Londonderry, New Hampshire – Settled April 1719

While researching early Adams in America from Londonderry Ireland this book was discovered. While there appears to be no obvious migration of the Adams in the New Hampshire township of Londonderry Ireland with those in Cumberland Pennsylvania in 1750 (arrived in PA in 1740), it does appear as though both clusters of Adams originated from the same area, Londonderry in Ulster Ireland and only 20 years apart. In reviewing their given names, it seems very likely they are form the same Scottish family.

The descendants of James and William Adams, of Londonderry, now Derry, NH – by Andrew Napoleon Adams in 1894.

4 Responses to "Londonderry, New Hampshire – Settled April 1719"

Dave McCausland says:

March 11, 2016 at 12:39 pm

Dave McCausland here from the State of Maine. I would like to connect with you. (Was unable to find a direct email address for you on your Adams familydna website)

We are in the planning stages of events to celebrate the 1718 Ulster Diaspora migration to Maine and New England. (the Londonderry-Nutfield NH folks were apart of this original group)

Please forward me your email address.

Thanks
Dave McCausland
Maine Ulster-Scots Project

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James McQuiston says:

May 19, 2016 at 1:07 am

There is almost certainly a connection between the Adams of Londonderry, NH and the Adams of Cumberland County, PA. I have studied the flow of Scotch-Irish from Londonderry and Antrim Counties in Ulster to both American locations, because, in fact, my own family was part of this migration pattern. The valley bordering Londonderry and Antrim is known as the Bann Valley. Here, the Jackson family (yes, ancestors of Andrew Jackson) held sway, and it was specifically due to their raising of the rent (as stated by Charles Knowles Bolton, in his mammoth book “Scotch-Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America,” 1910) of tenant farmers in the Bann Valley that led to the migration to America. For the most part, it began in and around Londonderry, NH. But, the second wave came to Pennsylvania where land was set aside in 1720 specifically for the “brave defended of Londonderry” during a siege that took place in Ulster in 1688. Several of the very same families who settled Londonderry, NH also settled in eastern PA. Some of the New Hampshire families moved south to be with their other family members, often meeting them at the port in New Castle, DE, where most left their ships, originally bound for Philadelphia. There were three reasons to leave early. New Castle arrived earlier, there was no quarantine for diseases, and there were no import taxes, whereas Philadelphia insisted on a two-week waiting period before departing the ship, and import taxes were charged on belongings. Unfortunately, very few records were kept of the immigrants who landed at New Castle. The PA settlers were originally intended to keep warring Indians at bay across the Susquehanna River, but soon they moved across the river to Cumberland County. I have a million more words on this migration, but just wanted to let you know that the two branches are almost certainly related, at least in my opinion. BTW, I am a Fellow with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, though I live in PA, where my family has been for 280 years.

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1. admin says:
  
  May 19, 2016 at 3:01 am
  
  James, wow!! You summarized, so very well, what I felt had probably happened but I lacked the information to build a credible, historically accurate, summary. I wondered what happened around 1720 to cause the migration & in 1730-1740 for the migration to Pennsylvania. I suspect my Adams ancestors may come in through New Castle as you suggest. I think part of the PA movement in Cumberland County centered around Benjamin Chambers (founder of Chambersburg PA) recruiting in Ulster. I’ll message you privately and we can connect.
  
  Reply
Jeff Adams says:

August 6, 2016 at 3:18 am

Thank you so much for posting this book. I nailed my Cochran ancestor who came into Londonderry, NH as well as my cousin’s Rankin line. It also followed my oral family history about the earlier Adams immigrants in America who landed in Boston and went north. I really appreciate your efforts.

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