Dupree Alexander McWha

Kerian,

Ros Davies site lists 2 siblings to your James McWha:

Agnes married Gilbert Laird Wilson on 10.6.1852 and Jennette married John Hutchinson on 13.4.1855.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/genealogy/SURNAMES/Mc/McTMcY.htm

Looking at the marriage records on rootsireland, Agnes & Jennette both married in Ballywalter 1st Presbyterian. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that’s probably the McWha family church.  Their baptism records start in 1824 and  marriage records cover 1803-1818 and then 1824 onwards. The baptisms and pre 1845 marriages are not on-line anywhere. There is a copy of them in PRONI (the public record office in Belfast).  A personal visit is required to view them.

In addition, a Dupree McWha married Isabella Ralston of Ganaway on 23.12.1865 at Ballywalter 2nd Presbyterian.

The McWhas lived in Whitechurch townland. The only McWha listed there in Griffiths Valuation in 1863 was James McWha who was farming plot 11, a 36 acre farm. So you can assume that Dupree born c 1785 had died by 1863. Death registration didn’t start in Ireland till 1864 so you won’t find a death certificate for him. In addition, Presbyterians generally don’t keep burial records so the church won’t have a record of that either. However as a reasonably well off farmer, he probably does have a gravestone. That McWha farm today is at the end of a lane off the Greystone Rd, north of Ballywalter village.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

This looks to be that family in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ballywalter/Whitechurch/1256461/

And in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Ballywalter/Whitechurch/265618/

James Alexander McWha was born in Whitechurch on 11.9.1874 to James senior and Ellen Lawther. See:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

I think Ellen died in 1895 aged 56.

Some probate abstracts relating to this family, taken from the PRONI wills site:

Probate of the Will of James M'Wha late of Whitechurch Ballywalter County Down Farmer who died 30 June 1901 granted at Belfast to James A. M'Wha and Alexander Adams Farmers.

The above will is on-line on the PRONI website. It mentions 2 sons.

McWha Jane of Whitechurch Ballywalter county Down married woman died 23 March 1945 Probate Belfast 12 October to David Freeland schoolmaster. Effects £122 10s. 11d.

McWha James Alexander of Whitechurch Ballywalter county Down retired farmer died 15 May 1956 Probate Belfast 25 June to Robert McWha farmer and David Freeland school teacher. Effects £2556 7s. 8d.

The above 2 wills are not on-line yet but should be held in PRONI in paper format. You can view them there free or they will copy them for you for a fee.

Under ref MIC 320/2, PRONI also has a letter sent to William Gladstone (Prime Minister) dated 11.2.188, signed by James McWha and 46 other Dufferin Estate tenant farmers, on the subject of land reform, protesting about the way they had been treated by their landlord:

'Sir,

We the tenant-farmers of a portion of the Dufferin estate comprising eight townlands in the Ards of Down which the Earl of Dufferin has recently sold (1878) have had our attention called to a paper published in the London Times and press of this country entitled The Earl of Dufferin and the Irish Land Question and being now assembled in a public meeting beg to take exception to many of the statements contained therein.

Knowing as unfortunately we do to our cost his Lordship's conduct as a landlord, we feel alarmed lest his theories shall have any consideration from the Government in their efforts to provide a solution of this momentous question. The suggestion made by Lord Dufferin would if recognised in any proposed measure of reform only add to the misery and misfortune of the tenant-farmers of Ireland. His illiberal dealings with his own tenantry and his vigorous action as a landlord demonstrate that he should have no voice in the settlement of this momentous question. His late proceedings have only confirmed us in a long entertained opinion that he is blind to all sense of justice when he discusses the position and the rights of the Irish agriculturist.

His Lordship in his paper insists on the public believing that we his tenantry have all come upon the estate at a comparatively recent date and suggests that the claims of the tenant farmers of Ireland with regard to length of occupancy is little else than a farce, but we can assure you that this is an utterly misrepresentation of the truth, and of this his Lordship himself cannot be ignorant. Were he to take the trouble of refering to the rental books of his estate he will find that a great proportion of the farms occupied before the close of the seventeenth century are still in the possession of the descendant of the then tenantry. We know this fact from the traditions of our forefathers as well as from the records of the tombstones of the parish graveyards. Some of these tombstones declare that our ancestors lived and died in the townlands in which we at present reside even before his Lordship's ancient predecessor received his fee farm grants in 1672 and 1674. To produce facts as well as make statements we will take the entire tenantry of one townland (Ballyferris) and give the dates at which their respective forefathers died in the same townland as recorded by the tombstones in the parish churchyard

Present Occupier. Predecessor

James Warnock. Isabella Warnock died 1667

James Wallace. John Wallace died 1724

James Boyd. John Rutherford died 1724

William [? Copes]. John Rutherford died 1724

John Patterson. John Patterson died 1754

John Morrison. James Morrison died 1755

James Fulton. Janet Fulton died 1769

William Boyd. Andrew McCormick died 1770

The difference in name in some instances has arisen at a late date in the memory of the present generation through marriage with the exception of the last-mentioned tenant who purchased the interest of his holding in 1878 from a descendant of the predecessor opposite his name. We have taken up one townland to disprove the accuracy of His Lordship's statement - the term of occupancy as testified to by these tombstones being in a minimum 110 and in a maximum 213 years. Whether the testimony of these impartial and hitherto silent witnesses to the truth of his Lordship's base assertions are most worthy to be relied on we leave you to determine.

