The Corrs of Consett, Armagh and Louth and Tyrone

The History of the Corrs  (Last updated  16 Jan. 2011)

Contents   The History of the Corrs

The names of direct ancestors are typed in bold. Italics are used where someone’s relationship to the family is suspected, but not established.

In my early teens I quizzed my great aunt, Kath Corr, about our ancestors; shortly afterwards I made notes of what she said.. Many years later I began to follow up on the information she gave me, and her information has been shown to be absolutely correct. Tantalisingly I remember Aunt Kath telling me that we were descended from  someone who lived in, or was connected with ‘Dundalk Castle’,  the honourable Kate McEvitt, or was it Mary Arthurs? She also said an uncle, or great uncle of hers was one of the few educated men in Consett in the middle of the 19th century, and that he wore a top hat, and made his living by writing letters and book keeping. I don’t know why but I didn’t note his name either; I still hope to find him. I also seem to remember Kath saying that some of our ancestors were called Grimes.

One real mystery which has emerged is why Bridget McDonnell’s maiden name is given as both McEvitt and Clarke.

This is the Corr family tree as told to me by Aunt Kath.

Francis?Corr    = ? (She wasn’t sure)

                        |

                        |          

            Francis Corr = Susan Grimes? (She was sure, but my notes are ambiguous!)

                   Arthur Corr    =    Mary Ann Arthurs

                        Iron Puddler                |

                        Born Ireland                 |

                                                             |

                                                Michael Corr               =          Elizabeth McDonnell

                                                1870                            |         

                                                Blast furnace                | 

                                                Labourer                      |

                                                                                     |

                                                          Eleanor, - my gran, Aunt Kath.

The McDonnells , Clarkes and McKevitts

Kath Corr told me many years ago that one of our ancestors was ‘John McDonnell not McDonald’, and his wife Bridget McKevett. Sure enough the records show that Michael Corr, my Gt. grandfather married Elizabeth McDonnell, (24) daughter of John at St Mary’s church Blackhill (6 November 1897). John's surname has been recorded as McDonald, McDonnell and Macdonald. As neither John nor Bridget could sign their names, they were not in a position to check that their names had been accurately recorded. The birth of  their first child, Rosannah (5 January 1852) is recorded with the surname McDonnell. The birth of a later child was also recorded as McDonnell, as was the family’s surname at the time of the 1871 census (by an enumerator who took the trouble to record the Irish counties where John and Bridget were born).  In the other instances when the family is referred to in civil or church records, the surname is recorded as McDonald (or MacDonald). As aunt Kath was so sure I assume the family’s original surname was McDonnell. However when referring to records such as birth, deaths, marriages, and census returns I will use the surname as it occurs in the record; so for the purposes of this history McDonald and McDonnell can be taken as interchangeable.

When I began my research the 1881 was the most easily accessible of all the censuses as it had been indexed and so it was the starting of my researches. The McDonell  family were then living at 54 King St Consett. The family consisted of John, his wife Bridget, both born in Ireland,  and 5 daughters, born in Consett; there were also 4 lodgers, 3 Rocks brothers and a Samuel McCall. I began checking church and civil records of the baptisms and births of Elizabeth and her sisters. I found details relating to most of the McDonnell children, but had difficulty finding the birth of Elizabeth (my gt. grandmother). Bridget’s maiden surname was recorded as McKevett (or  McKevitt, McKavat, McCevit, or  McKevet.

This photo (taken from the end of Delves Lane) shows Queen’s, King’s and Prince’s Streets, sometimes know as the Company Rows. The McDonnells lived in King St for many years.

Having drawn a blank at Stanley, the local Register Office regarding Elizabeth, I applied to Southport (the national centre holding copies of all English and Welsh birth, death, and marriage certificates). When the certificate came back I got a surprise;  it registered the birth of an Elizabeth McDonald , daughter of John McDonald - labourer in Iron works, the girl was born at 54 King St Consett, on 10 Jan 1873,  mother Bridget maiden name Clark!   St Mary’s baptism register records the christening on 15th Jan 1873 of Elizabeth (born 10 Jan 1873, daughter of John and Bridget McDonald, formerly McCevit, the sponsors were Arthur Toner, and Margarita Quigley. There is no doubt that the child referred to on both the birth and baptism certificates is one and the same, as there was only one Elizabeth McDonald born in the Consett area in late 1872, or early 1873. Also the address where Elizabeth was born, was to remain the family’s home until at least 1891.

I had already searched in vain for the marriage of John McDonald to Bridget McEvitt, but I now rechecked the registers for a McDonald- Clark marriage.

On 24 November 1851, at Brooms, John McDonald, an engine fireman (stoker) of Berry Edge, son of Archibold McDonald, a tailor, and Rosannah McDonald of County Armagh, married Bridget Clark, 22, the daughter of Arthur Clark, a labourer and Mary Clark of County Louth.

The witnesses were John Tumilty, and Margaret Monaghan, both of Berry Edge.  There were Tumiltys visiting a Coalman (sic*) family at 131 Berry Edge at the time of the census that year.  Later Clarke family baptisms had Bridget Coleman, the daughter of the family, as a sponsor, suggesting a link between the families.  According to McLysaught, Tumilty was common in the ‘Oriel’ (the ancient name for Counties Armagh and Monaghan and the adjoining parts of Counties Down, Louth and Fermanagh) which is where the name MacKevitt occurs.  Later Clarke baptisms  A Margaret Monaghan (17) who ‘worked at bricks’ appears at 167 Berry Edge on the 1851 census; she moved with her family to Port Clarence, where it emerged that she was from the same village as my Monaghan ancestors who were also in Consett in 1851.

* As most people were illiterate in those days surnames were spelt different ways on different occasions.

Earlier in 1851, on 10 July  Mary McDonald of Berry Edge (John McDonnell’s sister), daughter of Archibald and Rosa McDonald of County Armagh,  married Patrick McDonald of Crook Hall, son of Edward and Anne McDonald of County Monaghan.

One of the witnesses was Anne Carroll; amongst the 11 adults (and a baby) living at 180 Berry Edge was John McDonald, an iron works labourer of 21, born in Ireland, and Mary McDonald, 24 and Anne Carroll, both born in Ireland. Mary was John McDonnell’s sister.  The census of 1851 lists various Carrolls in Co Durham, several from Louth and Monaghan, immigration to the Consett area was to a large extent from Tyrone and South East Ulster, and it’s possible that these familes knew each other in Ireland.  The other witness was Thomas Lamph.  This unusual Irish name is confined almost exclusily to Co Durham, when it appears in England. We do not know where Thomas Lamph came from, but the TAB land survey of 1834 lists only one Lamph on the land in Ireland – a Thomas Lamph of Drumlack Townland, nr Markethill, Mullabrack Parish in the south of Co. Armagh.  The later Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland found a Hugh Lamph in Drumlack, and a Willian Lamph in the neigbouring townland of Coolmillish.  Daniel Lamph, who arrived in Conside in 1860 was also from Armagh.

Both marriages were conducted by Canon Kearney, the formidable parish priest of Brooms.   It is said that Fr Kearney would ride into Leadgate on his white horse on a Friday night to send the miners home to their wives with their pay, lest they spend all their money in the pubs. Due to Father Kearney’s diligence in recording more detail than required in the marriage register - the names of both parents of  bride and groom, and their county, or even parish, of origin in Ireland - the early registers of Brooms give a great deal of information on the origins of the early Irish immigrants to the Consett area.

The 1851 census index in Consett library shows, at  367 Cross St Berry Edge, James and Catherine Clark and family, and as a lodger, a  relative of theirs, Bridget Clarke, a dressmaker of 20, born Ireland. The register at Brooms (the only catholic church in the area at the time) shows that a James Clarke, and his wife Catherine had a daughter Mary born on the 25 November 1849 and baptised on 4 December, sponsors Roger Igoe & Mary McKevitt. The Clarks were living in Blackhill at the time and both the church register, and the civil records show that Catherine’s maiden name was McKevitt (sometimes written McHavet).

