McMenamins From The Cross and Castlefin areas and Knockfair, Stranorlar

Hi just came across this site and tour board my paternal grandfather Edward Mc Menamin born 28th of  October 1876 was a son of John Mc Menamin and sarah foy

a grandson of John Mc Menamin from knockfair

You may have this info already 

I'm only starting on this journey 

Hi Belalt here, (Sean Mc)

I posted a query here in April but have since learned more about the people I was asking about, so I think it is time for me to update the information.

The new information that I have is

John McMenamin was born about 1804  and all indications are that he was born in Belalt.  He died in Knockfair in 1867 and his youngest son James (stickleg) born 1844 was present at his death.

James "stickleg" lived to be 95, dying on 31st Dec 1939

John was married to Betty Kane from Gortletteragh. Betty died in the infirmary section of the Work House in 1890 at the age of 91. She was paralysed.

Also living in Knockfair at that time was Manus McMenamin who was married to Anna Quinn.  Three of their children  Bridget Anna, James and Thomas emigrated to Philadelphia in 1846.    Those three children were born 1827, 1828 and 1829/30.  Three being born in rapid succession like this indicates they were the earlier  children in the union.  So if Manus and Anna had their older children in the late 1820s and John and Betty had their youngest children in the early 1840s it would appear that both couples were rearing children at the same time and the couples are likely to have been of similar ages.

We are only aware of one house that the McMenamins occupied in Knockfair. On this basis we assume that Manus and John were closely related  but not father and son as once thought to be the case.

I hope Sally that you and I are not the only ones looking at this site !

Belalt

John died in 1867, witnessed by his son James who was then married and living in Admiran. His son John  married Sarah Foy from Dreenan. Their first child was born in Rockfield  but their next two were born in Knockfair.  The Knockfair farm was owned by Wm Gillen (not Giblin as I previously stated) Wm Gillin died in 1875 and the farm was bought that year by Henry and John McNally.  John and Sarah moved to Killygordon and their fourth child was born their as was their fifth and sixth. The Children of John and Sarah were  John, Oct 1871, James June 1873, Catherine Feb 1875, Edward Oct 1876, Anthony April 1879, Joseph April 1881 

They lived at the Gatehouse, Killygordon.   I have been told that this gate house was attached to "KIllygordon house" raher than the Railway. On the birth cert of their lst child John is listed as a coachman

John McMenamin`s death is registered in Strabane district with the details being supplied by the coroner fpr Donegal , death having taken place in Craigdoo, Convoy.  I will have to search out old news paper records to find the nature of the accident.  This accident should not be confused with the one which five years earlier claimed the life of David Wilson

I only came across this site by accident today

Hi Sean thought that there might be more searching but looks like it's down to you and me to unravel the knockfair and killygorden mysteries of the families killygorden house is a name that I remember hearing a long time ago