We may add that one reason for the same families being so long in possession is that they were up till about 1838 protected against arbitrary increases of rent by leases granted by an ancestor of Lord Dufferin. Since the expiration of these leases under which the rent was from seven shillings and six pence to twelve shillings an acre there has been a great addition to the rent. The rent is now forty two shillings, the Cunningham acre and the measurement on which this is assessed includes sand banks and lands now submerged by the sea. Neither Lord Dufferin nor any of his predecessors ever expended a single shilling on the said townland in improving the soil or in the erection of buildings.

Again his Lordship proceeds to say that by the admission of the tenantry themselves a large proportion of the improvements effected before his time were landlord's improvements. This statement as far as concerns the estate we are speaking of we flatly contradict. Those amongst us who can remember his grand uncle's career as a landlord between 1799 and 1837, his grandfather's between 1837 and 1839 and his father's between 1839 and 1841 cannot remember a single incidence where a tenant was assisted in raising farm buildings or improving the condition of the soil. The only matter we are recognizant of in their history as landlords is that they must be classed with the worst rack-renters in Ulster for when opportunities arose they were ever ready to add to our burdens and reap the fruits of our improvements by unjust increases of rent. On a few adjoining properties the rents paid during the same periods were 30 and in many cases 50 per cent less for land even of a much superior quality. With regard to his Lordship who succeeded to the estate in 1841 we most emphatically declare that no Irish landlord ever with greater despotism trampled upon the moral and just rights of his tenantry than did the Earl of Dufferin and we beg leave to submit our reasons for making such an assertion.

His Lordship like his predecessors never spent a single shilling on his property to improve our condition. We have all without single exception built our entire farm standings, drained and reclaimed our farms and made our fences without receiving a farthing to assist in making such improvements. Besides we have paid and are still paying rent for the ground occupied by the country roads and we pay the taxes necessary to make and keep those roads in proper repair.

Many of us have spent on our respective farms in making those improvements labour and capital that would exceed the total value of our holdings if valued at £20 and in some cases £50 per Cunningham acre. The only consideration his Lordship took of these facts was a periodical and permanent enhancement of rent: and finally when he saw that the legislature was determined to grant us a measure of security he devised arid forced leases upon us which succeeded in cutting us out from having a claim for our improvements under the provisions of the Land Act of 1870. How he succeeded in this scheme allow us to briefly explain.

Early in February 1869 the bailiff ordered us to appear before his Lordship at Clandeboye - many of us being summoned on Sunday to appear the following morning. The majority of us obeyed and were there informed that leases were prepared and ready for signatures. His Lordship went to some trouble to explain that by his leases he was conferring on us a great compliment observing that the only favour he would seek in return was the running term of rent and arrears on which if paid he would grant 15 per cent discount.

Several of the more intelligent tenants who saw through and beyond the sophistry of his Lordship ventured to assail the terms of the lease. Then an angry discussion ensued. A tenant asked for time to look over and consider the lengthy and precise legal document. His Lordship asked how long would he require, would five minutes do? Before the tenant had time to reply Earl Dufferin turned upon him and said in words to this effect - "If you don't accept my terms as set out in the lease I will send a man down to value your steading and you can leave." Terror was thus struck into the very soul of this tenant as well as into those who witnessed the same or heard of the tyranny. The tenant thus addressed being reluctant to be driven from what had been the home of his ancestors for 200 years had to sign as did the others a lease which at one sweep deprived us of three-fourths of our property - the result of the industry of generations. In the event of any of us dying intestate after the signing of the lease the whole interest thereunder passes into the hands of the landlord as if the lease had run its full term of 21 years. We appeal to reason and ask respectfully is this freedom of contract? Whatever it may be called it is only a sample of many of the contracts between landlord and tenant in Ireland. It may be wondered why we were so foolish as to sign those leases but it must be borne in mind that previous to the passing of the Land Act of 1870 the Irish tenant was entirely at the mercy of the landlord. Neither the landlord nor the law recognised the tenant's interest in his holding and justice on the part of the landlord was consequently a matter of grace.

Under these circumstances to avoid unpleasant consequences we felt it more prudent to submit to the wishes of our landlord that we might be permitted to live in the homes which our forefathers had established. Not until the following spring which brought the Land Act did we see the full force of the leases and the net into which we were so skilfully and unjustly drawn.

In 1878 the property was sold to Mr Mulholland M.P. previous to which processes were issued and many of us compelled to pay arrears which accrued during the famine years between 46 and 54 in the lifetime of a previous generation. Many amongst us were at this time driven to greater straits. Thus Earl Dufferin parted with his estates and his Ards tenantry. He concludes his paper with the statement that he yields to no one in his desire to see the agricultural population of Ireland prosperous and happy.

