remember, this is a story by General F.S.Meighen, so I am assuming he was of truthful nature
so here is some continuation of story, but before the story, I have looked at 1740 protestant households,1766 religious census,and 1796 flax growers, 1831 census to confirm the Osborns and Mcclenaghans were in the vicinity. I did find charles in 1796, which would make sense for his age, and widow Mcclenaghan in 1831. I confer with you that I believe Ann married her cousin.
"If anyone attacked a member of her family, even if such member was not in favour with her, she was up in arms at once. She was altogether a very superior type of woman. The sons were very tall men, Nathaniel was dark and Charles fair and they were both of robust physique. They were loyal affectionate and industrious, but of violent temper when aroused. Nathaniel should have inherited the Osborne estate through his mother but, in his early manhood had a violent quarrel with an Osborne which led to blows and believing he had killed Osborne, he had fled the country, coming to Canada in 1830, and did not put in his claim when the time came for it, and the Altmover property, as Nathaniel's whereabouts or even his existence were unknown, passed to a younger branch of the Osbornes. They evidently were always fearful that some one might turn up to claim it. When Nathaniel's son James(Nathaniel was my 3rd gr grandfather) visited Altmover many years ago, a visit simply of curiosity, he was very coldly received and the possessors refused to discuss family history with him, referring him to their DUBLIN SOLICITOR(would it not have been belfast? or Londonderry?) for information he could get from the latter. It seemed as if they were doubtful of their position and to be afraid that James had come to make a claim for the estate
Charles McLenaghan, the younger brother, came to Canada in 1830 and settled at first in Perth. It would be interesting to know what decided him, an Irishman, to come to what was almost an exclusively Scotch settlement.He then sent for his mother, Anne Osborne Mclenaghan, to come and live with him, her husband having died meantime. She did so and lived on the farm until she died at the age of 85 in 1859.
"I am skipping parts of story that are probably of no interest to you"
The old Irish form of the name Meighen is Miadachin. There is a coat of arms, it means He is stronger who conquers himself"
Mary Osborne Mclenaghan(this is Anne Osbourne's daughter) married Robert Meighen of Dungiven second son of Arthur Meighen and Jane Gordon, on January 24, 1824. This Robert Meighen farmed a holding of the Osborne's which was taken over by one of his brothers after his death on January 2 1838. It remained in the family until recently. The house in which Robert Meighen and his family lived and where his children were born is still standing( I do not know what year this story was written, would you know if this house is still standing?? and where it would be??, as mentioned my husband and I are planning a trip to Northern Ireland in May, and I would love to take a picture) A photograph shows it to be a well-built roomy house of two stories. Arthur Meighen who married Jane Gordon about 1790 is the earliest name that can be traced in the Meighen family, but very little is known of him and practically nothing of his wife's family. He was probably born about 1765 in the west of Ireland and was of yeoman class. He came to Boveva some time before his marriage. He had five sons and three daughters, Arthur the eldest. This younger Arthur Meighen was determined to be a soldier. Twice he enlisted and was brought back by his family. The third time they let him go. He was a very tall man standing 6 feet 4 inches and was in the Grenadier company of the 17th Royal Irish Regiment. He went with the British forces to China where he was killed in 1840.
That's it, the rest of the stories pertain to the family in Canada.
So, again, would appreciate if you knew were I could find Altmover estate area.
Debby
