Limavady Area Ancestry

11/03/2026

Patrick Martin American Civil War Hero from Coleraine

Ellen Martin (née Baker) was the widow of Patrick Martin, who served in the 182nd New York Infantry during the American Civil War. Ellen was originally from Coleraine, County L. Derry, and her later pension records connect her story.

Patrick Martin enlisted in New York City on 9 October 1862, at the age of 33. During his service he fought in the campaign that included the Second Battle of Ream’s Station, Virginia, where he was captured on 25 August 1864. Following his capture, he was held as a prisoner of war and transferred between several Confederate prison camps.

Patrick was first imprisoned at Belle Isle, and later moved to the prison at Salisbury, North Carolina. Conditions in Civil War prison camps were extremely harsh, and Patrick ultimately died there in 1864 from diarrhea while still a prisoner of war.

Ellen and Patrick had married in New York in 1851, and the couple had three children. Later statements from the children claimed that Ellen eventually abandoned them and struggled with alcoholism, adding a tragic dimension to the family’s story after Patrick’s death.

Patrick Martin’s case reflects the complex histories of northern Irish emigrants who served in the Union Army and the difficult lives often faced by their surviving families, many of whom later returned to Ireland while receiving American military pensions.
© StMcC

01/03/2026

Today we remember one of many local connections to the American Civil War 🇺🇸

Sarah Jane Cochran (née Smith) of Limavady, Co. Derry was the widow of Richard “Richey” Cochran, a soldier in the 63rd Pennsylvania Infantry during the American Civil War.

Richard enlisted on 6th August 1861, answering the call to serve in the Union Army at a time when the United States was deeply divided. He went on to fight with his regiment in some of the war’s fiercest campaigns. Tragically, he was killed in action on 30th June 1862 at the Battle of Glendale, part of the Seven Days Battles near Richmond, Virginia. He died on the battlefield at Glendale, Virginia, far from his Irish roots.

Richard and Sarah had married on 26th June 1856 in Philadelphia. Together they built a life in Pennsylvania, later living in Pittsburgh, and raised two children. After Richard’s death, Sarah applied for a widow’s pension in Pennsylvania — a vital support for many families left behind by the war.

Sarah lived the rest of her life as a widow and passed away on 14th March 1905.

From Limavady to Pennsylvania and the battlefields of Virginia, the story of the Cochran family is a powerful reminder of the global ties and personal sacrifices connected to the American Civil War. We remember both Richard, who gave his life in service in 1862, and Sarah, who carried the burden of that loss for more than four decades.

© StMcC

10/12/2025

Proceedings of a Court Martial held at Colerain [Coleraine, Co. Derry] this 25 day of June 1798 by
order of Col. Lord H. Murray, Command’g Officer at Colerain

Capt Weir – President
Members
Ens. Lamoth
Ens. Daniel
Lt. Bryan, Colerain Cavalry
Ens. Merton, R. Mx Fencs [Royal Manx
Fencibles]

For the Trial of James Caldwell of Gorth Gara near Newtown Lamavady [Limavady, Co. Derry] in
the County of Derry for having Pikes in his Possession after the term given by Proclamation and refusing to give such information as is in his power.

The Prisoner being put on his defence says that his Brother John procured 12 Pikes from one Stevenson or some of his workmen at Newtown Lamavady and says that his Brother informed him where they were concealed and on being interrogated says that he did not think it right & gave up the Pikes when the Proclamation was given out or he did not conceive them to be his Property and adds that he was made a United Irishman about Eighteen Months ago in the town of Ballymoney [Co. Antrim] but says that he does not know by who it was that swore him. He further says that he Considered the Oaths of Secrecy
and the Oath of the United Irishman was binding ever since he took it and still continues to think so.

The Court having taken into consideration the Prisoners defence are of opinion that he is guilty of the Crimes said to be his Charge and do therefore Sentence him to receive One Thousand Lashes in the usual Manner and serve His Majesty beyond the Seas during the term of his natural Life.

Approved
H. Murray

© StMcC

24/09/2025

20/08/2025

Workhouse of the Week!
(Newtown)Limavady

The workhouse at Limavady (or Newtownlimavady) opened in 1842 as a medium-sized house capable of holding 500 paupers.
The entrance block and main building still stand and are a great example of the Wilkinson plan used in all Irish workhouses.

Clearly someone on the Board of Guardians was concerned about fresh air as ventilation towers were added to the main building in order to increase air circulation. This was likely also an effort to curb the spread of disease as many thought disease was literally spread by bad air or miasma.

A fever hospital was added to the rear of the site during the famine which is also when an adjoining burial ground was opened. This burial ground is marked with a plaque and a ceremony is held each year to remember those who are buried there.

The workhouse officially closed in 1930, transferring all remaining paupers to Coleraine. The building then became the site of a district hospital, later named Roe Valley Hospital. Some medical services are still based on the site while the Limavady Community Development Initiative does great work at helping the community today.

I highly recommend a visit to this particularly fine example of a workhouse building, being put to good use to help the local area.