John McKeon : Short Biography

John McKeon 1821

Drumreilly (Leitrim) County Leitrim

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John Mckeon born 1821 in Drumreilly. Married Bridget Magowan in Drumkeeran Manorhamilton in 1867. His father was Bernard McKeon born1788. John was in India working for the East Indian Company . He moved from Leitrim to Middlesbrough with Bridget after he retired from the army at 46 where he drew his pension. When they moved to Middlesbrough they added an e to the name . McKeone. Would there be any McKeon family around Drumreilly area or Magowan family around Drumkeeran.

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Additional Information
Date of Birth	1st Jan 1821
Date of Death	1st Jan 1883

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My great grandparents, Patrick Armstrong O'Beirne and Maria Prendergast were sponsored by a Keon in Launceston, Tasmania. They arrived from Leitrim in 1865. I wonder if there is a connection to a member of the McKeone family. Patricia O'Dowd.

Patricia O'Dowd

Sunday 15th August 2021 04:50AM

Hi Patricia, It is possible your O'Beirne and my Mckeone were connected but I could say for sure .I know my 3rd Great Grandfather was born around Leitrim/Cavan about 1800 The spelling of a surname seemed to vary greatly when families emigrated. I could not say if they are connected to your O'Beirne. However he had a daughter born in 1824 in Ireland Mary Ann O'Brien who emigrated to Middlesboro . Her surname is recorded in 1851 Census as Obrion. It seems to have been written down as she would have pronunced it and later recorded as O'Brien..Her grandaughter married my grandfather James McKeone in Middlesboro . There could be a connection there between the two families the Mckeone and O'Brien side from Leitrim that moved to Middlesboro. I found a lot of families from the Leitrim area that emigrated to England seemed to settle in the Newcastle /Middlesboro area of England. It's quite possible a branch of my Mckeon family emigrated to Tasmania and they had a connection to your Patrick Armstrong O'Beirne . I have no information on the Keon in Launceston Tasmania who sponsored your great grandparents .Sadly I have no information to share with you regarding any member of my Mckeone family from Leitrim that might have emigrated to Tasmania.

Tony McKeone