But we leave all impartial men to say whether such language is in harmony with the facts we have stated. No man in Ireland has done more to the detriment of industrious tenants and no man is less entitled at the present time to assume the part of friend or adviser of the tenant-farmers of this country.

Names. Addresses

The Belfast Newsletter of 8th Dec 1944 carried a mention of the marriage on 28.10.1944 between Arthur Ewing of Brookhill Ave, Belfast  & Agnes McWha, daughter of James A McWha of Whitechurch.  Marriage was at Shore St Presbyterian church, Donaghadee.

The Northern Whig for 24th March 1945 carried the death of Jane McWha wife of James A McWha. She died at her son in law’s residence 11 Brookhill Ave, Belfast. Funeral from her late residence to family burying ground in Whitechurch cemetery. So that tells you where to look for gravestones.

Thank you Eleanor for your informative reply. I am sorry that nothing was found about David Magill McWha though. I have him as being the brother of James Alexander b. 1874, that you mention. I have David also being born in 1874 and he emigrated to New Zealand as a young man. I do not know his exact birthdate.  I now wonder whether they were brothers!!!  Regards Kerian

Kerian,

Children to James McWha and Ellen Lawther in the statutory records (ie 1864 onwards):

Elizabeth 13.4.1866

Mary 12.7.1867

Agnes 4,5,1869

Ellen 23.4.1872

Caroline  6.5.1873

James 11.9.1874

David Magill 7.11.1875

You can view all those certificates on the irishgenealogy site.

Hello Kerian,

This is my mother's family tree too.  I have been doing some work trying to tie together family links.  What I have that predates your record is as follows.  

Dupree Alexander McWha and Jane Bryson had a number of children

Robert - died Ballymullan Co. Down 10th May 1888, buried Bangor Abbey

Rachel - died Ballymullan 12th April 1842, buried Bangor Abbey

Dora Jane - died Ballymullan 1st March 1858, buried Bangor Abbey

Mary - died Ballymullan 10th Nov 1856, buried Bangor Abbey

Eliza Anne - died 10th Nov 1855, buried Bangor Abbey

Dorothy - born Ballymullan 1814 - died 9th May 1821, buried Bangor Abbey

James - 1817 - 30th June 1901

Dupre William - born 1818 - died Ballyrolly, 26th Dec 1899 - buried Whitechurch Ballywalter - Dupre married Isabella Ralston and they had 7 children 2 girls and 5 boys (this is my family connection.

Dupree Alexander McWha is the son of George McWha - born circ 1744 and died 16th August 1821 and we think his wife was Dorothy. They had three sons, the others being Jon - born 1777 and died 4th Nov 1820 and James - born 1786 and died 11th April 1815.  John married Ann and had a son and daughter Ann and John.  James appears to have died unmarried.  

Let me know if you want anything further.

Ruth

Have a look here. 
https://townlandsofulster.com/2020/11/08/ballymullan/

You'll have to scroll down. It has a picture of Dupree's headstone towards the bottom.

My interest is in his wife (Jane Bryson) through whom I have DNA matches with descendants.  Dupree had a cousin George who married Eliza Bryson; I have DNA matches to their descendants also. My present quest is to identify the parents of these two Brysons and prove they were sisters. It is part of a project to sort out the relationship betwen every Bryson within 40km of Belfast in 1790,.to break through a brick wall.

Cheers
Anne
New Zealand

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58825624/dupre-william-mcwha may be of interest.  Also, there's a third Bryson/McWha marriage; the full list is below.

Jane BRYSON  alt Jane WIGHTMAN Born: 1798 alt 1794 Died: 25 Feb 1846 Ballymullan, Crawfordsburn, Down, Ireland https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153786170 Married 1804 Dupree Alexander McWHA Born: 1785 Died: 19 Jun 1837 Bangor. She may have had a prior marrage hence the 'Wightman'; possiobly relevant that Dupree's will was execured by P Wightman. A few years ago I was in touch with a descendant who was adamannt that Jane was a Bryson and tied into the "three Reverends" but did not know how.

Eliza BRYSON (1790-) Married possibly about 1810, Ballymullan, Crawfordsburn, Down, Ireland George McWHA (1790-). Suspoected to be the sister to the above Jane but not proven.

Jane Bryson (1781–1810) Married John McWha. Jane was daughter of Andrew Bryson/Isabella Barr. This makes her part of the "three Reverends"; Rev James was her uncle and Rev. William her father's cousin.

And on David Magill McWha.  Married in New Zealand...

David Magill McWHA Born: 1875 Newtownards, Down Married: 1912    NZ BDM 1912/8719 Mary URWIN. Two children David McWHA Born: 1914    NZ BDM 1914/12135 and Frank Dupree McWHA Born: 1916    NZ BDM 1916/10077. The certificates can be purchased online from https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/.    I also have him as a brother of James Alexander McWHA Born: 11 Sep 1874 Whitechurch, Newtownards, Down Died: 15 May 1956 Married Jane M ADAMS Born: 24 Dec 1873 Donaghdee, Down, Ireland Died: 1944 Daughter of Hugh ADAMS (1839 Ballycopeland, Down-1922) and Mary ADAMS (1847 Canaway, Newtownards-1905).