The Farrens of Portrush

The Farrens of PortrushAuthor(s): Margaret HamiltonSource: North Irish Roots, Vol. 19, No. 1 (2008), pp. 21-35Published by: North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS)Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27697762 .

Accessed: 12/06/2014 14:23

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

North of Ireland Family History Society (NIFHS) is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extendaccess to North Irish Roots.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 195.78.109.54 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:23:42 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=nifhs

http://www.jstor.org/stable/27697762?origin=JSTOR-pdf

http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp


THE FARRENS OF PORTRUSH

My brother Henry (no 19) and I worked on this family history for several years until his death last year He began in the approved fashion by writing short pieces about the relatives whom he knew Then Judy Conn (no 25) became involved in correcting and amending these I see that I had a long letter from her in 1998 telling me how to

get in touch with Owen Baxter (44), Sylvia Robb (89) and Helen Beynon (124) This in turn led to introductions to Maud Adams (77), Florence Mcilwaine (96), Seena

McKeown (214), May Nelson (56), Helen Warden (67) and Jennifer Lyons (137)

In writing this report I wish to begin with Alicia Clarke (no 3), my mother's mother, my Granny Clarke, who was Alicia Farren before her marriage I wish to work outwards from that base to other branches of the Farrens

Why begin with my Granny Clarke'? Because that is where Henry and I had to

begin Astonishingly when we started, she was the only relation whom we knew for certain to be a Farren Our ignorance of her siblings, let alone her parents was

daunting We knew our mother had many "cousins" but we did not know exactly how we were related to them It is a bonus that the names which my grandparents Clarke gave their children are almost an inventory of the branches of the Farren

family founded by her siblings

This history began with a burst of activity in 1999 and 2000 followed by time out in 2001 and 2002 when Henry and I pursued the history of the Hamiltons In 2003

we were joined in the Farren search by a professional genealogist, Marie Wilson,

who has been able to unearth more important material and draw some threads

together

You will find it useful to have some basic dates about the history of Portrush Portrush harbour was extended and re-built between 1827 and 1835 The money was put up by the traders of Coleraine because the mouth of the River Bann had, as it still has, the tendency to silt up From 1835 Portrush harbour seems to have become a hive of activity with frequent sailings to and from Glasgow and other ports The railway came to Coleraine in 1853 and a branch line to Portrush in 1855 The Antrim Arms Hotel existed in Lower Main Street from 1837 It was bought by the

railway company in the 1850s and became the Northern Counties Hotel

Let me explain the numbers which have been allotted to each of us by the

programme which I have used, Brother's Keeper, as I have entered each person's name The tree would be easier to follow if we could begin with Michael Farren as (no 1) In fact I had entered 236 other people before I dared to add him to the

family'

I hope that you will find it interesting to have sight of two documents and to know of one story which have informed our search and which still puzzle me

. Christmas 1999 Elisabeth McBride (no 26) let me have a fragment of information written by her father, my Uncle Arthur (14), which indicates that he was working on

21



a family history or helping someone else do so. We don't know for whom he was

making these notes or if the history to which it refers still exists. We do know that it was written after 1978 when Owen Baxter's third boy was born. I would be very interested to know what you make of it. . Christmas 2003. Elisabeth (26) let me have the family tree which she had copied

and annotated from a document which her father, my Uncle Arthur (14), lent her in 1962 (her last year as a student nurse at the Royal Victoria, therefore an accurate

date). She recalls that it was not in his handwriting. We don't know who drew up this tree?

. 1999. Helen Warden (67) told me a strange story about the Farrens in Portrush which her father, Charlie Caldwell (63) had told her and her brother as children, about how two relatives fought each other, one got drowned and the other fled the

country by boarding a cattle boat from Portrush harbour to Derry and thence to the USA. Oddly I was almost sure that I too, had heard this tale ages ago.

Pso&i * s/m* *. ? fifcftfi J

I I te *2C yfa* * feu* * H^t uq* ?*6ufte<'

JhOtfW MME* .! hMLilAM

hL *tL* m1 alf

U77IF *** Hflttflmcr 6*L Mf*ru (t+* ft*wt *->

*tn

ILEN ~ DWS

M

TV.I* | MUM I

22



The Search For Granny Clarke's Parents And Siblings. The Farren Children Who Were Baptised In Holy Trinity, Church Of Ireland,

Ballywillan, Portrush.

