Orr family of theGartnaneane townland, Bailieborough

Carrickcourt ... I'm not related to your Orr family, but we have a surname in common, McChesney. My ancestors came over to the U.S. around 1830-40 from Ireland, and I have always assumed from the Ards Peninsula area (given the current distribution of McChesney in that area). Do you have information about McChesney ancestors in your line?I would love to connect with anyone searching on/interested in that name. 

Kit McChesney

Hi David, my name is Carmel O'Callaghan & I am in the process of setting up a forum to help with queries such as yours..  However, I live in Nolagh, a  townland beside Gartnenane & while there are no Orr's living locally.  Marcus Dancey who lives in Corclare, Shercock, Co Cavan should be able to assist you, if you wish to write to him.  I have a book written by Francis Alexander Dancey called "A Snipe flew over the Bog" Wherein, he (Sandy) talks about his Grandad Orr & the Family at Gartenane.  In it there is a picture of the writer, Sandy in 2002 on his 80th birthday,  I think Marcus would be your best bet, I dont have an email address for him.  Best wishes Carmel

Hi Kit, greetings from Bailieborough. McChesney families attended the same Presbyterian Church as did David's 'Orr' ancestors. In fact there was a McChesney/Orr marriage there on Dec 7 1871. I can give you what details I have, baptismal records go back to 1836 and marriages to 1845. I can also pass on an email address for a lady who has done some research on the McChesney's from this area, I think she may be in Australia, can't quite remember as its a while since we communicated. Regards, Les.

Hi David, I think with your vast knowledge of genealogy you will be contributing to this site rather than gleaning any new information from it!! But who knows what new stone could be upturned! Regards, Les.

Les ... thanks for your response about the McChesney folks in Bailieborough. I'd be very glad to hear more about what you know about the families there, and your contact in Australia. Please do tell! 

The lady I mentioned is Barbara Wilson, barbara.wilson@csun.edu She is in California and not Australia! If you mail her, I'm sure she will give you the information I sent her as I'm not sure I could find it right now. If you don't make contact then I'll find whatever information there is in the Church records. I don't have any connection with McChesney myself, I just answer the odd query. Regards, Les http://bailieboroughpictorialpast.blogspot.ie/

Thank you! Your book looks interesting, too! I'll see what I can find out from Barbara Wilson. And as far as McChesney goes in Ireland, what area do you associate with that family name? Am I on target to look around the Ards area, specifically around Newtownards, Kircubbin, Ballyhalbert areas? 

Kia Ora David,

I'm trying to establish a connection between the Bates family of Garrisonhill- Carnowen (Donegal) and the Orr family as my Grandfather was John George Orr Bates. The Orr name appears on the genealogy I have but not to establish a link to my Grandfather's line.

Any help would be appreciated.

Alan

Kia Ora David,

I'm trying to establish a connection between the Bates family of Garrisonhill- Carnowen (Donegal) and the Orr family as my Grandfather was John George Orr Bates. The Orr name appears on the genealogy I have but not to establish a link to my Grandfather's line.

Any help would be appreciated.

Alan

Since my last posting I came across a message from Barbara here:

http://www.irelandxo.com/group/knockbride-cavan/messages/mcchesneys-dru…

I am only aware of the family who Barbara is connected with, some of them went to live in Clontibret, Co. Monaghan. I don't know about the area of Co. Down you mention. Regards, Les

In your post about the Orr family, you mentioned Jane Davidson and Gibsons as possible links.  My grandfather, William Lindley Gibson, was born in Baielieborough, Co. Cavan in 1886.  His father was Thomas Gibson and his mother was Matilda Cocrane.  In the marriage records, I noticed my grandfather married an Elizabeth May Davidson.  She may have died because he then married Annie Jane Gault who I remember as my grandmother.

Patti,

My grandfather was William Lindley Gibson and my grandmother was Annie Jane Gault.  My father was Frederick Wilton Gibson.

I almost fell out of my chair when I saw your post.  If you receive this and have any interest in touching base, you can email me at fwg214@verizon.net.

Fred W. Gibson, Jr.

I am a newcomer to irelandxo, but I am very interested in finding my McChesney heritage. I noticed the notes that were on this perish. My 4th GrGrandfather John McChesney was born in Co. Monaghan about Feb 10, 1764 and traveled to America at about the age of 6 weeks. This lines up with the ship "John" that left Newry on May 10 for New York with Dr. Clark and the Cahan's Exodus. John was married in 1785 at Cambridge Presbyterian Church at Cambridge, NY., so I am assuming he would have been raised in that faith. It woud seem likely that he woulld have been baptized prior to the trip to America, limiting the timeframe from Feb to May. John's father and grandfather may have been named William and relatives of John may have come from the Killylea area of Armagh before migrating to possibly the Clontibret area. There may have also been relatives of John that migrated in 1732 from Co.Armagh to New Jersey. Any assistance or input on locating John's family would be greatly appreciated, as no confirmed records of his family prior to his marriage have surfaced in New York. 

