Martin, James

Captain James Martin

was born in Aghanloo, Limavady on 24th May 1880 to James Martin, Farmer and Elizabeth Martin nee McMains. James and Elizabeth had married on 31st January 1867.

James Martin - Birth Registration - 24th May 1880

James Martin & Elizabeth McMains - Marriage Registration - 31st January 1867

My thanks go to Eileen Reid (a great-niece of James Martin) and also to Stephen McCracken for helping decipher the family name and address & also for the McMains house photo below.

The Martin family home

James joined Northern Bank on 16th June 1897 at Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

A transfer to Downpatrick followed in 1904.

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

In 1901, James is boarding with the Keller family in house 42, Cromwell Road, Cromac Ward, Belfast. His occupation is recorded as a Bank Clerk.

By 1911 he has moved to Downpatrick and is boarding with Elizabeth Teggart in house 51, Saul Street, Downpatrick, Co. Down. He is recorded as a Bank Cashier. There is one other boarder.

On ‘Ulster Day’, Saturday, 28th September 1912, a James Martin signed the Ulster Covenant at the Assembly Hall, Downpatrick.

Martin played golf in the first Northern Bank golf outing on 21st March 1913 at Dunmurry:

Photo courtesy of LennonWylie 

Whilst in Downpatrick, James, aged 35, volunteered and enlisted into the Cadet Company, 19th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles as a Private with his colleague, F W Orr and an Ulster Bank, Downpatrick official named J R Buchanan who was later to die from wounds in 1st April 1918 in a Red Cross hospital in Rouen.

James volunteered for the Officer Training Corps (OTC) based in Ballykinlar. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 19th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and later promoted to Lieutenant and Acting Captain. 

Later he was posted to the 10th Bn. Royal Irish Rifles and then attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He saw service in Messines on 7th June 1917.

James received a severe gunshot wound to his right shoulder.

Demobilisation came in January 1919 when he was invalided out. He was awarded the British Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Following demobilisation, Martin re-joined the Bank on 1st April 1919 in Downpatrick.

A transfer to Castlewellan as Manager followed in 1924. The Northern Banking Company Limited Centenary Volume 1824 to 1924 lists a J Martin as Manager of Castlewellan.

Northern Bank, Castlewellan branch

James Martin retired on 30th June 1941 and died on 3rd May 1953. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour in Downpatrick Presbyterian Church.

Thompson, John

John Thompson

John was born at Doochary, Co. Donegal on 18th October 1874 to George William Thompson, General Practitioner and Bessie Anne Thompson.  [Ref: 1901 Irish Census. Address: House 18, Derrynacarrow, Doochary, Co. Donegal].

[Further family information would be required before this can be verified with the official birth registrations.]

On 1st June 1891 John, aged 17 joined Northern Bank at Head Office.

Northern Bank, Head Office, Victoria Street, Belfast

Transfers followed to Ramelton (1891 - Junior), Downpatrick (1893 - Junior), Lisburn (1896 - Junior), Head Office (1898 - Relief) and Derry (1900 - Books and then Sub-Manager).

Northern Bank, Ramelton branch

Northern Bank, Downpatrick branch

Northern Bank, Lisburn branch - replaced in 1920s by a new building

Northern Bank, Londonderry branch

By 1901 John was boarding with the Thompson family in house 24, Abercorn Road, South ward, Londonderry. His occupation is recorded as a 'Cashier in Bank'. There are 4 other boarders.

By 1911, John is boarding with the Forsythe family in house 5, Asylum Road, Londonderry Urban, Co. Londonderry. His occupation is recorded as a 'Sub Bank Manager'. A possible colleague, Robert E Olden (24 - Bank Clerk) also boards in this house.

Further transfers followed to Head Office (1912 - Interim (?) Manager) and Shercock (1914 - In Charge).

Northern Bank, Shercock branch - see below

During the war years 1914 to 1919 John applied for enlistment but was rejected as being over age. He would have been aged between 40 and 45 during those years.

Further transfers followed in Head Office (1916 - Int. Manager) and Dungiven (1919 - Manager).

John married Miss Sarah McMurray of Mount Carmel (House), Ballybay, Co. Donegal on 29th October 1919 at First Ballybay Presbyterian Church. His occupation is recorded as Bank Manager of Bank House, Dungiven.

The Northern Whig dated 20th June 1921 carries an article about Dungiven Presbyterian Church. It mentions John Thompson of Northern Bank as treasurer.

The Northern Whig dated 28th June 1933 carries an obituary for John's father, Dr George Thompson (confirming Irish Census parents details 1901). Dr Thompson died at his son's residence, Northern Bank, Dungiven. John's mother predeceased his father.

John Thompson died aged 58 on 5th October 1933. The PRONI Wills database records:

"Thompson John of Northern Bank House Dungiven county Londonderry bank manager died 5 October 1933 at 1 College Park Belfast Probate Belfast 23 January to George Nesbitt Thompson and Thomas McMurry bank managers. Effects £2277 7s.".

Northern Banking Company, Shercock - see below

The Buildings of Ireland website describes the Shercock branch as:

Description

Attached five-bay two-storey former bank manager's house and attached three-bay two-storey bank, built c.1900. Now disused. Pitched slate roof with clay ridge tiles, roughcast rendered chimneystacks with profiled copings on gables and over dividing wall, cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls over raised plinth course, raised stucco quoins, stucco plat band between storeys on domestic quarters, signage fascia with profiled cornice over bank premises, channelled rustication to bank frontage. Roughcast rendered walls to gable. Window openings to dwelling arranged in two groups with one window at first floor centred over pair at ground floor. One-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows having stone sills and raised stucco block-and-start Gibbsian-style surrounds, with prominent keystones to ground floor openings. Replacement door to house having matching stucco surround with keystone. Fixed casement windows to bank section, flanking replacement panelled door with glazed overlight. Two-storey returns to bank and house, having roughcast rendered walls, domestic return having stepped three-light casement windows. Outbuildings to rear. Opens directly on to street.

Appraisal

A purpose-built former Northern Bank branch designed by Belfast architect Godfrey William Ferguson (1855-1939), architect of many of that institution's branches. The long two-storey composition employs Classical motifs to impart a sense of solidity and permanence, but nevertheless maintains a scale and simplicity that allow it to integrate into the planned town of Shercock. It is well detailed and of a balanced composition, retaining much of its historic fabric and character, and makes an interesting historic addition to the streetscape.