My great grandfather, Thomas Fee, sailed from Londonderry in 1868 for Philadelphia. Presbyterian in US. We "think” he was born about 1851 in Lurganboy near Newtownbutler. We "think" his father was James Fee (1825-1891) and Jane Moore (1831-1911). They married in CLONES Aug 20, 1846. Marriage record says he was from Mullynagowan, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland and she was from Fermanagh.
This all makes a little sense. We have no record of birth, just ship records, US Navy records (1870-73). He married a young Irish servant, Rachel Nichols, in 1875 in a Presbyterian church in Philadelphia (no church attendance records after). Became US citizen Oct 1876.. Had 6 children, only two had children. Rachel died in 1908 and he died in 1921.
The only Fee I could find in Lurganboy was James and Jane Fee. They had 2 daughters beginning in 1861?? Sarahanne Fee (1861) never married. Emily (1863) born in Newtownburtler, married Thomas Henry Doonan in 1895 in Clones. Emily Jane Doonan born 1896, James J. Doonan about 1898 (apparently killed in WWI). Thomas Henry Doonan died before 1900. James Fee died about 1891. Ulster pledge? signed by Emily Doonan, Sarahanne Fee and Jane Fee in 1911. Jane died about 1911. I think Emily died about 1928.
I really have no connection from my ggf, Thomas Fee (1851) to James and Jane Fee of Lurganboy. I thought I made the connection years ago. If anyone knows of the Fees in that area or the Doonans, I would like to learn more. Again James/Jane married in 1846 so logical for Thomas to be born 1851 (some records suggest 1848), but then nothing until Sarahanne in 1861. I am sure James/Jane are parents of Sarahanne and Emily.
Any help would be wonderful.
Richard Fee.
Tuesday 10th Dec 2013, 06:37PM
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There were Fees still in Lurganboy in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Fermanagh/Newtownbutler/Lurganboy/1361555/
Note that they were Church of Ireland, not Presbyterian.
And in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Newtown_Butler/Lurganboy/513331/
Sarah Anne has managed to lose 15 years from her age between 1901 & 1911. Such discrepancies were quite common.
Lurganboy is in the parish of Galloon. Their Church of Ireland records of baptisms and marriages start in 1798. It?d be worth checking them to see if you can find your Thomas and the rest of the family there. Lurganboy is only 183 acres and in the 1911 census there were just 11 households there, so if you know that this was the townland your ancestor came from then there?s not much doubt that this must be your family. (There are no other Fees there).
The parish records are not on-line but a copy is held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.
Griffiths Valuation for 1862 records a James Fee in Lurganboy, living in a small house with a garden on Margaret Browne?s farm. The house is listed as plot 2A(a). That was just on the south side of the old railway line, between the railway and the modern A34 road.
The revaluation records show the house changing from James Fee to Miss Fee in 1900. She was still listed c 1912 as the tenant.
What looks to be Jane Fee?s death was registered in Clones Apr ? Jun 1911 Vol 3, page 81. Est year of birth 1825.
Ahoghill Antrim
Tuesday 10th Dec 2013, 07:14PM