Thomas Doherty was my great grandfather.

He was born in Drumavally in the parish of Tamlaghard (also known as Magilligan) County Derry about 1840, the son of William Doherty and Ann Kerr. Tom was a Coachman and Groom. Originally, he worked for the M'Corkill Family (possibly the people who owned the shipping line operating out of Derry at that time). Subsequently Thomas was employed by a family called Tillie (who owned a local shirt factory), and who lived on the Duncreggan Road in the city.

He married Frances Cavanagh in Moville on 06 October 1864. Frances came from Carihue (or Carrowhugh) Co. Donegal. Tom and Frances had eleven children, of whom eight were still living in 1911. They included Lizzie, Ellen, Thomas (my grandfather), Mickey, William, Mary Anne, John and Josephine.

He met his wife when Frances was with a group of her friends on the Wee Loanin' in Carrowhugh. She said, says she,

" .. I'm going to marry the next man who comes round that bend on a horse .. "

And she did.......

The three children born up to 1874 were all from Donegal. The four born after this date were all from Derry. By 1901, the family was living at 5 Hawthorn Terrace, Derry.

Tom died at home, in tragic circumstances, on 14 December 1901. The following article was carried by the Derry Journal on 16 December 1901:

Death of Mr. Thomas Doherty

In an obituary column today appears the death of Mr. Thomas Doherty at his residence Hawthorn Terrace. The deceased by his steady conduct and trustworthiness, was very much thought of by Mr. William Tillie H.M.L. and the other members of his family.

He was in the service of Mr. Tillie for twenty eight years, and previous to that he was in the employment of the M'Corkell family a considerable time.

Whenever employed he maintained his reputation as a very reliable honest servant. His illness was of a very brief nature which will intensify the sympathy felt or his relatives on account of his death.