BRENNEN FAMILY CHRONICLES

© Christopher Earls Brennen

CHAPTER TWO

PROBABLE ANCESTORS

Our genealogical story begins with a probable ancestor, Bernard Brennan, born about 1780. This chapter describes what we know of Bernard and continues with his children including our first definite ancestor, his probable son, Edward Brennan. The next chapter, Chapter 3, details Edward's children and their families. We believe that one factor contributing to the uncertainty regarding the relationship between Edward and Bernard was an apparent religious schism that separated Edward and his descendants from the rest of Bernard's Roman Catholic family. The most obvious evidence of the schism is the adherence of Edward's offspring to the Protestant religions which contrasts with the adherence of the rest of the family to the Roman Catholic faith. The breakaway Protestant group includes our own ancestor a younger Bernard Brennen who seems to have sought refuge in Dublin and later in Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Of Edward's family only Anna Brennan (later Murray) remained in the Dromore/Magheralin vicinity and in the letters of Daniel Brennan from Ireland to his offspring who emigrated to Austalia, Anna is referred to with some disdain as "Mrs.Murry". The schism is what makes it difficult to be certain of the genealogical connection between the older Bernard and our definite ancestor Edward Brennan.

  1. Bernard Brennan, born about 1780, married a woman named A. (Alice?) Magrady. Their sons are linked by the fact that letters written by their son Daniel to Australia seem to refer to their son Bernard's family and to their daughter, Agnes. According to the Roman Catholic records of the parish of Dromore and Garvaghy, County Down, Alice, wife of Bernard Brennan of Dromore died on May 6, 1838. The children of Bernard Brennan and his wife Alice Magrady:
    1. Patrick Brennan was born on Aug.6, 1825, the son of Bernard Brennan of Dromore and Alice Magrady. His sponsors were John White and Margaret Smyth.
    2. Alice Brennan, born Oct.12, 1829, to Bernard Brennan of Ballyvicknakelly and his wife Jane formerly White and whose sponsors were James Kelly(?) and Mary McCullough. Perhaps the scribe made an error with this entry by confusing Bernard's wife with Peter's wife whose name was Jane White.
    3. Agnes Brennan listed her father as Bernard Brennan, a farmer in Ballyvicknakelly, on her marriage certificate. According to her death certificate Agnes was aged 43 when she died in 1875 which would mean she was born about 1832. Agnes was married on Nov.4, 1856, to Henry Bell Napier, born about 1829, a bachelor and a farmer in the townland of Ballymacormick. Henry's father, James Napier, was a farmer. John Davidson and Elizabeth Sarah Napier witnessed the marriage which took place in the Registry Office, Banbridge, presumably because this was a mixed marriage. Agnes's death in 1875 was mentioned in Daniel Brennen's letter to Australia in 1876. Henry Bell Napier is listed in the 1901 Census as a 72-year-old farmer living in the townland of Ballyvicknakelly. He is also listed as belonging to the Church of Ireland. A 60-year-old servant, Eliza McCullough, is living with him. Henry and Agnes had the following children:
      1. William John Napier was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Nov.10, 1856. In the 1880 Ulster Directory William Napier is listed as a hotelkeeper in Dromore. In the 1901 Census he is listed as a 38-year-old Roman Catholic spiritdealer living on Princes Street, Dromore, with his wife, Martha Napier, and two servants, Christopher Walsh, a 27-year-old barman and Susan Ferguson, an 18-year-old cook. Martha Napier is listed as 23 years old and an assistant in the bar.
      2. James Napier was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on May 10, 1857. His sponsors were John Brennan and Esther Grennet(?).
      3. Mary Anne Napier was born on Dec.12, 1859, and baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Dec.30, 1859. Her sponsors were John Brennan and Catherine Rorke.
      4. Henry Bell Napier was born on Jan.12, 1861, in Dromore.
      5. Mary Anne Napier was born on Aug.10, 1862, in Dromore.
      6. James Napier was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on May 18, 1865. His sponsor was Sarah Mussin.
      7. Agnes Napier was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Sep.13, 1867.