 The family at 367 Cross St, in 1851 had a two year old daughter, Mary; and later baptisms at St Mary’s, and the returns of the 1861 census show that the family at 367 Cross St was that of James Clarke and Catherine (McHavet). Little Mary Clarke’s elder brother Thomas, was born in Ireland in 1846 or 47. So from this information we can conclude; that Bridget Clarke, the  Dressmaker lodging at Cross St was the future bride of John McDonnell, that the Clarkes and the McKevitts were interrelated in Ireland (where James and Catherine were married,)  and that the Clarkes left Ireland between 1846 and 1849.  An Ann Clark was baptised at Brooms on 11 July 1847, the daughter of Henry Clark and Ann (Scrian) the sponsors were Henry Heane or Keane and Mary McDonald.  On 31 March 1850 Margaret Hoy, daughter of Matthew and Mary (Clarke) was baptised at Brooms with Owen Monaghan and Margaret Stoker as witnesses.

It is possible the family were in the area earlier than the 1850's; an Ellen Clark, aged 17, was gaoled, at Lanchester on the 17 July 1845, for three months for concealing the birth of her child and on 29 June 1849, Susannah and Elizabeth McDonald were both sent to the house of correction at Durham for 24 and 7 days as 'rogues and vagabonds' i.e. poor homeless strangers.

Other McKevitts 

The 1841 census shows Richard McEvet (21), an Irish printer at 3 Vine (?) St, Sunderland in 1841.  At the same address were Ann (20) and Mary Ann (2) Trueman, both born in England.  Next to Ann’s details the words ‘wife of Rich. McE’ have been crossed out.

A John McKivet, mason, was one of a number men fined at Shotley Bridge, on Friday 3^rd March 1854 for being drunk and neglecting their work at Conside, he was fined 10s, including costs.  Several of the Consett Clerks were masons, and at 3 Dodgeson Court, Whitehaven, in 1851, was Edward McKivet, mason and his English born wife and family, (eldest child John, 8 Whitehaven), and John’s father, Patrick, both men were masons [send to Whitehaven for details].

Edward Clarke was baptised on 4 October 1857 at St Mary’s Blackhill, the year the church opened, the son of James and Catherine Kevett, the sponsors were Joanna Clinton and Julia Kevitt.  James and Catherine (McKevitt) Clarke’s son Arthur was baptised on Christmas day 1859, the sponsors were Patrick Brannon and Bridget Coleman.  Bridget was a member of the family who hosted the Tumiltys in 1851 (see p3).  Bridget Coleman was also the sponsor (godparent) of twins Anna and Sarah Geraghty (19 May 1859). The twins shared a surname with the wife of Michael Monaghan (see History of the Monaghans).

The baptism register of St Thomas of Canterbury at Wolsingham, shows that there were Clinton and McKevitt families in Tow Law in 1856, one event recorded was the baptism, on 29 August 1857, of Peter McKevitt – son of Peter and Catherine (Hammel), sponsor Bernard M’Anamy.

In 1851 at Hartlepool was a John McKivett, labourer, formerly a linen weaver. John and his wife Hannah had had a son, James (4 [June ¼ ’46 Stockton]) born in Middlesbrough. Further afield there were Louth McKevitts on Grafton St, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, John, a cooper, and his wife, Cath Larkin (her maiden name?), the births of their children indicate they had been there since at least 1839.

The 1861 census for Westoe, South Shields,shows a Henry McAfet (40), of Louth, labouring at an alkali works. Henry and his wife Bridget (Kough 20 Longford), at 10 Linen St. * find marriage at T & W Archive June ¼ 55

The 1871 census shows a Patrick McKevett ((21) labourer at coke works, boarding in the house of John and Sarah McConville of Creggan Parish, County Armagh, at Battery Cottages Tow Law.  There were also ‘Consett’ McKevitts, Peter (40) and Catherine (39) at 32 Stanley Street, Jarrow.  Like their neighbours, the Collins, they were an Irish family with children (Susan, 9 [March ¼ ‘64] & Bernard, 6) born in the Consett area.  Peter was a labourer.

Archibald  and Rose McDonnell of Armagh.

Two land surveys took place in Ireland in the 19^th Century, the first, ‘the Tithe Applotment Books’ (T.A.B.) were complied between 1823 and 1838. Outside of the biggest cities almost everyone rented some land, most people lived by growing potatoes to eat, and doing a little day labouring as the opportunity arose. The purpose of the survey was to allow tithes to the Anglican Church to be raised; this exercise was resented by Dissenters, such as Presbyterians, as much as it was by Catholics. There was no Archibald McDonnell holding land in Co Armagh recorded in the books.  The survey of Grange Parish, which took place in 1832 found an Archibald McDonald renting (or owning) land in Grange Parish, in an area called Corporation, immediately north of the City of Armagh. He was the only Archibald McDonald holding land in Co Armagh.
The second survey, Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland, was carried out between 1848 and 1864 like the T.A.B. it recorded everyone who owned or rented land in Ireland.  There was an Archibald McDonnell in Charter School Lane, in Armagh City, and an Archibald McDonnell in Gallrock townland, in the parish of Tartaraghan .  There was also an Archibald McDonald in   Ballinadarragh townland in Kilclooney parish.
There was also a Bernard McDonald in the same townland. The McDonalds in Consett had neighbours called Rocks in 1871 and Rocks as lodgers in 1881, I have exchanged emails with a family history researcher in the USA whose ancestor James B Rocks married a Rose McDonnell around 1840 in Cladybeg, Kilclooney, Armagh. There was also a James Rocks in the parish who like Archibald was a tailor (as described on John McDonnell’s marriage certificate).

I intend to check the baptism and marriage records for the Catholic parishes of Ballymore and Mullabrack, and Ballymacknab to try to find out more about the McDonalds and the Rocks.

Kilclooney is located in the centre of a triangle between the towns of Markethill, Camlough and Newton Hamilton. 

Another child, James, was born to James Clarke and Catherine McKevitt on 20 May 1852, and baptised on 10 July, the sponsors were John McCabe, and Rose Brennan. In those days sponsors and witnesses at baptisms and weddings were often relatives of the family; it will be interesting to see if these people were related to the Clarkes or McKevitts. Rosannah McDonald was born to John and Bridget McDonald on 5 Jan 1854, and baptised, at Brooms, on 15 January 1854.  Bridget’s maiden name is recorded as McKevitt/McKavat on both the birth and baptism certificates. The sponsors at the baptism were Archibald McDonald, surely John’s brother, and Mary McKevitt, no doubt a relative of Bridget.

Lawrence & Rose Clarke (Boyne) first lived in Wigan, after leaving Ireland (the last Irish born child Lawrence was born about 1852; their daughter Mary Ann was born in Wigan in November 1854 at Mitchinson’s Yard, in Scholes, a central district of Wigan.  There were riots in which the Irish were involved in Scholes in 1852. The following year there were riots in the town involving striking miners, it is said that Welsh and Irish miners were blacklegs in the dispute.  The family later moved to Consett (appearing on the 1861 census, when John and Bridget were abroad).  A correspondent of mine on the Consett local History site had Boyle ancestors who were born two fields over the border from Louth, at Mullylusty, Co Monaghan, I wonder if they were the same Boyles, and if our Clarkes lived in the locality?

Rosanna Clarke, daughter of Bridget’s relatives, James and Catherine was born 31 January, and baptised at Brooms 11 February 1855; the sponsors were Owen McAvoy, and Rose Hughes. For some reason Catherine (McEvitt)’s maiden surname is recorded in the baptism register simply as ‘:C’ or ‘:l’. The same entry appears from time to time in relation to Bridget McDonald (Clarke/McKevitt). A couple of years later at the baptism of James and Catherine Clarke’s son, Edward (St Mary’s 4 October 1857) the sponsors were Joanne Clinton and Julia Kevitt.  Arthur Clarke, son of James and Catherine (McKevitt) was baptised on Christmas day 1859, the sponsors were Patrick Brannon and Bridget Coleman.

The Emigration of the McDonnells to the America, and their return to Consett.

