Allen McCracken

Andrew,

I can’t find a birth for Allan McCracken anywhere around 1876. However I did find a James McCracken who married Mary Storey in 1857. On the marriage certificate James is described as a pensioner which at that time meant he had served in the army or navy. In his case it was the army (from his death certificate). He had not been married before.

His father was James McCracken, gentleman. Only address given was Drummully parish. However there is a James McCracken farming in Drumboghanagh Glebe, Co Fermanagh. And that just happens to be the bride’s address too. Her father was Edward Storey, farmer.

The family had a number of children. I noted Martha Allen McCracken 9.4.1869 born Clonnestin 9.4.1869; James 10.4.1871 & David 20.12.1876. There were 9 others a total of 12 in all. They were all alive in 1911 (according to the census).

Family in 1901, in Clonnestin townland, Co Monaghan:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Monaghan/Drummully/Clonnestin/1631900/

& 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Monaghan/Drummully/Clonnestin/804968/

the family were Church of Ireland. You could search the Drummully parish records for them. There’s a copy of the following records in PRONI (the public record office), Belfast. They can be searched free but a personal visit is required to view them:

Baptisms, 1830-73; marriages, 1829-1956; burials, 1836-1970;

Later baptisms are still help by the Rector/Vicar. (Due to the volume of genealogical enquiries they receive these days, the Church of Ireland charges for searching records held in the parish, so expect to pay if you want to search those.)

Apart from the fact the family lived in Drummully, Martha’s middle name of Allen makes me suspect this is your family.

James McCracken died 8.9.1905 at Clonnestin. His son James was the informant. Clonnestin is at Wattle Bridge, on the border between Monaghan & Fermanagh.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1905/05578/4566519.pdf

I looked in the current phone book for Co. Monaghan and didn’t see any McCrackens anywhere in the county. Likewise I couldn't find any in the border area of Fermanagh (postcode BT92). That doesn’t mean too much these days as many people aren’t listed any more. You would probably need to make local enquiries to see if there are any family there today.

Hi Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your speedy reply and all the information you gave me.  I've been having real problems trying to trace my McCracken side of the family, its as if Allen just appears from nowhere. I have been trying to find a birth certificate for him since I joined Ancestry in February but no luck as yet.
I wondered if Allen was his middle name and he just didn't use his first name. but his marriage and death certificates both just say Allen.  I also have photo of Allen with his brother James and one of his sister Martha, also one of my grandmother his daughter, having a rare visit to family in Clones.

It looks like Allen move to Scotland in the late 1890's we think to work on the Forth Bridge. He married Maria Tyler Thomson on 26 December 1899 in Paddington Lancashire.  Maria was a Catholic and I believe this caused some trouble with the family.

He never return to live in Ireland but settled in Derbyshire / Yorkshire, he died in Doncaster in the late 50's.

I joined Ancestry and had my DNA done with a hope to find some family in Ireland. I had links to a number of McCracken's, 3rd and 4th cousins who all live in the USA, they all decend from James 1934 and Mary Storey. Their family trees showed everyone except Allen but they have added him as they think its correct.

If it had been a different branch of McCracken's then I probably wouldn't have had such a close DNA link to them.

I will just have to visit the area next time I go to see my son and family in Dublin, I presume you need to make an appointment if you want to search local records.

Thanks again for your help and I will spend some time looking at the links you sent.

Regards,

Andrew

Hello Andrew,

I am Robert Watt,  born in Co. Tyrone in 1941, My mother was Hannah Trimble born in Co. Tyrone in 1916, The Trimble family came from Co. Fermanagh.

During the 1950s my mother had a friend / relation called Meg McCracken and her daughter Moira visit  our home in Co.Tyrone from New Cumnock, in Ayrshire, Scotland. I believe the father figure in the McCracken household was Alex McCracken.   I never figured out how Meg (nee ????) McCracken was related to my mother Hannah Trimble.

I don't have any contact with any these McCracken family now.

From Robert.

Hi Robert,

I’m so sorry for the late reply, not be in a situation to get back to you.

I still haven’t been able to get any further with the McCracken’s and will keep trying.  Thanks for the information you supplied, I will see if I can link any of it into my tree.

Have you taken a DNA test, it maybe that a McCracken link may well show up?  I have three  but there are in the USA, and all from the same family, and their tree has got no further than mine  :(

If I manage to find anything out I will let you know.

Regards,

Andrew

My 2x great uncle, Thomas Richard Conway, was Rector of Drummully Church of Ireland for upwards of forty years, until his death in 1910. 

I have a newspaper cutting re the funeral of his wife, Catherine Hobson Conway, in September 1909, which gives names of people attending her funeral.  Amongst the attendees were W. McCracken, G McCracken & J McCracken.  Not sure if this is of any help to you but it does seem to indicate that the McCrackens were active in that church.

Regards

Doreen

Hi Doreen,

Thanks for the information, it looks like we will have to visit the church and look at the records for that time.  Do you know if you can just turn up or do you need to make an appointment? 

Regards,

Andrew

Hi Andrew

I found the following link "Parishioners of the Church of Ireland Church, Drummully ,Co Fermanagh as found in the financial statement for year ending 31st December 1899" 

http://www.ulsterancestry.com/ShowFreePage.php?id=136

The following two people were shown

Mr James McCracken - Clonistin

Mr James McCrackin  - Cleenagh

I noticed in a previous post you talk about visiting Dublin & I found the following, which may help you.

https://www.johngrenham.com/records/church.php?civilparishid=960&civilparish=Drummully&search_type=full

Church of Ireland Drummully Baptisms1812-2002, Marriages1812-1956, Burials1816-1970 held at the RCBL - Open for public research.

The address of the RCBLibrary is Braemor Park, Churchtown, Dublin, D14 YH51 and  you can just turn up to research. The link to their website, which gives their opening times is below

https://www.ireland.anglican.org/about/rcb-library

Good luck!

Doreen

Hi I am Amanda Mccracken my father was Thomas mccracken died 2001 (82)and is buried at drummully church. Lived in the area all his life.

Hi Amanda,

Have you done any research into your family?  If so have you any connections to Jame McCracken and Mary Story ?

Good luck with your searches.

Regards,

Andrew

No I havent done any research really I would just know my father's brothers and sisters. Both his parents died when he was young.