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John Regan & William Wilson of Tullykevan townland, Clonfeacle parish, County Armagh

AC
Annie Crenshaw
Fri, Feb 21, 2025 5:01 PM

It's very helpful when you have a document of your Irish ancestors that
gives the TOWNLAND where these families lived -- such as the 1853
marriage record that Wayne Kedward described. Townlands were hugely
important in 19th century Ireland! Both Charles Regan and his bride of
1853, Mary Jane Wilson, were residents of Tullykevin (Tullykeevan), a
townland in the Armagh part of Clonfeacle parish. Tullykevin is on the
north side of Blackwaterwater town, on the east side of and adjacent to
the Blackwater River. It's bordered by Drumask townland on the east,
Shanmullagh on the north, Stangmore (Magee) on the west, and of course
Blackwatertown on the south.

In the 1833 Tithe Applotments, "Wm. Wilson" was counted at
"Tullykeevan," but there were no Regans in the Armagh part of Clonfeacle
parish. By the time of Griffith's Valuation (1860s for Armagh), "John
Regan" was counted at "Tullykevan" in Clonfeacle parish. There were no
longer any Wilsons at Tullykevan, but there was a William Wilson in
Blackwatertown.

Have you checked for deaths of these men in the Blackwatertown area?
Interestingly, a "John Reigan" died in 1892 at Blackwatertown, age 102.
He was a widower, a laborer, and the informant was his granddaughter
Bella Reigan, a resident of Blackwatertown.

Sir Isaac Wilson (1757-1844) was from the Blackwatertown area. He served
as personal physician to the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and was also
Director of the Haslar Naval Hospital. An obituary for him is posted on
this very County Tyrone web site, thanks to Len Swindley -- see "Wilson
Family Notes, Co. Tyrone 1823-79." I've gathered various references to
Sir Isaac's relatives, but I don't have anything on a "Mary Jane Wilson"
who married Charles Regan, or her father William Wilson, except that a
William Wilson of Blackwatertown is referred to in several of his
daughters' marriages in 1845 and 1855. He's the "late William Wilson" of
Blackwatertown (in a marriage announcement in The Armagh Guardian) and
"William Wilson, merchant" on the daughters' civil marriage records.
He's obviously not a man who'd be described as a "laborer" in another
record. But, I can share these specific references if you'd like to read
them. I have a distant connection through marriage with Sir Isaac's
family, but we're not blood-line related.

If you could find a direct male descendant of William Wilson of
Tullykevin/Tullykevan, a Y-DNA test would be extremely helpful in
determining which Wilsons were his ancestors. The test participant has
to be a son of a son of a son, in a straight male Wilson line. If you
ONLY know your ancestor Mary Jane Wilson, but haven't researched her
siblings, you might find some of them by searching civil marriage
records for Wilsons in Clonfeacle parish, 1845+, as well as deaths,
1864+. Any Wilsons whose residence was Tullykevin are almost certainly
in your ancestor's family.

Early Church of Ireland records for Clonfeacle parish didn't survive,
but marriages 1845+, baptisms 1869+, and burials 1870+ are in local
church custody and can be consulted by arrangement. Extracts of
Clonfeacle's C. of I. vestry minutes (1763-1831) are on microfilm at
PRONI, though less helpful than births/marriages/deaths.

On the subject of townlands, the new "Townland Atlas of Ulster" by
Andrew Kane was published by the Ulster Historical Foundation this past
year. It's a hefty and handsome compilation of county and parish record
outlines and maps, almost 500 pages. The first printing sold out, and
the UHF is taking orders for a second printing. There are reviews and
many more details on-line.

Good luck with your Wilson-Regan search,

Annie
Email: crenshawannie@gmail.com

It's very helpful when you have a document of your Irish ancestors that gives the TOWNLAND where these families lived -- such as the 1853 marriage record that Wayne Kedward described. Townlands were hugely important in 19th century Ireland! Both Charles Regan and his bride of 1853, Mary Jane Wilson, were residents of Tullykevin (Tullykeevan), a townland in the Armagh part of Clonfeacle parish. Tullykevin is on the north side of Blackwaterwater town, on the east side of and adjacent to the Blackwater River. It's bordered by Drumask townland on the east, Shanmullagh on the north, Stangmore (Magee) on the west, and of course Blackwatertown on the south. In the 1833 Tithe Applotments, "Wm. Wilson" was counted at "Tullykeevan," but there were no Regans in the Armagh part of Clonfeacle parish. By the time of Griffith's Valuation (1860s for Armagh), "John Regan" was counted at "Tullykevan" in Clonfeacle parish. There were no longer any Wilsons at Tullykevan, but there was a William Wilson in Blackwatertown. Have you checked for deaths of these men in the Blackwatertown area? Interestingly, a "John Reigan" died in 1892 at Blackwatertown, age 102. He was a widower, a laborer, and the informant was his granddaughter Bella Reigan, a resident of Blackwatertown. Sir Isaac Wilson (1757-1844) was from the Blackwatertown area. He served as personal physician to the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and was also Director of the Haslar Naval Hospital. An obituary for him is posted on this very County Tyrone web site, thanks to Len Swindley -- see "Wilson Family Notes, Co. Tyrone 1823-79." I've gathered various references to Sir Isaac's relatives, but I don't have anything on a "Mary Jane Wilson" who married Charles Regan, or her father William Wilson, except that a William Wilson of Blackwatertown is referred to in several of his daughters' marriages in 1845 and 1855. He's the "late William Wilson" of Blackwatertown (in a marriage announcement in The Armagh Guardian) and "William Wilson, merchant" on the daughters' civil marriage records. He's obviously not a man who'd be described as a "laborer" in another record. But, I can share these specific references if you'd like to read them. I have a distant connection through marriage with Sir Isaac's family, but we're not blood-line related. If you could find a direct male descendant of William Wilson of Tullykevin/Tullykevan, a Y-DNA test would be extremely helpful in determining which Wilsons were his ancestors. The test participant has to be a son of a son of a son, in a straight male Wilson line. If you ONLY know your ancestor Mary Jane Wilson, but haven't researched her siblings, you might find some of them by searching civil marriage records for Wilsons in Clonfeacle parish, 1845+, as well as deaths, 1864+. Any Wilsons whose residence was Tullykevin are almost certainly in your ancestor's family. Early Church of Ireland records for Clonfeacle parish didn't survive, but marriages 1845+, baptisms 1869+, and burials 1870+ are in local church custody and can be consulted by arrangement. Extracts of Clonfeacle's C. of I. vestry minutes (1763-1831) are on microfilm at PRONI, though less helpful than births/marriages/deaths. On the subject of townlands, the new "Townland Atlas of Ulster" by Andrew Kane was published by the Ulster Historical Foundation this past year. It's a hefty and handsome compilation of county and parish record outlines and maps, almost 500 pages. The first printing sold out, and the UHF is taking orders for a second printing. There are reviews and many more details on-line. Good luck with your Wilson-Regan search, Annie Email: crenshawannie@gmail.com