The Irish Famine Memorial in Boston

The star in the centre of the map marks the location in Boston of Earl Street.

 

Sometime around 1855 the McDonnells left England and travelled to America. Although steam ships had been introduced, for most immigrants still travelled to America in the 1850’s in wooden sailing ships. The voyage took about 9 days and the passage cost about £5. The US Federal Census of 1860 shows that amongst the free (i.e. unenslaved) inhabitants of Boston Massachusetts on 30 June in the 12th ward were John McDonald (30) married labourer, value of estate $100, born Ireland, Bridget (24) born Ireland, Rosa (7) born England, and Arthur, 4, born Massachusetts so far I have not found a civil or religious record of Arthur’s birth or baptism.

The twelth ward is in South Boston, or Southie, as it’s known by its residents, was a ‘mixed area’ when the McDonnells lived there, with some religious tensions, (though all the heads of household on this page were born in Ireland). Late it became the main centre of Irish Boston.

   The red star marks the location of Earl St where the McDonnells lived, their church, SS                             Peter and Paul is on West Broadway.

St Peter and Paul’s,  built in 1845

Catherine McDonald  was born on 15 October 1860 at Earl St Boston on 15 October 1860 (Bridget’s maiden name was left blank on the birth certificate), and baptised at St Peter’s and Paul’s, Boston, by Fr AL McMullan, sponsors Denis and Elishia Quilty.  Dennis and Elicia Quilty lived next door but one to the McDonald at Earl St.

Sometime between the October of 1860, (and likely after the spring of 1861 as they do not appear on the census) and July 1863 the McDonnells returned to Consett after at least 5 years in the USA

The McDonnells had chosen a good time to leave the USA, the Civil War had began in 1861, and in 1863, after the introduction of conscription ‘the Draft’; there were three days of rioting in Boston and New York. The Irish were well represented in the riots, and in New York much of the rioters’ anger was directed against black Americans ‘It was the third summer of the war. With no end in sight, President Abraham Lincoln instituted a draft. "Immigrants were angry that the draft fell harder on them," said Lynda Day, a historian at Brooklyn College who has written a book on black history on Long Island. "Rich people could buy their way out of the draft, the poor couldn't." In fact the enormous sum of $300 was required to avoid the draft - John McDonnell’s estate in 1860 was less than $100.

On July 14, 1863, (after the McDonnells had returned to Consett) Boston had its own draft riot, markedly different from what happened in New York.
The violence began when a crowd of Irish immigrants living in the North End — then the city’s Irish-immigrant enclave — attacked a federal marshal trying to distribute draft notices. The mob then turned on the local police, and the clash took on a definite ethnic flavour: “Kill the damned Yankee son of a bitch, “rioters yelled, according to Jack Tager’s Boston Riots: Three Centuries of Social Violence (North-eastern University Press, 2000). (See “Boston's Days of Rage, " News and Features, March 2, 2001, for an interview with Tager about his book.) The mob tried to storm an armoury on Cooper Street to get weapons. Soldiers fired cannons. Then the crowd stormed Faneuil Market, looting hardware stores and gun shops. Finally, the aptly named mayor, Ferdinand Lincoln, called in federal and militia troops to put down the insurrection. Nobody really knows how many people died, although the official tally counted eight killed. Notably, none of the dead were African-Americans.
“It wasn’t a race riot. It wasn’t an attack on blacks, “says Tager, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. This was for two reasons, he says. First, blacks in Boston didn’t live near the Irish in the North End. Unlike in New York, which was already a much larger and more diverse city, blacks in Boston (mostly servants and artisans) lived in pockets of the South End and Beacon Hill. Second, the ire of the Irish was generally focused on the elite Yankee ruling class, which bitterly subjugated them. Three decades earlier, a crowd of Yankees dressed as Native Americans had burned down the Roman Catholic Ursuline Convent in Charlestown. The riots in New York, by contrast, featured the rare occurrence of the Irish and non-Irish nativists fighting in concert against blacks.

Life for the Irish in New York (which had a similar ethnic make up to Boston) in this period was recently portrayed in the film, ‘The Gangs of New York’. This extremely violent depiction struck me as being rather exaggerated, until I reread accounts of inter communal strife in Blackhill and Consett`. For example in 1844 a riot centred on a pub in Blackhill, took place between the natives and the immigrants involving 50 or so on each side. It lasted several hours, stones, clubs and other weapons were used and three men died of their wounds. In 1847 a concerted attempt was made to prevent the building of St Mary’s church at Blackhill. The 'Battle of the Blue Heaps’ in April 1858 culminated in a confrontation between 2,000 Irishmen who were gathered at Number One, and a large number of Englishmen, both side were armed with clubs, sickles, bludgeons and other weapons, and a number of guns, including a cannon. A full scale battle was just avoided when 220 Militia arrived from Newcastle. 50 Troops remained encamped at Blackhill until the situation became calm.

Mary McDonnell was born on the 3 July 1863, and baptised at St Mary’s on 5 July, sponsors Thomas Clark and Maria Cawley, the family were then living at 120 High Conside and John was employed as a stoker at the iron works. This event marks their return to England

According to the book ‘Consett, a Town in the Making’ by T Moore, a tiny stone chapel was founded in Blackhill in the 1840’s. Canon Kearney of Brooms began negotiating for land for a church in Blackhill in 1844 and the Derwent Iron Company agreed to take voluntary deductions from the wages of Catholic workmen to help collect funds to finance the building. Work started in January 1855 and despite a storm demolishing the almost completed building on 7 February 1856, St Mary’s, Blackhill, or ‘Our Blessed Lady Immaculate’ to give the church its official name was completed in 1857. St Mary’s school opened two years later in 1859. St Mary’s was much closer to Consett-Berry Edge than Brooms, and it was to be the church most catholics in Consett used until St Pat’s was built.

The McDonnells were away in the USA when the 1861 census took place. Lawrence Clarke and family were in Consett at Theatre Square, off Middle St.  Lawrence, (45) was a stonemason, his wife Rosanna (Boyle) was 40 they had two Irish born children, and Marrianne (5) born in Wigan. W Curley, an Irish stone cutter was lodging with them; I imagine he worked for or with Lawrence.  Another Clark family with a Wigan connection was that of Henry (33), a miner and Joanna Clark (27) (321) Leadgate, both parents were born in Ireland; the first two children were born in Lancashire, with the youngest two born in County Durham.  The census also shows an Owen McDonald, at Potts Cottages, Consett, a fiddler, whether or not this professional musician was a relative of our McDonald ancestors is not known.  James Clark and Catherine (McEvett), Bridget Clarke’s hosts in 1851 at Berry Edge, had moved back to Blackhill with their family.  The years between 1851 and 1861 must have been arduous for James as he had aged by 15 years.

Margaret Joanna McDonald was born on 10 March 1867, and baptised 13 March, sponsor Maria Donnelly. Margaret Jane (as she is on the civil records), or Margaret Joanna (her baptismal name) died of TB at 120 High Conside (20 June 1868). This was a sad event, but so far is the only McDonald known to have died in childhood, this contrasts with the Glacken family, ancestors of the Burns’ in Newcastle who lost six out of ten children to childhood illness. Perhaps life in Consett was healthier than in Newcastle.

In 1868 St Patrick’s Catholic school (Consett) built for 750 children was opened, ‘conducted by the Sisters of Charity’, but the Catholic church for Consett continued to be St Mary’s Blackhill until 1926.

In April 1869 Rosanna MacDonald was a witness at the wedding of Patrick Harold, and James and Catherine (McKevitt) Clarke’s daughter Mary.  Bridget junior was born to John and Bridgett MacDonald at 120 High Conside on 21 June 1869, the baptism records record Bridget’s maiden name as McEvitt, the sponsors were James (Catherine’s husband?) and Rosannah Clark (the wife of Lawrence, the stonemason?).

