in much change in mental health which included a move from the old Strand Road building to a completely new concept in mental health care at the Gransha site. She also had an input to the planning and opening of Altnagelvin Hospital in 1960, so throughout her career she saw much progression in medical care in the city. She found love late in life and married Bob Barrow but unfortunately the marriage was to end suddenly with Bob's death in 1963. Since retirement she lived in Newbuildings enjoying the Evergreen Club where her great interest in knitting and most of all crocheting, was fulfilled. She provided many garments and rugs for various charities and the mission field. She regularly attended Waterside Presbyterian Church, but in retirement became involved in the catering events providing food on the 'bigdays'. She really looked forward to and enjoyed the challenge of being busy. After giving up driving she was greatly supported by friends and neighbours who were so kind and hospitable providing lifts to church, to the shops, in their home and visiting her. As she advanced in years she enjoyed the help and friendship of a wonderful group of carers in her own home, but 2 years ago, with failing health, she made Bell Gray private nursing home her home, where she has been extremely well looked after and made very comfortable right to the end. A short funeral service was held in Bell Gray Nursing Home conducted by the Reverend David Reid, Ardstraw Presbyterian Church, followed by a funeral service from Hood and Company, Undertakers Funeral Home, Newtownstewart on Sunday 7th June 2009 to Ardstraw new cemetery. Margaret is survived by her six nieces and seven nephews.

It was a grandson of James, Robert Todd of Newtownstewart, who agreed to have a DNA test conducted which proved that there was a genetic connection between the Todd family of Ardstraw and the Todd families of Down and Antrim.

ALEXANDER TODD

Possible brother of Robert Todd

ALEXANDER was born c1768 and his name appears in the following legal documents found in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland:-

1805-1807 LEGAL DOCUMENTS

1805-1887 LEGAL DOCUMENT D743

Two bonds of Alexander Todd of Fyfin, parish of Ardstraw and specification of works for “Labourer’s cottages at Glassmullan, Carrigans.

1805 LEGAL DOCUMENT D743/1

Bond between Samuel Blair of Urney, Strabane and Alexander Todd of Fyfin. In the sum of £100 to secure a loan of £50. Dated 22.1.1805. Todd lent Blair £50.

1807 LEGAL DOCUMENT D743/2

Bond between James & William Henderson of Dunrevan, Ardstraw and Alexander Todd of Fyfin, Ardstraw. In the sum of £40 to secure a loan of £20. Dated 1 3.1.1807.

Witness was Robert Todd

1833 MARQUESS of ABERCORN RENTAL BOOKS

MANOR OF STRABANE Townland of FYFIN

William Todd leased a property from the Marquess of Abercorn and sublet (probably a house) to the Widow Todd. Widow Todd is probably the Mary Todd listed in the Tithe Records below and it’s possible she is the widow of Alexander Todd and sister-in-law to Robert Todd. It’s probable that William Todd is her son.

1833 TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS

Tithes were an income tax on farming - usually about one tenth of the annual income. These were used for the upkeep of the Church of Ireland and were paid from the time of the Reformation.

Parish of Ardstraw Townland of Fyfin

Mary Todd leased two portions of land in Fyfin, one of sixty two acres and the other of twenty five acres of which thirty acres were first quality land, twenty nine acres were second quality and twenty eight acres were third quality. The combined annual rent for the eighty seven acres was £38/16/7 ($77.67)

It would seem that Alexander Todd had died prior to 1833 as he is not mentioned in the Abercorn Rental Books or Applotment books. It is likely that his leasehold was inherited by his son William Todd.

SONS OF ALEXANDER TODD

1. ANDREW TODD c1815 - ?

ANDREW was born c1815 and is a possible son of Alexander Todd. He is listed in the 1841 census as an unmarried farmer who lived at Fyfin. The following newspaper announcement was found in the Londonderry Sentinel of 18 March 1843:-

On the 7th inst., by the Rev. Matthew Clarke, Ardstraw, Mr. Andrew Todd, Fyfin, to Jane, daughter of Mr. William Semple, Glenglush.

No further information has been found on the life of Andrew Todd.

2. WILLIAM TODD c1818 - 1884

WILLIAM was born c1818 and married Margaret (surname unknown but is possibly Henderson) and had a family of at least five sons and one daughter. He inherited the considerable leasehold of his father Alexander and was a well to do farmer of Fyfin who had enough income to see that his sons were well educated and that they entered the respected professions of medicine and law. His name appears in the following documents:-

1849-1855 MARQUESS of ABERCORN RENTAL BOOKS

MANOR OF STRABANE Townland of FYFIN

The rental books from 1849 to 1855 have been searched and showed that William Todd rented a farm for which he paid an annual rent of £31/12/8 ($63.28)

1841 and 1851 CENSUS

Parish of ARDSTRAW Townland of FYFIN

William and Margaret Todd, married in 1838 had five children including a son Robert aged one year old in 1851.