We began in 1999 with looking up the church records in Holy Trinity, Ballywillan. There we found five of the nine children whom I now know were born to John and Margaret Jane Eaton Farren, no.1 and no. 2. There may have been others.

Baptisms:

Margaret Jane Farren (no.129) bapt 25.10.1857 Parents John & Martha Farren Ellen Mary McConnell Farren (no.49) bapt 25.10.1857 Parents John & Martha

Farren

Letitia Farren (no.3) bapt. 24.02.1861 Parents John & Margaret Jane Farren Daniel Fall Farren (no.4) bapt. 28.06.1863 Parents John & Margaret Jane

Farren

William Farren (no.5) bapt. 29.07.1866 Parents John & Margaret Jane Farren The records for all these baptisms indicated that the parents were living in

Glenmanus.

Thus immediately we were faced with the question of how the two children, whom I took at that time to be the oldest in the family, had been baptised on the same day.

To compound the mystery, their mother was recorded as being Martha not Margaret Jane. Could John Farren (no.1), Granny Clarke's father, have married twice?

Luckily Great Aunt Ellen's (49) grandchildren knew that my Granny Clarke (no.3) was their Great Aunt Alicia. So we were able to assume that the rector had made a mistake in recording the mother's name as Martha.

In this way I learned something about the validity of old records and of the importance of consulting the descendants of the children concerned. These discussions with

our, i.e. Henry's and my cousins (first, second and third) have been and still are one of the most rewarding aspects of pursuing this family history.

. <c^fci i^r *mM m40tm u>4/ , / ../ 'f/# .

S ^Sf*f ****** &><& Argr ̂ *.") & ** ? S%*JS f wmmm*. ?m *+ -* & /**<+** * f+*+ $** *<*> *~. fi++ /WW r*c^- ** Or** +*& * -

23



Margaret Jane FarreiVs (no.129) Her marriage record in Holy Trinity Ballywillan dated 26.09.1877 reads :

William Galbraith, full age, bachelor, carpenter of Macosquin, son of William

Galbraith, labourer to Margaret Farren, full age, spinster of Portrush, daughter of John Farren, shopkeeper. Witnesses Samuel Huston and Susan Galbraith.

Later we learned that Margaret Jane moved with her husband to live in Partick,

Glasgow. I think that they returned to Portrush for holidays when their children were small. Their oldest daughter Margaret Eaton Muir (no.55) continued to keep

in touch with family members in Ireland. She drew up a family tree which regrettably has been lost. The Galbraith's second daughter Mary Jane Cochrane Caldwell

(no.53) returned to live in Belfast after her marriage. Her husband worked in Harland and Wolff as a carpenter. Mary's son, Charlie Caldwell (no.63) also drew up a

family tree which Florence Mcilwaine (no.96) and Helen Warden (no.67) let me have. It was Charlie Caldwell (no.63) who told his children the story about the fight between two Farrens.

Ellen Mary McConnell Farren (no.49) Her marriage record in Holy Trinity Ballywillan dated 26.04.1876 reads Robert

Stewart Lyons, full age, bachelor, son of James Lyons, labourer to Ellen Farren, 19

years, spinster, daughter of John Farren, shopkeeper. Witnesses Maggie Farren and William Galbraith

The Lyons after a period in 12 Main Street (post 1891 this became 69) moved to 19 Mark Street where Ellen had a boarding house. I do not know of anyone who knew that McConnell was one of Ellen's names. I still ask myself, who was McConnell? Robert Lyons worked in the Northern Counties Hotel as Head Porter and died at the

early age of 54 years

Alicia/Leticia Farren (no.3) In 1999 the sight of the actual record of Granny Clarke's marriage with her signature

affected me much more than I would have thought. I reckoned that probably no relative of hers had seen the register since she signed it on 28th April 1881. Her marriage record in Holy Trinity Ballywillan 28.04.1881 reads : Alicia Farren, (20), spinster, father John Farren, labourer, to William Clarke, (27),

coachman of Benvardin in the parish of Dunluce, father Thomas Clarke, wood

ranger. Witnesses, Robert Lyons and Ellen Lyons. After a period living in 11 Main Street (post 1891 this became 67) the Clarkes

moved across the street to 48 Main Street. William Clarke (no.6) who had come to Benvardin from Co.Clare became head coach man in the Northern Counties Hotel. He died when he was 54 years in a diabetic coma. The church records indicate that he was living at 23 Causeway Street not 48 Main Street, when he died. I don't understand the significance of this.