The census of 1871 found the McDonnel family at 120 Iron Company Cottages (120 High Conside renamed?) Consett. The census confirms the information given in the Brooms marriage register that John was from Armagh, and Bridget from County Louth.  Rosannah

(17) was not in the family group at the time of the census, she was in service in 1881, and perhaps  in 1871 was a servant who lived at her employers house. Arthur 15, was a labourer, Catherine 10 was at school. Mary, 7 and Bridget 2 completed the family group.

As previously described Elizabeth McDonald was born on 10 Jan 1873; by then the family had moved to 54 King St Consett. Ellen, the last of John and Bridget’s children was born on 11 Aug. 1875, and baptised at St Mary’s Blackhill, sponsors, James and Catherine Clark. As with the previous births of the McDonnells in England the birth was registered by Bridget, who like most people in those days could not write, and made her mark.

John and Bridget’s son Arthur MacDonnell was married to Amelia Ann Branigan of Blackhill, on 20 Nov. 1880, Mary MacDonnell was a witness, there was some urgency about the wedding as the couple appear with their baby, as part of the census return for the Brannigan family on the census in spring 1881, thought Arthur (24), a puddler was erroneously recorded as born in Consett, rather than America.

Arthur’s sister, Catherine McDonald (20) married William Wilson (21) at the register office Lanchester on 29 January 1881. Catherine’s address was 9 Prince’s St, the next street to the family home in King St. (9 Prince’s Street was the home of the Bradley family). Catherine and William set up home at 32 Cort St Benfieldside (Blackhill).

The 1881 census also shows Rosanna Clarke (63), widow of Lawrence Clarke, stonemason, Bridget McDonell’s godmother (and aunt?) was at 6 New Market St, Consett. John her eldest son was a stonemason, her youngest son Lawrence was an ironworker.  The head of the house was Matthew Clarke, the middle son (29) who was a beer house keeper.  The records of Blackhill Cemetry (section B 236) reveal that Lawrence Clarke was buried in 1878.  The inscription on his headstone reads, ‘In loving memory of Lawrence Clarke of Consett who died July 25^th 1878 aged 66’.  Headstones were something many people in Consett could not afford so perhaps Lawrence and Rose were relatively well off.   Rose’s son, John (30) Clarke and his wife Susan (25), both Irish born were at 6 Railway Terrace, Blackhill in 1881 with their three children, and John McAfee, their Irish born lodger, an iron worker.  An addition to Lawrence’s headstone in 1887 reads, ‘John, son of the above, who died Nov 24^th 1887, aged 35’.

As mentioned earlier, the 1881 census showed John (52) labourer iron works and Bridget (50)McDonnell and the five daughters at 54 King St; Rose A (27) waiting maid, Mary (17) dress maker, Bridget (11) Elizabeth (8) and Ellen (5) - all scholars. There were also four lodgers, all labourers at the Ironworks, including the three Rocks brothers from Armagh (as detailed on the 1871 census). The Rock family had been the McDonnells neighbours in 1871 at   Iron Company Cottages. A Patrick Rocks (13) was lodging with a Hagan family in 1851; it will be interesting to see if these families are interrelated, or linked by their place of origin in Ireland.

The death of John McDonnell

Sadly John McDonnell died of typhoid fever after an illness of 11 days on Saturday 23 July 1881 aged 52, and was buried the following day after a funeral at St Mary’s Blackhill. Sanitary conditions at the time were poor; up to 1860 water was delivered to the town by cart, and there was a race between the women to buy their water before the barrels were empty. The book ‘The Consett Story’ recounts how women would borrow a pint or two of water from a neighbour so they could cook. By the time of John’s death mains water was available, but the introduction of a mains sewage system did not come for many decades, and typhoid and cholera were a constant threat in Victorian England.

The 1891 census shows the McDonnell family at 54 King St. The family was made up of Bridget McDonnell (56) and Bridget junior (21) dressmaker, Elizabeth (18) dressmaker, and Ellen (15) dressmaker, were still at 54 King St.   Bridget (Clark) described herself as a Dressmaker in the 1851 Census, and it seems she had passed her skills on to her daughters. Also in the house were 3 boarders McGroder, Welch and O’Rourke, all Irish born iron workers.

Catherine (McDonnell) and William Wilson had moved from Cort St to 18 Hawthorn Terrace Blackhill they had four children, three daughters and a son. The census describes William as an incline engine man (stationary). By 1901 (census) William and his wife Catherine had had another 4 children.

Consett in the 1890’s Kelly’s Directory of 1890, lists a ‘Theresa McDonald (Mrs), beer retailer Church St.’, a relative?  Amongst notable Consett institutions in existence then, but not now, were the Wheatsheaf Hotel 8 Middle St- William Whitaker, The Consett Guardian Front St - published Friday, and the Consett Chronicle Front St -published Friday! Clearly the papers were in serious competition.  There was also the Theatre Royal, Trafalgar St and Hepworth & Sons Tailors, 12 Shakespeare St.  Still in existence are The Fountain Hotel, Medomsley Rd (John William Johnson) the Mount Pleasant Inn 13 Newmarket St (Patrick Coyle), the Turf Hotel, Front St (Michael Cassidy) and Charles Yager, Pork Butcher, 6 Shakespeare St. Whellan’s directory of Durham 1894 lists Nathan Elsdon, mineral water manufacturer and ale and porter distributor, and auctioneer Delves Lane; I have an earthenware bottle stamped ‘Invalid (Dublin) Stout Nathan Elsdon Delves Lane.’ There was a Thomas Jones, dealer in Musical Instruments at 5 Church Street; though money was tight in those days; before electricity, and the entertainments it brought, all amusements had to be ‘live’, so perhaps there was a steady demand for instruments. A William Nichol, saddle and harness maker of 48 Front St reminds us that, other than the steam train, transport was by horse, or on foot. I’m not sure what can be concluded by the presence of James O’Hanlon marine store dealer at Gibson St!  (Consett is in the middle of the country, far from the sea).  Emily Tait (Miss) was running a Ladies School at 23 Sherburn Terrace. The Misses Yager were carrying on the butchery business, an unusual profession for women in those days, I imagine. The wonderfully named Boaz Whitfield was a farmer and besummaker of Dyke Nook, whilst Septimus Brodie of East Parade, another man with a memorable name was an accountant.

The Corrs and the Arthurs

As mentioned earlier, the Corr and McDonnell families were united when Michael Corr married Elizabeth McDonnell at St Mary’s in 1897. The witnesses were Arthur Quinn and Susannah Corr (Michael’s sister).

Early Corrs in North West Durham

Brooms register records Corrs from two parishes in Tyrone; Desertcreat and Pomeroy and from Mullabrach in Co Armagh.  People from both these Counties came to Consett in considerably numbers.

The first record of Corrs in the Consett area occurred in on 5 August 1847 when a James Corr of Blackhill, son of John Corr & Bridget Hughes, Parish of Pomeroy, County Tyrone, married Mary O’Brien, daughter of James O Brien and Susan McClean, of Kildress Parish, Co Tyrone at Brooms. The witnesses were Nancy Smith of Ushaw College and Jane Stealford(?) of Brooms.  James and Mary’s son John was baptised at Brooms on 11 August 1848, with sponsors Thomas Quinn and Margaret O’Brien; and his brother William at Brooms on 1 June 1851, the sponsors were Patrick Quin and Margaret Monaghan.  Two years later a Margaret Corr, born in Mullabrach County Armagh, married Bernard Mallon at Brooms.

Another Core marriage took place in 1849 (August 4) when John Core of Blackhill, son of Bernard Core & Bridget McGuire of Desertcrete* Parish, Co Tyrone married   Rose McGurk. of Blackhill, daughter of  Daniel and Susan (Mucklhaddon**)  parents Desertcrete. Bernard Corr, John and Rose’s son was  was baptised at Brooms on the 8 September 1850, the sponsors were David Corr and Cathrine McGuire; and their daughter Susannah  Corr at brooms on 7 Seotember 1856, sponsors Eugene McNamee and Anna McGurk..   At the baptism of my gt gt uncle, William Monaghan in 1852 one of the sponsors was a John Core. Some of these people may have been relatives of our Corrs, until it’s learnt where in Ireland our Corrs came from, it’s impossible to say.***

In 1859 Hugh Toner, son of Edward and Catherine (Corr) was baptised at St Mary’s Blackhill (27 Nov. sponsors Michael Quinn and Catherine Black).  The following day Patrick Frodden was baptised, the son of Peter and Mary (Corr), (witnesses John Conroy and Catherine Curran).

