John Porter

1640–1716 (Age 76)
Carrowen, County Donegal, Ireland

The Life of John

When John Porter was born in 1640, in Carrowen, County Donegal, Ireland, his father, David Porter, was 25 and his mother, Rebecca Elizabeth Berry, was 25. He married Margaret Meredith about 1660. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 3 daughters. He died in 1716, in his hometown, at the age of 76.

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Family Time Line

John Porter
1640–1716
Elizabeth Berry
1635–1705
Marriage: 1691
Robert Porter
1665–1705
Richard Porter
1667–
Elizabeth Porter
1670–
Thomas Porter
1670–
Elizabeth Porter
1685–
John Porter
1687–
John Porter
1670–1716
Joshua Porter
1670–1725
Elizabeth Porter
1677–
William Porter
1679–1742
Gabriel Porter
1683–1766

Spouse and Children

MARRIAGE
1691
Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland
children

(11)

+6 More Children

Parents and Siblings

siblings

(6)

+1 More Child

World Events (6)

1641

Age 1

Great Catholic-Gaelic rebellion for return of lands, later joined by Old English Catholics in Ireland. Under leadership of Irish chieftain, Rory O'More, conspiracy was formed to seize Dublin and expel the English. English settlers were driven out of Ulster. Catholics hold 59% of land in Ireland.
1649

Age 9

The Protestant Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell, landed at Dublin. His troops killed 2,000 men. A great part of lands in Munster, Leinster and Ulster (Drogheda and Wexford) was confiscated and divided among the English soldiers.
1672

Age 32

Over 6,000 Irish boys and women sold as slaves since England gained control of Jamaica.

Name Meaning

1 English and Scottish: occupational name for the gatekeeper of a walled town or city, or the doorkeeper of a great house, castle, or monastery, from Middle English porter ‘doorkeeper’, ‘gatekeeper’ (Old French portier). The office often came with accommodation, lands, and other privileges for the bearer, and in some cases was hereditary, especially in the case of a royal castle. As an American surname, this has absorbed cognates and equivalents in other European languages, for example German Pförtner ( see Fortner ) and North German Poertner .2 English: occupational name for a man who carried loads for a living, especially one who used his own muscle power rather than a beast of burden or a wheeled vehicle. This sense is from Old French porteo(u)r (Late Latin portator, from portare ‘to carry or convey’).3 Dutch: occupational name from Middle Dutch portere ‘doorkeeper’. Compare 1.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Sources (3)

  • John Porter in entry for Elizabeth Porter, "Ireland, the Register of Derry Cathedral, 1642-1703"
  • John Porter in entry for Sarah Porter, "Ireland, the Register of Derry Cathedral, 1642-1703"
  • John Porter Birth Date 1640" Boston Transcript". 1906-1941, American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI)

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