I’ve been crook with a pretty savage flu for the last few days, and even spent the weekend in bed watching silly movies on TV! Today I feel better enough to venture forth, albeit with a lot of coughing and trying to keep away from others as I’d hate to pass it on. Luckily today is Monday when the archives are open again. Belfast continues bleak and rainy. I’ve given up trying to find good coffee – I can’t taste anything at the moment anyway, but the pubs are warm, friendly and very atmospheric.
No, I haven’t been able to prove that our James Beatty of Aghavoory is the same person as in Pete Beattys’ tree, although it’s still highly likely that he is. I’ve learned a couple of other things about him though.
His land in Aghavoory had originally been leased to Robert McKnight in 1787, so it did not belong to the Moores although it adjoins their land. It has been suggested to me that (if it is the James Beatty born in Farnamullan) he could have married and needed land of his own before his father Archibald was ready to hand over Farnamullan and no leases were available near Farnamullan. However, if a parcel of land came available next to his uncle’s farm in Aghavoory, the Moores could have recommended him for it. James Beatty paid the rent on that parcel of land without the name being changed from McKnight and I don’t know why, but I can’t find a lease in his name. James also had 33 acres in Agheeter townland. When James’ own eldest son Joseph married in 1855, James gave him the Agheeter land – well in the rent books the name changed from James to Joe Beatty. His younger sons, Archibald and James (that we know of) must have been encouraged to make their own way. They certainly did. Unfortunately Farmer James wasn’t a noticeable tenant. He paid the rent exactly on time every time. The Estate Manager’s note book is occasionally entertaining reading as he threatens to evict miscreants who mistreat their wives, take over land without the Estate owner’s permission, build houses other than where they were told to, or (horror!) with thatched roofs. On the Colebrook Estate everything has to be “slated”! James Beatty never gets a mention, presumably because he never did the wrong thing. We now know that he remarried in 1858 though I still haven’t found out the name of his first wife.
In the Colebrook Estate rent book for May 1873, there was a note against his name “dead”. Even knowing the year of his death, I still can’t find a will.
Enough for today. I’m off to the pub for dinner!
Was wondering – hang in there Bushmaid
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Oh what a shame Sue – but given the circumstances I see no problems with watching silly TV. Main thing is to keep entertained while getting better!
Was just talking about coffee the other day and deciding that really Australia’s the place for good coffee. (And Canberra has again won the National Barista Championships so good for us, says she taking the credit!)
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Thanks Whispering, am pressing on regardless Have a coffee for me!
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Happy to! I hope you get some nice days soon – that always helps when you are feeling under the weather (hmm, perhaps not the right metaphor).
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Hi – I too am researching my Beatty family from Fermanagh. My people are from neighbouring townlands – Killarbran and Tullykenny and go back to the mid-1700s. Through DNA tests we know that we are connected to a family who was in Tattenaheglish in the early/mid-1800s which is right next door to Derrynavogy and Aghavoor. I have a document on my family that I would be happy to send you which might spark some connections for you but I am not sure how to do so. If I leave you a reply here will you automatically get my e-mail address? If so, send me a note and I will forward you my Beatty document. If not how do I get it to you?
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Thanks for your messages Joanna. I’m aware of the James Beatty in Tullykenneye and Killarbrin. What a lot of James Beattys there were. I think parts of the 1821 census survived for those townlands which would help with your family. More by email.
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Hi once again – I was just going through my Beatty records and came across an Archibald Betty who was listed as a freeholder in 1753 in Tullykenny. If you are looking for someone close to Aghavoory, Tullykenny is only a few kilometers away.
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