Belfast McCleans

[sallymaclean]

Hi there,
I've hit a brick wall with my McClean family from Belfast. I've tried a few of the "pay per view" and "subscription" sites but have had no luck.

Looking for a marriage of Daniel McClean to Sarah Nevin c1820 in Belfast and their children's baptisms from then. I know of a few (dates may be dodgy) William Nevin (1824), Hugh (1825 died 1848), Robert (1831 died 1869) and Mary Jane (not known)

According to burials at Clifton Street Cemetery - Daniel died 1866 aged 86 born Belfast (c1780) and Sarah died 1841 aged 45 born Belfast (c1796).

Daniel was a Publican most of his life and was Masonic Knight. Living at Breda Lodge, Newtownbreda when he died. Many of his descendants (from William) called their homes in Australia "Breda Lodge" after his home so there must have been pleasant memories.

I've been unable to find any baptisms or marriages for any of them and believe they were Protestants.

Any advise or help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks, Sally

[hdw]

I don't know when and where Daniel McClean and Sarah Nevin were married, but they are listed in the famous Orr Pedigrees, the original handwritten MS of which is in the Linen Hall library in Belfast. I have a copy of the privately-printed book based on the MS which was produced by the American genealogist Ray A. Jones.

Daniel McClean gets into the book by virtue of his mother Janet ORR, who was married to William McClean of Ballykeel. William and Janet's children were:-

Elizabeth McClean, married John Anderson of Ballinafoy.
Daniel McClean (of Belfast), married Sarah Nevin.
James McClean of Ballinafoy, married 1. Mary McIlveen, 2. Constant Peppard, 3. Betty Hyndman.
John McClean.
Margaret McClean, married William Trimble of Ballinafoy.
Sarah McClean.

The ORR side of the family-tree can be traced back to James Orr and Janet McClement, who moved to Ulster from somewhere in Scotland circa 1607. Some of my ancestors are in there too.

Harry

[sallymaclean]

Hi there Harry

Thank you so much for post, it was Fathers Day here in Australia but I got the best present of all!

I assumed the family had come from Scotland at some stage but had never expected to find out when or how but your little gem gave me such an unexpected bonus. I've had a quick look and there is quite a lot of information about the Montgomery Settlement which I will now study with great interest.

Would I be stretching the friendship by asking you to fill in the names between the original settlers James Orr and Janet McClement down to Janet Orr who married William McClean?

By the way, their grandson (our ancestor) William Nevin McClean emigrated to Australia in 1853 and began using the spelling Maclean for their surname. His eldest son's name was Frederick William Orr Maclean. We had not traced the family back past Daniel so had no idea where the "Orr" had come from but thanks to you, now we do.

With much appreciation for taking the time to post your message, hope the names I'm asking for are not too hard to find.

Sally

[gaffy]

The Belfast Newsletter at the time of Daniel McClean's death confirms that he died at Breda Lodge but describes it as the residence of his son in law Mr William McKeown esq., who is in the same paper on another date described as the chairman of the farmers fairs and markets reform committee.

The same paper announces William McKeown's death at Breda Lodge in 1879 and if you go and look at the PRONI website you can see his will making reference to wife Eleanor.  Did Daniel have a daughter Eleanor?

[hdw]

Hi there Harry

Thank you so much for post, it was Fathers Day here in Australia but I got the best present of all!

I assumed the family had come from Scotland at some stage but had never expected to find out when or how but your little gem gave me such an unexpected bonus. I've had a quick look and there is quite a lot of information about the Montgomery Settlement which I will now study with great interest.

Would I be stretching the friendship by asking you to fill in the names between the original settlers James Orr and Janet McClement down to Janet Orr who married William McClean?

By the way, their grandson (our ancestor) William Nevin McClean emigrated to Australia in 1853 and began using the spelling Maclean for their surname. His eldest son's name was Frederick William Orr Maclean. We had not traced the family back past Daniel so had no idea where the "Orr" had come from but thanks to you, now we do.

