Earls Family Chronicles - Christopher E. Brennen

EARLS FAMILY CHRONICLES
© Christopher Earls Brennen

Appendix 2B. EARLS FAMILIES OF SLAVIN

Several Earls families have lived for a long time in the neighbourhood of Slavin, County Fermanagh, and the parish of Inishmacsaint. There seems to be a general belief that these families are closely related to our Enniskillen family. Elmore Earls (see below) used to comment that the Earls of Slavin had come with the landowners from England and that they had previously lived at Kilmalanapy, south of Enniskillen. Much of the information on the Slavin families comes from the records of the parish of Inishmacsaint. It should however be noted that LDS transcription of the Inishmacsaint records seems to contain a number of discrepancies and peculiarities; the original records need to be consulted to clarify these issues and check the reconstructions which follow. It should also be noted that the parish of Slavin was formed by splitting the old parish of Inishmacsaint. Slavin lies along the main road from Belleek to Enniskillen and is on the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne. Travelling east from Belleek for about 2 miles one passes Carranbeg House on the right where the elderly bachelors, Stewart and Fred Earls, lived. One then passes Slavin Church on the left and, later, the road to Rosscor Viaduct. Just past this intersection the main road goes to the left of a hill over which an older road goes straight. Taking this older road one passes Carrickolagh House on the right where Robert Earls now (1992) lives and a little further on one passes the home of Edward Earls. Here the small island in the lough not far from the shore is Muckinish or White Island once owned by a John Earls. In this appendix we reconstruct some pieces of the histories of these Slavin families
We begin with an early fragment that can be constructed from the leases in Slavin, County Fermanagh, dated 1769, 1774 and 1779:

William Earls, the elder (c1700-1793+), was one of the leaseholders and, in 1773, was appointed sidesman for the lower third of the parish of Inishmacsaint. In 1793 he is recorded as having paid 10 pounds and 10 shillings to the Earl of Ely for the quarter years rent for Slavin. He was the father of:

William Earls (c1730-1793+), junior, was also a leaseholder, and, in 1793, is recorded as having paid 10 pounds and 10 shillings to the Earl of Ely for the quarter years rent for Slavin. He was the father of:

Francis Earls was born in 1768.
A second son.
A third son.

Thomas Earls born in 1753.
daughter Earls who married Thomas Ovens of Kilcoo near Lough Melvin and had a son:

James Ovens was born in 1774.

It seems likely that one or more of the following families are descended from this family.
From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

Francis Earls was married to Elizabeth McBrien about 1799 and the following christenings are recorded for this couple:

Thomas Earls was christened on Jul.2, 1801, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Elizabeth Earls was christened on May 8, 1803, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Frances Earls was christened on Mar.24, 1805, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Anne Earls was christened on Jan.18, 1807, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Edward Earls was christened on Jul.1, 1810, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
John Earls was christened on May 17, 1812, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Mary Earls was christened on Jun.25, 1814, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

Francis Earls and Jane Stephenson are recorded as the parents at the following christening:

Agnes Earls was christened on Mar.7, 1802, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

Francis Earls and Mrs. Euphemia Earls are recorded as the parents at the following christenings:

Thomas Earls was christened on Apr.29, 1804, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
Thomas Earls was christened on Oct.19, 1806, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

Thomas Earls and Isabella McBrien are recorded as the parents at the following christening:

Jane Earls was christened on Jul.24, 1808, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

James Earls and Elizabeth McBrine are recorded as the parents at the following christening:

Anne Earls was christened on Apr.4, 1802, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.
William Earls was christened on Nov.24, 1805, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

William Earls and Anne McBrine are recorded as the parents at the following christening:

Susanna Earls was christened on Sep.12, 1802, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

From LDS records of the Parish of Inishmacsaint:

John Earls and Mrs. Sarah Earls are recorded as the parents at the following christening:

William Earls was christened on Aug.17, 1804, in the Parish of Inishmacsaint.