Daniel Fall Farren (no.4), Unfortunately no one, other than myself, had heard of Daniel Fall Farren or knew

of the record of his baptism and that of his children in Holy Trinity, Ballywillan. His

24



name rang no bells with any of the cousins with whom we were then in contact. Nor do we do know the significance of his second name.

In 2001 I found his marriage through the Derry Genealogical Society. It tells us fhat:

on 29.08.1882 in the 3rd Coleraine Presbyterian Church, he married Rachel Todd. Both resided in Portrush at the time. He was a labourer as was his father

in-law, John Todd and father John Farren. Witnesses were Daniel Todd and Jane

Thompson. I learned later that the Todds were fishermen presumably in Portrush.

Through the internet earlier this year, 2004,1 found that Daniel had moved to live and work in Glasgow, Govan. He died on 23.03.1897, aged 34 years, from pneumonia, acute nephritis and acute meningitis having been ill for 10 days. At the time of his death he was an engineer's labourer. The family were living at 15 West Scotland

Street, Govan. His brother-in-law, Samuel Todd of 106 McLellan Street, Govan was the informant having been present at the death. His wife re-married and I am in touch with his descendants, Hugh Adair Farren

(no.291) and John Farren Anderson (no.294) in Glasgow. Hugh was unaware that an older sister of his grand father Daniel Farren (no.4) and her family had lived in

Glasgow. John had heard from his mother that she had cousins in Glasgow but that

they did not keep in touch. One of Rachel Farren 's (no.265) sons by her second marriage, David Jeffery

(no.303) married a cousin ?Todd and returned to live in Coleraine with his wife and

daughter, Maureen. Apparently this was, in part at least, to look after an elderly relation called Todd. I hope that we shall be able to trace his sojourn there.

William James Farren (no.5) By comparison, tracing William was easy for there was Owen Baxter (no.44), his

grandson, who knew about him and Henry (no.19) who remembered him and his children from childhood and has written evocatively about that time. William migrated to Canada against his mother's wishes. The story goes that "He

went to Derry for the day and turned up in Canada." However he returned to Portrush in the 1890s. He was a painter and decorator, a member of the UDC, of the lifeboat crew, of the Select Vestry of Holy Trinity, of the Unionists and the Masonic Lodge. Astonishingly to me, he sent his daughters to Ballymena Academy as day pupils, a daily return journey of about 60 miles. Owen (no.44) says that his

grandfather considered education important. Indeed! I understand from Owen that William (no.5) was in part responsible for the care given to the education of the

younger Clarke children.

The Farren Children Who Were Not Baptised In Holy Trinity, Ballywillan

As we grew to know the descendants of Granny Clarke's siblings we became aware that there were other children who had not been baptised in Holy Trinity.

From the start Henry and I were pretty sure that the Belfords were related to us

although we were not sure of their exact relationship to Granny Clarke. We noted that my Aunt Annie (13) had been christened Annie Belford Clarke and Uncle

Arthur's (14) fragment of information referred to Belfords but we had no Belford

25



descendants to contact. I remedied this deficit by use of the telephone directory! And so I found Trevor Belford (194) who proved a resourceful ally. I made what information I had available to him and he discovered the records of the following

marriages in Ballywillan Presbyterian Church relating to two women whose father was recorded as John Farren. There was, of course, no mention of their mother's

name.

Marriages Of Two Farren Girls In Ballywillan Presbyterian Church

Eliza Farren (no.212), 4th October 1870. 19 years, spinster, residence Portrush, father John Farren,

labourer to Alexander Smith, bachelor, sailor, residence Portrush, father Harry Smith, fish curer. Witnesses: William Fisher and Ann Farren.

I have not been able to trace Eliza and remain puzzled about why there should have been two sisters in the same family one called Eliza and another Elizabeth.

Nancy (Annie) Farren (no. 130), 23rd June 1871. Full age, spinster, house servant, residence Portrush, father John

Farren, labourer to William John Belford (no.141), full age, bachelor, labourer, residence Glenmanus, father William Belford, labourer. Witnesses: Alexander

Drain and Ellen McCollum.

