Susanna Magrath and her children Mary, John, James, and Joseph

Dear Lotsahungers:

Many thanks for your query to the Ireland Reaching Out message board.

You have done quite a bit of work with regard to the land occupation arrangements that your ancestors had!

There is an interesting website that gives some local history about Drumgooland parish that you may have not seen.

It is listed below:

http://lisburn.com/books/dromore-diocese/parish-drumgooland.html

In addition, you might check out the website of PRONI.  It has a number of good resources that should assist you with regard to tracking James Armstrong.

The link for PRONI is here:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni

It is possible that Esther McDowell Armstrong may have been related to James and inherited the property.  The Calendar of Wills might also be another avenue to pursue. They are available through the National Archives of Ireland at this link:

http://www.willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie/search/cwa/index.jsp

I have just looked at the Roots Ireland database for you and here is an entry for Esther Armstrong marrying a Francis McCullough.  Look at her father's name:

Date of Marriage:     27-Nov-1866           
Parish / District:     Drumgooland         County:     Co. Down    
    Husband         Wife
Name:     Francis     McCullough         Esther     Armstrong
Address:     Dree\da         Drumgooland\dgl
Denomination:             
Occupation:     FARM LABOURER         
Age:             
Status:             
    Husband's Father        Wife's Father
Name:     Francis     McCullough         Robert     Armstrong
Address:             
Denomination:             
Occupation:     FARMER         FARMER
    Husband's Mother        Wife's Mother
Name:                     
Address:             
Denomination:             
Occupation:             
    Witness 1         Witness 2
Name:     John     Armstrong         Robert     Dalzell
Address:             
    Notes:
  

Church:  Ballyward Church of Ireland
 Other possible spelling: FRANCIS MACCULLOUGH    Minister/Priest:

You may be able to trace the Armstrong family through the Civil Registration Index in Ireland at

http://www.irishgenealogy.ie

I hope that I'm not throwing too much information at you.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Kind regards,

Jane.

"Esther Armstrong marrying a Francis McCullough"

Yes, this Esther Armstrong is the daughter of my Great-Great Uncle. My Great Aunt Esther married Robert Hanna on 4 April 1876. The Esther Armstrong you mention is of some interest as the only children I'm aware of for Francis and Esther is Rebecca, who was christened 15 November 1867 in Crossagare, County Down. Rebecca married Rawdon L Healy and they had a child named Sarah. However, I don't have any sources. Rebecca died 3 July 1945 in Dree, Dromora, County Down. If you found more information about this family, I'd be interested. The Esther Armstrong that married Robert Hanna had two children. William John Hanna born 7 October 1878 in Leitrim, County Down, and Robert James Hanna born 18 May 1881, The parents of these two men: Robert Armstrong, father of Esther Macculough and William, my Great Great Grandfather and father of Esther Hanna are the children of John Armstrong and Esther McDowal. John Armstrong is the son of Robert Armstrong and Nancy Scott according to my Great Grandfather, but all the available sources suggest that John was the son of Robert Armstrong and Susanna Magrath. What I am trying to find out is this: Is John, Esther McDowals husband the son of the original leasee's son Robert who married Susanna Magrath and christened their son John on 27 May 1781
in Drumgooland, County Down, or did the original lessee's son John also have a John, and if so, is he the John that married Esther McDowal? Perhaps school records are available? I've used all the sources you've listed. I haven't looked into any parish records that were not church of "England" as my Great Grandfather stated their denomination. I am also wondering if their was any historical reason why the original leasee came to Legananny, in hopes that it'll give me a clue to where he came from. As stated above, the first lease I am aware of dates back to 1762. Are you aware of anything that may have brought my ancestors during that time period? I suspect the Armstrongs came to Down by way of County Fermanagh, but I have not been able to make a connection. John Armstrong who leased the property in Legananny was likely born about 1715, but without some kind of documentaion of his home prior to Legananny, there is no way of knowing where he came from. Thanks again for your help!!

Oops, I made a mistake in my question. "or did the original lessee's son John also have a John" not John, Robert. John who married Esther McDowal parents are suppose to be Robert and Nancy Scott. However, I now believe that Nancy Scott may not be the wife of Robert. My grandfather stated it in such a way that he could have been refering to Esher McDowal's mother. 

 I am still looking for any information about my grandfather, Charles William. Slope Game