    4. Another Bernard Brennan may well belong in this genealogy. It seems particularly likely that this Bernard Brennan and Daniel Thomas Brennan (see below) were brothers for letters written by Daniel to Australia seem to refer to Bernard's family. On Feb.1, 1838, Bernard Brennan "of Dromore" was married to Catherine Fraser in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore. The witnesses were John O'Neill and John Fegan. Bernard and Catherine had at least nine children. Bernard is listed in the 1860 Griffith Valuation as renting a house at 31 Church Street, Dromore, worth eight pounds and ten shillings. He is also listed as renting about 7 acres of land in the townland of Ballyvicknakelly from George M. Vaughan. This land does not have a house on it. Bernard is listed as a spirit dealer and porter dealer in the Ulster Directory between 1852 and 1864. In 1859 he is listed as resident in Ardery. The records of the Dromore Roman Catholic Church include the burial of a Bernard Brennan on Jan.10, 1868, and of a Mrs. Brennan on Oct.7, 1870. The children of Bernard and Catherine Brennan:
      1. Another Bernard Brennan, son of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Dec.10, 1838. His sponsors were William Donelly and Elizabeth O'Neill.
      2. John Brennan, son of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Nov.29, 1840. His sponsors were John McDade and Jane O'Neill.
      3. Elizabeth Brennan, daughter of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Apr.9, 1843. Her sponsors were Hugh Haughan and Catherine Burns. This is probably the Elizabeth Brennan who was married in the same church on Aug.24, 1862, to Fintone Fitzpatrick, the witnesses being John Fegan and Elizabeth Lenaghan. Their children:
        1. Patrick Finton Fitzpatrick was baptized in the Dromore Roman Catholic Church on Mar.19, 1864. His sponsors were Catherine Byrne and James Murphy.
        2. Finton Leopold Fitzpatrick was baptized in the Dromore Roman Catholic Church on Nov.25, 1875. His sponsor was Ellen Cargan.
      4. Anna Catherine Brennan, daughter of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Jun.3, 1845. Her sponsors were James Woods and Catherine M. King. About 1873 Anne C. Brennan married Robert Guinea of Dromore and had a son, James Alexander Guinea, who was baptized in Dromore Roman Catholic Church on May 1, 1880. They went to live in Scotland, at least for a time.
      5. William Brennan, son of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Apr.8, 1847. His sponsors were John and Agnes Brennan of Dromore. It seems he must have died as an infant since another son called William was born in 1857.
      6. Teresa Mary Brennan, daughter of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Aug.24, 1851. Her sponsors were Henery Morgan and Mary McGrath of Dromore. She was married in the same church on Jan.26, 1882, to William J. Rooney.
      7. Lucy Brennan, daughter of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Jan.20, 1854. Her sponsors were Rose Anne and James O'Neil of Dromore. On Nov.21, 1881, she was married in the same church to Henry Monaghan, the witnesses being James McCartan and Jane Thompson. Their children:
        1. Catherine Monaghan was born prior to her parents marriage and was baptized in the Dromore Roman Catholic Church on Apr.11, 1881. Her sponsor was M. Cargin.
      8. William Patrick Brennan, son of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Nov.2, 1857. His sponsors were named Joseph and Rose.
      9. James Brennan, son of Bernard and Catherine (Frazer) Brennan, was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Apr.30, 1860. His sponsors were Arthur Gilmor(?) and Mary Mullan.
    5. Daniel Thomas Brennan was born a Roman Catholic about 1805-6. The proof that Daniel and the above Bernard were brothers lies in the fact that the letters written to Australia by Daniel's daughter Catherine Brennan refer to Agnes (Brennan) Napier as Mary (Brennan) McKee's aunt. At one time Daniel may have been a bootmaker in nearby Dromore. On Apr.20, 1828, Daniel Brennan and Mary Magee were sponsors for Robert Graham, son of John Graham, a protestant, and Esther King. This was 4 years before Daniel and Mary were married. Note that in 1815 a Mary Magee was baptised to Edward Magee and Frances McNally in 1815, a couple who had been clandestinely joined in 1812. On May 1 or 2, 1832, (or Jan.3, 1832) Daniel Brennan of Ballyvicknakelly (born about 1803) was married to Mary Anne McGee (first name also given as Anne, surname also written as McKern, McHenry or McGiveran) in Magheralin Roman Catholic Church, St. Colman's, Kilwarlin. The witnesses were James and Arthur Lavery. In the 1858/59 Rental Book for the Kilwarlin Estates of the Marquis of Downshire, Daniel Brennan is listed as holding just over 10 acres in the townland of Ballyknock, parish of Moira.

