William John Shortt (1863 - 1953)

Born 1 Mar 1863 in Cabragh, Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland

Ancestors

Son of John (Short) Shortt and Mary Ann (Corbett) Short

Husband of Jane (Eadie) Shortt — married 25 Jul 1890 in Annahilt, Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland

Descendants

Died 3 Oct 1953 at age 90 in Dunmurry, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

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Biography

William Shortt was born in Ireland.

William was a farmer

Birth
William John SHORTT was born in 1863 in Cabragh Townland in the Parish of Hillsborough in County Down, Ireland. He was the son of John SHORT, a farmer, and Mary Ann CORBETT.

Early life
William had seven known siblings, five of whom were younger than him, the last being born when he was 12 years old. His younger brother Robert Shortt appears to have had a cognitive disability and would spend the last decades of his life at the Down Mental Hospital. When William was 13, his older sister Margaret Shortt married Joseph McCandless, a blacksmith and operator of the Railway Tavern in Hillsborough. They would have six children. When William was 14, his younger brother David Shortt died from bronchitis at age 5½ years. In 1883, his eldest sister Eliza Jane Shortt married William Rush, a labourer. Sometime after the birth of their daughter Mary Eliza Rush the following year, William's sister Eliza returned home with her daughter to live with their parents.

William's paternal grandfather (his father's father) James Short passed away at age 91 in December 1890 at Cabragh. William's father was a co-executor for the estate/probate.

Marriage
On 25 July 1890, William, age 27, married 23-year-old Jane "Jeannie" Eddie, a farmer's daughter from Ballycrune Townland in the Parish of Annahilt. They were married in Anahilt Presbyterian Church in the Parish of Hillsborough by the Reverend Josias Mitchell. Jeannie's father was listed as James Eddie, a farmer, and William's father was listed as John Shortt, a farmer. Their witnesses were Andrew Thomas Blaine and Jeannie's sister Mary Eddie. ^{[1] [2]}

SHORTT family farm at Ballyworfy

Ballyworfy
William and Jeannie would live on a farm in Ballyworfy townland in the parish of Hillsborough where William worked as a farmer. Family recollections sometimes refer to the SHORTT family farm at "Ballylintagh." However, it is actually located off Ballynahinch Road in Ballyworfy Townland, albeit between both Ballylintagh Road and Ballylintagh Lane. It appears from Google Maps that the modern address is 171 Ballynahinch Road, Annahilt BT26 6BG, UK (54°26'40.2"N 6°01'28.7"W)

William and Jeannie had 10 children:

1. Sarah Short (1891–1897)
2. John Short (1893–1897)
3. Jane Shortt (1894–1975)
4. Margaret Shortt (1895–1973)
5. William John Shortt (1897–1951)
6. James Shortt (1900–1965)
7. Mary Agnes Shortt (1901–1977)
8. Hugh Shortt (1903–1970)
9. Sarah Elizabeth Shortt (1906–1989)
10. Anna Rachel Shortt (1908–2004)

Sadly, their son John died just before his fourth birthday in 1897. He succumb to croup, an infection of the upper airway, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough. Four months later, their daughter Sarah died from Scarlatina (scarlet fever) at age five.

William's mother Mary Ann (Corbett) Short died in 1895. William's father continued to live on the family farm in Cabragh with William's five adult siblings. William's brother James Shortt would eventually take over the family farm from their father. By 1901, William's younger brother Hugh Shortt had acquired his own farm in Ballymacbrennan Townland near Lisburn and their sister Agnes Shortt would live with him until they both married about a decade later.

William's sister Margaret (Shortt) McCandless died from cerebral meningitis in 1900 in Hillsborough. She was survived by her husband and five children aged 11 years to 21 years of age.

In the 1901 Ireland Census, William, age 38, and Jane, age 32, were living in Ballyworfy, County Down, with their four surviving children. ^[3]

William was listed as the executor and perhaps beneficiary of his uncle Hugh Short's estate when it passed probate in 1908:

SHORT Hugh 4 March 1908 Probate of the Will of Hugh Short late of Aghnaleck County Down Labourer who died 29 January 1908 granted at Belfast to William John Shortt Farmer Effects £115. ^[4]

SHORTT family children in 1908

In 1909, William's niece Mary Eliza Rush, the sole child of his sister Eliza Jane, died from epilepsy at age 24. His sister must have been grief-stricken. She would die a short three years later from heart disease. William was present at her death and was the informant on her death record. ^[5]

William's father John Short died in 1910. He was living at his son Hugh Shortt's farm in Ballymacbrennan, Drumbeg, at the time. Hugh was present at his death and was the informant on his death record. Their father's probate record appears to have left the family farm in Cabragh to their brother James Shortt:

"SHORTT John 27 May 1910 Probate of the Will of John Shortt late of Ballymacbrennan County Down no occupation who died 1 May 1910 granted at Belfast to James Shortt Farmer Effect £5."

