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The marriage record for my GG Grandparent's, John McMullan or McMullen and Margaret Orr shows both "of Parish Down". They married at the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Church of Ireland), May 2, 1844 at Downpatrick. The Minister was James Mulligan, and witnesses William George Hurst (a shoemaker in Downpatrick 1852) and Daniel Hurst. The record shows "married by license with consent of parents", so I've been told one was probably younger than 21. I think Margaret was born at County Antrim about Dec 7, 1822 to David and Catherine Orr.  John may have been born about 1824 or so, and I don't know where he was born?

In April 1845, they had Arthur baptized at Down Parish, and the Minister was James Ford/Forde. The birth record showed John to be a shoemaker.

My G Grandfather, William John, was born August 24, 1847 and baptized November 7, 1847 at Holy Trinity Cathedral (Anglican), Quebec City, Quebec.

I've been unable to determine John's parentage, and am hopeful to find more about him. I can't find him after 1850 in Canada, so not sure what happened to him?

I recently took a male Y-DNA 37 marker test at FTDNA. I tested somewhat close to several, but really only a couple of those have responded, and unknown yet who might be a common ancestor. So far, I haven't seen any McMullan/McMullen's who've tested that have County Down ties.

Thanks!!  Tom McMillan (Washougal, WA, USA)

 

 

 

tomwdcraftr

Saturday 29th Dec 2012, 07:11PM

Message Board Replies

  • I found an Arthur McMullen who was born at Downpatrick about 1780 who enlisted in the British military in 1808 and served until 1815. He was a "cordwainer" which is a shoemaker.

    It's also interesting there is a grave at Church of Ireland graveyard at Downpatrick, and the transcription indicates it is Arthur McMullan, who died February 1, 1830 at 52 years of age. Would seem this could be the same Arthur.

    I thought this could be my John's father or grandfather.

    I'm hoping to find more information which might tie them together,

    I've searched familyssearch.com and can't find a birth record for Arthur or John.

    Can't seem to find anything online.

    Thanks, Tom McMillan

     

     

     

    tomwdcraftr

    Friday 18th Jan 2013, 04:01AM
  • Friends!!   I'm still searching for my John McMullan, I suspect born between 1822 and 1824. I know he was a shoemaker, had lived at Bridge Street when he married Margaret Orr, May 2, 1844 at the C of I, Downpatrick Cathedral. It's possible Arthur McMullan and Susan Galway were his parents, but??  So far, I have few DNA matches for those that have the Galway surname, but one DNA match for Galway does appear to work to County Down? A Rose McMullan that married a John Skillen had married in 1845, and that Rose was a daughter of Arthur McMullan and Susan Galway. Rose had a daughter, Susan Skillen, but I've suspected that Susan died. There was a Susan Skillen that married a Charles Shields, but I'm now sure that was not the same Susan. My McMullan family emigrated to Quebec City by May of 1847; were at Montreal before January 1849; Margaret and sons, Arthur and William John were with a Johnston family at Montreal on the 1852 Canada census. My John shows as John Mullen, and is at Hull, Quebec on the 1852 Canada census with about 8 other shoemakers, perhaps working on a special project? Hull was a small community, so has seemed odd for so many shoemakers at that location, so not sure what they were working on??  Margaret had a son, David at Kingston, Ontario in 1853 or 1854, but I don't know if John made it to Kingston or not? I'm pretty sure my John had a friend or relative, David Skillen, a shoemaker who was also at Downpatrick. I found David at St Bees, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England as master shoemaker living on Quay Street on the 1861 England census. There was a John McMillen (or similar spelling) also at St Bees, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England living at Quay Street, and was also a master shoemaker from Ireland?  That John had a spouse name Catherine, not sure who she was?  No sign of that John before 1861 or after 1861 at Whitehaven, so not sure of his fate?  My Big-Y700 male line DNA test shows I'm definitely a McMillan/McMullan going back a thousand years or so. I have a lot of DNA matches I know are McMillan that work to my Great Grandfather, William John McMillan, Sr born Montreal 1849 died St Paul, MN 1930. He had brothers Arthur and David, but so far I've never found their fate, and DNA has not shown up for descendants, and so far I can't be sure of any DNA matches prior to those that work to Great Grandpa. I'm hopeful more from Couny Down/ Downpatrick DNA test, or there could be links to County Antrim?  I did find a sister, Anna Orr of my Margaret Orr who was also at Quebec, she had married a Thomas Haveron/Havron. Shared DNA matches include an Orr line at Derriaghy, County Antrim, Ireland where I suspect Margaret was from. Her father was a David Orr and mother Catherine, unknown maiden name. I found a David Orr had land at Ballymacward, Derriaghy, from news accounts for 1829 and 1931, I suspect Margaret's and Anna's father? Margaret married C of I; had a son baptized at Quebec City at the Anglican Cathedral; but, when with the Johnston family at Montreal and after she was always Wesleyan Methodist or Methodist. It's possible she grew up Methodist at County Antrim?  Appreciate any help!!  I have very difficult vision issues now, so it's hard for me to do the research I could do previously, but I still try to do what I can.  Thanks!! Tom McMillan (State of Washington, USA)

    tomwdcraftr

    Tuesday 16th May 2023, 08:38PM

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