Hi Donn,  I am a volunteer with IrelandXO and I try to give as much assistances as possible in relation to Bailieborough connections.  Pre civil registrations 1864 it is difficult to track families.  I am guessing that you have done a lot of research already but perhaps you should contact some Monaghan offices to find out what resources they have.  The staff at the old workhouse in Carrickmacross may be able to direct you to local sources there info@carrickmacrossworkhouse.com 

That period and those counties Co. Monaghan & Co. Armagh in Ireland's story is covered by the records office in Belfast you should look at the records contained in PRONI you can email them at proni@dcalni.gov.uk Their Websiteis :http://www.proni.gov.uk 

Now strange as it may seem, since I started helping out with this post I have found that in my own ancestry my great great grandmother was Ann Clarke nee Keappock born 1836 and in helping a distant cousin (Patricia Smith) track her Keappock's I found an Ann McChesney 1804-1881 born most likely in Drumhilla, Shercock, Co. Cavan and she married John Keappock 1797-1883, they were Catholic, however, I suspect that Ann and indeed John both had non catholic ancestors.  I have not been able to tie up my family with my distant cousin but in doing DNA testing we have a very high match, though I also suspect inter familial marriages skews the result, but if it may help you find the links. 

Best wishes with your research and I hope that the previous contrbutors see your post.  

Regards Carmel O'Callaghan

Have not followed this message board for ages. Concerning the Orr/McChesney connection. My Babington great grandmother Elizabeth Orr's younger sister Sarah Orr (1849-1941) married Isaiah McChesney (1839-1892) on 9 December 1871 at the Glasleck/Shercock Presbyterian Church. Sarah had six childern, all born in Drumhillagh North, Knockbride, Bailieborough. Isaiah McChesney died on 11 Oct 1892 and was buried in an unmarked grave at the above Glasleck Presyterian Church. After her husband's death Sarah joined her children in Glasgow, Scotland. Sarah died on 6 June 1941 in Hamilton. Lanarkshire, Scotland. Isaiah McChesney's parents were John McChesney and a Emilia Unknown 

Interesting that when Isaiah McChesney died his wife Mary joined her children in Scotland. It is most probabal that the McChesney's originated in Scotland, came across to Ulster, travelled on to Clontibret in County Monaghan and some came to live near Shercock in County Cavan. There are still McChesney's living in both Clontibret and Knockbride Parish which is close to Shercock. On the map of Glasleck graveyard there are two plots with the McChesney name, one states, Joseph McChesney, Drumhilla and the second one states, Isaiah McChesney, Drumhilla. On the ground there are no headstones or grave markings.

Regards, Leslie McKeague

www.bailiepublications.com 

I noted those McChesney burials at the Glasleck Presbyterian Church churchyard in your book Les. I was last in Ireland in early July 2014 to attend a Babington third cousin's wedding in Dublin, My Orr related third cousin John P drove me to Bailieborough on 5 July 2014 where John got your book at the Hall shop. We then went to the Corglass Presbyterian Church. We tried to visit the ruins of the Orr homestead at Gartnaneane but found the lane up to the house too overgrown.  We next went to the Glasleck church and then on to Shercock to have Sunday dinner with Orr related third cousin Marcus D. Our last stop was to see my Babington great grandmother Elizabeth Orr's grave at the St. Molua's COI church in Magheracloone parish, Co. Monaghan.  I have posted an item about Elizabeth under Magheracloone and Bailieborough here

David W Babington

Hi everyone.  I was hoping someone could put me in touch with Kit McChesney who has posted emails on this site regarding the McChesneys from Bailieborough who went to the US around 1830/1840.  My ggg grandfather George McChesney went to Pennsylvania at that time.  I believe we have the same McChesney in common. 

I have also found a connection to an Ann McChesney 1804 - 1881 posted by Carmel O'Callaghan and I am wondering if this is George McChesneys sister.  He was born 1804 as well.  If Carmel could contact me that would be wonderful.

Thank you, Carolyn

Hi Carolyn,  

Just to let others know that we a veteran penpals at this stage..  

Regards Carmel

Dear All, My family (Morrows) came from Gartnaneane and were neighbours of the Orrs.  My uncle (now in his nineties) said that as a child  visiting the family, he used to go to the Orr's farm to see the excellent horses they had.  I am sure he said they were racehorses and that the Orrs were famous for them.

Good evening,

My ancestors are Isaiah McChesney (1839-1892) who married Sarah Orr (1849-1941) in December 1791.  I believe Isaiah's parents were John and Emilia, and Sarah's were James Orr and Emilia Davidson.  Isaiah and Sarah's daughter, Sarah Orr McChesney initially married Frederick John Wilde, and then married Edward Francis Perris which is my family line.

Any information on this line would be appreciated.

Thanks Eileen Avern Perriss

Hi Eileen.  Are you a direct descendant of the McChesneys and if so, have you or another relative done their dna.  This way we can confirm our connection through the line.  Please let me know and i will have a look at my matches.

Thank you, Carolyn