I am from New Zealand and my cousin Shelley is from Canada and together we have been researching the Sloan family of Ballyrush, Comber. We were fortunate to be able to come to County Down last September and meet all our relatives in Comber. Now we are researching the families that the Sloan’s married into and for the Saintfield district we have two families.
The first is the DALES/DEALS family of Tullywest and Carricknacessna (Craighy or Craignasasonagh). Hugh Dales married Maria Sloan in 1846 at 2nd Presbyterian Church in Saintfield. It is understood that Hugh Dales lived in the House and farm that the McKees were killed in in the 1798 Rebellion (from the book “A History of the Descendants of David McKee of Anahilt”)We would love to have some idea prior to 1824 of the family, which we think we may have some record of from the Freeholders at PRONI, viz: Hugh Deals 1769 had three sons at Tullywest – James, William and John. James went to Carricknacessna sometime little time before or just after 1824. So anything on this family would be wonderful.
The second family is the SMYTH family of Lisdoonan, William Smyth married Elizabeth Sloan circa 1830’s. This family worshipped at the Reformed Church of Knockbracken. I know that William Smyth died in Ardstraw, County Tyrone at his daughters place in 1893 aged 93yrs, but we cannot find where Elizabeth Sloan/Smyth died.
Cheers and thanks for any help given. Jo-anne Sunbeam
[If you can help with this search you can either add a Comment to this post or email: info [at] discoversaintfield [dot] com.]
An Eliza Smyth died 21 Jan 1882, aged 69 at Lisddoonan. She was married and wife of a farmer. Cause of death was Cancer of Uterus 2 years. Jane Smyth, grand daughter of Lisdoonan was present at her death.
Thank you so much. I have obtained the certificate. It is much appreciated. Cheers
In “Irish Roots in County Down – Stories of Family & Place” Edited by Stanley R. Megraw (Ainsley Publishing 2014) Chapter 14 “A Story of Two Brothers – The Sloan(e)s of Ballyrush, Co. Down”, there is an Appendix (p. 183) “The Descendants of Robert Sloan” which mentions both of the families you are researching. It is available on Amazon.
My husband’s family are McKee, probably Ballynahinch, around 1840. His Irish ancestors were William McKee and Agnes Russell if my fellow researcher, Cousin Jane, is correct. John McKee came to New Zealand on the Queen of Beauty around 1863. Back In Ireland there are significant DNA matches to the Hanvey family of ‘The Loop’ 3 km South of Ballynahinch. Originally owned by Hans Russell in 1798 it was owned by James McKee until 1848. In 1913 it was freeholded by the Hanvey family and they remain there. Mary Sloan, daughter of John Sloan and Bridget McAteer, married Henry J Hanvey 1824-1882.Our public Ancestry tree is Lewis McKee Family tree. Incidentally his other side are Dales from Kimbolton, England. His Ged is A881156. Regards Jo