The Keown Family Castlewellan 4

Hi Tom

I will pass this to Elwyn

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

Tom,

Let me know if you need any advice on your research in Belfast. In Northern Ireland we don?t have the county records office system that you have in England. Most of the church and other records are centralized in PRONI in Belfast, for all 6 counties of Northern Ireland. The statutory records are in GRONI in Belfast. You don?t need an appointment for PRONI but you do for GRONI.

Elwyn

Hello
My link to the Keown's of Clarkhill is that I am a direct descendant of James Curlett and RAchel Keown who were my gg grandparents.
They married in St Pauls in 1862 and are buried in the churchyard together with my grandfather and grandfather. James died in 1916 aged 81 having remarried after the death of Rachel through consumption in 1878. James and Rachel had 6 children including their 1st born Thomas who was my ggrandfather.
I believe Keown's still live in upper Clarkhill on the old road and the house were James was born still stands further along that road on the right now occupied by the Morgans. This is at the foot of curletts hill named after Curlett's who lived there in the 18 th century.
Both families are church of Ireland.
John Curlett

Hello

Thank you for your very interesting  information

My great grandmother was Ellen Keown born in Egremont Cumberland England on the 19 September 1869

Ellen's parents were John Keown and Margaret Keown (Margaret's maiden name as well) they were married on the 15 January 1862 at the register office in Downpatrick 

Witnesses to the marriage were James Curlett and Rachel Keown James signs his name and Rachel Keown (Margarets sister ) marks hers with a cross 

Margarets father was named as Charles Keown from Clarkhill Parish of Kilmegan I have no information of her mother

Johns Father was named as Samuel Keown from Dundrine Parish of Kilmegan this is all the information i have of John before the marriage also I have no information of his mother

I have have marriages certificates copies for James Curlett and Rachel Keown on 22 January 1862 at St Pauls Church Castlewellan just one week after John and Margaret's wedding the signitures are the same

A marriage for Margaret and Rachel's brother John Keown to Eliza Cinamon at St Pauls Church Castlewellan on the16 January 1862 just i day after John and Margarets wedding

Also another brother Charles Keown to Margaret McClernon at St Pauls Church Castlewellan on 1 November 1867

All the above Family members name their father as Charles Keown from Clarkill Parish of Killmegan 

John Keown died in Egremont Cumberland in January 1902 Margaret died in Egremont March 1920 I have all census records for the family in Egremont Cumberland all of them say born in Castlewellan

I tried attach the marriage certificates to this email but it tells me the file is to big i can send them to you if i have your email address

Is it possible to send me more information about James Curllett and Rachel Keowns Family

If you could add to the information i have sent you i would appreciate it

I  hope to visit the Castlewellan area this year and if you can advise me in any way it would be most welcome and if you need any information from me just ask

          Best Wishes Tom Ravenscroft

Tom
I have been working on my Curlett Tree for some time now and have copies of most of the relevant marriage/death certs. etc. The Curlett name is an old manx name originating from scandanavia and most common on the isle of Mann as Corlett. My ancestor arrived in east county down in the late 1600's from the isle of Mann at a place called Newcastle before settling later in Clarkhill as tenant farmer for lord Annesley. Down through the generations they have had the occupation of stonemason/bricklayer even to the present day with both my brother and cousin in the building trade.
Castlewellan/Newcastle is a very scenic area and I'm sure that you will enjoy visiting there although even with the natural beauty of the landscape
It is apparent that life would have been tough there in the 1800's.
I myself was born in Dundrum nr Newcastle where my parents still live but have moved 15 miles North along the coast to Killyleagh however I still visit the area often when down visiting family.
Not sure if there is a way for you to email me directly (I'm not the most computer literate and don't fully understand the way things work on this site!)) I would have no problem with you emailing me if there is any further advice you need on the area.
Regards

John Thank you for the information on the Castlewellan area and your Curlett family History seems well worth a visit Do you know if there is a headstone on James and Rachel's grave in St Paul's Churchyard so i can visit I know James father was called Henry a stonemason i have no name for his mother or any other information also i know Rachel father was called Charles a Farmer i have no name or information of her mother Thank you for any help TOM

Tom
The burial ground has a headstone and is on the right at the back of the church James and Rachel arent named but I have confirmation from the church minister that they are buried there together with James father Henry.
It's not a large graveyard and if the Keown's are as I believe COI then it's likely that their grave is also at St pauls.
Could I suggest that you have a look at the 'askaboutireland' website under griffiths evaluation county down you will be able to establish exactly were they had land and can copy the old map online for free!
Also ros Davies county down is a great website which has a lot of relevant information on the old families and even a picture of the church, it's also free.
Also freeholders records online at proni will give you more information on the Keown's and Curlett's.
Mt email is CURLEJO7@AOL.COM if you wish to contact me directly.
I will have a look through the documents I have collected over the years and if I find anything you might be interested in I could scan and send it to you.
John