The 1911 Ireland Census shows William, Jane and their children living on the family farm at Ballyworfy, County Down. ^[6] Their son William John Shortt, age 13, was working as a chemist's assistant and boarding with his employer in Rathfriland, County Down.

William's brother James Shortt married Jane Magowan in 1912. They had five children and continued to live on the SHORTT family farm in Cabragh. However, they would all eventually emigrate to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to join Jane's brother who had settled there earlier in the century.

In 1919, William and Jeannie's 23-year-old daughter Margaret Shortt married James George Alexander Stewart, a 37-year-old farmer from Cargygray townland in the parish of Annahilt. They were married in Railway Street Presbyterian Church in the Town of Lisburn. ^[7] Their daughter Hessie Stewart was born at Ballyworfy the following year. Sadly, three months later, Margaret's husband James died at age 38 from pulmonary tuberculosis, leaving Margaret a widow with a 3-month-old child.

Widow
William's wife Jeannie Shortt died at the age of 55 in December 1922. She had been suffering from tuberculous arthritis for three years and exhaustion was also listed as a cause of death. She was survived by her husband of 32 years, their eight children aged 14 years to 28 years of age and one grandchild (at the time).

The next generation
In 1923, William's daughter Mary Agnes Shortt, age 22, married Charles Bothwell, a 27-year-old grocer and merchant from Lisburn. They were married in Hillsborough Presbyterian Church in the Town of Hillsborough. ^[8] They would have seven children.

In 1925, William's eldest daughter Jane Shortt, age 31, married David John Corbett, a 29-year-old farmer from Ballylintagh townland in the parish of Annahilt. They were married in Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. ^[9] They would have two children.

On the same day, in the same church, William's son Hugh Shortt, a 22-year-old grocer, married Madge Wright, age 24, daughter of a linen finisher from Belfast. ^[10] They did not have any children.

In 1927, William's son William John Shortt, a 29-year-old chemist's assistant from Belfast, married Florence Elizabeth Cardwell, a 31-year-old seamstress from Derry townland in Dromara. They were married in 2nd Dromara Presbyterian Church in the Town of Dromara. ^[11] William and Florence would have twins.

William's son James Shortt and his daughter Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" Shortt did not marry.

Later years
By 1927, William had retired from farming and family recollections state that he sold the farm at Ballyworfy. Afterwards, William lived with his youngest daughter Anna Shortt and his widowed daughter Margaret (Shortt) Stewart.

In 1937, William's youngest daughter Anna Rachel Shortt, age 28, married George Anderson, a 45-year-old traveller from Belfast. They were married in Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church in Belfast. ^[12] They would have a daughter.

About the same time, William's daughter Mary Bothwell and her family moved to a new subdivision outside of Belfast called Finaghy. The BOTHWELLs rented a brand new house at 5 Locksley Gardens. William and the ANDERSONs (Anna and George) went to live with them.

Then the war came. There were anti-aircraft guns stationed in the golf course beside the house. One night when firing at the bombers, the noise blew in the front bay window. After one bombing raid on Belfast, Charles Bothwell went to work to find that his employer had been bombed. He was now out of work. For safety reasons, the BOTHWELLs moved to live with relatives in the countryside at Cargygray until the war's end. ^[13]

William spent the war years and his final years in the homes of his daughters Anna Anderson and Margaret Stewart.

William's son William John Shortt, a male nurse from 95 Frenchpark Street, Belfast, died in 1951. He was survived by his wife Florence Elizabeth (Cardwell) Shortt and their two children.