James Earls, who is listed as residing in the townland of Slavin in the Griffith Valuation (about 1856), was the husband of Elizabeth Earls, born about 1821. In the 1901 Census the widow Elizabeth Earls is listed as the 80-year-old farmer's wife and head of a household living in the townland of Slavin. As well as her son James and her daughters Eliza and Mary Jane, her grandson Albert Ernest and a 26-year-old Roman Catholic farm servant by the name of Michael McLaughlin are also included in the household. The family is listed as Methodist. The baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint lists the following children of farmer James and Elizabeth Earls of Slavin: Jane born Jun.14, 1842, Edward born Apr.6, 1844, James born Nov.6, 1846, and Mary Jane born Sep.17, 1855. These years differ by more than a decade from the ages given in the 1901 Census. The children of James and Elizabeth Earls:

Jane Earls, born on Jun.14, 1842, according to the parish baptismal records was unmarried and lived all her life at Slavin. She died quite young.
Edward Earls is listed as a 48-year-old Methodist farmer of Slavin in the 1901 Census though he was born on Apr.6, 1844, according to the parish baptismal records. He married Margretta Allingham of Ballyshannon in 1890 and they had three children listed below. Margretta died young and the following gravestone inscription in St. Anne's Church of Ireland, Ballyshannon, most probably refers to her: ``In loving memory of Lizzie Allingham who fell asleep in Jesus, May 5th, 1887. Aged 23 years. Also her sister Mary Anne Earls, died April 24th, 1896, aged 28 years. Also their father Richard Allingham of Tullyhurk who died 2nd August 1900. Aged 84 years.'' After Margretta's death, Edward remarried. His second wife Lizzie is listed in the Census as a 43-year-old, born in Leitrim. Also listed are two children, Ethel and Elmore, and two servants: Mary Frebourne, a 60-year-old Methodist domestic servant, and John Moohan, a 20-year-old Roman Catholic farm servant. Edward died on Apr.6, 1919; his death was registered by his son Elmore Richard Earls. The children of Edward and Margretta Earls:

Albert Ernest Earls was born about 1891 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 10-year-old living with his grandmother, Elizabeth Earls, in the townland of Slavin. Albert was a market gardener in Slavin most of his life though in 1939 he moved to Millisle, County Down where he gardened until 1960. In that year he moved to Belfast where he resided until his death in 1978. In 1925, Albert married Mary Walmsley of Kesh, County Fermanagh, and they had two daughters listed below. On Dec.3, 1923, Albert registered the death of James Earls who was probably his uncle. The daughters of Albert and Mary Earls:

Olive Earls was born at Slavin in 1926 and attended Drumbad Primary School (see photo). She married Robert Bower, a market

Drumbad Primary School, Belleek, 1937: Eddy Earls (above
right side of sign), Olive Earls (lower left), Mina Earls
(bottom right) and Jim Earls (bottom, third from right).
gardener from Oldcastle, County Westmeath, in 1948. They lived in Bangor and had 5 children: Ernest Bower, an electrician, Trevor Bower, a fitter, Alan Bower, a fitter, Victor Bower, a baker, and Sylvia Bower, a secretary. All of the family live in Bangor, County Down, where Olive lives at Churchill Park. Robert died on Oct.31, 1992.
Wilhemina Jane Earls, known as Mina, was born at Slavin in 1929 and attended Drumbad Primary School (see photo). She is a poultry farmer and lives at Parkgate, Ballyclare, County Antrim, where her mother Mary still lives with her. Mina is unmarried.