      Map of the townland of Ballyknock

      Ballyknock (see map) includes Taughblane and is less than mile northwest of Taughblane and the Kilwarlin churches. Also in the Griffith Valuation of about 1860, Daniel "Brannon" is listed as holding 10 plus acres (worth 9.5 pounds) and a house worth 30 shillings in Ballyknock. He is also listed in the Griffith Valuation as leasing a house and yard at 96 Hillsborough Street (formerly known as Gallows Street) worth 2 pounds and 10 shillings from George Phillips. In the La Trobe Library in Melbourne, Australia, there is a collection of letters written by Daniel, his daughter Catherine and other family and friends in Ireland to the emigrants Mary and Joseph McKee in Victoria, Australia. They tell of the deaths of many children from tuberculosis, of neighbours named Lavery, Catney, Devlin, Murray, and Herron and the passing of many that, in Daniel's words, "cleared the hill". They also tell of a plan for daughters Eliza Jane Brennan and Sarah Ann Brennan to join Joseph and Mary in Victoria, a plan that was never followed through. There is also mention of an Eliza Jane Brennan who emigrated to New Zealand, a reference that we think must be to Samuel and Eliza Jane Miller, thus clearly indicating a relationship with our family. According to his death certificate, Daniel Brennan, aged 73, died at Ballyknock on Aug.14, 1879, and was buried in Magheralin Roman Catholic Church, St. Colman's, Kilwarlin. After Daniel's death his tenancy went to his widow, Mary. The children of Daniel and Mary (McGee) Brennan of Ballyknock:

