A search for the Sherrif family of Aghanloo

 In St Paul's cemetery on the island of Barbados there is a memorial that records the death of Thomas Sheriff (1780-1846) a native of the parish of Aghanloo in Co. Derry.

Large white marble standing against mausoleum:—

Sacred to | The Memory Of | THOMAS SHERIFF, | Born at Aghanloo | in the County of | Londonderry Ireland, | on the 14th of Novr 1780, and for 46 | Years, a resident in this Island | Died 29th July 1846, | leaving a Widow to | whom he had been | endeared by 38 Years of conjugal | affection and four | Sons to | mourn his irreparable loss | ALSO | HENRIETTA SHERIFF | Granddaughter of the above Born 30th Aug. | 1816 | Died May 8th 1847 | Likewise | of | JANE SHERIFF | Relict of the above born | Scotland on the | 6th December 1786 | Died on the 2nd July 1854 | Aged 67 Years and 7 Months | ALSO | Chas. John Walker Sheriff | Died January 20th 1867 | Aged 56 Years | & | Chas. Eugene Douglas Sheriff | SOLICITOR | his Son. | Died 16th Feby. | 1888 | Aged 31 Years.

The surname Sheriff is uncommon in Limavady and the Roe Valley. A William Sheriff can be found in the 1740 protestant householders' survey in Drummond townland in the parish of Drumachose. As this townland is close to the boundary of the parish of Aghanloo, I suspect there may well be a link to the Thomas who died in Barbados. 

The Murder Hole Road (renamed the Windyhill Road) runs from Aghanloo to Coleraine where another Sherrif family resided.

The Connor Wills Index reveals that two Sheriff wills were probated in 1803 and 1821, respectively.

  • Samuel Sherrif, Coleraine 1803 
  • William Sherrif, Coleraine, 1821

In the 1831 census we find two Sherrif families in Dundooan, Coleraine headed by Samuel Sheriff (8 males, 2 females and one female servant present all Presbyterian) and Elizabeth Sheriff (with a female servant present). 


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