*Desertcrete Parish borders Kildress Parish, Kildress Parish was the home of the Monaghans.

** Macklehatton

***I checked films of registers of several parishes (Arbo,  Clonoe, Lissan,Kildress, Donaghmore, Desertcrete and Pomeroy) at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland in august 2007 and found no trace of a Francis Corr.  Many of the entries were in faded ink, and badly filmed, some were, in parts, illegable, but I’m fairly sure that the baptisms of neither Francis, or Arthur Corr were recorded My second cousin the late Gerald Corr though the family came from Tyrone, perhaps he was right, but I will look for the Corrs in Armagh on my next visit to PRONI

Corrs in Ireland.

There were many Corrs in Ireland.

The Tithe Applotment Books and Griffiths Valuation of Ireland

These land surveys were undertaken to apportion liability for taxes. The first to the Church of Ireland, and the second for a local tax similar to the Rates, or Council tax. They identify those owning or renting land. This covers the vast majority of heads of households except for landless labourers in large towns for cities; there is little evidence of people from the large towns and cities migrating to Consett. The TAB CD-ROM covers the 6 counties of present day Northern Ireland. The GVI CD-ROM covers all Ireland. The evidence on these records is circumstantial; I am interpreting it in the light of an analysis of the known origins of the Irish in the Consett area in 1881. The county of birth of 40% of the Consett Irish is known , as is that of a third of the Blackhill Irish, and a quarter of the Leadgate Irish; of these 859 people only 1 came from Wexford, and none came from Clare. In this light I assume it is unlikely our Corrs came from either of these counties.  On the other hand 362 of the ‘Derwentside’ Irish came from Tyrone, 162 from Monaghan and 88 were from Armagh; on this basis I assume it’s much more likely our Corrs came from one of these counties, but of course it’s quite possible that they were the exception to the rule, and did come, for example, from Wexford or Clare

The TAB’s show Arthur Corrs renting land at Glenavy Parish, County Antrim; he was the only Corr holding land in that Parish, and he was in a county with no significant record of immigration to North West Durham  and at Drumrusk Townland, Eglish Parish, County Armagh 1833. There was also an Arthur Corr holding land, surveyed in 1827 at Drumuier Townland, Clonoe Parish, County Tyrone.

The Glenavy Arthur was the only Corr renting land in that parish. In James Corr Ballydoo Townland 1833

There was an  Arthur Corr renting land  at the time of GVI(1848-64) in Corran Townland, Lisnadill Parish County Armagh, there were also two Charles Corrs, a Daniel Corr, a Felix, a Francis, three Johns, a Joseph, a Mary, two Michael (senior and junior), a Rose, and two Thomas's in the same parish. In County Tyrone, Clonoe Parish in Ballygittle Townland, an Arthur Corr was renting land at Clonoe Parish, County Tyrone. There were also Arthur Corrs renting land in  Dublin, Derry and Roscommon (one in each county), very few people came to the Consett area from these three counties. The same records show Francis Corrs renting land in Antrim (1) Cavan (1) and Fermanagh (2), three counties thinly represented in the Consett area. There were three Francis Corrs renting land in County Armagh, one in Lisnadill Parish, Farranamucklagh Townland, just south of Armagh City; and one in Tynan parish, townland of Annagharap, in the west of the county, where it shares boundaries with Counties Tyrone and Monaghan. The third Armagh Francis Corr was in Irish Street in Armagh City. There was a Francis Corr renting land in Annagheane Townland, Currin Parish, County Monaghan.  Finally there were two Francis Corrs renting land in Arboe Parish County Tyrone, one in Annaghmore Townland, and one in Sessia Townland.

The first record of our known Corr ancestors in England appears in the 1861 census for Conside (Consett). It records that two brothers, Frank and Arthur Corr (aged 23 & 22) were lodging with John Markey an Irish labourer, at Potts Buildings, Medomsley Rd. The brothers were born in Ireland and both worked as Labourers at the Iron works. It seems very likely that this is the first record of our Corrs ancestors in Consett, as 6 years later on 3 June 1867, a 28 year old Arthur Corr married Mary Ann Arthurs at  St Mary’s Blackhill; the witnesses were Patrick Carlin, and Margaret Slattery.  Arthur and Mary Ann’s marriage certificate confirms Kath Corr’s statement that his father was Francis Corr (deceased), a labourer, so far no record of Francis being in England has come to light, Gerard Corr, my second cousin tells me that the Corrs came from the Dungannon area. Arthur and Mary Ann’s first child, Mary, was born at 7 Crook Hall on 15 April 1868. The birth was registered by Mary Ann, who, as at her wedding, signed the certificate. (The first of our ancestors to be able to sign their name? and yet the copy certificates for subsequent registrations show Mary Ann as making her mark !) Mary was baptised on 16 April 1868

As Gt aunt Kath Corr told me that Arthur Corr was an iron puddler.  Wrought iron was produced by the puddling process, ‘it was a very difficult manual procedure... Great strength was needed for this work and also skill, as the puddler had to judge the rate of decorbonisation of the iron using his hands, eyes and experience.  Puddling was acknowledged as one of the toughest jobs in nineteenth century Britain.  Puddlers were renowned for consuming enormous quantities of beer.  The murderous heat of the forge and the heavy unrelenting physical nature of the work, meant that a good puddler was a much respected member of the iron ma,kking community of the time.  The Consett plant introduced steel production in 1881-2, gradually phasing put the process of puddling.*’

Michael Corr, my great grandfather, was born on 17 May 1870 The copy of Michael’s birth certificate provided by Stanley Register office indicates that Mary Ann made her mark, rather than signing her name.

*Consett a Town in the Making T Moore p 60 - 63

Red Row, Crookhall, from style of the woman’s hat, I think this picture is likely from the 1920’s.

The 1871 census found the Corr family still at Crook Hall, their full address was 7 Red Row, Arthur was a blast furnace keeper, a skilled job; he was the man who decided when the furnace was ready to be tapped. He and Mary Ann had two children, Mary (3) and Michael, (11 months) also in the household were Anne Collins (50) servant, and John McGarity (25) and Peter Rafferty (26) both men were labourers, born in Ireland.

The first iron-clad blast furnaces at Consett, the furnaces were filled from the top, after the iron ore had been pushed in a barrow up the steep incline it was tipped into the blast top. The parapets around the top were for the safety of the labourers who did this dangerous and exhausting work.

Susannah Corr was born on 22 February 1873; the Corr family had moved from Crookhall to 62 Princess St Consett, the copy certificate again say’s that Mary Ann made her mark, perhaps she could not sign her name? It could be that Arthur had moved to be closer to work, or he could have changed place of work from the blast furnaces at Crookhall, to those at Consett.

Gerard Corr discovered an entry for Sarah Joanna Corr in the St Mary’s baptism register, born 21 November 1875, baptised 28 November 1875.  I obtained a copy of her birth certificate which shows the family at Princess St, at the time of Sarah’s birth. Sarah Joanna does not appear on any of the next three censuses, I wonder if she died young?

The 1881 census records Arthur Corr (40) blast furnace keeper, and his daughter Susan (8), lodging with his brother in law, John Arthurs, at 4 Sunderland St Consett. The obvious question is where were Mary Ann, (38) Michael (10) and Mary Corr (13)? They were not recorded on the census elsewhere in Britain, as Corr, Core or Carr, (or Cow as Arthur and co. were in Consett). The missing Corrs could simply have been missed off the census by mistake; the other explanation is that they may have been in Ireland. Unfortunately the Irish census of 1881 has been lost.

