John Dean & Elizabeth Lynch

[clarksparks]

Thank you for all the information. It's been very helpful. Jeff

[trish1120]

We all like to help.
Looks like it all worked out

[Phil Donnelly]

I have just come across this thread. What caught my eye was the man named Dean being a plasterer. Not such a common trade but I have quite a few Dean people among my paternal ancestors, 3 of which were also plasterers.
They were brothers named James, John and Joseph Joy Dean each born around 1810-1820. The latter two raised their families in Carrickfergus Co. Antrim while James Dean raised his family in Co. Donegal.

Their father was Hercules Dean 1774 – 1849, a Catholic tenant farmer up on the top of Black mountain overlooking Belfast. There is a well-established tradition passed down through generations that Hercules’ mother was a daughter of Francis Joy, the man who established the Belfast News Letter in 1737. The name Joy, as a Christian name, has been carried down to many of the Dean descendants.

If anyone else has done any research on this family it would be great to compare notes.