McKergan

[lucy34]

Hi, I'm fairly new to this and am struggling a bit with where to go next so hope you can maybe give me a push in the right direction

I am trying to find out more about my mothers fathers side of the family, my grandfather.  I think I have him living in the same house in Keely, Aghadowey where my mother grew up thanks to the 1911 census, it includes two older siblings known to my mum.  My grandfather was born in 1913, James McKergan.  His father appears to be James McKergan also and was married to a Mary Magee.  My problem is my mum believes her fathers mother to be Anna Piper who I can find no trace of?  I'm assuming a second marraige?  She also believes these McKergans to be from Ballymoney of which I can only find name variants, McKirgan and Kirgan. 
Any hints as to how to find a connection would be greatly appreciated,

Sincerely,

Lucy

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat, Lucy. I may have some information on your family but have to find the file those notes would be in so I'll post again later to let you know whether or not I can give you more details.

[lucy34]

Thats great news, thankyou, anything at all to get me going, there are 4 children we know of, Thomas, Annabella, James (grandfather) and John, all McKergan.

Thanks again

[aghadowey]

Here's a bit to start with-
Annie McKirgan, servant, Managher, daughter of Thomas McKirgan (labourer), married 31 Dec.1904 at Coleraine Registry Office to William Pyper, labourer, Knockaduff, son of William Pyper (farmer). They had at least 5 sons (younger ones might still be alive so I'll not list them here).

Also, John McKirgan married Fanny Wallace and had at least 3 sons, one of whom had Pyper as a middle name (again, could still be alive).

[lucy34]

sounds good, could be the Pypers I'm looking for, will do a bit more investigating and understand why you can't name the younger siblings   Thankyou

[aghadowey]

Have split your posts from the other McKergan thread on Antrim board an moved this thread to Co. Londonderry/Derry board.

Mary Magee m.1906 Co.Derry to James McKirgen.

1901 census James' family is in Drumaduan townland (near Coleraine)-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Knockantern/Drumaduan/1519423/

Also in 1901 census is the Magee family in Keely (it's possible that James came to work in Aghadowey, met Mary and stayed in Keely for a while). There was, I think, another daughter Margaret "Maggie" not listed with the family- she was born c1889.
Both Carrie (Caroline) and Maggie went to Collins School- can't see Mary in school register but perhaps she went to Cullycapple School in the other direction (it would have been a girls school until 1890s) or even Aghadowey School.

Also at Collins School were the McKergan boys-
-Tom McKergan, Keely, born 16 Jan.1908 entered 13 Dec.1919 (doesn't say what school he'd attended earlier), Presbyterian, father labourer.
-James McKergan, Culdrum, entered 17 Nov.1919 age 5, Presbyterian, father labourer.
There's also a McKergan boy from Culdrum (Church of Ireland) who started at Collins School in 1923.

It's possible the McKergans had moved to Culdrum in or before 1919 but that Tom, the eldest boy, stayed in Keely with relatives.

[lucy34]

Thankyou so much   I can now see the link via James aged 17, then in Keely.  At least I know I am following the right family.  I have a good bit of the maternal side of the family so it is now good to be on the right track for the paternal side.

I will post any significant finds, thanks again for your insight

[lucy34]

Hi, just an update.  The mystery of Anna Pyper seems to be resolved thanks to one of your earlier posts

I got my grandfathers long birth certificate and Mary Magee was his mother, much to my mums surprise. She spoke again to her older reletive who remembered who they called granny pyper having to take them somewhere when something happened so assumed she was their granny.  We have decided this must have actually been the aunt Annie who married William Pyper.  Mary Magee must have passed before they where born and was never known to any of them.

I have been told a few of my Uncles and Aunts are buried in St Marys, Aghadowey so am going to jump on my motorbike and head over there shortly to have a look around and hopefully/possibly find Mary buried there, hopefully James senior aswell? 

Thankyou again, without your help I might still be struggling and having doubts...

Lucy

[aghadowey]

Do you mean the Magees are buried at the chapel? I don't recall a headstone there but since it's not a name I was looking for I might not have remembered a stone.