Letitia Corr was born on 3 November 1884, and baptised 23 November 1884 her birth is not listed in the DCC online index.  Was she born elsewhere in England, or perhaps in Ireland? However if Letty was born in Ireland, she and her mother would have had to have travelled back to Consett in the three weeks between her birth, and her baptism at  St Mary’s Blackhill - quite an epic journey. (Check British & Irish civil reg.) Tragically Mary Ann Corr, aged 45 (formerly Arthurs) died of phthisis (usually meaning pulmonary TB) at 26 Albert Row Consett on 28 July 1890. Her death was registered by her son Michael Corr, who seems to have signed his name, Michael was also living at 26 Albert Row.

The 1891 census found the Core (sic) family at 26 Albert Terrace Consett. Arthur Corr (50), now a widower, furnace man was the head of the house. [This census records Arthur’s birthplace as Consett, but the 1861, 71,81 census’ all record Arthur’s birthplace as Ireland ] Michael (20) was also furnace man, Susannah (16) and Letitia completed the immediate family. Also in the household were Ellen Fitzpatrick (formerly Arthurs) and her family [see

below for details].

The Arthurs

The Arthurs family were not in the Consett area at the time of the 1861 census, but had arrived by 1866,  we know this because, William and Susannah Arthurs, Mary Ann’s parents were the sponsors of Susannah McNally at her baptism, at St Mary’s Blackhill on 31 August 1866; this is the first record of the Arthurs in England. Mary’s father William was described as a saddler on her marriage certificate. This must have been William’s trade in Ireland, and perhaps he pursued it on his arrival in England, but before long he began to work as a labourer.  Years later, when Susannah died, she was described on her death certificate as the widow of  William Arthurs, saddler, clearly the couple were rightly proud of the skills William has learned, and practised in Ireland, before finding work as a labourer in England.

The family appear on the 1871 census at 247 Iron Company Cottages Consett. William (60) was an Ironworks labourer, & Susan (60). John (25 was also an iron works labourer, and Ellen was 20. All the family (and their three lodgers) were born in Ireland.

It is likely that the Arthurs came from Tyrone for a number of reasons; Tyrone was a major county of emigration for the Consett Irish, of the four groups of  Irish Arthurs listed in Durham in 1881 two gave their origin as Tyrone,  two, including our Arthurs are listed simply as coming from Ireland. I intend to check the parish records for these familes to see if there are links to our Arthurs. GVI lists several William Arthur renting land in Antrim 3, Clare 2, Fermanagh 3, Kildare, Laois, Derry, Offaly 1 each, none of these counties has any significant history of emmigration to Consett. There were three William Arthur in Tyrone, in Birnaghs, Ardstraw Parish, near Newton Stewart, there were eight Arthur renting land in the parish when Griffiths made his valuation Dernaseer Donaghmore Parish, and at Lisnaharney, Drumragh Parish. There were no William Arthurs renting lands in Tyrone

The 1871 censusu shows a David Arters (26) one of three labourers in the McGinn family at Tow Law Hutts, a fellow lodger was William Mucklehatton.

In 1872 Ellen Arthurs was a witness at the marriage at St Mary’s Blackhill, of a Michael McDonald to Margaret Toner (Michael was not closely related, perhaps not related at all to us, as his father John was deceased, and our John lived until 1881). William, aged 70, died of heart disease at 4 Sunderland St on 7 December 1874; he was buried at Blackhill cemetery.

As mentioned earlier the Corrs were lodging in John  Arthurs  household in 1881; John was a blast furnace filler, (meaning he worked on the top of the blast furnace barrowing iron ore and additives into the furnace).

Ellen Arthurs (23), of 4 Sunderland Rd (formerly Sunderland St) Consett married Thomas Fitzpatrick, a coalminer of Nelson St Leadgate at St Mary’s Blackhill on the 14th of April 1883, her brother John was a witness, as was Catherine Forkin of 5 Sunderland St. 

Susan Arthurs (60), the widow of William Arthurs ‘a saddler’, died of bronchitis after a month’s illness on 13 September 1885. Susan was staying with her daughter Ellen and her son inlaw, James Fitzpatrick at her daughter’s house at New Cornsay. Five years later the census of 1891, found Ellen Fitzpatrick, and her two sons, John (7) and Thomas (5) lodging with her brother in law Arthur Corr at 24 Consett Terrace.  In 1901 Ellen Fitzpatrick and her son Thomas (15), were lodging with Ellen’s brother John Arthurs at 10 Consett Terrace. As in 1891 Ellen is shown as married, rather than widowed, but there is no trace of her husband James Fitzpatrick.

In 1901 the census showed John Arthurs,(49)  and his widowed sister Ellenor Fitzpatrick(38) and her son (15 )  at 10 Consett Terrace Consett.

My uncle Joseph Monaghan remembers at the age of 13 or 14 (around 1940) he used to go to a pub on Front St (he had to go in the back door in Nelson St because he was under age) He would then buy a jug of ale and carry it back to Grandad Corr  at 47 Edith St. As a reward Grandad Corr would give him a cup of ale.

Michael Corr, my gt grandfather, died of old age in hospital at Durham aged 84 on 28 July 1954. His death was reported by his son John Corr, also of 47 Edith St Consett.  

Appendix

Irish records of Clarkes and McEvitts.

 In an attempt to solve the Bridget Clarke/ Bridget McEvett mystery, I requested transcripts of the baptismal registers of the various Catholic parishes in County Louth, from the County library service. I received records of all Bridget McKevitts/Clarke/Clark baptisms recorded in Louth (from 1700 to 1900, I am told) there were 17 Bridget McKevitts , born between 1832 and 1876,  and 6 Bridget Clarkes born in the same period. The records show baptisms of Bridget McKevitts in the northern half of the county (in this light it is surprising that there are no McKevitts listed on the  GVI Cd-Rom in County Louth). There were Bridget Clarke entries in the baptism registers of parishes in the Dundalk area, in the south of the county,  in and around Drogheda and around Dundalk Bay.  Having checked the names of the parents, maiden surnames of the mothers, and the names of the sponsors I found nothing to show an identifiable link between these Bridgets, and the girl who was married at Brooms in 1851.

Two land surveys were undertaken in Ireland in the 1800’s to apportion liability for tithes and taxes. The Tithe Applotment Books, compiled 1823-38, apportioned the tithe due to the Church of Ireland.  Griffiths Valuation of Ireland, 1848-1864 apportioned liability for a local tax similar to the Rates, or Council tax. Both surveys identify those owning or renting land. This covers the vast majority of heads of households except for landless labourers, usually in large towns for cities; there is little evidence of people from the large towns and cities migrating to Consett. The TAB CD-ROM covers only the 6 counties of present day northern Ireland. The GVI CD-ROM covers all Ireland.

The Tithe Applotment Books, CD-ROM does not cover County Louth, and I will look for these returns on a future visit to Ireland.  The T.A.B. recorded no Clarkes, or Clarks in County Armagh, the County immediately to the north of County Louth.  The T.A.B. found an Arthur McKevett  in Anaghavakey Creggan Parish County Armagh, and a James McKevett in the same townland. In the same Creggan parish, in Rassan townland,  was Owen McKevett. This parish was surveyed in 1828.

The GVI CD-ROM covers all Ireland, and records no McKevetts (or any known variation on the name) in County Louth, (this is suprising as there are several McKevitt baptisms in the Louth registers).  In the neighbouring County Armagh, in Killeen, civil parish of Killevy was a Lawrence McKevett, and next to the entry the comment ‘Louth’, pehaps this suggests Lawrence, who owned, or let land in Armagh, lived in Louth.   Lawrence is a name which occurs on several occasions in our extended family (though coupled with the surname Clarke, rather than McKevett). I intend to check the church registers for the area to see if any trace can be found of Bridget, or any of her known relatives. In the same townland as Lawrence McKevett, were Felix, John, and Patrick McKevett. In the same parish (in Keggall) was the Rev. Michael McKevett.

G.V.I. found 132 Clarkes (and 2 Clarks) in County Louth. They were in 31 of the 64 civil parishes in the County, there was a cluster in North Louth, near the Armagh border, a concentration in and around Dundalk and Dundalk Bay, another group was centred around the town of Louth, and the biggest group in and around the town of Drogheda. 

