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WALLACE & MCMAHON – Fermanagh / Monaghan Border (Clones / Killeevan)

I am trying to find the exact birth date and townland/farm location of my great-grandfather, John Wallace, who was a farmer from County Fermanagh. He was likely born in the 1840s or 1850s, and his wife's name was Mary Jane. I have exhausted the online civil indexes and am looking for help from local volunteers who might recognize the family or have access to local records.

Here is the verified timeline of his son (my grandfather) to help narrow down the location:

Son's Marriage: My grandfather, also a John Wallace, was working as a coachman when he married my grandmother, Frances McMahon on June 29, 1904. The marriage certificate shows he was residing in Ballynure at the time of the marriage and my grandmother residing at Magheranure Clones Parish. They were married at the Parish Church in the parish of Killeeveen, Co. Monaghan and lists my grandfather’s father as John Wallace, farmer.

1911 Census: My grandparents John Wallace and Frances Wallace (nee McMahon) were recorded in the 1911 Census living in Ballywalter, Co. Down (my grandfather John Wallace’s birthplace is listed simply as "Co. Fermanagh" on the census).

1912 Belfast Birth: My father, George Victor Wallace, was born May 24 1912 at 54 Jameson Street, Belfast to my grandparents, John Wallace and Frances Wallace. My great-grandmother, Mary Jane Wallace, was the informant present at the birth and was living at that same Belfast address at that date, as per the birth certificate.

Because my grandfather lived on the very edge of the Monaghan/Fermanagh border in Ballynure/Killeevan, I suspect John Wallace Snr’s farm was located in a nearby border parish like Clones (Fermanagh portion), Galloon (Newtownbutler), or Drummully, but name-based civil index searches have failed due to spelling mutations or indexing gaps.

If any local researchers are familiar with Wallace families farming on the Fermanagh border near Clones/Killeevan, or could advise on local Church of Ireland registers from that area, I would be deeply grateful.

There may be a confusing wrinkle here as I know my dad had relatives in Scotland so I do wonder if John Wallace Snr (my great-grandfather) had links to Scotland.

I've carried out a lot of research and gathered as much as I can from PRONI with death and birth certs but it is my daughter's 50th birthday in August and during compilation of a photo book, would be great confirmation of my great grandparents.

I was born in Belfast and have now been in Canada since 1975.

Thank you for your time.It is sincerely appreciated. #s

MarionD

8 replies

MarionD

To assist volunteers

1911 Census- Your grandfather born in 1879

WallaceJohn32MaleHead of FamilyChurch of IrelandCo FermanaghHotel ManagerRead and write-Married-

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MarionD

Maybe your grandfather. Was Mary Jane, John's mother or stepmother?

1901 Census

Residents of a house 2 in Magheranure (Clones Rural, Monaghan)

KnightJane Cochrane63FemaleHead of FamilyChurch of IrelandCo Monaghan-Read and write-Widow-
NichollMargaret28FemaleServantChurch of IrelandCo FermanaghCook Domestic ServantRead and write-Not Married-
WallaceJohn24MaleServantChurch of IrelandCo FermanaghCoachman Domestic ServantRead and write-Not Married-
StinsonSamuel18MaleServantChurch of IrelandCo MonaghanGardener Domestic ServantRead and write-Not Married-

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Speculation- Could John and Mary Jane have had a son James who also went to Belfast?

Record from Irishgenealogy    Irish Genealogy - Explore your Family History

Click on Record Image

Name:Mary Wallace
Date of Death:1920
Group Registration ID:5704169
SR District/Reg Area:Belfast
Deceased Age at Death:65
View record image

@@@@@@@@@@

Records from RootsIreland (paid subscription). Concern they were Presbyterian

Date of Marriage:24-Nov-1877  
Parish / District:Smithborough (Smithboro) Meeting House, Clones parCounty:Co. Monaghan
HusbandWife
Name:JohnWallaceMary J.Whiteman
Address:Killyliffer, Clones ParishCreevelea, Clones, Co. Monaghan
Denomination:[not Listed][not Listed]
Occupation:farmerfarmer
Age:Full AgeFull Age
Status:WidowerSpinster
Husband's FatherWife's Father
Name:JamesWallaceJamesWhiteman
Address:[not Listed][not Listed]
Denomination:Not RecordedNot Recorded
Occupation:farmerfarmer
Husband's MotherWife's Mother
Name:[not Listed][not Listed][not Listed][not Listed]
Address:[not Listed][not Listed]
Denomination:Not RecordedNot Recorded
Occupation:[not listed][not listed]
Witness 1Witness 2
Name:JamesWhitemanTeresaWhiteman
Address:
Notes:
Marriage solemnized at the Smithboro Meetinghouse in the parish of
Clones, according to the Form and Discipline of the Presbyterian
Church, by me, M. P. Kenny, Minister, by license.