1860 PRIMARY VALUATION OF TENEMENTS (GRIFFITH'S VALUATION)

This valuation was taken to assess property and assign taxes. The tenant, property owner, address, property rented, area and valuation are listed. It tells us that William was farming 64 acres of land at Fyfin which was the largest farm in this townland. The property also contained a flax mill and three other houses which he rented out presumably to his farm workers.

1860 PRIMARY VALUATION OF TENEMENTS (GRIFFITH'S VALUATION)

Parish of Ardstraw Townland of Fyfin Ordnance Survey Map No 16

No on O.S. map	Occupier	Immediate lessors	Description of tenement	Acres	Land ratable	Annual value of buildings	Total annual valuation of ratable property
2 a)	William Todd	Marq of Abercorn	House, offices and land	64 acres 3 perches	£32	£2/10/-	£34/10/-
2 b)	William Todd	Marq of Abercorn	Flax Mill			£4	£4
c)	John Campbell	William Todd	House			5/-	5/-
d)	Thomas Conolly	William Todd	House			5/-	5/-
e)	Alexander Middleton	William Todd	House			5/-	5/-

1858-1932 GENERAL VALUATION REVISION LISTS

After the Primary Valuation of Tenements was compiled, properties were reassessed periodically. Any change in the occupiers or lessors was recorded in these revision lists.

1871 The Flax Mill was converted to steam power

1872 William Todd purchased or inherited the leasehold of thirty nine acres of land from the estate of Robert Henderson which included three houses. The land was owned by the Duke of Abercorn.

1883 LEGAL DOCUMENT D623/B/13/160

Court Case - Duke of Abercorn –v- William Todd.

Originating notices served on Todd & notice to produce all papers relating to land in dispute between the Duke of Abercorn & William Todd of Fyfin. Dated 29 September 1883. R.H. Todd Esq, solicitor acted for W. Todd.

Area of land: 24 acres. Rent £21/19/10. Gross poor law value £22/5/-

39 acres 3r 29p Rent £42/7/-. Gross poor law value £46

Further research could be carried out to determine the nature of the dispute over the two sections of land but as this would be quite expensive I have not pursued it any further.

William died on 19 December 1884 aged sixty six. I wonder if the stress of the legal dispute mentioned above had hastened his death. He was buried at Ardstraw Cemetery. Probate of the undated will of William Todd of Fyfin was granted at Londonderry District Registry on 21 March 1885 to William Henry Todd the sole executor. Eliza Jane, wife of William R. Thompson, and William’s daughter, was to receive £10 ($20) and he directed that his dear wife be furnished with good and sufficient board lodging attendance and clothing during her life or so long as she lives with her son hereinafter named and that in case she leaves him and resides elsewhere that she be paid in lieu thereof during her life an annuity of Fifty pounds sterling yearly. He bequeathed his farm, monies, goods and chattels and all I shall die possessed of to his son William Henry Todd. His estate was valued at £1305 ($2610). His wife Margaret died aged eighty eight on 8 February 1902.

INSCRIPTION ON THE TODD FAMILY GRAVE AT ARDSTRAW CEMETERY

WILLIAM TODD

Died at Fyfin on the 19^th December 1884

Aged 67 years

Also his wife MARGARET TODD

Died 8^th Feb. 1902 aged 87 years

MARY TODD, wife of W.H. TODD

Died 24^th Nov. 1893 aged 34 years

WM CALDWELL TODD their son

Died 9^th Aug. 1901 aged 16 years

JOHN TODD M.D. Medical Inspector L.G.B.

Died 13^th May 1889 aged 46 years

And his wife JANE TODD

Died 24^th Sept 1909

Also their son CHARLES C TODD B.A.

Died 25^th April 1912

ROBERT HENDERSON TODD M.A. L.G.B.

Crown Solicitor for Londonderry 1913-1919

Died 26^th April 1920

And his wife

ANNIE FRANCES CHASE TODD

Died 12^th May 1928

Also ELIZABETH nee WILSON

Wife of W.H. TODD

Died 10 June 1927

And W.H. TODD J.P.

Died 23^rd Aug 1942

Further inscription at base of stone

Also OLIVE BENN

Wife of R.G. BRETT R.M

And daughter of Robert Henderson and Annie TODD

Who died 28^th March 1949 aged 69 years

SONS OF WILLIAM & MARGARET TODD

1. ALEXANDER TODD c1840 - 1914

Alexander graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Edinburgh in 1863[3]and soon after:-

Set off around the world as Superintendent Surgeon on the ‘Rangoon’ which was making its first direct voyage from England to Napier [New Zealand]. It is hard to imagine now, with high speed international travel, how it was back then. The Rangoon left London 26th November 1863 and did not arrive in Napier until 23rd July1864 – an eight month marathon. During this time the vessel collided with an American brig and sustained damage and it was also struck with extreme weather – gales, heavy seas and hailstorms for almost all of the voyage. At one stage everything on deck was washed away, the helmsman crushed by the wheel and killed. The Captain was apparently drunk all the time (one reference kindly says the captain was ‘laid up’. The crew revolted and Todd had to assume command.