Ethel Margaretta Earls was born in 1893 in Slavin and is listed in the 1901 Census as an 8-year-old living with her parents, Edward and Lizzie Earls. In 1916, she married Matthew Hammond, a farmer from Ballintra, County Donegal, and they had five children listed below. In 1936 they moved to a farm on the Ards Peninsula at Ballyhalbert, County Down. The children of Ethel and Matthew Hammond:

Mabel Hammond was born in 1920 and, in 1940, married William Cowan, a dairy farmer in Ballyhalbert, County Down. Both are now retired (1992). They had two children. Cyril Cowan is an architect who lives in County Down and is married. Gladys Cowan is a secretary who married a man named Sloan and lives in County Down.
Maud Hammond was born in 1922 and married Reginald Bailie, a farmer. They also ran a boarding house but are now retired and living in Portavogie (1992). They had three children, Earl Bailie, a car dealer, Vernon Bailie, a roofer, and Joy Bailie, all of whom live in County Down.
Violet Hammond was born in 1926 and, in 1942, married Walter McFerran, a vetinary surgeon who practised in Lurgan, County Armagh, in Australia, in Belfast and again in County Down. They lived in Glastry House, Ballyhalbert. Walter died in 1982. He and Violet had 5 children:

Ethel McFerran is married and lives in England.
Noel McFerran is a lay preacher who has worked in Ireland and Australia; he is married with two children.
a second daughter who is married.
Ivan McFerran is an agricultural contractor in Ballyhalbert, County Down, and has recently (1992) married.
Clive McFerran is married and lives in Costa Mesa, California.

George Mackay Hammond was born in 1927 and became a Methodist minister in 1950. He has ministered in Ireland and Jamaica and is now a clergyman near Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1970 he married Margaret Morgan in Belfast. They have one daughter, Cherry Hammond, who is living in Western Australia (1992).
John Earls Hammond was born in 1933 and became a farmer in Ballyhalbert, County Down. He married Edith Quinn and they have three children:

Ruth Hammond is a teacher in Cookstown primary school.
Sharon Hammond.
Mark Hammond is a farmer.

Elmore Richard Earls was born in Slavin in 1895 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 6-year-old living with his parents Edward and Lizzie Earls. Elmore farmed all his life in Slavin. In 1926 he married Annie Elizabeth Likley from Kinlough, County Leitrim and they had three children, Edward, James and Margaret listed below. Elmore registered his father's death on Apr.6, 1919. He died on Apr.14, 1981. The children of Elmore and Annie Earls:

Edward Earls was born on Oct.5, 1928, and attended Drumbad Primary School (see photo). He farmed all his life in Slavin and was unmarried.
James Frederick Earls was born in Slavin on Apr.19, 1931. In 1952 he joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary and was subsequently stationed in various places including Larne (1955-1960). In 1960 he was transferred to Cookstown where he still lives (1993). On Aug.26, 1956, he married Mary Watson of Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt. They have four children:

Derek James Earls was born on May 12, 1958, and is a police officer in Surrey, England. He married Debora Carter of Leeds and they have one daughter, Loran Mary Earls.
Richard Samuel Earls was born on Oct.20, 1960, and is a police officer living in Cookstown. He married Karen Simpson of Oldtown, Cookstown, and they have a daughter, Mary Emma Jayne Earls.
Robert Edward Mark Earls was born on Jun.27, 1963, and worked with British Gas before emigrating to Surreyhills, Sydney, Australia where he is a computer operator.
Andrew Earls was born on Feb.24, 1965, and is a store manager in Cookstown. He married Joy Cardwell and they have a daughter, Lisa Mary Earls, born Apr.24, 1991; their address is 3 Ardcumber Road, Cookstown.

Margaret Elizabeth Earls was born on Aug.27, 1933, and was married in Oct. 1956 to Thomas James Ovens, a farmer in Drumbad, Belleek. They have three children:

Margaret Ovens was born in 1958 and married a man named Cyril. They have two children.
John Ovens is a farmer in Slavin. He is married with four children.
Robert Ovens is an unmarried farmer in Drumbad, Belleek.

James Earls is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 38-year-old farmer living with his mother Elizabeth in the townland of Slavin though the baptismal records give his birthdate as Nov.6, 1846. This is probably the James Earls whose death was registered by Albert Earls on Dec.3, 1923.
Eliza Earls is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 36-year-old farmer's daughter living with her mother Elizabeth in the townland of Slavin.
Mary Jane Earls is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 34-year-old farmer's daughter living with her mother Elizabeth in the townland of Slavin. However her birthdate is given in the baptismal records as Sep.17, 1855.