Nancy and William Belford lived in 14 Main Street (pre 1891 numbering). By the census of 1901 Nancy had moved to 35 Main Street where she had a drapery shop.

Nancy Belford (no. 130), also known as Annie, died on 22.12.1909 aged 67 years. William John Belford (no. 141), died from drowning on 13.10.1887 aged 54 years. Trevor Belford (no. 194) obtained this information from their gravestone in Ballywillan cemetery and from their death certificates. The inquest recorded the cause of death as concussion of brain accelerated by submersion 5 minutes. I unearthed the

following report from the Coleraine Chronicle 15.10.1887.

"FATAL ACCIDENT AT PORTRUSH A sad accident occurred at Portrush on

Thursday which resulted in the death of a middle aged man William Balfour. The deceased had been fishing with flies near the fishery at Portneen, and was

standing upon a small isolated rock. It is believed that while casting the line he over-balanced and fell backwards into about three feet of water. When picked up immediately a erwards he was found to be dead. Deceased was not long enough in the water for death to have resulted by drowning and it is thought he

must have been fatally injured by falling against the rocks. An inquest was held

(Friday) when a verdict in accordance with the facts was returned. "

In a different context it may be worth noting that the 1901 census for Glasgow shows that a widower Jos F. Belford and a child Nancy Belford aged 3 (unclear) were

living with the Galbraiths (no.129) & (no.170). Perhaps they were our Joe Belford

(142) and his daughter Annie (148). The discovery that Eliza and Nancy Farren were born in the late 1840s and early

26



1850s meant that there was a gap of several years between these older children and the children we already knew about. Again we wondered if John Farren had married twice. Or if there had been two John Farrens. We were not to discover the probable answer until Marie Wilson started work in 2003.

Elizabeth Farren (116) From the start of this search there was one second cousin, Helen Beynon (124) who was certain that her grandmother was Lizzie Kirk (116) and was pretty sure that her grandmother's mother was Margaret Jane Eaton Farren (2). There was no supporting evidence from the baptism records of Holy Trinity and we still do not know where Elizabeth Farren (116) was baptised but now I can make a good guess. More later!

Elizabeth Farren's place in the family was confirmed by Henry's (19) reference to a

correspondence dated 1915 between my father and mother. Aunt Lizzie Kirk (116) as she became and they addressed her, had been a favourite of my mother, Alicia Hamilton (11) nee Clarke.

Elizabeth Farren's (116) marriage certificate did not come to hand until the year 2004. Her marriage took place in the Parish Church of Lower Falls on 14.04.1875 and reads:

Ernest Kirk, full age, bachelor, letter carrier, 36 Athol Street, Belfast, father William

Kirk, turner to Elizabeth Farren, full age, spinster, servant, University Street, Belfast, father John Farren, ballast master. Witnesses Wm Scott Wallace and Catherine

Wallace.

Ernest Kirk was an Englishman from Staffordshire. He worked for the GPO in Belfast until his retirement in 1913.

The Kirks lived first in Euston Street/Road and then in Ivan Cottage, Cregagh. You will have seen that all the other Farren girls were married from home in

Glenmanus or Portrush. We don't why or how Elizabeth had the initiative to make it to Belfast.

Joseph Farren (no.284) We have had to wait until 2004 to learn about Granny Clarke's oldest brother,

Joseph, when the tree by the unknown author came to hand from Elisabeth (26). Uncle Arthur's (14) fragment of information did mention that Joseph went to Oregon but he neglected to say that Joseph's surname was Farren! Our discovery of Joseph was my first venture on the internet and I was glad of the company of my niece

Margaret, Henry's (19) daughter. I was also lucky to find the web site of the chairman of the Grant's Pass Family History Society and of the local Historical Society, Don

Thomas, who has been indefatigable in his support. Various records, although not the immigration records, show that Joseph Farren

(284) arrived in the USA in 1865/67. We know nothing about his journey or why he chose California.

The 1870 census for Redwood Township, San Jose, California tells us that Joseph was a day labourer. By the 1880 census he was still in the same town and still a

labourer. But they spelled his name Faron. Don commented that it sounded the same as Farren. Shades of our 1831 census. Explanation later.

