Browne Islandmagee

[Eileen Clarke]

Hi
Just for the record....my Dad, Thomas Kelly,  a merchant seaman carpenters mate and on his first voyage,
was "lost" on the SS Aracataca when it went down to the bottom of the Atlantic in 1940 due to enemy
action (Ernst Mengerson,U-boat 101). Some crew were picked-up incl. Captain Browne from Islandmagee. I
was 14mths. My Mum, a widow as a result, was left with us both to support and what a hard time she had.
My Dad was 27...his promising life cut-short and our lives altered altered so negatively. Eileen Clarke
 

[ernestjames]

Hello Hana.

My name is Tommy Heggan, I live close to Islandmagee, Co Antrim and we have a common past. I note that this forum has not been used in a while and am asking if you wish to continue?

Hi Tommy
I note that there were two Islandmagee Heggans at sea in 1920. Edward b1904, and Stewart b1900. Are you related to them?
ernestjames

[tommy heggan]

Hello Ernest James.

I haven't been checking this forum for some time because I thought that it had run it's course. The two names that you mention are unfamiliar to me but are possibly related through a different line. My father, born in 1903 served in the Merchant Navy during WW1 but his name was Thomas. If you are related to the two you mention, I need more ancestral background in order to try and make a connection.

Regards,

Tommy

[ernestjames]

Hi Tommy
Thanks for your email. I've been working on a searchable database of Irish merchant seamen from the 1918-21 period. I  found around 300 from the Islandmagee area which is a large number for the population at the time. Heggan is a very distinct surname which seems to be only found in Islandmagee. I found a steward?  Heggan on the 1911 census at Gransha and his father was a sailor. No sign of an Edward though.
best wishes
ernestjames   

[aghadowey]

Steward is a mistranscripton- if you look at the original image it's Stewart (the t not properly crossed)-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001541787/

[ernestjames]

Hi Aghadowey
I thought it looked like Stewart when I looked at the original image, but I didnt report the transcription error.
ernestjames

[ernestjames]

My brother now owns the Browne house known as Bay View, Islandmagee.
We have organised an exhibition featuring  100 Islandmagee seamen photographs from identity cards from the Great War period. It will open next Saturday 7 July at 3pm and will be available for viewing by appointment after that for the rest of the summer. Come along and tell us what we've got wrong.
Surnames include Armour, Baird, Boyd, Browne, Busby, Cameron, Chism, Connolly, Dick, Donald, English, Ferguson, Ford, Gray, Hamilton, Hanvey, Hawthorne, Heddles, Heggen, Henderson, Hill, Hunter, Jackson, Kane (8 ), Kerr, Mann, McCallion, McCalmont, McIlwain, Niblock, Ross, Templeton, Wilson, Woodside and Wright.
If you want to come along please ring him, Andrew *, on * (within Northern Ireland) or contact me
ernestjames

* personal details removed in accordance with Posting Guidelines

[HaganexLarne]

re Tommy Heggen ?

I am new to this and been following thread.
My name is Jim Hagan, born in Larne, now in Australia. Chasing family Hagan/Davey.
Great Grandfather was Thomas Higgins born Islandmagee abt 1861?
My Grandfather was John Hagan b 1899-1978. Due to literacy and spelling I believe many versions of Hagan/Heggan/Huggan are probably all related? Mothers side was Ezekiel Davey 1897 - 1955
Any assistance from yourself or any others much appreciated.

[ernestjames]

Hi
I suggest you have a look at the 1901/1911 Census of ireland

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

See if you can find any possible members of your family in County Antrim using the various surname variants.

One possible for Thomas Heggan  is

 http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Island_Magee/Ballystrudder/188271/


What do you think?

best wishes
ernestjames