Browns and Mullans Donaghadee (Miller Hill, Ballyvester, Donaghadee)

[DaveMcC]

I am trying to find out who my x4 great grandparents families are. My x3 great grandparents are James Taylor and Mary Jane Brown from Ballyvester, Donaghadee. Their marriage record: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1867/11481/8220340.pdf

01 February 1867. The writing is worn on the record but it says: St Anne's in the Parish of Belfast in the County of Antrim.

Name and Surname: James Taylor Age: 21 Condition: Bachelor Rank or Profession: Farmer Residence at the Time of Marriage: Ballyvester, Donaghadee Father's Name and Surname: James Taylor Rank or Profession of Father: Farmer

Name and Surname: Mary Jane Brown Age: 18 Condition: Spinster Rank or Profession: ___ Residence at the Time of Marriage: Belfast Father's Name and Surname: William Brown Rank or Profession of Father: Farmer

I know who James Taylor and his family are so I don't need any information on him. Mary Jane Brown was listed as living in Belfast at the time of their marriage, but her parents, William Brown and Mary Mullan were living in Ballyvester.

William Brown died  on 10th March 1885 and his will on PRONI Will Calenders mentions his daughter, Mary Jane Taylor so that is the right William Brown. I think William and Mary only had the one child, Mary Jane Brown.

William and Mary marriage record 02 January 1847: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1847/09336/5380485.pdf

It says Mary's father is Martha (Probably a typo somehow, this is the actual name written down) Mullan and he is an Auctioneer so I have no idea who Mary's parents are since I can find no record of a Martha mullan (and I doubt there are any men named Martha) but given he is an auctioneer, a different occupation than the more common ones like farmers and labourers, I thought that might help find out who he was but I don't know if there is a way to find anyone based on their job. I would like to know who he was and his wife was and if Mary Mullan had any siblings.

It says on the marriage record that William Brown was from Miller Hill and his father was William Brown. In William Browns will, he mentions his brother, Thomas Brown of Miller Hill. This Thomas Brown is also mentioned in W.G. Lyttle's book "Son's of the Sod A Tale of County Down"

What I know is that Thomas Brown married Agnes Gibson. Marriage record for them 28th February 1850: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1850/09396/5403541.pdf

Thomas and Agnes had children but I don't really know who their children are since I think they were born before birth records started in Ireland in 1864. I think one of his children was William John Brown. Here is a 1901 Census record for William John Brown and his wife Jane in Miller Hill, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Miller_Hill/1255858/ although I can't find a marriage record for them to know who Jane is.

I couldn't find William John Brown on a 1911 census so I assume he may have died before then but I can't find a death record for him if he did die between 1901 and 1911.

I think this could be another of Thomas Brown's children, Jane Brown who married William John Taylor from Craigboy in this 1901 Census but I can't find a marriage record for a William Taylor and a Jane that would confirm who they are: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Craigboy/1255762/

Jane was a widow by 1911: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Donaghadee_Rural/Craigboy/264326/

Possibly Thomas Brown might have had a child named Susanna Brown but I can't confirm that. Can anyone help me on who these Brown's and Mullans are?

[aghadowey]

her parents, William Brown and Mary Mullan

She's called McMullan in William's Will. I also notice that William mentions daughter Mary Jane Brown otherwise Taylor was living at home apart from her husband, etc. Mary Jane might have been the only child or only surviving child or perhaps mentioned in father's Will because she, and possibly her children, were living in the Brown household.

Will post again after I do a bit more searching.

[aghadowey]

I think this could be another of Thomas Brown's children, Jane Brown who married William John Taylor from Craigboy in this 1901 Census but I can't find a marriage record for a William Taylor and a Jane that would confirm who they are: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Craigboy/1255762/

Marriage of Jane Brown, Millerhill, to William Taylor-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1878/11116/8069356.pdf

Possibly Thomas Brown might have had a child named Susanna Brown but I can't confirm that.

A Susanna Brown was witness at above marriage.

[aghadowey]

Have you seen this extract yet?

North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 14 July 1899: ... furnished on Wm John Brown, of Millerhill, Donaghadee, for the maintainance of his wife in the workhouse. Brown ... had just returned from America, having inherited his fathers farm. The Chairman said that, if he recollected correctly, Brown paid ...

Also-
Belfast Morning News, 29 Sept.1865: September 23, at Millerhill, Mr. John Brown, aged _ years. 
GRONI database gives his age as 54.

[aghadowey]