27



All the USA 1890 censuses were destroyed by fire. In the 1900 census (not indexed) we find Joseph in Kerby Precinct, Josephine

County, Oregon. The return reads:

"Joseph Farren Head, white, male, born Nov 1847, 52yrsold, married 17 yrs, born Ireland, father bom Ireland, mother born Ireland: 1867 year of immigration: in USA 32 yrs. Farmer, rented house & land. Could read & write English.

Rebecca A. Farren Wife, white, female, born May 1850, 50 yrs old, married 17

yrs, born Missouri, father born Virginia, mother born Virginia. Could read & write

English. Had 2 children-both living. (Rebecca's parents were Calvin Little and

Margaret Bryant.) Ida Farren Daughter, white, female, born 1870, 29 yrs old, married 11 yrs., born

Missouri, father born Ireland, mother bom Missouri. Could read & write English. John Calvin Farren Son, white, male, born Oct 1883, 16 yrs old, single, bom

California, father born Ireland, mother born Missouri, in school. Could read & write

English."

In the 1910 census (not indexed), Joseph, his wife and son were still in Kerby Precinct. Ida was not at home on the relevant day. By this time they were farmers on their own farm. In letting me have this information, Don transcribed the census return. Without being aware of the significance of his perception, he has recorded

Joseph's mother's place of birth as Scotland and indeed as I re-read the photocopy of the census return, I see that it might well be Scotland. Is this a mistake or an

important clue? All the other census returns say that Joseph's mother was born in Ireland.

The 1920 census, which was almost illegible on the internet, seemed to say that the family was living in Waldo. (This needs further clarification.)

In the 1930 census we find Joseph and his wife now 82 and 79 years in Kerby Precinct on a ?general farm.

Joseph (no.284) was buried on 28.12.1933. On Don's advice, I wrote to the Funeral Home which arranged the burial for a copy of the certificate of his death. Retired

farmer, place of death ?0'Brien, Oregon. Whoever registered his death thought that his mother's name was Margaret Fisher! His obituary mentions his relations

W J Farren of London, Lizzie Kirk and Ellen Lyons of Belfast and Alicia Clarke of Portrush.

John Calvin Farren (287) who never married, died of pulmonary tuberculosis on

15.02.1928 in Waldo. His step-sister arranged the funeral through the same funeral home. The inscription on his tombstone reads "Oregon Sergt 312 Field Remount

Sqdn". Don thinks this army service may date from WW I.

Don writes that Waldo, a good 20-25 miles from Kerby, was the first town founded in Southern Oregon and is now a ghost town. It was the first county seat-later they

moved that to Kerby(ville). Waldo started because of the gold. After that glamour

28



wore off, people found that the land around here was very fertile-still is. Hence, farming became an industry here. Later the fruit trees came. There are orchards all over the place here. The climate here is temperate, ideal for farming and orchards. Lots of mountains around, but the snow rarely hits the valley's floor.

Don is helping me to remedy my ignorance of the history of Kirby, Grants Pass and Waldo. This exploration about Joseph and where he lived is on-going

Mainly About The Time When Several Of The Farrens Lived In Lower Main

Street, Portrush. 1876 - 1899.

In 1999 co-incidentally with looking up the records of Holy Trinity, Ballywillan we discovered the Irish room in Coleraine and the Griffiths Valuation. We learned that in 1859 a man called John Farren paid 10/- per annum rent for a house in GJenmanus,

Co. Londonderry.

Owen (no.44) in his first and most informative letter to me in December 1998 told me that he had discovered that John Farren (no.1) was listed in the Belfast and North of Ireland Street Directory in as follows :

"1870 no mention of Farren 1877 & 1880 John Farren :- Refreshment Room, Main Street, Portrush.

1884,1890,92,95,97 John Farren:- Refreshments Dockhead and Grocer in Ramore Place.

1899 Mrs Farren:- Refreshments Dockhead. 1899 & 1900 John Farren:- Grocer in Ramore Place." John Farren's (no.1) death certificate reads: Date and place of death: 14.02.1898 Dockhead, Portrush, Co. Antrim. Married.

Age last birthday: 79 years. Occupation: Stevedore. Certified Cause of Death and Duration of Illness: Inflammation of the Bowels 4 days certified. Signature, Qualification and Residence of Informant: Wm Farren, son of Deceased, present at death. When registered: 11.04.1898. Signature of Registrar: J. {unclear} C or G. Martin.