With difficulty the ‘Rangoon’ reached Napier – its upper works severely damaged and unable to proceed further so the passengers and crew landed and were discharged.
Within a short time the Governor General, Sir George Grey, and other notables called on Todd and the outcome was that Todd abandoned his world tour and decided to settle in New Zealand. Dr Todd purchased the practice of Dr. Venn of Waipawa (who was retuning to England) and at the same time was appointed both medical officer charge of natives of Hawkes Bay and surgeon to the Imperial Troops stationed in Waipawa. With the withdrawal these Forces he was appointed Medical Officer of Colonial Defense Forces and on their transfer he became Brigade Surgeon of East Coast Volunteers. He obtained a commission as Major and later Lieutenant-Colonel.

Dr Todd married Annie Mary Arrow, a daughter of Henry Arrow. Mrs Doctor Todd as she insisted on being called, is described in family reminiscences as “bossy” and “a martinet”. But despite these epithets was regarded as a stalwart of the community. She was involved in the temperance movement and after her husband’s death refused to renew the lease of the Union Brewery which was situated on her land. As a result of this the brewery had to be pulled down. Hearsay has it that Mrs Todd also confiscated Dr Todd’s walking stick to prevent him from crossing the road to the brewery.

Dr Alexander Todd and Annie Mary had three daughters – Olive, Ida and Kathleen, and a son, Alexander Todd junior.

Alexander purchased “The Pines”, now the oldest surviving house in Waipawa and it was here that he raised his family.

Pigeons and doves are synonymous with The Pines. Originally some of the trees around the house were planted to shelter the pigeon loft and stables. Dr Todd took pigeons with him when attending rural patients so he could send messages back to his wife, or he would leave a bird with a patient so that they could get a message to him. Like previous occupants of The Pines Dr Todd also invested in business and land and was a partner in the Union Brewery and Aerated Water Company, and he had land in Waipawa, Kaikora (Otane), Woodville and Western Australia. He died still in residence at the Pines in 1914 aged 74. His wife died in 1927.[4]

2. JOHN TODD c1842 - 1889

Like his brother Alexander, JOHN too entered the University of Edinburgh and graduated as a doctor in 1862.[5] He practiced at Trillick (home of the Rutledge family) and on 18 June 1868 married Jane, daughter of Andrew Thomas Love of Crew, Ardstraw[6] (possibly a relative of Isabella Todd nee Love, my great great grandmother). They had at least two sons.

John had became the Medical Officer of the Irvinestown Dispensary District by 1867[7] and is listed in the Land Owners in Ireland 1876 as living in Newtownstewart and owning one hundred and five acres in valued at £46/15/- . By the year of his death he was a Medical Inspector with the Local Government Board. He was only forty seven when he died 13 May 1889. Jane died in 1909.

3. ROBERT HENDERSON TODD c1851 - 1920

ROBERT chose a different career path from his elder brothers and graduated with a Doctorate of Law in 1875. He practiced as a solicitor at Drumahoe near Londonderry and by 1901 was at 98 Duke Street, Londonderry later moving to Waterloo Place, Londonderry by 1910. He was the Crown Solicitor for Londonderry from 1913 to 1919. In Ireland there are officers called “crown solicitors” attached to each circuit, whose duty it is to ‘get up’ every case for the Crown in criminal prosecutions. They are paid by salaries.

He married Annie Frances Chase Warke in 1876 and they had one daughter. Robert died 26 April 1920 aged sixty nine and Annie died in 1928.

4. ANDREW TODD c1854 – 1920

ANDREW followed his brother Robert’s footsteps and graduated from the Queens College of Belfast with a Doctorate of Law in 1882. He was appointed a K.C. (Kings Counsel). In the 1800s these were barristers appointed by letters patent to be one of His Majesty’s Counsel “learned in the law” to conduct court work on behalf of the Crown. As members wear silk gowns of a particular design the award of Queen's or King's Counsel is known informally as "taking silk". In order to qualify, a lawyer usually has to serve as a barrister or solicitor for at least ten years.[8] Andrew was also Senior Crown Counsel for County Longford.

He married Ellen Palethorpe in 1881 in Nottingham, England and had two children and died 16 June 1920 aged sixty six.