@@@@@@@@@@ Other siblings- Margaret 1879, Robert 1881, Thomas 1883 Did not find John.

Name:James WallaceDate of Birth:9-Dec-1877
  Registration Date:12-Feb-1878
Address:GranshawParish/District:ROSSLEA
Gender:MaleCountyFERMANAGH
Father:John WallaceMother:Mary Jane Whiteman
Occupation:Farmer
Sponsor 1 /Informant 1:JohnKillyliffer

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Responding to MaryTV - thanks so much for your response.  I have an update starting with your 1st item re. the 1911 census:

His DOB is not correct - John Wallace was born in 1877 and he was 34 at time of census.  I can definitely confirm this as in the 1911 census (scroll to see screenshot way further below at the end of my notes) it shows him, his wife Annie (should be Fannie) and 7 mth old Frederick John.  My cousin in Australia who has the same grandparents told me about Frederick my father's brother who I never knew about as he died when he was 13.  I can confirm this also as I have his death cert. which I ordered from PRONI.  So your 1st response post I can update his birth date for sure and he was living in Ainsworth Ave. in 1911 as per census image I've listed below.  I've also attached a copy of the more detailed census image.  Profession is difficult to read although the top line looks like farmer but the second line also shows something like winching master if this makes sense.  I have a busy weekend but will look at your other posts further below.    

Your 1901 census sample is correct I think as John would have been 24 in 1901 and it shows him living in Clones, Monaghan.

Why I am stuck here is my father Victor Wallace, John's son, died when I was only 17.  Unfortunately, at that age, you never ask questions about history as you think you have lots of time and I lost my father to illness so young.  My cousin in Australia did not have any more information except she sent me a picture of my grandmother, Frances, who died when she was only 37 and on the back it said it was grandmother and there was also an older lady she noted as Mary Jane Wallace, great-grandmother.  I have no way of knowing if this was a step great-grandmother or not.  

The other question mark is Presbyterian.  It shows John in the census and other information as C. of Ireland. My father was also C. of Ireland.  It shows their marriage as 1877.  That was the year John was born although she could have been pregnant.  However, it shows John's father above as James - his father was also John Wallace.  

Cannot thank you enough for your time but I think we are stuck at this point now?  Let me know if you have other questions.

MarionD

MarionD

Original might be Linen Weaving Factory

WallaceJohn34MaleHead of FamilyChurch of IrelandCo AntrimWinding Master in Linen Winding FactoryRead and write

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Thanks so much - that could be correct as there was a linen factory, Wm Ewart & Sons,  I believe on the Crumlin Rd in Belfast that I can recall.

Does that mean we have gone as far as we can now in terms of finding more info on John Wallace (senior)?  

We found my grandfather,  John Wallace,  back to when he was 24 as per 1901 census living in Clones, Co. Monaghan.  In 1904, as per John and Frances' marriage certificate, it showed his father, also John Wallace (senior) from Co. Fermanagh. I just know John Wallace (senior) had a wife called Mary but do not know his birthdate.  I can confirm that John Wallace (junior), my grandfather, had 4 children:  Frederick John (who died at 7 months); Victor (my dad), Ivy and Josephine.  The 1911 census found John and Fanny and children living in Belfast.

I do not know how many siblings my great-grandfather John Wallace had.

 I recall when I was a child my father going over to Glasgow to visit "two elderly aunts" as he described them.   Not sure if there is a scottish connection here.  

MarionD

Have you checked Irishgenealogy (free) they might have a birth record for your John. Remember the Irish did not celebrate birthdates so the birthyear you see on the censuses, marriage, and death records could be off by 10 years.

Search - Irish Genealogy

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