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Mary, MCLEAVES/MCLAVES
I am looking for information on 2xg grandmother Mary Mcleaves born about 1929
probably in Ballykeel, Northern Ireland. She married William JESS of Ballykeel, N.
Ireland on July 21, 1856 in the Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer, Dromore,
Down, Her father was listed as Thomas McCleaves, hatter on the marriage
certificate. She had a daughter/ward named Mary Ann McCann. I am wondering
how the different surnames came about.

Ann Buchanan, ibbotsonab@gmail.com

AnnBuchanan

2 replies

Ann I am looking at unanswered and not sure if you got any email, I see the marriage you meniton and only two baptisms in the 1860s Agnes in 1866 and Ellen in 1862, now I also see a William Jess who was recorded as a weaver in the baptisms died in 1866 aged 36 and thought she may have remarried but did not find one and see what appears to be a widow Mary living with her daughter Agnes and her Murdock husband and children in the address you gave, the census of 1901 is free online, they are Presbyterian in the census and some of the denominations have not got there records online or in full, also they would use the C of I if their own church was not available or they had none nearby.

There is also a very interesting site for Down here https://rosdavies.com/SURNAMES/Afrontpage.htm There appears to me to be a lot of your ancestors here but I cannot see any McCann connection.

Regards

Pat

newohalloran.p…IrelandXO Volunteer

I already have the information that you have mentioned.   Thank you.  I am most interested in the surname mysteries.  Mary McCLEAVES,is thee woman you mention in the 1901 census.  She married William JESS and was the mother of Agnes Jess (married Murdock). However, why does my great grandmother, Mary Ann McCann (married Robert COULTER),  have a different surname than McCLEAVES or JESS.  On the marriage record between McCANN and COULTER, Mary Ann's father is recorded as William JESS. If William JESS was Mary Ann's father from before McCleaves and Jess married, her name should have been either McCleaves or Jess.  Where did McCann come from?  I cannot find a birth record for Mary Ann McCann or a marriage for McCANN and McCLEAVES.

Thanks, Ann Buchanan

AnnBuchanan

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