Andrew’s only son was Andrew William Palethorpe Todd Jr:-

Major ANDREW WILLIAM PALETHORPE TODD, M.C., R.A.M.C.[Royal Army Medical Corps], was educated at the University of Dublin, where he graduated M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O. in 1915. He served in the war of 1914-18, and was awarded the M.C. [Military Cross] for services described in the London Gazette as follows: "During an attack this officer, who was stationed at the advanced collecting post, behaved with great gallantry under the heavy artillery fire to which his post was subjected at frequent intervals during the day. He dressed and attended to large numbers of wounded men with unremitting devotion to duty, and also went forward under heavy fire with stretcher-bearers to the aid posts, and by his able leadership rendered valuable service in evacuating the wounded" He remained in the R.A.M.C. as captain until 1922, when he went to live at Moneymore, Belfast. In 1926 he moved to Holsworthy in Devonshire, where he stayed until 1930, and then took a post as a ship surgeon. In 1934 he was appointed part-time medical officer of health for the Wimborne Urban District, and on the outbreak of the present war was recalled for service as captain in the R.A.M.C.[9]

While still a medical student Andrew played fullback in three consecutive Rugby Union Tests for Ireland – against Wales and France in 1913 and against France on New Year’s Day , 1914. He died aged forty nine on 15 March 1942 while on active service during World War II and was buried at the Brookwood Military Cemetery in London.

His son Richard Todd was destined to become a famous British actor:-

Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd was born in Dublin in 1919 and was a well respected British actor. In his early career he acted in regional theatres; he then co-founded the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1939. During the Second World War Todd served as an officer in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and as a paratrooper in the British 6^th Airborne Division. As a member of the 7th (LI) Parachute Battalion, he was one of the first British officers to land in Normandy on D-Day and met up with Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge. Ironically, Todd would later play Howard in the film The Longest Day (1962), with another actor portraying Richard Todd.

After the war, Todd returned to repertory theatre in England. A film contract with Associated British followed and in 1948, he starred in the London stage version of The Hasty Heart (as Lachlan MacLachlan) and was subsequently chosen to star in the Warner Brothers film adaptation of the play, which was filmed in England. Todd was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for the role in 1949. He later appeared in The Dam Busters as Wing Commander Guy Gibson, but probably the role he is best known for is as the United States Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall in the film version of Catherine Marshall’s bestselling biography, A Man Called Peter. Todd was the first choice of author Ian Fleming to play James Bond in "Dr No” but a scheduling conflict gave the role to Sean Connery. In 1953, he appeared in a BBC Television adaptation of the novel Wuthering Heights as Heathcliff. Nigel Kneale, who scripted the adaptation, said the production came about purely because Todd had turned up at the BBC and told them that he would like to play Heathcliff for them. Kneale had to write the script in only a week as the broadcast was rushed into production. Todd continued to act on television, including roles in Virtual Murder and Silent Witness. His active acting career extended into his eighties.[10]

Richard Todd was married twice and had four children. He died in December 2009 aged ninety.

5. WILLIAM HENRY TODD c1861 - 1942

WILLIAM was the son who stayed on the land and inherited the leasehold to the family farm at Fyfin on the death of his father in 1884. He married Mary Donnell in 1883 and they were to have five children before Mary died in 1893. About 1898 he married Elizabeth Wilson and they had a son. William was both a Justice of the Peace and a magistrate at Castlederg. William’s property consisted of a farm of sixty three acres for which in 1900 he was paying an annual rent of £42/7/- and the thirty nine acre leasehold purchased from the Henderson estate in 1872 the annual rent being £21/19/10. Both farms were leased from the Duke of Abercorn

According to the 1901 Census William and his family lived in a nine room house which had twelve front facing windows and sixteen out-buildings. Ten years later according to the 1911 census the house they occupied had sixteen rooms, seventeen front facing windows and twenty two outbuildings. The outbuildings consisted of two stables, a coach house, a harness house, a cow house, three calf houses, a dairy, two piggeries, a fowl house, a boiling house, two barns, a turf house, a potato house, a workshop, three sheds and a store. This was by far the largest house in Fyfin and indicates that William was a wealthy man. William died 23 August 1942 aged eighty one and Elizabeth died 10 June 1927 aged sixty three.

Robert Henderson Todd MBE JP, William’s only surviving son by his first wife, was among a group of men chosen on 25 May 1938 by Basil Brooke, Minister of Agriculture to be a member of a committee to consider and report upon the conditions of employment of agricultural workers in Northern Ireland, and to make recommendations for the establishment of machinery for the fixing of agricultural wages and conditions of employment.

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[1] PRONI D743/2

[2] PRONI D623/B/12/204

[3] Medical Directory 1864

[4] Edited and abridged from website http://www.waipawa.com/the-pines-150th-birthday-celebrations-mainmenu-122

[5] Medical Directory 1864

[6] Londonderry Sentinel 23 June 1868

[7] Medical Directory 1867

[8] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Counsel#Northern_Ireland

[9] British Medical Journal 9 May 1942

[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Todd