      1. Mary Brennan was born in Ballyknock; at her baptism on May 5, 1833 in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsors were Rowland McGuigan and Rose Gilmer. On Jun.21, 1857, Mary Brennan of Ballyknock was a sponsor at the baptism of William John Rourke, son of Hugh Rourke and Mary Johnson. On Apr.18, 1860, the Roman Catholic Mary Brennan, a 27-year-old spinster from Ballyknock whose father was farmer Daniel Brennan was married in the Lurgan Registry Office to the Protestant Joseph McKee, a 24-year-old labourer from Ballyknock whose father was weaver Joseph McKee of Newtownards and whose mother was Jane formerly Catney. The younger Joseph was born in Newtownards on Apr.8, 1836. Note that Joseph McKee junior received one pound in the will of Joseph Catney. Indeed Joseph McKee junior may have worked as a ploughman for Joseph Catney. Joseph McKee won a ploughing competition in County Down and listed himself as a ploughman in his emigration papers. Mary and Joseph McKee were one of 359 married couples chosen by the Emigration Commissioners for passage to Victoria, Australia, during 1863. Subsequently they emigrated to Melbourne, Victoria, in 1863 aboard the ship "Caduceus" in part in an attempt to evade religious discrimation caused by their mixed marriage. They stayed for two years with Thomas Herron and his wife in Germanstown (now Grovedale near Geelong) when they first arrived in Victoria (Rebecca McKee, Joseph's sister, married Thomas's brother, Isaac Herron). Mary and Joseph McKee's son, William was born in Germanstown. Mary and Joseph McKee then moved to Riddell's Creek and, in the years 1864 to 1868, they lived on the edge of the black forest near Macedon, Victoria. There Mary would dress her children in bright reds and yellows so that they could be seen in the dense forest. About 1868, they moved to land near Rochester just south of Echuca, Victoria. Later they moved to Mystic Park nearer Kerang. Mary died in 1898 aged 64 as a result of being thrown from a buggy; she spent 6 months in a coma before passing away. She is buried in Echuca Cemetery, Victoria. Joseph lived with his daughter Catherine Murphy at Piangil in his later years. He lived beyond 1916 (when he was aged 80) and is buried in Nyah West. The children of Joseph and Mary:
        1. William McKee died as an infant in Ireland.
        2. Mary Sarah McKee was born at Ballyknock on Sep.6, 1861; at her baptism in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsors were Thomas and Catherine Brennan, brother and sister. As a two-year-old, Mary Sarah McKee emigrated to Victoria with her parents in 1863. In 1885, she married Irish-born Peter Thornton and lived in the mining town of Broken Hill, New South Wales; they had no children.
        3. William Dec McKee was born in Victoria in 1863 and predeased his parents at the age of 19 in 1883.
        4. Catharine McKee was born at Riddell's Creek, Victoria in 1866 and married John William Murphy who died in 1910 and left Catherine to raise their eight children. The Murphys were one of the first settlers at Piangil on the Murray river. Catherine died in 1936 and is buried in Kerang cemetery. Catherine and John Murphy had eight children:
          1. Joseph Murphy joined the army at the age of 18 and served overseas in WW1. He married Winnifred Gleeson.
          2. Sarah Agnes Murphy died as an infant.
          3. Alice Murphy married Norman Griffiths.
          4. John William Murphy married Jean McDonald.
          5. Eileen Murphy married Arthur Heath.
          6. Peter Thornton Murphy married Dorothy Lee.
          7. Daniel Murphy
          8. George James Murphy was the youngest child of Catherine and John William Murphy. He lived into his 90s. His children:
            1. Margaret Murphy married Marko Mueller in 1956 and had 8 children and 13 grandchildren. Margaret Mueller (mem@tadaust.org.au) provided information on this family. One of the daughters is Paula Mueller.
        5. Agnes McKee was born in the Gisborne area of Victoria in 1869 and married John J. Gleason. They had six children.
        6. Joseph McKee was born in Victoria in 1871 and married Maggie Gray.
        7. Eliza Jane McKee was born in Victoria in 1872 and married John R. Evans. They lived at Piangil on the Murray river and had 7 children.
        8. Daniel Thomas McKee was born in Victoria in 1874 and fought in both the Boer War and in WWI. He married Myra O'Bree and they lived at Piangil on the Murray river. The McKees had 8 children. Daniel was the mayor of Swan Hill for a time. Later they moved with his family to Mildura where he died at the age of 86. The McKees were the grandparents of Damien McKee who is a teacher at St. Patrick's College in Ballarat.
        9. John George McKee was born in Victoria in 1876 and married Maggie Quin.
      2. Anne Brennan was born in Ballyknock on Aug.7, 1835; at her baptism in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsors were Patrick King and Margaret Murray. Anne died in 1857 aged 22.
      3. Bridget Brennan was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Feb.16, 1837. Her sponsors were James McGivrin(?) and Bridget Moore. This is probably the Bridget Brennan who, according to the records of the Roman Catholic Church in Dromore, was married on Jun.13, 1860, to Matthew Kelly. The marriage was witnessed by Hugh and Catherine Kelly. Daniel Brennan's letters to Australia suggest that Matthew owned a brewery, that he died before 1876 but that Bridget continued the business.
      4. Catherine Brennan was born in Ballyknock on Apr.4, 1838; at her baptism in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsors were Bernard Brennan and his wife. She was the writer of at least one letter to the McKee family in Victoria, Australia. In the 1901 Census she is listed as an unmarried 60-year-old Roman Catholic cambric weaver living in Ballyknock with her sister Eliza Jane. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 73-year-old Roman Catholic farmer living in Ballyknock with her sister Eliza Jane. Catherine died in Ballyknock on Jan.11, 1912, and left a will. Probate was granted to James Byrne and Edward Kearney, farmers.
      5. Thomas Edward Brennan, son of Daniel and Mary Anne Brennan, was born at Ballyknock and baptised in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, on May 6, 1842, his sponsor being Margaret Munro(?). This is the son to whom are addressed a number of his father, Daniel's letters. Thomas emigrated to Brisbane, Australia, at the age of 22, probably in the "Dover Castle". Initially he stayed in Brisbane with Patrick Berry Goodman and probably worked as a schoolteacher. Later he became the private secretary to Archbishop Dunne. But his pioneering spirit led him out west to the Thompson and Barcoo country where he worked on stations and learnt the art of droving. From there he came back to the Ferndale and Ipswich districts. He married Margaret (or Mary) Hanley of Cork, Ireland, in 1880 and they spent some years at Mt. Esk (Murrumba) where they settled on the land. They then moved to the Stanley River where they lived for 50 years, owning the 7000 acre Silverton property on which they ran 600 head of cattle. At first they built a small dwelling which, over the years, grew into a large rambling house. Later a new house was built in front of it. The land now belongs to the Queensland Water Board and the Somerset Dam is adjacent to it. Thomas was a member of tke Esk Shire Council and was active in local and state politics. He died in 1929 at the age of 86 and was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Kilcoy. The children of Thomas and Margaret Brennan:
