Claire's Ancestry
McConville
*NEW** McConville Tree **NEW For the McConville photo gallery click here I had a pretty tough time with the McConville side of the family as, when my father was about 3 years old, his father, Mark McConville Snr., died, leaving his mother, Susan McConville (nee Beggan) with 5 children. She had no alternative but to go back to her hometown of Roslea. I've spoken to various members of family, still alive, and that, along with things from my own memory, has helped me to put some kind of picture together. Susan Beggan eloped with Mark McConville Snr. some time around the early 1920s. She had met him while he was stationed at an R.U.C. (Royal Ulster Constabulary) barracks in the Roslea area (his family were originally from Tandragee, Parish of Ballymore, County Armagh). They left by pony and trap in the middle of the night with all their belongings. It was a big blow for her father, John Beggan Snr., as Mark McConville belonged to the Church of Ireland and was in the R.I.C. Considering the Beggan family were Catholic with John Beggan Snr. being a very strict Catholic, it was not the done thing to marry someone from opposite religions and he made it known that his daughter, Susan, would no longer be welcome at his home.
From Roslea, they went to Dublin, where they got married and lived for a while. It was here that they had their first child, my Uncle, Mark McConville Jnr on 4th April 1924. It's not clear to me, for now, how long they remained in Dublin or where their next two children, my Uncle John McConville (born 26th August 1925) and my Uncle Joseph McConville (born 1926/27) were born but, by the time my father, Ernest McConville, was born (12th May 1928), they were living at Aughlish Cottages, townland of Aughlish, Parish of Ballymore. Mark Senior's mother and sisters were living in the Mill Row Cottages in Tandragee, County Armagh. So called Mill Row as the cottages were home to workers of the local Sinton's Flax Mill Information here. The townland was called Tullyhugh and it came under the parish of Ballymore. This was the home where Mark McConville Snr had grown up and was the family home of the McConvilles. One more child was born to Mark and Susan McConville, in Aughlish, Tandragee. This was Sarah McConville Jnr (born 1929/1930). Sadly for my grannie, her husband died from either double pneumonia or pleurisy in April 1932, forcing her to return to Roslea with her children. I am told he is buried in St. Mark's Church of Ireland Church in the Parish of ballymore. The male children were sent to a catholic convent for a while, so she could get a place to live etc. I'm assuming that her daughter, Sarah, remained with her, although I can't say either way. My grannie was helped by a local family and eventually managed to bring her sons home to be with her. It was only by chance that I came into contact with a lady who was the widower of a McConville cousin of my father. She was able to give me a lot of information on the McConville family members and history. Until this time, I only knew of Mark McConville Snr and one sister, Mary, who had married and had taken the name Borrell and was now living in Australia. This lady was able to tell me of four other sisters, Sarah, Susan, Maggie and Ellen, and three brothers, John, Joe and Tom Bill. John died in the first World War on 1st July 1916 and some enilstment details are here I've since got hold of the full details from the site and they are below. Their mother, Sarah, attended the service at the war memorial in Tandragee every year until she died in 1961, aged 104 years.... John's name is on the war memorial as well as being on the war memorial at Thiepval. You can read about the Battalion John was in and how he and his fellow servicemen were killed in action here
I am told that John's brother, Joesph McConville, also died in the first World War and have found these details, which may or may not refer to him.....
*UPDATE* I have recently been told by a new contact, who knew the Mill Row family, that Mark McConville Senior used to do a lot of poaching and one day avoided getting caught by the police by wading out into a river. He had to wait quite a while before he could get to safety and by that time he was cold and wet. It was soon after that he died. More here. Here are some Signatures from the Ulster Covenant. These were signed by my Great Grandfather (William McConville), his wife (Sarah (McMoran) McConville), his son, John, and three of his daughters, Sarah, Susan and Mary McConville, on 28th September 1912. I'm positive Sarah McMoran's parents were Joseph McMoran and Susanna Pepper. These would be my GG Grandparents. They were married at Newmills Presbyterian Church, Parish of Tullylish, on 15th July 1858 by Rev.James Orr. Joseph's father was John of Ballynagarrick and Susanna's father was Edward of Lurgan, Parish of Shankhill. Witnesses were Joshua Fowler and Elizabeth Holland. You can find out more about this Church here just click on 'Newmills History' on the left. There is a photo of Rev. James Orr. He may also have conducted the wedding of my G Grandparents William McConville and Sarah McMoran. Here are two births from the Family Search website which are associated with my family. Thomas John McMoran Pedigree Susanna Pepper Pedigree Event(s): Messages:
Below are some Wills from the Proni website that are associated, or probably associated, with my McConville family. You can view these and search the wills at Proni. Note: This information is subject to copyright by Proni. For details please go here
Forename: Joshua Forename: James The only McConville I can find, in the Griffiths Valuation, who may match where my McConvilles came from is below....
****UPDATE***** While looking on a gravestone inscription site here I found some family members' deaths. Interestingly, they seem to be buried not in the Parish of Ballymore but in Lisnadill Parish. Below are some deaths which I think are related to my McConville family (from www.findagrave.com)... There is also a Margaret Hogg (d. 24 June 1918) buried with these people but I could not find her on the site. *Update - Found Margaret Hogg*
This way to the McConville Gallery |
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