Death
William died from stomach cancer at age 90 in 1953. At the time of his death, he was living with his daughter Anna (Shortt) Anderson at 53 Glenburn Road in Dunmurry. His son-in-law George Anderson of 53 Glenburn Road in Dunmurry was present at his death and was the informant for his death record. ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Registration: Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, "Civil Records",
   database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1890/10706/5902904.pdf);
   digital image, William John Shortt and Jeannie Eddie, marriage, 25 July 1890, at Anahilt in the Parish of Hillsborough in the County of Down; citing Group Registration ID 2548839; filed 23 April 1891 in the Union of Lisburn in the County of Down, page 825, stamped no. 05902904, entry no. 106.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958"
   citing Lisburn, Jul - Sep 1890, vol. 1, p. 825, General Registry, Custom House, Dublin; FHL microfilm 101,256.
   FamilySearch Record: FYHM-3X7 (accessed 18 May 2023)
   William John Shortt marriage in Jul - Sep 1890 in Lisburn, Ireland.
3. ↑ 1901 Census: "Ireland Census, 1901"
   citing Census, Ballyworfy, County Down, Ireland, 0000243170, Public Record Office of Ireland, Belfast.
   FamilySearch Record: QPB2-8QX9 (accessed 18 May 2023)
   http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000746769/
   William John Shortt (38), married, Famer, head of household in Ballyworfy, County Down, Ireland. Born in Co Down.
4. ↑ Probate record for uncle Hugh Short: "Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920"
   citing 00565, 005014915, Principal Probate Registry, Dublin; 101,001.
   FamilySearch Record: K6M1-8SN (accessed 18 May 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTM4-WHM
   William John Shortt mentioned in the estate record of Hugh Short probate on 29 Jan 1908 in Down.
5. ↑ Death of sister Eliza Jane: "Ireland Civil Registration Indexes, 1845-1958", database
   citing Lisburn, Jan - Mar 1912, vol. 1, p. 560, General Registry, Custom House, Dublin; FHL microfilm 101,605.
   FamilySearch Record: FRJG-M5Q (accessed 24 May 2023)
   Image of death record,
   William J. Shortt, brother, mentioned in entry for Eliza Jane Rush death Mar 1912 (age 58) in Lisburn, Ireland.
6. ↑ 1911 Census: "Ireland Census, 1911"
   citing Ballyworfy, County Down, Ireland, Census, National Archives of Ireland, Dublin.
   FamilySearch Record: QYXX-R7ZM (accessed 18 May 2023)
   External Image
   William John Shortt (48), married, Farmer, head of household in Ballyworfy, County Down, Ireland. Born in Co Down.
7. ↑ Marriage of daughter Margaret: Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, "Civil Records", database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1919/09693/5515570.pdf); digital image,
   William John Shortt, father of the bride in marriage entry for James George Stewart and Margaret Shortt, marriage, 22 October 1919, Railway Street Presbyterian Church in the Town of Lisburn; citing Group Registration ID 1691843; filed 8 June 1920 in the District of Lisburn in the County of Antrim, page 1155, stamped no. 05515570, entry no. 163.
8. ↑ Marriage of daughter Mary: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Marriage Records", database with images (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk), digital image,
   William John Shortt, father of the bride in marriage entry for Charles Bothwell and Mary Agnes Shortt, marriage, 14th November 1923 at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church; registered in the District of Lisburn; citing Registration Number M/1923/E1/1766/5/54.
9. ↑ Marriage of daughter Jane: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Marriage Records", database with images (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk), digital image,
   William John Shortt, father of the bride in marriage entry for David John Corbett and Jane Shortt marriage, 28th October 1925 at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church; registered in the District of Lisburn; citing Registration Number M/1925/E1/1766/5/62.
10. ↑ Marriage of son Hugh: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Marriage Records", database with images (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk), digital image,
    William John Shortt, father of the groom in marriage entry for Hugh Shortt and Madge Wright marriage, 28th October 1925 at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church; registered in the District of Lisburn; citing Registration Number M/1925/E1/1766/5/63.
11. ↑ Marriage of son William John: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Marriage Records", database with images (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk), digital image,
    William John Shortt, father of the groom in marriage entry for William John Shortt and Florence Elizabeth Cardwell, marriage, 19th April 1927 at 2nd Dromara Presbyterian Church; registered in the District of Lisburn; citing Registration Number M/1927/E1/1754/1/102.
12. ↑ Marriage of daughter Anna: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Marriage Records", database with images (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk), digital image,
    William John Shortt, father of the bride in marriage entry for George Anderson and Anna Rachel Shortt, marriage, 29th September 1937 at Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church; registered in the District of Belfast; citing Registration Number M/1937/B1/517/15/144.
13. ↑ Reta (Bothwell) Bain: Personal recollections of "her early years" by William's granddaughter Reta (Bothwell) Bain, on 26 April 2014. Originals in the possession of Eric Bain.
14. ↑ Death Registration: General Register Office (Northern Ireland), "Death Records",
    database with images, https://www.nidirect.gov.uk; digital image,
    William John Shortt, male, age 90, death, 3rd October 1953, 53 Glenburn Road, Dunmurry; citing Registration Number D/1953/225/1018/21/440 ; filed 6 October 1953 in the District of Dunmurry in the Union of Lisburn in the County of Antrim.

DNA Confirmations

• DNA confirmation to father and mother: Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confirmed by an autosomal Family Tree DNA test match between Eric Bain and his third cousin AE (child of Joseph Douglas Emerson). Their most-recent common ancestors are John Short and Mary Corbett, the 2x great grandparents of both Eric Bain and AE. Predicted relationship from Family Tree DNA: 3rd Cousin - 5th Cousin, based on sharing 52 cM across 4 segments (accessed 10 July 2024). (Bain-1176 23:47, 10 July 2024 (UTC))

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: G4V9-19P