        1. Mary Jane Brennan was born in 1881 and married James Joseph Kennedy in 1916. They farmed in Kumbia near Kingaroy, Queensland.
        2. Patrick Brennan
        3. Agnes Bridget Brennan was born on Apr.7, 1883, and, in 1913, married Harry Kennedy, the brother of her sister's husband. They farmed at Kumbia near Kingaroy, Queensland. Agnes was still alive in 1972 and living in Kumbia. Harry and Agnes had at least two children:
          1. Winifred Agnes Kennedy was born in 1914.
          2. Thomas Kennedy who became a Redempterist priest and died in June 2007 aged 92.
        4. Margaret Brennan became a nurse.
        5. Bernard Francis Brennan, known as Frank, who became a constable in Bilolea, Mt. Morgan. He married Gwendoline Edna Dickens in 1929.
        6. Thomas Jeremiah Brennan became a constable in Adavale.
        7. Joseph Andrew Brennan
        8. Patrick Hanley Brennan
      6. Daniel Brennan was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Aug.30, 1843; his sponsors were James Downey and Elizabeth Wiers. On Dec.30, 1866, he married Eliza McGrath (or Megraw), a 25-year-old from Dromore whose father, James, was a farmer. The marriage took place in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Dromore though it was not registered until Jan.6, 1867. Their first child was born in Scarva. After this Daniel, whose trade is given as ?rague maker, must have left for America. Their second child was born on Princes Street, Dromore. Their children:
        1. Elizabeth Ann Brennan was born in Scarva in 1867.
        2. John Brennan was born on Oct.3, 1869, in Princes Street, Dromore. Nancy Brennan (perhaps his grandmother) of Gallows Street, Dromore, was present.
      7. Eliza Jane Brennan (or Elizabeth) was born at Ballyknock on Apr.17, 1846; at her baptism in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsor was Mary McGarry. In one of her father's letters dated 1875 to her sister Mary McKee, Eliza Jane is reported living next door to "Mrs. Murray", who reportedly has a cow and two little boys, Edward and William John. In the 1901 Census Eliza Jane is listed as an unmarried 55-year-old Roman Catholic cambric weaver living in Ballyknock with her sister Catherine. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 65-year-old Roman Catholic living in Ballyknock with her sister Catherine. Eliza Jane Brennan of Ballyknock, Co. Down, spinster, died on Nov.28, 1925, at Downpatrick, Co. Down; probate was granted in Belfast on Jan.21 to James Byrne and Edward Kearney, farmers; her effects were £63 2s. 8d.
      8. Mary Anne Brennan was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Jun.15, 1847. Her sponsor was Alice Cooney of Dromore.
      9. John Brennan was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church of Dromore on Aug.11, 1850. His sponsor was Jane Downey of Dromore.
      10. Sarah Ann Brennan was born at Ballyknock on Sep.5, 1852; at her baptism in St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church, Magheralin, her sponsors were Bernard Connolly and Mary Anne Kennedy. She is mentioned in one of her father's letters to her sister Mary McKee. On Jun.4, 1875, she married James Lavery and they lived at #10 Main Street in Moira. In the 1901 Census Sarah Ann is listed as a 48-year-old wife living there with her husband James Lavery, a 53-year-old Roman Catholic damask weaver, and their children as indicated below. In the 1911 Census 63-year-old damask weaver James Lavery and his 58-year-old wife Sarah Ann are listed as living in Carnalbanagh East (Moira, County Down) with four of their children as indicated below. James Lavery died on Feb.24, 1919; Sarah Ann died in 1923 or 1926. James and Sarah Ann Lavery are buried in the churchyard of St. Colman's Roman Catholic Church where there is a plain weathered stone gravemarker. They had 11 children of whom only 7 lived to adulthood:
        1. Catherine Lavery was born on Sep.17, 1876, (her sponsors were William Lavery and Eliza Brennan) and is listed in the 1901 Census as a Roman Catholic 23-year-old working in domestic employment and living with her parents in the town of Moira. Catherine married James Taggart at St. Paul's, Belfast, in 1911.
        2. John Edward Lavery was baptized on Apr.24, 1879, his sponsor being Margaret Hendry. He is listed in the 1901 Census as a 22-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic postman living with his parents in the town of Moira. Later he married. He enlisted in a Mounted Regiment in WWI.
        3. Hugh Patrick Lavery was born on May 26, 1882. He is listed in the 1901 Census as an 18-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic damask weaver living with his parents in the town of Moira. In the 1911 Census he is listed as an unmarried 28-year-old damask weaver living in Carnalbanagh East with his parents. Later he worked in the Moira Post Office.
        4. Thomas Lavery was born on Jul.16, 1883, and is listed in the 1901 Census as an 17-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic damask weaver living with his parents in the town of Moira. He enlisted in the Irish Guards and was shipped to France in 1916 during World War I.
        5. James Lavery was born on Dec.14, 1885, and died young.
        6. James Lavery was born on Sep.20, 1888 and is listed in the 1901 Census as an 12-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic schoolboy living with his parents in the town of Moira. In the 1911 Census he is listed as an unmarried 22-year-old postman living in Carnalbanagh East with his parents.
        7. Mary Lavery was born on Jan.28, 1890, and is listed in the 1901 Census as an 10-year-old schoolgirl living with her parents in the town of Moira. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 20-year-old dressmaker living in Carnalbanagh East with her parents. In 1916 she was working at home as a dressmaker.
        8. Sarah Ann Lavery, known as Anne, was born on Oct.23, 1892 and is listed in the 1901 Census as an 9-year-old schoolgirl living with her parents in the town of Moira. In the 1911 Census she is listed as an unmarried 18-year-old living in Carnalbanagh East with her parents. In 1916 she was working at home as a dressmaker.
        9. Joseph Lavery and Daniel Lavery, twins, were born on Oct.27, 1895.