George Earls was a weaver and farmer in Carrickolagh, Slavin. He and his wife Jane, born about 1811, had at least seven children, five of whom are recorded in the baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint. An upright dark grey polished granite headstone in the Slavin churchyard memorializes the family: ``Father: George Earls, Mother: Jane Earls, Brother: Edward Earls, Sister: Mary Earls, Sister: Everena Earls, Sister: Fannie Earls, Daughter: Eliza Ann Earls''. George must have died prior to 1901 for the census of that year lists Jane or ``Jean'' as the widowed 91-year-old head of the household in Carrickolagh. The family is listed as Church of Ireland and, as well as children and grandchildren, includes a 22-year-old unmarried Roman Catholic farm servant, Patrick Dolan. In the Griffith Valuation of about 1860 George Earls is listed as holding about 37 acres of land and a house worth 25 shillings in the townland of Carrickolagh from the Marquis of Ely. The children of George and Jane Earls:

Elizabeth Earls was born on Apr.2, 1837, according to the Inishmacsaint parish records. On Jun.30, 1859, Elizabeth was married in the Chapel of Ease at Slavin to William McBrien, a full-aged bachelor farmer of Corren, parish of Inishmacsaint whose father was also William McBrien, a farmer. On the marriage certificate, Elizabeth is described as a full-aged spinster from Carrigola, parish of Inishmacsaint whose father is George Earls, farmer. The witnesses were John and Francis Earls.
Mary Earls was born on Aug.13, 1840, according to the Inishmacsaint parish records.
Anne Jane Earls was born on Apr.25, 1843, according to the Inishmacsaint parish records.
Rebecca Earls was born on Mar.16, 1846, according to the Inishmacsaint parish records. According to the 1901 Census she was an unmarried 32-year-old living with her mother in Carrickolagh. One suspects the wrong age was listed.
Everena Earls was born on May 27, 1848, according to the Inishmacsaint parish records. According to the 1901 Census she was an unmarried 28-year-old living with her mother in Carrickolagh. One suspects the wrong age was listed.
Edward Earls moved to Scotland where he remained during his working life. Late in life he returned to Ardees Lower where he owned a small farm. He was unmarried and, in the 1901 Census, is listed as a 50-year-old farmer living with his mother in Carrickolagh.
Thomas Earls was a farmer at Carrigola. He married Alicia Strong and they had five children listed below. In the 1901 Census they are listed as living with his mother in Carrickolagh; their ages are listed as 30 and 24 though one suspects some error. The family remained Church of Ireland and are thus distinguished from the other, Methodist branches of the Earls family. Alicia died on Mar.20, 1941, and Thomas followed shortly thereafter on Apr.7, 1941. Their deaths were registered by their son, George William Frederick Earls. The children of Thomas and Alicia Earls:

Rebecca Jane Earls was born about 1898 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 3-year-old living with her parents in her grandmother's home in Carrickolagh. She married William Beattie, a farmer in Tamlaght, Coagh, County Tyrone. Rebecca died in 1980 and is buried in Coagh. They had one daughter:

Olive Beattie married Harry Frazer of Belfast and they have two sons. The family own cafes, one in Bangor, County Down.

George William Frederick Earls was born about 1900 and is listed in the 1901 Census as a 11-month-old baby living with his parents in his grandmother's home in Carrickolagh. He became a farmer in Carrickolagh and married Violet Johnston of Magheramanagh, Belleek. They had five children:

Robert Earls became a farmer in Carrickolagh. He married Florence Hamilton of Belleek and they live in the ancestral home in Slavin, Carrickolagh House. They have four children:

Marcus Earls
Gordon Earls (Gordon.Earls@IGT.com)
Richard Earls
? Earls

Charlotte Earls married Albert Elliott of Glen West, Garrison, near Belleek.
Violet Earls married Albert Craig of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, a police superintendant. They went to live in Portadown, County Armagh. Albert was murdered in Portadown. They had one child, Earl Craig. Violet lives in Portadown where she works as a nurse.
Joyce Earls is married and has children.
George Earls became a farmer in Ardees Lower. He married Doreen Henderson, a teacher from Irvinestown, County Fermanagh. They have two children, one named Edwin.

