The Mayburys from Londonderry and Antrim

This section of our archive contains pictures from the Maybury family of Londonderry and Antrim in Northern Ireland. Click on the link to view the picture. If you wish, you may then download the picture to your own computer.

Thomas Mayberry (1830-1926), was born in Derry County Ireland on March 10, 1830 where he grew to manhood. His parents were Thomas Mayberry and Hannah Boyd. He married Margaret Grimes about 1849 (real date unknown) also born in County Derry, Ireland on Jan 1, 1832. There, seven of their children were born. During this time the Roman Catholics and Protestants, or Orangemen as they were called, were feuding. They each held marches. The Catholics on March 17, St. Patricks Day, and Orangemen's Day for the Protestants in June. During the feuding in 1867 the Protestant Orangemen decided to raid the Knights of Columbus during their meeting. The Orangemen barred the door of the meeting room and set the thatched roof afire. After the roof was well afire and the room full of smoke they unbarred the door and let the men out. The room was full of dense smoke as Thomas and a friend rushed in. They grabbed the Knights of Columbus By Laws and all the books and papers they could carry. Things got so hot after this incident that Thomas left for America, bringing some of the papers with him. He worked on the railroad, finally settling in Colfax County NE. in 1870 he sent for his family (wife, son inlaw, seven children). The boat they crossed in had two paddle wheels driven by steam. On their trip across the ocean a paddle wheel broke and the boat circled for days until it was repaired. No one was allowed on deck during the breakdown. One daughter, Margaret, was born in Colfax County. The family moved to Wayne County in 1884 and to Knox County in 1891, where they settled East of the Niobrara. Dave lived on what is now known as the Al Schrader or Vernon Barnes farm. Thomas had bought a large herd of Texas steers and during a snow storm while trying to drive them to the Dave Mayberry farm where they had a crib of corn they lost around 90 head which was a big loss for that time. In 1904 Thomas and Margaret settled in Niobrara, living where the Paul Thierolf family lived in old Niobrara (before 1974). Margaret died in 1909. Thomas continued to live in and around Niobrara until his health failed. Then went to live with his son John where he died Jan 23, 1926.

Born into a Presbyterian family in northern Ireland, Thomas Mayberry was a serious member of the Orange Order which is dedicated to defending the civil and religious liberties of Protestants. In 1867 there was feuding between the Catholics and the Orangemen of County Antrim. After a misunderstanding over events at a Knights of Columbus meeting hall, Thomas reconsidered his future in Ireland. According to an article about him in a local Nebraska newspaper, "things got so hot after this incident that Thomas left for America," perhaps to avoid an embarrassing conversation with the local constabulary. Thomas stowed away on a ship out of Belfast bound for America. There he worked on the railroads which were then about to span the continent. In 1867 the Union Pacific railhead was pushing west through Nebraska's Platte River Valley. With money from his railroad work, Thomas sent for his wife and most of his children in 1872. They settled in northeastern Nebraska as farmers. In March of 1874, Thomas Mayberry filed an application for land under the Homestead Act in Colfax County, Nebraska, stating that he already resided on that 160 acre parcel. Early in the 21st Century, a living family member remembers Thomas Mayberry as a tall, slender, intelligent man with a long gray-white beard and a sense of humor. [derry1.jpg]  View/Download

Children:
1852-1928 William G. Mayberry
1853-1929 Hannah Mayberry
1859-1914 Thomas Mayberry
1862-1942 Grimes Mayberry
1863-1902 Catherine Mayberry
1866-1958 John Mayberry
1874-1895 Margaret Mayberry

Alexander Mayberry 1850-1928 (Rey Mayberry) with his wife, Sarah Harvey. Photo taken before 1900, courtesy of LeRoy Mabery. [derry2.jpg] View/Download

Alexander Mayberry 1850-1928 (Rey Mayberry) with his wife, Sarah Harvey and their children. Front row, left to right: Bertal (b 1882); Alexander (b 1850); Rubabelle (b 1884); Florence (b 1888). Back row, left to right: Minnie (b 1880); Sarah (b 1851); LeRoy "Roy" (b 1886) and Margaret (b 1879). Photo taken 29 Sep 1899, courtesy of LeRoy Mabery. [derry3.jpg] View/Download

A photo of the Mount Elgin Band, near Ingersol, Ontario. Several members of this band are Mayberrys and are believed to descend from ancestors who came from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Photo courtesy of Don Chambers. [derry4.jpg] View/Download

Don Collins

May 2010