Nicholas Averell (bef. 1685 - abt. 1721)

Born before 1685 in Ulster, Ireland

Descendants

Died about 1721 after about age 36 in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland

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Biography

Nicholas Averell, a merchant in Coleraine, County Londonderry, and three other Averells all left prerogative wills, the kind of will in which the testator owned property in more than one county. The wills all were written between 1695 and 1723, that of Nicholas being dated 13 January 1720 and proved in June 1721 ...

1695 - John Avreill [sic], gentleman, of Larganaguse, Co. Derry [Lurganagoose, Londonderry]

1718 - Henry Averell, gentleman, of Toberhead, Co. Derry

1720 - Nicholas Averell, merchant, of Coleraine, Co. Londonderry

1723 - Adam Averell, gentleman, of Larganagoose [Lurganagoose], Co. Londonderry^[1]

Places listed in the prerogative wills index are the primary residence of the testator. Unfortunately, all pre-1858 Irish wills were lost in a 1922 fire, and all that survive are the indices. The townland of Lurganagoose is in the civil parish of Termoneeny and lies roughly eight miles northwest of Lough Neagh. Toberhead lies just to the east of Lurganagoose and closer to the lough. Coleraine is about thirty miles north of the lough.

Fortunately, the will of Nicholas Averell, merchant in Coleraine, was noted in an 1895 volume of the “Ulster Journal of Archaeology” as making bequests to his only son, John, as well as to nephews John and Nicholas, sons of Henry Averell.^[2] The 1718 Henry Averell apparently was a brother of Nicholas and had predeceased Nicholas, prompting Nicholas to make bequests to Henry’s sons. It also seems likely that the 1723 Adam Averell was also a brother. Was the 1695 John “Avreill” their father, or was he perhaps an older brother?

As to Nicholas Averell, a biography submitted by a reader to the 1895 “Journal of Ulster Archaelogy” asserts the following facts. Nicholas was married to Isabella Edgar, sister of William Edgar of Dublin, lived in Coleraine, and had only a son, John. He made his will on 8 January 1720, and the will was proved in June of the same year. In it, Nicholas also named not his brother-in-law and his nieces Sarah Gage and Mary Olpherts [Olipant?].

Nicholas Averell, merchant in Coleraine, died sometime between January and June of 1720. His son is memorialized thus in a volume of the "Ulster Journal of Archaeology" ...

"Bishop Averill [of Limerick]. -- John Averill was only son of Nicholas Averill, of Coleraine, and his wife Isabella Edgar, sister of William Edgar, of Dublin.

"The family had a grant of lands in the County of Tyrone in 1641. They also held lands at the City of Armagh and in the County of [London]Derry."

Probate ^[3]

Nicholas Averell of Coleraine in co Derry. dated 13 January 1719-20

Daughters - Anne, Catherine, Mary, Margaret, Susanna & Sarah

Son - John Averell

Daughter - Elizabeth, Andreas, Widow ?

Wife - Isabella - Executor

Nephews - John & Nicholas , sons of Henry Averell

Nephew - Thomas, son of Daniel ?

Brother in law - Mr William Edgar - Executor

Research Note

While the ancient city of Londonderry was originally named Derry, the county in which it lies was only formed as part of the first plantation of Ulster and was named Londonderry from its very birth. Derry was never the name of the county, though many residents have called it so.

Sources

1. ↑ Ireland Index to Prerogative Wills, 1536-1810 at FamilySearch.org, GS Film #6026027
2. ↑ "Ulster Journal of Archaeology”, Vol. I, Marcus Ward & Co. Ltd., Belfast (1895), p. 232
3. ↑ FindmyPast - Betham's Genealogical Abstracts Prerogative Wills: (Phillips Mss.) W. 1587-1673. Y. 1612-1699. A. 1701-35 & Misc