    6. Edward Brennan is our earliest known definite paternal ancestor. He was born in 1805 or 1806 according to the age on his death certificate. We know very little of his background or place of birth. However, there is much circumstantial evidence that suggests he was closely related to both Bernard Brennan of Dromore (married 1838) and Daniel Brennan of Ballyknock (born about 1810), both whose families are detailed above. Ballyknock is very close to Taughblane and Dromore is not too much further away. All three were likely brothers. The evidence is in letters written by Daniel Brennan to his daughter Mary McKee in Victoria, Australia. In one letter dated 1869, Daniel writes ``Eliza Jane Miller states in a letter that they have ten acres of land and is liking the country well ...''. In another letter he writes of a ``Mrs Murry. She has a cow and two little boys Edward and William John."

      Taughblane about 1860.
      According to the family history of their daughter, Eliza Jane Miller, Edward married Mary McCauly. Moreover since Eliza Jane called Hillsborough her birthplace, it seems that Edward and Mary Brennen resided at least in Hillsborough Parish. The Griffith Valuation, 1863, (Public Record Office, Northern Ireland PRONI) lists Edward Brennan in the townland of Taughblane, Parish of Hillsborough, Union of Lisburn. Taughblane is about 3 miles WSW of Hillsborough. Edward subleased a house and small garden valued at 15 shillings from Jeremiah Woods who leased the property along with three others from the Marquis of Downshire. The PRO map references for Edward's house are VAL/2A/3/21B or VAL/2A/3/14B and a copy of a portion of the former map is included here. Note the row of three small houses in one of which Edward lived. They lay within 100 yards of St. John's, Kilwarlin, on a site that is now occupied by a modern bungalow. The tithe applotment records for the Parish of Hillsborough (PRONI FIN 5A/152) do not include any listing for an Edward Brennan. However it seems that this Edward Brennan lived and perhaps worked on the Kilwarlin Estate of the Marquis of Downshire. Perhaps he worked for Jeremiah Woods from whom he rented his house. The Kilwarlin Estate Rental Books (PRONI D671/R8/nnn), though they do not include Edward Brennan, do list Jeremiah Woods as renting 19 acres and 3 roods in Taughblane. I also consulted the Taughblane leases, reference PRONI D671/L8/48, that include the Jeremiah Woods lease, dated 1774. This lists Woods as a linen manufacturer and includes a small map of a parcel of land measuring 9 acres, 3 roods and 4 perches next to the ``Moss'' road. I also noted a lease to a ``Bernard Mercer'' in the same package.

      Map of the Hillsborough/Dromore area of County Down showing some
      of the places occuring in the story of the Brennen family.

      Muriel Paisley, Edward's great-granddaughter, who researched the family history some years ago, believed that Edward at one time lived on or near the Kilwarlin Estate. Janine Lavery recalls visiting Kilwarlin with her mother, Muriel Paisley, and meeting a man who told them of a field called Brennan's ground.