With much appreciation for taking the time to post your message, hope the names I'm asking for are not too hard to find.

Sally

I'm glad my info. was of interest. The "Orr Pedigrees" is a great source of information about settler families in Co. Down. It mentions 501 different surnames!

The line of descent from James Orr and Janet McClement down to William McClean and Janet Orr is as follows:-

James Orr and Janet McClement had a son called

William Orr, of Clantinacally (1626-1714) who married Janet Gray. They had a son called

William Orr, of Ballybeen (1659-1730) who married Agnes Boyd (1670-1741). They had a son called

John Orr, of Tullyhubert, who married Mary McKibbin. Their son

James Orr, of Tullyhubert and Ballygowan (b.circa 1728, died 25 April 1803) married Elizabeth Reid (b. circa 1729, died 26 December 1774). Their daughter

Janet Orr married William McClean of Ballykeel, and their son

Daniel McClean married Sarah Nevin.

The only other Nevin I have come across is a minister who was sent to Comber to settle a dispute. My ancestor James Orr of Munlough took one look at him and said, "Are you Nevin the minister? Ye are more like a mountebank!", for which he was made to apologise by the kirk session!

Harry

[sallymaclean]

Many thanks Gaffy and Harry for the posts.

That's interesting information regarding Breda Lodge being the home of William McKeown. I'm not aware of Daniel having a daughter named Eleanor but it's sounding highly likely. I've only been able to find William Nevin, Hugh, Robert and Mary Jane so far but this gives me another clue to the giant puzzle that is my family tree!!!

Harry, that's wonderful to be treated to 6 generations in one hit! I now have lots of new families to explore but I think I'll have to visit "The Ards" one day to get a real feel for the area. Seems the families stayed close to home for many generations.

Sounds like you have found some little gems like that amusing reference to Nevin the Minister!

Thanks again

Sally

[gaffy]

William McKeown, farmer, is listed at Breda Lodge in the 1861 street directory.

He's also listed at Breda Lodge in the 1877 directory under Galwally:

http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/1877VD.htm

And if you look up Griffiths Valuation under Breda townland in the parish of Knockbreda, you will see him spelled as 'William McKeon', farming 16 acres with the name 'Breda Lodge' against him.

[gaffy]

As mentioned, the Belfast Newsletter of 1879 reports William McKeown's death. It mentions that he is to be buried in Ballylesson.  There is a grave in Drumbo Church of Ireland Ballylesson that contains several McKeowns including a William McKeown who died on 13 April 1859 aged 78 - it also contains his wife Eleanor who died on 27 August 1881 aged 60.  Given that the Belfast Newsletter reports William's death as having taken place on 13 April 1879 and given the confirmation of his wife's forename, I think the 1859 date from the grave has been mistranscribed (ie. should read 1879) and that this is indeed William McKeown of Breda Lodge, son of Hugh and Letitia McKeown from Newtownards born circa 1801, together with wife Eleanor born circa 1821.

Armed with the details of Eleanor's death, you should be aware that there is a digitised will on the PRONI website for an Eleanor McKeown who died on... 27 August 1881.  It confirms that she's from Newtownbreda, mentions sister Mary Jane Lang (I think), sister Jemima McClean and other relatives including some in Sydney Australia. I won't spoil it for you, go look.

[gaffy]

Regarding the Mary Jane Lang reference in the Eleanor McKeown will, the Belfast Newsletter of Friday 17 November 1837 has a reference to an Alexander Lang of Jervis Street in Dublin marrying Mary Jane McClean, the eldest daughter of Daniel McClean of Ann St. in Belfast.  The marriage took place in Dublin Presbyterian church on the 9th November.  Incidentally, there is a will index entry on the PRONI website for an Alexander Lang, Asst. Inspector GPO in Dublin and living at Ballynafeigh, who died on the 1st June 1879 and it mentions his widow Mary Jane.  The will image isn't online, you would need to order it from PRONI.

If this is the right Lang, it means that Eleanor McClean McKeown and Mary Jane McClean Lang both lost their husbands within a couple of months of each other.