Dawson Grove estate workers (1850's)

[DJLee]

I'm trying to find out if my Great, Great Grandfather William Lee was a worker on the Dawson Grove Estate Co Monaghan in 1857.  The address on the church baptism record for one of his children is Demense gate lodge Cootehill.  Addresses for other children are Bawn Gate and Bellamont forest.  Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Dave

[Pastmagic]

http://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/dartrey_a_great_irish_estate_paradise_lost_11444

Has info on this estate, it changed name at some point, and is better known as the Dartry Estate.

There is a Dartry Heritage association:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dartreyheritage/

They may be of help - worth an email, anyway!

The Estate papers are in PRONI.

Google "Dartry Estate Cootehill " for link.

See also:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gchung/coyle/1861census%20Drumgoon%28cootehill%29.htm

Another researcher on Lee in Monaghan:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~leeea/EmanuellMonaghan.htm

For background info.

PM

[DJLee]

http://www.geograph.org.uk/gallery/dartrey_a_great_irish_estate_paradise_lost_11444

Has info on this estate, it changed name at some point, and is better known as the Dartry Estate.

There is a Dartry Heritage association:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dartreyheritage/

They may be of help - worth an email, anyway!

The Estate papers are in PRONI.

Google "Dartry Estate Cootehill " for link.

See also:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gchung/coyle/1861census%20Drumgoon%28cootehill%29.htm

Another researcher on Lee in Monaghan:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~leeea/EmanuellMonaghan.htm

For background info.

PM

Hi Pastmagic,
Thank you so much for the information, it is greatly appreciated. 

I found the birth of another child of William Lee.  The birth was for James Lee who was born on 13th November 1854 and the address is given as Bellamont Forest and William's occupation is given as a Gatekeeper. 

Thanks again.
Dave

[Pastmagic]

That is interesting! looks like he worked for the Coote's then - an eccentric lot to put it mildly!

Bellamont Forest House  has survived, though Dartry is gone.

http://william-montgomery.com/properties/bellamont.htm
This says - "The Gate Lodge is single storey, set within the walls at the entrance to the property.  There are six rooms and an entrance hall." So you could try Google maps street view to find it.

"Demense gate lodge Cootehill. " - could this mean Dawson Lodge or Bellamount? There is still the question of Bawn lodge!

I expect that as it was built by such an important architect, there will be surviving documents etc about the lodge. There is a protected structure - Gate Lodge Bellamont House, in the Co. Cavan list which might be it.

PM

[hallmark]

There is a g/stone for a Wm D Lee, Kilmore, d.1902, age 33 and Eliza Jane Lee who died San Francisco 1960, age 96 in the g/yard on Dawson Estate (Ematris)

[DJLee]

Hi hallmark,
Thanks for the information although I have actually taken a photo of that particular headstone in the graveyard at St John's (Kilcrow) church of Ireland.  There seems to be quite a few Lee families living in the Dartry area, unfortunately I have been unable to trace any that were related to my lot.  
My Great, Great Grandfather William Lee married Mary Jane McKeon from Kilmore West in St John's Church on the 13 July 1852.  About 1867, the whole family moved North to Belfast.

Thanks again.

Dave

[DJLee]

That is interesting! looks like he worked for the Coote's then - an eccentric lot to put it mildly!

Bellamont Forest House  has survived, though Dartry is gone.

http://william-montgomery.com/properties/bellamont.htm
This says - "The Gate Lodge is single storey, set within the walls at the entrance to the property.  There are six rooms and an entrance hall." So you could try Google maps street view to find it.

"Demense gate lodge Cootehill. " - could this mean Dawson Lodge or Bellamount? There is still the question of Bawn lodge!

I expect that as it was built by such an important architect, there will be surviving documents etc about the lodge. There is a protected structure - Gate Lodge Bellamont House, in the Co. Cavan list which might be it.

PM

Hi Pastmagic,
Thanks for the info and links etc. 
I knew of the location of Bellamont Forest but I didn't know about Bellamont house !! I just assumed the estate that William worked on was the Dartry estate. 
I tried to find a photograph of the Bellamont House gate lodge on Google images, but unfortunately no luck.  I think I'll put a post on the County Cavan site asking if anyone has a photograph of the Gate Lodge.
I will try to contact the other "Lee" researcher within the next few days.

Thanks again Pastmagic
Dave  (Lee)

[shanew147]

see : Photo of the Gate Lodge of Bellamont House

[Pastmagic]

That photo matches the description of the main gate lodge at Bellamont.

Just noticed there were more than one, according to the wiki article on the house!

Further info about the Coote's at Bellamont etc.

http://www.geograph.ie/photo/1657237

For anyone else looking for Dartry info:

http://www.printspast.com/selected_print.asp?PrintID=993011&Return=pwap1008010006.htm

http://www.briansdesign.com/oaks/index.html

Suggest you contact these people, as they may be able to  identify local history sources on the Lee family for you.

Best,

PM