Thomas Earls farmed all his life in Ardees Lower. He never married.
Mary Earls married William Love of Roscor, Belleek. They had 3 sons and 3 daughters all of whom married and are still alive (1992). William Love died about 1980.
Robert Earls was born about 1914 and farmed all his life in Ardees Lower. He never married. Robert died on Jun.12, 2001, at the age of 87 and was buried in the family gravesite.
Elizabeth Ann Earls was unmarried and lived at Carrickolagh all her life. She died about 1930.

John Earls was born about 1850 and became a farmer at Gortnalee, Slavin. He married Eliza Somerville. He and his wife Eliza are recorded in the 1901 Census as a 50-year-old farmer and his 54-year-old wife living in Gortnalee with their son, William John Earls, and a 17-year-old Roman Catholic servant, Mary Campbell. The family is listed as Church of Ireland. Their son:

William John Earls was born on Mar.4, 1874, at Gortnalee according to the parish baptismal records. In the 1901 Census he is listed as a 24-year-old farmer's son living with his parents in Gortnalee. William was married to a woman named Frazer from Kesh, County Fermanagh, about 1900; he sold the farm at Gortnalee and took up residence at Carranbeg House in Carnbeg, Belleek where he farmed until his death about 1960. William and his wife had six children:

Mary Elizabeth Earls, known as Molly, was born in 1908 and married a farmer named Samuel Crawford Donaldson, born in 1904. They lived at Cloghore (Clyhore), Donegal, about a mile northwest of Belleek. Samuel and Molly appear in the 1939/40 Ballyshannon voters list for Cloghore along with Samuel's brother Robert Donaldson. Sam died in 1966 and Molly in 1997; they are buried in Belleek. They had 3 children:

William Donaldson, born about 1925, was unmarried and farmed the family land at Cloghore.
Derek Donaldson became a customs officer in Southampton, England. His second wife is named Sharon.
Joan Donaldson married John Morrow in Ballintra, County Donegal, and they live at Rossnowlagh, near Bundoran.

Norman Earls was a farmer in Carnbeg and Gortnalee. He was unmarried and died about 1970.
Stewart Ramsey Earls was a farmer in Carnbeg and Gortnalee and never married. He and his brother, Fred, lived in the old family home, Carranbeg House.
Margaret ``Gretta'' Earls lived in Carnbeg. Unmarried, she died in 1964.
Frederick Earls was a farmer and lived with his brother in Carranbeg House. He never married and died about 2002.
John Earls was a grocer in Belleek. Unmarried, he died about 1970.

Eliza Earls was born on May 15, 1877, according to the registration records. She must have died young.

James Earls and his wife, Elizabeth, were farmers in Callagheen according to the baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint. In the Griffith Valuation of the 1860s, John Earls is listed as holding over 25 acres of land and a house worth 25 shillings in the townland of Callagheen from the Marquis of Ely. This family died out in the late 1800s and the land came into the possession of James and Elizabeth Earls of Slavin (see above). They sold it about 1920. The children of James and Elizabeth Earls of Callagheen:

James Earls was born on Dec.31, 1849, according to the parish baptismal records.
Eliza Earls was born on Jun.26, 1852, according to the parish baptismal records.

