FOUR LIMAVADY BROTHERS FOUR POSTMEN
George had five sons and five daughers by his wife Ann Jane Mullan. Four of his sons became postmen in Limavady. I was able to track down their service records for the Post Office in the Public Records Office, Belfast (reference GPO/5).
THE FOUR POSTMEN BROTHERS -
1. George Forrest junior (1874-1895) died in 1895, aged 21 of TB and his death certificate gave his occupation as post-boy. His death was also recorded in the Coleraine Chronicle.
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| Coleraine Chronicle 20 July 1895 |
John Forrest was a rural auxiliary based in Limavady and he served Glack, Bellyleighery, and subsequently Bolea from 1902 [GPO/5/7 p.20].
Limavady Postman retires LD Sentinel 2 Dec 1939
Mr John Forrest, Kennaught St, Limavady has retired after 45 years service as a rural postman. Mr Forrest who is in his 70th year served under 7 postmasters & although over military age enlisting in 1915 in the Post Office Rifles (City of London regiment). One of the most popular rural officials, Mr Forrest was for most part of his life on the Limavady-Bolea Round. Mr Forrest has covered approximately 190,000 miles in the course of his rounds.
OBITUARY FROM NORTHERN CONSTITUTION NEWSPAPER (21 Feb 1953)
Mr John Forrest, Limavady
Mr John Forrest, who died at his daughter's residence,
Ballyclose Street, Limavady on Monday, retired from the Post Office in 1939
after 45 years service as a rural postman. He served for 3 years with the Post
Office Rifles in the First World War, although nearingthe limit for active
service at the time he joined.
Most of his service with the Post Office was on the Bolea
'walk' much of which he covered on foot but in spite of this he hardly ever
suffered a day's illness and never required the attention of a doctor until
recently. He continued to enjoy remarkably good health and although over 80
when he died had been ill for only a month or so (note - he was actually 83 when he died). A member of a family long
associated with Limavady, he was a familiar and respected figure and the
popularity and esteem which he enjoyed were fully demonstrated by the many tributes
paid to him on retirement by his colleagues and the people he had served so
long and so faithfully.
An ardent fisherman in his spare time, familiar to all
anglers on the River Roe, he continued to enjoy his favourite sport and
recreation until almost the end. Mr Forrest who was pre-deceased by his wife
many years ago is survived by three sons James, John and Francis and one
daughter, Mrs Andrew Guy, with whom and the other relatives there is much
sympathy in their bereavement.
The remains were removed on Tuesday evening to St Mary's
RC Church where they remained overnight and the funeral took place on Wednesday
morning to St Canice's Burying Ground, Roe Mill Road. The funeral services were
conducted by Rev Dr J Marron, C.C and there was a large and representative
cortege of mourners.
OBITUARY NORTHERN CONSTITUTION
26 March 1955 - Mr James Forrest Limavady
Mr James Forrest, Irish Green Street, Limavady was a postman in the Limavady District for the long period of 47 years, died in hospital on Sunday last. He entered the service of the Post Office in 1890 as a boy messenger and retired in December 1937. Of a courteous and kindly disposition Mr Forrest was a popular and conscientious official and on retirement many well-deserved tributes wer e paid to him by his colleagues and the public he served so faithfully. Aged 77, he was a member of an old and well-known Limavady family and with his widow and family there is widespread sympathy. Two of his sons, James and Patsy who holds the B.E.M have each had over 23 years in the Royal Navy and his oldest son George who died some years ago was also an officer in the same service. Another son Mr E. A. O'B Forrest is well known locally as an artist of ability and the youngest Brendan is in America. There are two daughters - Mrs F. Paradiso USA and Mrs Wynne who resides in England.
There was a large attendance of mourners of all creed and classes at the funeral. The remains were removed on Tuesday evening from the hospital to St Mary's RC Church where they rested overnight and internment took place in the burying ground adjoining the Church on Wednesday a fter Requiem Mass at 10 o'clock. Rev Dr Marron C.C. officiated at the Mass and at the graveside.
4. Robert Forrest M.M. (1882-1946) of Magilligan
Robert Forrest was firstly a Telegram messenger in Limavady 1897, a rural auxiliary to Cloverhill 1898-1902 but after passing civil service exam on 14 September 1902 was appointed rural postman at the Bellerena sub-office [GPO/5/8, p. 115]. He was given a weekly allowance for the upkeep of a horse [GPO/5/7 p. 152] so must have completed his postal round on horseback. He retired in 1935.
Belfast Newsletter - 20 April 1935 - The Imperial Service Medal has been awarded to Robert Forrest, postman, of Bellarena, Co. Derry.
Robert Forrest worked for the postal service for 38 years (33 years as a postman). We do no have a record of the distance he travelled on his postal round but it must have been well over one-hundred thousand miles. Most of those miles would have been by horse-back in rural Magilligan. He died in Magilligan on the 25th of May 1946 aged 63 of valvular disease of the heart and is buried in Roe Mill Graveyard, Limavady.
For those who have post office ancestors in Co Derry the references in PRONI are as follows:
Establishment Books
GPO 5/5 = 1892-1900GPO 5/6 = 1900-1906
GPO 5/7 = 1907-1911
GPO 5/8 = 1911-1921
GPO 5/9 = 1922-1936 (not open)
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