      There are two Kilwarlin parish churches: St. John's, Upper Kilwarlin and St. James, Lower Kilwarlin. St. John's was opened for services on Oct.28, 1840; prior to this during the period 1835-40 services were held every second Sunday afternoon in a schoolroom in Taughblane. Gravestone Inscriptions, Vol.18 (PRONI) covers the parish of Hillsborough but does not include any Brennans. The church registers for Kilwarlin were destroyed in the Dublin fire of 1922. Hence the baptismal records in the General Registry Office, Belfast (GRO) only go back to the 1860s. The marriage registers are held in Lisburn Registry office and those for the Kilwarlin parish churches date back to April 1, 1845. Copies of the marriage certificates of two of Edward's daughters, Anna and Eliza Jane (see below) both of whom were married in St. John's Church, Kilwarlin are included here. Both Anna and Eliza Jane resided in Toghblane(sic) at the time of their marriage. In both cases Edward's surname is given as Brennan, though since neither daughter could write it may be that Edward was similarly illiterate. In either case the precise spelling of the surname is probably of little significance. On Anna Brennan's certificate (1852) Edward is listed as a weaver; on Eliza Jane's (1863) he is listed as a labourer. Eliza Jane's wedding was witnessed by her brother Bernard Brennan and by Catherine Brennan (relation uncertain) both of whom did sign. It is the former signature that provides additional documentary proof for Edward as our ancestor.

      Edward's son, Bernard, was married in Cork in 1874 (see below) and Edward's daughter, Mary, was married in Donaghmore, County Tyrone, in 1872. On both of these certificates Bernard has spelt his surname and that of his father as Brennenn. Later this was shortened to Brennen. Prior to this Bernard had spent some time in Dublin at teacher training school and it was probably during this period that he aquired some French fashions and began to spell his surname differently. We should not, however, make too much of the unusual spelling since, until about 1860, surnames were spelt somewhat flexibly. On both Bernard's and Mary's marriage certificates Bernard listed his father, Edward, as a land steward.

      Thus it is fairly well established that Edward and Mary Brennan, our earliest known ancestors, lived and raised their family in Taughblane on the Kilwarlin estate of the Marquis of Downshire. As a weaver Edward may have worked for his landlord, Jeremiah Woods. In this part of Ulster many of the country houses had a large room at the rear that was known as the ``shop''. This contained the loom at a time when the local people worked at home for the linen manufacturers. When no weaving was available they worked for the local farmers and hence Edward could have simultaneously been a weaver and a labourer. Perhaps he later became a land steward. The family appear to have belonged to the St. John's Church of Ireland on the Kilwarlin estate.

      Edward Brennan's death is included in the civil registration of deaths for 1865. According to this Edward died on March 25, 1865, at the age of 60. He died in Taughblane of pneumonia after an illness of one week; the death certificate notes ``no medical attendant''. It also records that his daughter, Anna Murray, was present at his death and that Edward was married (this may mean that his wife, Mary, survived him) and a labourer.

      Death certificate of Edward Brennan.

      Parenthetically we should note that according to Gertrude Scott's recollections Edward and Mary's son, Bernard, came from Kilwaughter, County Antrim. While this is clearly disproved by the fact that Bernard lists his place of birth as County Down on his 1901 Census return it is just possible that there was an earlier family connection with Kilwaughter. I have not, however, found any evidence of an Edward Brennan in Kilwaughter. Included in the appendices to this chapter are some records of Brennans in Kilwaughter which do not have any known connection to our family.

      The connection with the Woods family may be worth pursuing further. We have already mentioned that Jeremiah Woods may have been both landlord and employer to Edward. Moreover a Hugh Woods witnessed Edward's daughter, Anna's, marriage. There are several Woods gravestones in St. John's, Kilwarlin, graveyard. One commemorates Jeremiah Woods who died Aug.16, 1900, his wife Elizabeth who died Aug.19, 1867, his son James Henry Montgomery Woods who died May 4, 1914 and James's wife, Mary Wilson Woods who died Apr.30, 1915. A second stone commemorates a loving husband and father, Hugh Jordan Woods, who died Sep.2, 1973. Lastly a cast iron tablet on a low-railed enclosure marks ``the family burying place of Hugh Woods, Belfast, 1869''. A Woods descendant, Rosemary Lyness (nee Woods) now lives in the modern bungalow just north of where the row of cottage houses that Edward Brennan lived in once stood. She says that she only got planning permission to build her bungalow because of that previous dwelling. I made indirect contact with her through her cousin Edwin Woods (woodsone@indigo.ie), the great grandson of Jeremiah Woods.

Christopher E. Brennen