Death of Jack Storey, historian/genealogist of County Monaghan
Edward William John (Jack) Storey, late of Belfast and Monaghan, passed away January 18, 2020. His funeral service took place January 23, 2020, in Ballinode Parish Church, Ballinode, County Monaghan, Ireland, followed by burial in the adjoining churchyard.
Jack was educated in Dublin, and became a National School-Teacher in Monaghan, teaching through the medium of Irish. He played Rugby for Dungannon, and also for Bedford, Scunthorpe, and Hull. He joined the Royal Air Force where he became part of a team responsible for introducing Automatic Data Processing via computers. He set up SEC, a Weighing/Labeling Solutions Company, in 1970. Many years later, after becoming semi-retired, he spent much time on family history, specializing in Northern County Monaghan genealogy. He enjoyed country music, watching Ulster Rugby, and taking holidays in the United States. His favorite movies included The Dam Busters, 633 Squadron, Ben Hur, The Sound of Music, and South Pacific.
Jack Storey shared his vast knowledge of Ulster families, places, events and landmarks freely on-line, and his perceptive comments and research suggestions were appreciated by people all over the world.
These are a few of his comments on message boards over the years:
<< These original Monaghan Presbyterians frequently had their services conducted in the Gallic language because most of the appointed Ministers were Scottish & spoke Gallic which was similar to the Ulster Gaelic spoken in County Monaghan at that time. >>
<< You may be interested to know that the Liptons of Clones came from Shannock Green & after settling in Glasgow they founded the Lipton Tea & Supermarket Empire. >>
<< ...the Donagh Church was also favoured by the Monaghan Militia & the Rebellion of 1798 was part of the Monaghan Militia's responsibility, particularly the Battle of Ballynahinch & the execution of four United Irishmen at their Militia Camp at Blaris, near Lisburn - all Monaghan men, of course. >>
<< Ballinode (Tedavnet Parish) had an attendance at the Church which comprised many World-famous people. From the Woodwrights of Gola (commemorated on the Churchtower Clockface) through the Evatts of Mount Louise (Capt Evatt killed at the Battle of Ballynahinch - 1798), the Liptons (of tea & supermaket fame), the Kanes of Drumreask, the Mitchells of Cappog (1663 Hearth Money Rolls), the Rose family of Mullaghmore North, the Norman Steele (Land Agent of E.P.Shirley) and Dacre Hamilton of Cornecassa controversy, the Dawson & the Evatt links, the importance of Killymarran Glebe and its listed residents, the Forsters of Tullaghan and their burials at both Tedavnet Church & Ballinode, the Fiddes family of Hollywood & Clonamully & their contributions to the Parish right up to the 1950s, the Richardson family of Poplar Vale & their contributions to Tedavnet Family History, the Military Men of Tedavnet Parish and their activities (Briggs, Cassidy, Farrier, McCoy, Haulor, Phillips & Hall), the School-Teachers and their famous pupils (Teachers - Dunne, Irwin, Begley, McConnell, Fleming, Brown, Webb & Wilkinson), the Lucas Family of Raconnell & their links to Castleshane, the Cootes of Cootehill and where they lived in Tedavnet Parish, - all this available from reading the complete Tedavnet Parish Records (Ballinode Church). >>
<< Drumsnat Churchyard, according to the Church Secretary, attracts several thousand "Wilde" enthusiasts every year to see the grave of Oscar Wilde's two half-sisters who are buried there. Also, unknown to many, the Rector at that time was Rev Ralph Wilde, Oscar's uncle. Drumsnat is clearly signposted at Thornhill Cross Roads. Also worth visiting in Monaghan, is the remains of Faulkland Castle, in Donagh Parish, ancient home of the Maxwell family & near to the Silverstream Crossroads. The many famous families who are buried at Tydavnet Parish Church, Ballinode, include the Forsters of Tullaghan, the Rose family of Mullaghmore North, which in the 1920's was owned by the Andersons of "Anderson & McAuley" of Belfast & who have donated to the Monaghan Museum, the Robes worn by their Ancestor at the Coronation of King George V, while High Sheriff of Monaghan County. There are many other famous places in Monaghan worth visiting - including the Special Graveyards of small children. Several of these exist and contain many interesting gravestones. >>
Jack held strong opinions and he was not shy about expressing them, but honesty, directness, and a dedication to history and genealogy were in every word he wrote.
Edward William John "Jack" Storey will be greatly missed.