The impact of the famine on County Louth can be seen from its population figures, 128,240 in 1841 compared to 107,657 in 1851.

The Arthurs

I have not found an entry for the Arthurs family so far on the 1861 census, but they had arrived by 1866, we know this because, William and Susannah Arthurs, (my gt,gt,gt grandparents) Mary Ann’s parents were the sponsors of Susannah McNally at her baptism, at St Mary’s Blackhill on 31 August 1866; this is the first record of the Arthurs in England.

On 3 June 1867, the 28 year old Arthur Corr married Mary Ann Arthurs (my gt gt grandparents) at  St Mary’s Blackhill; the witnesses were Patrick Carlin, and Margaret Slattery.  Arthur and Mary Ann’s marriage certificate confirms Kath Corr’s statement that his father was Francis Corr (deceased), a labourer, so far no record of Francis being in England has come to light, Gerard Corr, my second cousin tells me that the Corrs came from the Dungannon area. Mary Ann’s father William was described as a saddler on her marriage certificate. This must have been William’s trade in Ireland, and perhaps he pursued it on his arrival in England, but before long he began to work as a labourer.  Years later, when Susannah died, she was described on her death certificate as the widow of  William Arthurs, saddler, clearly the couple were rightly proud of the skills William had learned, and practised in Ireland, before finding work as a labourer in England.

Michael Corr, my great grandfather, was born on 17 May 1870 The copy of Michael’s birth certificate provided by Stanley Register office indicates that Mary Ann made her mark, rather than signing her name.

The 1871 census found the Corr family still at Crook Hall, their full address was 7 Red Row, Arthur was a blast furnace keeper, a skilled job, he was the man who decided when the furnace was ready to be tapped. He and Mary Ann had two children, Mary (3) and Michael, (11 months) also in the household were Anne Collins (50) servant, and John McGarity (25) and Peter Rafferty (26) both men were labourers, born in Ireland.

The 1871 census shows William Arthurs (60) an Ironworks labourer, Susan (60), John (25 was also an iron works labourer, and Ellen, 20 at 247 Iron Company Cottages Consett   All the family (and their three lodgers) were born in Ireland.

It is likely that the Arthurs came from Tyrone for a number of reasons; Tyrone was the major county of emigration for the Consett Irish, of the four groups of  Irish Arthurs listed in Durham in 1881 two gave their origin as Tyrone,  two, including our Arthurs are listed as coming from Ireland. I intend to check the parish records for these families to see if there are links to our Arthurs. GVI lists several William Arthur renting land in Antrim 3, Clare 2, Fermanagh 3, Kildare, Laois, Derry, and Offaly 1 each, none of these counties has any significant history of emigration to Consett. There were three William Arthur in Tyrone, in Birnaghs, Ardstraw Parish, near Newton Stewart, there were eight Arthur renting land in the parish when Griffiths made his valuation Dernaseer Donaghmore Parish, and at Lisnaharney, Drumragh Parish. There were about eighty people named Arthur renting or holding land in Tyrone at the time of GVI. There were no William Arthurs renting land in Tyrone at the time, Arthurs seems to be a much rarer name than Arthur, there were only 3 Arthurs holding land in Tyrone at the time of GVI.  McLysaght does not list the name Arthurs in his book on Irish surnames, so I assume it is a variation of Arthurs. 

In 1872 Ellen Arthurs was a witness at the marriage at St Mary’s Blackhill, of a Michael McDonald to Margaret Toner (Michael was not closely related, perhaps not related at all to us, as his father John was deceased, and our John lived until 1881). William, aged 70, died of heart disease at 4 Sunderland St on 7 December 1874; he was buried at Blackhill cemetery.

As mentioned earlier the Corrs were lodging in John Arthurs household in 1881; John was blast furnace filler, (meaning he worked on the top of the blast furnace barrowing iron ore and additives into the furnace).

Ellen Arthurs (23), of 4 Sunderland Rd (formerly Sunderland St) Consett married Thomas Fitzpatrick, a coalminer of Nelson St Leadgate at St Mary’s Blackhill on the 14th of April 1883, her brother John was a witness, as was Catherine Forkin of 5 Sunderland St. 

Susan Arthurs (60), the widow of William Arthurs ‘a saddler’, died of bronchitis after a month’s illness on 13 September 1885. Susan was staying with her daughter Ellen and her son in-law, James Fitzpatrick at her daughter’s house at New Cornsay. Five years later the census of 1891, found Ellen Fitzpatrick, and her two sons, John (7) and Thomas (5) lodging with her brother in law Arthur Corr at 24 Consett Terrace.  In 1901 Ellen Fitzpatrick and her son Thomas (15), were lodging with Ellen’s brother John Arthurs at 10 Consett Terrace. As in 1891 Ellen is shown as married, rather than widowed, but there is no trace of her husband James Fitzpatrick.

In 1901 the census showed John Arthurs, (49) and his widowed sister Eleanor Fitzpatrick (38) and her son (15) at 10 Consett Terrace Consett.

Grange Parish

description from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837

GRANGE, a parish, partly in the barony of O'NEILLAND WEST, but chiefly in that of ARMAGH, county of ARMAGH, and province of ULSTER, 2 miles (N) from Armagh city on the road to Belfast (Co. Antrim); containing 4132 inhabitants. This parish which was formed out of the parish of Armagh in 1777 comprises, according to the Ordnance Survey 6795 1/4 statute acres, of which 2411 1/2 are in O’Neill and West and 4383 3/4 in Armagh.
The land is generally good, and well cultivated; there is a considerable quantity of bog. There are quarries of excellent limestone and freestone, from which latter the stone is raised to the restoration of Armagh cathedral. A considerable quantity of linen cloth is woven here, and there is an extensive bleach green at Alistragh.
The principal seat is Castle-Dillon, the splendid residence of Sir Thomas Moylneux, Bart., near who’s extensive and richly wooded demesne is an obelisk 60 feet high, erected by the Right Hon. Sir Capel Molyneux Bart., in 1782, to commerate the passing of some acts securing the independence of the Irish parliament. Here also are Drumsill, the residence of the Misses McGeough; Alistragh of R. M'Bride Esq., the grange of M. Pringle, Esq.; and the Glebe House of the Rev. C. W. Lyne.
The living is a perpetual cure, in the Diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Dean of Armagh. The curate has a stipend of £100, paid by the dean, with the glee house, a large and commodious building surrounded by a fine plantation, and a glebe comprising 37 3/4 acres, the two latter valued at £100 per annum.  The church is a handsome edifice, built in 1779 of compact limestone, with a square tower and octagonal spire.
In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Armagh, and has a small plain chapel.
The parochial school is situated near the church, and is aided by an annual donation from the incumbent; two schools for females are aided by the dean, the incumbent and Miss McGeough; and a national school is aided by an annual donation of £20 from Lord Charlemont, who also built the school-house; they afford instruction to about 270 children. The late Rt. Hon. Sir Capel Molyneux, Bart., bequeathed a rent-charge of £30, on the Castle-Dillon estate to the poor Protestant housekeepers of this parish which is distributed by the incumbent.

Kilclooney Civil Parish; a description from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837

Kilclooney , a district parish, partly in the barony of Lower Orior, but chiefly in that of Lower Fews, county of Armagh and province of ULSTER, 5 miles (S. W.) from Markethill on the road from Newry to Armagh City; containing 7627 inhabitants.
It was constituted, in 1792, by disuniting 22 townlands from the parish of Mullaghbrack, and comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 12, 833¼ statute acres, of which 3109 are heath and bog, and the remainder in a high state of cultivation. At Carricklane is a quarry of good clay-slate, from which was raised the stone for building Gosford Castle. Lead ore has been also found in considerable quantities, and there are indications of coal. The weaving of linen and cotton cloth is carried on.
In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Lisnadill, or Ballymacnab; the chapel is a large and handsome edifice at Clady.
There are eight public schools some of which are aided by donations from the Rev. Dr. Blacker, others by Lords Charlemont and Gosford, and the parochial school by the prebendary and perpetual curate: they afford instruction. to about 680 children…

TartaraghanParish
Armagh, Northern Ireland32°20'S 140°37'E; alt. 190m (623’)

Note: This page is still under construction

Tartaraghan (or Tartaringhan), ARM IRL —

For a complete list of Townlands by Division see the PRONI Geographic Name Listing for the Parish of Tartaraghan.
For a map of the parishes within County Armagh see the page of the Ulster History Foundation.
Need to check Householders Index for Antrim.