Made some headway on sorting out Brown family-

William Brown
1. William Brown (-10 Mar.1885), farmer, Ballyvester, m.(1847) Mary Mullan/McMullan
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1847/09336/5380485.pdf
     a. Mary Jane Brown (c1849) m.(1867 St. Anne’s, Belfast) James Taylor (c1846)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1867/11481/8220340.pdf
2. Thomas Brown (c1820-1899), Miller Hill, m.(1850) Agnes Gibson
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1850/09396/5403541.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1899/05808/4644240.pdf
Probate of the Will of Thomas Brown late of Millerhill County Down Farmer who died 21 February 1899 granted at Belfast to James Armstrong of Ballyvester and Samuel Boyle of Ballymacruise both County Down Farmers. Will mentions son William John, grandchildren (Susanna McWhinney, Agnes Brown McWhinney, Charlotte McWhinney, Mary Brown McWhinney, Thomas Brown McWhinney & their father William McWhinney), granddaughter Alice Taylor & daughters Jane Taylor wife of William Taylor and Susanna Mitchell wife of James Mitchell.
     a. Mary Brown (c1854-1897) m.(1886) William McWhinney (c1854-1930), Craigboy
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1886/10849/5961319.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1897/05878/4667060.pdf
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Killaughey/1255854/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Donaghadee_Rural/Craigboy/264314/
Mawhinney William of Craigboy county Down farmer died 2 March 1930 Probate Belfast 17 December to Mary Brown Mawhinney spinster and Alexander Mawhinney farmer. Effects £115.
          i. Susanna McWhinney (c1887)
          ii. Agnes Brown McWhinney (c1889) m.(1918) John Adams
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1918/09718/5526085.pdf
          iii. Thomas Brown McWhinney (1892-aft.1911)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1892/02351/1879020.pdf
          iv. Charlotte McWhinney (1895-aft.1911)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1895/02221/1837986.pdf
          v. Mary Brown McWhinney (1897-aft.1930)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/cert_amends/cert_1897/1810241a.pdf 
     b. Susanna Brown m. James Mitchell
     c. Jane Brown m.(1878) William John Taylor, Craigboy
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1878/11116/8069356.pdf
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Craigboy/1255762/
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Donaghadee_Rural/Craigboy/264326/
     d. William John Brown (c1859-aft.1901) m. Jane (c1856-aft.1901)
North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 14 July 1899: ... furnished on Wm John Brown, of Millerhill, Donaghadee, for the maintainance of his wife in the workhouse. Brown ... had just returned from America, having inherited his fathers farm. The Chairman said that, if he recollected correctly, Brown paid ...
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballycross/Miller_Hill/1255858/

[aghadowey]

William John Taylor of Craigboy died 1908- informant was daughter Anna Jane Taylor-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1908/05499/4540591.pdf

Probate of the Will of William John Taylor late of Craigboy County Down Farmer who died 8 April 1908 granted at Belfast to Jane Taylor the Widow and David Taylor Farmer. Will mentions wife & children (not all by name)

[aghadowey]

Marriage of William John Brown, Miller Hill, son of Thomas, to Agnes Fulton, age 20, Ballycopeland-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1881/10989/8018082.pdf

Son William Fulton Brown born 1883-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1883/02717/2000005.pdf

Son Andrew Brown born 1885-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1885/02639/1973281.pdf

Daughter Georgina Brown born 1887-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1887/02542/1941182.pdf

Son John Brown born 1889-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02457/1913100.pdf

Son James Brown born 1891-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1891/02393/1892698.pdf

Daughter Agnes Fulton Brown born 6 Jan.1893 at Ballycopeland-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1893/02319/1869007.pdf

Agnes (Fulton) Brown died 25 Jan.1893 at Ballycopeland-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1893/06014/4712117.pdf

1901 census Brown children are in Ballycopeland-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Carrowdore/Ballycepeland/1254769/

Wondering if William John Brown went to America after wife Agnes died in 1893, leaving children with relatives, then returned with new wife Jane after his father died in 1899 (as per newspaper article). This could explain the 'missing' marriage of William John Brown & Jane ? .

[aghadowey]

Belfast Telegraph, 22 Feb.1899: BROWN—February 21, Millar Hill, Donaghadee, Thomas Brown. His remains will be removed from his late residence for interment in the family burying-ground, Ballycopeland, on Friday afternoon, the 24th inst., ...

Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 27 Jan.1893: BROWN- January 25, at her mother’s residence, Ballycopeland, Agnes Brown, aged 31 years.

[aghadowey]

North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 5 Apr.1901: ... brought so late as February was complainant's inability to appear at an earlier court. Mrs Molloy acted as housekeeper to William John Brown, and stayed at Millarhill. On the 30th of December Muckle visited Brown, and they divided a bottle of whiskey between, becoming somewhat rowdy. Complainant interfered, and took the bottle and threw it away. On this ...

I see that earlier today you have gotten 2 newspaper notices regarding accident in 1901 for William John Brown of Millar Hill (from your Facebook thread). Here's one of them-
North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 1 Nov.1901: William John Brown, who some time ago sustained a severe accident to the base of his skull at Donaghadee by being thrown oft a oar, was on Monday removed to the Down Lunatic Asylum from the Newtownards Workhouse Hospital where he had been treated.

Irish News and Belfast Morning News, 24 Feb.1902: ... recover possession of farm land in Millerhill, County Down, which had been ? to the plaintiff by the defendant, Mr. William John Brown. Mr. R. E. M'Cutcheon (instructed Messrs. Wm. Graham &, Son) appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. ...

Belfast Telegraph, 24 Feb.1902: ... recover possession, a farm of land in Millerhill, County Down, which had been mortgaged to the plaintiff by the defendant, Mr. William John Brown. After hearing evidence, which showed, that the sum £_was due ...of the mortgage, for principal and interest ...

North Down Herald and County Down Independent, 7 Mar.1902: ... Newtownards, on FRIDAY, 14th March, 1902, at 12 o'clock, noon, THAT VALUABLE ... lately in the occupation of Mr. William John Brown, situate in the Townland of MILLERHILL, County Down, containing 30 acres 2 roods and 29 perches, or thereabouts, held ...