Note a certain casualness about registering deaths with the Civil Authorities, despite this having been a legal requirement since 1864. It took two months to

register John's death! His wife's death was never registered. However, their burials were recorded by Holy Trinity, Ballywillan.

So John Farren (no.1) had moved from Glenmanus to Portrush sometime between 1870 and 1877 and died in 1898 at the age of 79 years. By subtraction he was bom c1819. I add circa since ages given at death as indeed on gravestones are not entirely reliable! Unfortunately he and his wife died just before the 1901 census

which would have told us more about them.

John Farren (no.4) seems to have been a man of many parts. He is recorded as

being: . a shoe maker at the baptism of Margaret Jane and Ellen in 1857, . a labourer at the birth of Alicia in 1861, of Daniel in 1863, of William in 1866 and at

29



the marriage of Eliza in 1870, Nancy in 1871, Alicia in 1881 and Daniel in 1882, . a shopkeeper at the marriage of Ellen in 1876 and Margaret Jane in 1877, . a ballast master at the marriage of Elizabeth in 1875, . a grocer at the death of Daniel in 1897, . a stevedore by his son William at his death in 1898

An Enclave Of Farrens Living In Main Street Portrush In The 1880s

In December 2003 Marie Wilson unearthed a lovely map of Portrush and the

following information from the Griffiths Revisions which showed us where several of the Farrens were living in the 1880s

Main Street

90 John Farrell leasing house and offices valued at 9 p a from Samuel Hazlett

from 1876 Corrected to John Farren in 1883

Main Street

11 Wm Clarke from 1887 12 Robert Lyons from 1887

13 John Chapman changed to Robert Farren 1886

changed to Daniel Farren 1889

changed to John Henry 1891

14 William John Balford (sic) AH the above 4 householders had moved by 1891 and

the houses were renumbered 67, 69, 73 and 71

90 Main Street renumbered 96 and then 80 to John Farren

changed to Margaret Farren 1899

changed to Mary McNeill 1901

The photograph shows numbers 11-14 Main Street to the extreme left of the

"pulpit" I recall mother talking fondly about playing on the "pulpit" The map shows the position of numbers 90 and 11, 12, 13 and 14 Main Street A word of caution about house numbers To my knowledge houses in Portrush have been re

30



numbered three times, most recently in the 1950s, if I recall correctly.

The Antecedents Of John Farren (no.1). Tracing Michael Farren (no.237).

Owen Baxter (no.44) in his letter of December 1998 also told us that Ivy Farren

(no.31), his mother thought that an ancestor was called Michael Farren. Daisy Farren (no.28), Ivy's sister, thought that Michael Farren was a Shinner (as n Sinn

Fein) from Donegal or Derry. Owen Baxter (no.44) suggested that they came from Inishowen or Culdaff, Co. Donegal. He had visited graveyards in Culdaff, finding

many Farrens buried in the Catholic cemetery and none in the Church of Ireland

cemetery. Farren is a Donegal name as the distribution of households in Griffiths

(1848-1864) shows.

In 1999 I noted tentatively that it might be of interest to us that a man called Michael Farren paid 10/- rent in 1859 in North Ballyaghran (source Griffiths Valuation) and that a man called Michael Farren aged 85 years died on 14.06.1877 in Coleraine

Workhouse. His bunal is recorded in the records of Holy Trinity Ballywillan of which church he was a parishioner. Thus his death was registered both by the Civil

Authority and by the church. He died of old age and apoplexy having been ill for six

days. The informant was an officer of the Workhouse. Perhaps it is noteworthy that the Workhouse included an Infirmary. More about Michael Farren (no.237) later.

First we need to consider what we know about his son Joseph (no.239).

The Joseph Farrens Of The Townlands Around Portrush. This is a branch of the Farrens who lived in the vicinity of Portrush from at least

1863 until the 1930s about whom I knew nothing, although they had an enduring relationship with Holy Trinity, the church in which Granny Clarke's children were

baptised and of which my parents were life time members.

31



In 1999 I discovered the Joseph Farrens in Griffiths Valuation and in the records in

Holy Trinity, Ballywillan. Their history is as follows:

Joseph Farren (no.239), a labourer, was almost certainly the son of Michael Farren

(no.237). We have not been able to find the record of Joseph's birth but he took on the tenancy of Michael Farren's (no.237) house in Ballylagan in 1886 and continued to live there until 1907 (Source Griffiths Revision Lists). Although the tenancy of this house lapsed, he continued to live in Ballylagan and died there.