·         (translation: the Low Parish): in the barony of O’Nielland West about 3 miles north of Loughgall on the road from Lurgan to Dungannon. Comprises 11,612 acres, 2,122 of which are in Lough Neagh. It is chiefly agricultural, the soil being light and fertile. In the nineteenth century it included a lot of bogs and flax was grown for the local linen industry; that has now been replaced by very good apple orchards. The church was built in 1816 to replace one dating from 1712. EGLISH is one of the townlands in the parish.
[pers comm Leslie Pielou, Apr 1977].

·         par., Ireland, N Co Armagh, bar. W ONeilland; 5m NW of Portadown - on Loch Neagh, 4m NE of Verner's Bridge; p.o., rly. stn. (GNIR), 9843ac, pop. 5300.

·         Mitchell (Irish Churches and Graveyards, 1990) includes the following:

Parish	Town or Townland	Church Denomination	Graveyard
Tartaraghan (ARM)	Ballynarry Breagh Cloncore Derrinraw Derryaugh Derrylee Eglish Maghery	P RC M M RC M RC - RC	G G - - G - - G G

·        

·         (1844 Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland):
TARTARAGHAN, a parish 3.75 miles north-north-east of Loughgall, barony of West O'Neilland , co. Armagh, Ulster. It contains the villages of MAGHERY and MILLTOWN: which see. Length, northward , 6 miles , __inclusive of 2 miles in Lough Neagh; extreme breadth , 3.75 miles ; area , 11,612 acres , 35 perches ,__of which 1,917 acres , 2 roods, 34 perches are in Lough Neagh, and 204 acres , 3 roods, 21 perches are in small lakes. Pop., in 1831 , 6,321; in 1841, 7,313. Houses 1,291. Pop. of the rural districts, in 1841, 6,961. Houses 1,236. The surface is low and flat, consists, in general , of good land, and comprises the terminating part of the peninsula between the rivers Bann and Blackwater, the former running 1.5 mile on the western boundary. Coney island in Lough Neagh belongs to Tartaraghan. Two lakes one of them Anagariff lie in the western district of the parish. The principal hamlets are Derrycaveragh, Cranagill, Hunt's-Corner, Green-Island, and Crow-Hill; and the principal country residences are Mount-Hall, Rosemount-house, Clontylea-house, and Crow-Hill-house, the two last the seats of O’Brien, Esq., and J.Atkinson, Esq. An ancient work , called St  Patrick's road, is said to run through Anagariff lake.

This parish is a rectory, and a separate benefice, in the dioceses. of Armagh. Tithe composition , 276 pounds 18 shillings and sixpence; glebe 50 pounds. Gross income 326 pounds 18 shillings and sixpence; nett 265 pounds 1 shilling and 4 pence halfpenny. Patron , successively the diocesan, the Earl of Charlemont, and Charles Brownlow, Esq. A curate receives a salary of 69 pounds 4 shillings and 8 pence , and has the use of the glebe-house and 10 acres of glebe land . The church was built in 1816, partly by means of a loan of 738 pounds 9 shillings and 2 pence farthing from the late Board of First Fruits, and partly by a sum of unrecorded amount raised by subscription. Sittings 450; attendance 430. A quondram Methodist meeting-house is also used as a parochial place of worship, and has an attendance of 160. The Presbyterian meeting-house has an attendance of 150 in summer, and 100 in winter. The Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of 450 ; and , in the Roman Catholic parochial arrangement , is united to the chapel of Loughgall. In 1834, the parishioners consisted of 3,700 Churchmen, 359 Presbyterians, 11 other Protestant dissenters, and 2,100 Roman Catholics; 4 Sunday schools in the church and at Teague, Derryard, and Derrylard, were usually attended by about 515 scholars in summer, and 320 in winter; 2 parochial daily schools had on their books 39 boys and 16 girls; and 7 daily schools at Derrylea, Derryagh, Derrykenip, Derrycor, Derryard, Derrylard, and Teague, had on their books 239 boys and 140 girls. The parochial boy’s school was salaried with 8 pounds from the Society for Discountenancing Vice, 2 pounds from the rector, and 2 pounds from Mr.OBrien; the parochial girls school, with 4 pounds from the London Hibernian Society, and subscriptions from the rector and Mr.OBrien; the daily school at Derrylea, with 12 pounds 10 shillings and other advantages from Col. Verner; that at Derrylard , with 8 pounds from subscriptions ; that at Teague , with an unreported sum from subscription; and that at Derryard with 7 pounds from the London Hibernian Society, and 5 pounds from Col. Verner. In 1834, a National School at Maghery was salaried with 12 pounds a-year from the Board , and had on its books 51 boys and 41 girls.
[per Randell Summerville, Mermaid Beach, Queensland, Australia, 11 April 1998]

·         re Verner’s Bridge: [Claudia Gauss, San Diego, CA <cjg@adnc.com>, and 03 April 1998]:-
located in County Armagh & crosses the Blackwater on its way to Lough Neagh in the Townland of Upper Derryene. So far … oldest VERNER is Jacob born about 1749, died 9 August 1827, Allegheny, PA; spouse unknown, had 13 children. Jacob's ancestors originally came from Musselburgh, Scotland from about 1332, then to Edinburgh in 1428, where a John VERNER was a burgess, then 1659 to Townland of Drumskea, Parish of Drummore, Barony of Lower Evagh, County Downs, Ireland. Then crossed the Irish Sea to Verner's Bridge Station. There is also mention of a the Verner mansion called "Churchill" which is 2 mi from this bridge.

·         [Randell Summerville, of Mermaid Beach, Queensland, Australia <randell@winshop.com.au> replied 10 April 1998]:-
(1844 Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland): CHARLEMONT, a quad sacre parish, containing a town of the same name, in the quad civil parish of Loughgall, and on the western border of the barony and county of Armagh, Ulster. Length, 3.5 miles ; breadth 2.5; area 3,156 acres. Pop., in 1831 , 3,480. The surface is generally low and flat , lies along the right bank of the Blackwater river, is traversed by the rod from Armagh to Dungannon, and about one-eighth of its extent of bog, and , over the greatest part of the remaining seven-eighths, of rich wheat-bearing land, greatly improved , and in good cultivation. This parish is a perpetual curacy, and a separate benefice , in the dioceses. of Armagh. Gross income , being salary paid by the rector of Loughgall, 70 pounds ; nett 50 pounds . Patron , the incumbent of Loughgall.
The church was built in 1832, by means of 300 pounds raised in various ways within the parish, and of 900 pounds gifted by the late Board of First Fruits. Sittings 350; attendance 250 to 400. two schoolhouses are also used alternately as parochial places of worship. and have an attendance of from 100 to 150; and the curate likewise officiates on every alternate Sabbath in the barrack. A Wesleyan chapel has an attendance of nearly 400. In 1834, the parishioners consisted of 1,538 Churchmen, 402 Presbyterians, 59 other Protestant dissenters, and 1,541 Roman Catholics; 3 Sabbath schools had on their books 128 boys and 148 girls; a daily school in the barrack, though intended chiefly for the children of the military, was attended by about 10 other children ; and 3 other daily schools __ one of which was aided with 20 pounds a-year from Mr. Parnell, one with 7 pounds 10 shillings , and a house from Col. Verner, and with 2 pounds or 3 pounds from the London Hibernian Society, one with 3 pounds 10 shillings from the rector, and with small gratuities from the London Hibernian Society, and one with 8 pounds from the Association for Discountenancing Vice__ had on their books 172 boys and 130 girls.