John Earls was born about 1790 and became a merchant in Ballyshannon, County Donegal. The 1839 Enniskillen Directory lists ``James'' Earls of Main Street, Ballyshannon, as a haberdasher and linen and woollen draper. The 1846 Slater's Directory corrects that mistake and lists him as John. John died in 1844 and Sarah continued the business. The 1856 Slater's Directory and the 1863-64 Ulster Directory both list Sarah Earls as proprietor of a linen and woollen drapery and haberdashery store on Main Street, Ballyshannon. The 1857 Griffith Valuation lists Sarah Earls and "Fanny" Earls as resident on Main Street, Ballyshannon. Fanny may be John's sister. John and Sarah are buried in the Slavin churchyard where their gravestone inscription reads: ``Sacred to the memory of John Earls who departed this life on June 7, 1844, aged 54 years. Also in the memory of his wife Sarah Earls who departed this life on Dec.19, 1865, aged 48 years.'' According to the baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint John and his wife, Sarah, had a daughter:

Eliza Jane Earls, born on Mar.5, 1843.

Frederick Earls, a farmer, and his wife, Jane, of Slavin are known to us from the baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint which tell us that they had five children, James Earls, born on Mar.20, 1840, Francis Earls, born Mar.20, 1843, Jane Earls, born Feb.17, 1846, Frederick Earls, born Dec.18, 1847, and Ellen Earls, born Jan.16, 1850. There is no record of the modern descendants of this family.

John Earls, parish clerk and farmer, and his wife, Jane, of Carrickolagh are known to us from the baptismal records of the parish of Inishmacsaint which tell us that they had nine children, Francis Earls, born on Jul.9, 1837, Mary Earls, born Jul.9, 1837, James Earls, born Jan.30, 1840, Steenson Earls, born May 18, 1842, Thomas Earls, born Dec.2, 1844, Mary Jane Earls, born Jan.18, 1847, William Earls, born Apr.17, 1849, Joseph Robert Earls, born Mar.11, 1856, and Anne Earls, born Jun.3, 1858. We have been unable to find any record of the modern descendants of this family.

In addition there is the following ancient Protestant Early family from Donegal which may well originate in the Belleek area, just across the county line from Slavin (information on this family from Kat Vallish, kvallish@bellsouth.net):

John Early was born about 1642 and emigrated to Virginia from Donegal in 1661. The story of John and his descendants is told in the book "The Early Family which settled upon the eastern shore of Virginia" by Ruth Hairston Early. The family legend is that they were of English origin (not Irish or German) and that three brothers came to the colonies together. They were also Protestant. John married Margaret Loyall and they had at least one son:

Thomas Early married Elizabeth Johnston and that marriage is recorded in the records of the parish of Christ Church near James City, Middlesex or Lancaster County. Thomas and Elizabeth died in 1716. Their son

Jeremiah Early whose birth was also recorded in the records of the parish of Christ Church near James City, Middlesex or Lancaster County. After his parents death Jeremiah was raised by the Beuford family in Middlesex County. He married Elizabeth Beuford and they moved west to Madison County. They had 13 children and gave all the boys names beginning with J. Jeremiah was involved in civic duties and his name shows up in county records of all kinds. This lineage produced a civil war general, a Virginia State Senator, a Georgia governor and many farmers and teachers. Of Jeremiah and Elizabeth's children:

Joshua Early left home with two other brothers and moved southward to Wolftown, Bedford County, Virginia where he lived next door to Thomas Jefferson. Joshua built a house and married Mary Leftwich and they had 11 children among whom:

Thomas Early who went on to become a Southern Methodist minister. Thomas married Susanah Rucker stayed in Bedford County until their eldest son, William, was 19 or 20 years old and then moved to Franklin County, Tennessee, with their 8 or so younger children. Their son:

William Buford Early stayed in Bedford County, Virginia, until the Choctaw Treaty created available land in Mississippi. In 1846 he and his family moved to Water Valley, Mississippi. His descendants were "farmers" who owned a 160 acre farm but mostly made a living as real estate brokers, etc. Kat Vallish is a descendant of this family.

Another son who went on to become a Southern Methodist minister.
A son who became the first Bishop of the Southern Methodist Church.

Last updated 1/1/00.

Christopher E. Brennen