Joseph Farren (no.245) his son, lived in Inchmearing, Macllvennon and Islamore. He was a labourer although the marriage record of his daughter Jane (no.252) in 1909 indicates that he was a "road contractor". His wife Jane Lyttle/Little (no.251) died in Corbeleigh 1925 and Joseph (no.245) died in ??reagh in 1934

Joseph Farren (no.254) his son who was also a labourer lived in Ballyholme according to the baptism record (01.06.1919) of his son Joseph (no.263) and

(30.09.1929) of his daughter Elizabeth (no.264), again in Holy Trinity, Ballywillan. I was baptised in the same church a year before his daughter. I wondered if I could find them.

In 2004 Marie Wilson found the following marriages. 24.04.1946 at St Mary's Camus Juxta Bann, Church of Ireland, Joseph Farren, full

age, bachelor, painter of Drumcroon Coleraine, son of Joseph Farren, miner to

Catherine O'Neill, age 17 years, spinster ofKill ure, daughter of Isaac O'Neill, labourer. Witnesses: William F Arthurs and Ellen Maquire. and

13.02.1946 at St Marys Camus Juxta Bann, (Macosquin) Church of Ireland, Henry Moffatt age 20 years, bachelor, mill employee of Killaig, Macosquin, son of Henry Moffatt, labourer to Elizabeth Farren, age 17 years, spinster, domestic servant of

Tullichewan, Lodge Road, Coleraine, daughter of Joseph Farren, miner. Witnesses Matthew and Anna Doey

To date I have not tried to follow up this information.

Possible Link Between John Farren (No.1), Joseph Farren (No.239) And Michael Farren (no.237).

Back in 1999 Trevor Belford (no. 194) studying my raw material drew up a tree which made much more use of the raw material which I had uncovered than I had been able to do. He saw the possibility of an association between the descendants of John Farren (no.1) and those of Joseph Farren (no.239). Tentatively he linked both to Michael Farren (no.237) and therefore to Michael's children whom I had discovered.

Michael Farren's (no.237) other children . Robert Farren (no.240). His baptism record, 26.09.1827 Holy Trinity Ballywillan

32



shows that his parents were Michael and Ann Farren of Islamore. . James Farren (no.241). His baptism record, 21.06.1829 Holy Trinity Ballywillan

shows that his parents were Michael and Ann Farren of Islamore. . Ann Farren (no.242). Born probably in 1830. Her marriage record, Coleraine

Registry Office 12.11.1850, indicates that she could not read or write, that her

parish was Ballywillan, that her father was Michael Farren, a labourer and that one of the witnesses was Robert Farren.

. A child called William Farren (no.269) was baptised in Killowen C of I in 1825. His

parents were Michael Farren and Ann/a Allen. Rightly or wrongly I have awarded him to Michael Farren (no.237).

Note that we cannot be absolutely sure that Ann, the mother of Robert (no.240) and James (no.241) was Ann Allen the mother of William (no.269).

There was a group of Farrens living in Killowen at the relevant time. Marie Wilson has searched to see if she could find a link between Michael Farren (no.237) and these Killowen Farrens but without success. I had hoped that on his way from Derry or Donegal Michael Farren (no.237) or his parents might have paused there.

Evidence Of The Link Between John Farren (no.1) and Michael Farren

(no.237).

In December 2003 Marie Wilson wrote:- "The index to 1831 census for Co.

Londonderry shows no Farren...in Ballywillan Parish though there are 3 Farrens in Coleraine. I examined the census records -

they are only extracts showing the number of males and females and servants in each house and the religion of the

occupants. I was excited to find Mick Fanan in Islandmore and am as certain as is

possible that this was Michael Farren wrongly extracted from the originals. Fanan in script can look exactly like Farron. The household consisted of 6 males and 3

females, all Church of Ireland. Assuming that this was Mick and his wife with 5 sons and 2 daughters, they fit perfectly. We know that Mick and Ann had sons

Joseph, William, Robert and James born before 1831. It is extremely tempting to assume the fifth son was John. We know of daughter Ann and presumably there was another daughter."

Marie Wilson explained to me that the 1831 census was destroyed in 1922 but extracts for Co. Derry had Ipeen made from it soon after its publication in 1831 by someone or some group who were interested in the religious persuasion of the

population of Co. Derry. A questionable motive perhaps but a lucky break for those of us who are interested in Co Derry.

