MARRON family of Tamneymullan, Maghera

Patrick’s farm in Tamnymullan is listed in Griffiths Valuation 1859. He had plot 12 which was around 8.5 acres. (Up a lane off the modern Moneysharvan Rd. The land is still farmland but the buildings appear to have gone, judging by Google Earth). There was a James Marron nearby on plot 17Bb who had a labourer’s cottage. A relative perhaps?

The Valuation Revision Books for Tamnymullan show Patrick remaining as tenant until 1888 when it changed to Bernard Marron. In 1898 it changes again to Thomas Heaney. So did Patrick die around 1888, and was succeeded by his son Bernard and who gave up the farm around 1898?

Spotted the death of Patrick’s daughter Rosanna in 1886:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1886/06244/4787751.pdf

And Patrick’s wife Bridget in 1890:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1890/06120/4747474.pdf

1831 census lists a Patrick M with a household of 3 males and 3 females, all RC.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinsho…

Nearby were 4 houses occupied by Hugh, Rose, Matthew & James Marron. Presumably relatives.

Maghera RC baptisms & marriages only start in 1841 so you will struggle to get back to earlier generations.

Hi Elwyn,

I can't thank you enough for this information.

Interesting to see that Bernard took over the farm. He had emigrated to Newcastle but no doubt returned as his father Patrick got older. Bernard never married but would have been 43 when he took over the lease. He may have died himself land which is why it passed to Thomas Heaney. Bernard's brothers were all settled with families in Newcastle so they would probably not want to return to Ireland. I was surprised to see the surname spelled as MARIN in the death records. In England, the spelling changed in the 1870s so perhaps the family all adopted the new spelling around the same time?

Are the Vauation revision books available online?

I seem not to have searched the civil records at Irish Genealogy before so you have given me a number of new rocks to look under. many thanks for that.

Gratefully,

David

David,

Re the spelling of Marron/Marin etc, the idea of a single or correct spelling for a surname or a place name in Ireland is very much a recent phenomenon designed to meet the needs of modern officialdom. Before that there was no consistency. Names were spelled phonetically and each variation was down to the whim of the particular person recording the information. You will often see the spelling change as the records go back. This rarely indicates a deliberate decision to alter the name, nor even a mistake. Not everyone was literate, but even when they were, exact and consistent spelling simply wasn’t something they bothered about. In addition to varying the actual spelling, O’ or Mac prefixes were optional and were often omitted. 

In 1899, the Rev Smith reviewed the early records of Antrim 1st Presbyterian church (covering the years 1674 to c 1736). He noted: “Even the same word is not always spelled alike by the same hand. Indeed spelling with most of the recording officials (and they must have been fairly numerous) was a matter of the most sublime indifference. The name William, for instance, is spelled 3 different ways in as many lines; while Donegore, a neighbouring parish, is spelled 10 different ways; but these extend over a good number of years. Many families names are spelled phonetically, while others are given in the most round-about fashion.”

So expect spelling to vary. That was the norm.

The Valuation revision records are available on the PRONI site:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/searching-valuation-revision-books

I had a look for a death for Bernard Marron in Ireland up to about 1910 but did not see one.

Thanks again.

Yes, I found another MARRON family in Maghera with six children, the surname spelled 6 different ways on the baptism records (MARRON, MARON, MARREN, MARRIN, MAREN, MARIN).

As for Bernard, I realised that he returned to Newcastle where he lived and worked before he took over the farm. He is found there in 1901, a widower, living with a daughter and his unmarried brother.I suspect his wife died in Tamneymullan and so he decided to re-join his siblings. He is still there in 1911. He and his brother, now both in their '60s, shared a house. The brother is still working but Bernard is described as living within his own means.