"Marie Wilson concludes: Circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that John Farren was the son of Michael or Mick Farren and Ann Allen but neither his

baptism...[nor] marriage has been found to prove this. Michael was recorded as Church of Ireland in the 1831 Census. I am afraid his origins are shrouded in

mystery. There is no way of finding out where he was bom or in what religion he was

33



baptised. Unfortunately John and Joseph died before the 1901 Census which would have given the county of their birth."

John Farren's Wife, Margaret Jane Eaton Farren (no.2)

There are two family tales/myths about the Eatons . that "our" Eatons were related to the Eatons of the store in Toronto, Canada. This

was believed firmly by Thomas Clarke (no.14, Mina Clarke (no. 16). Owen (no.44) tells me that his mother, Ivy Farren (no.31) had the same belief Florence Mcilwaine

(no.96 and Helen Beynon (no.124) had heard the same story. . that "our" Eatons owned a corn mill in Glenmanus. Association with the Eatons

of Ballymena and Toronto. Despite the persistence of this story we have not been able substantiate it. One avenue may be worth using, the internet. I have not tried this yet. The Corn Mill. After considerable searching over several years I was glad to take

Marie Wilson's advice and to write in 2004 to Dr. Hamond, an authority on the

history of mills in Ireland. The correspondence is available on request.

But what evidence is there that the Eatons might have owned this mill? Undoubtedly there were families of Eatons living in the area and some associated with Ballywillan Presbyterian Church but we have not found it possible to associate them with the Glenmanus mill or indeed "our" Eatons with those associated with the Presbyterian church in Ballywillan.

Again Marie Wilson has been resourceful. She wrote in December 2003 "The index to 1831 census for Co. Londonderry shows...John Eaton in Ballywillan Parish...I have examined the census records -

they are only extracts showing the number of males and females and servants in each house and the religion of the occupants.

...The entry for Jno (John) Eaton in Glenmanus was also very interesting showing John and wife and 3 daughters (the most likely scenario - but it could be John and 4 sisters or 4 daughters and wife dead) all Presbyterian. However I find it

extremely significant that John had a female servant and yet in the Tithe Records of the same year he held no land. This would support the suggestion that he was connected with Glenmanus Mill, perhaps as manager as there is no evidence of him

having owned or leased the mill. A landless labourer could not afford a servant. It is tempting to think that Margaret Jane and John Farren lived with him after their

marriage and continued to live there after his death as John Farren was listed there from 1859."

So we know that John Farren (no.1) and his wife lived in Glenmanus from at least 1859 and we have good reason to believe that his wife's family, the Eatons, were

Presbyterians who lived in Glenmanus. It seems likely therefore that their older children were baptised in either Ballywillan or Ballywatt Presbyterian Churches.

Although these churches were erected in 1828 and 1832, their baptism records date f rorn 1862 and 1867 respectively.

34



We know that Eliza (no.212) and Nancy (no.130) were married in the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church. So that is probably the church in which all the older Farren children were baptised. However we do not know why in 1857 John and Margaret Jane Eaton Farren (no.1 ) & (no.2) withdrew their allegiance to Ballywillan Presbyterian Church and joined Holy Trinity, Church of Ireland Ballywillan; the church with which Michael Farren (no.237) had been associated since at least 1831 and of which his son Joseph (no.239) was also a member.

I am making this report available to those relatives who have joined in this search with my sincere thanks for their help and support. The complete tree is available to those who wish to have a copy. I am also placing this report and its appendices,

which contain my raw material, in the Irish Room, Coleraine Library. It will be in the reference section and available to researchers. The appendices will be on a

CD which I shall be glad to make available to "Fellow Farrens". I hope that readers will feel obliged to let me know where I seem to have made mistakes or incorrectly

interpreted events.

Margaret Hamilton B1358

Dear editor,

The shop on page 37, Vol 18 2, was that of Matthew Perry, tailor The shop is still there on the Lisburn Road, Belfast, near Wellington Park

I met Matt Perry when I was a child, he and my grandfather were friends

Yours sincerely Norah Lyness B1260

Thanks, Norah Our members can be relied upon to know the most unusual thingsf

35



The Farrens of Portrush

Documents

Transcript of The Farrens of Portrush