Trying to connect Mary Ann Taggart to possible parents Frank Taggart & Rachel Warwick

Dear Vennard

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the delay in getting back to you. 

I have passed your query to a Ulster volunteer. I hope she will be in touch shortly

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Do you have a copy of the 1846 marriage certificate? If so, what was Mary Ann?s townland (address)? That would be the starting point for tracing her family.

Secondly, have you searched the records of the church where the couple married for her baptism? Tradition was often to marry in the bride?s church, and that?s where I?d look for her baptism.  Tartaraghan Church of Ireland?s baptisms start in 1825 so that might just be too late for her, but you might find any siblings born later.

Tartaraghan?s marriages start in 1824 so if that?s where her parents married, then unfortunately you won?t find the marriage.

I note that you have found a Francis Taggart who married in Donegore in 1821. I happen to have a copy of that marriage. The correct date was 17^th Nov 1821 at Donegore 1^st Presbyterian Church. ?Francis Taggart of Ballynoe to Rachel Warwick of Tobergill ? witnesses present Samuel Warwick of Tobergill and Duffin Carson of Ballee, near Ballymena.?  It?s quite a distance from Donegore to Tartaraghan and farmers didn?t move about that much. Is there some evidence to connect the Donegore families with Tartaraghan? Otherwise I?d wonder if there was any connection. The Warwick family appear to have been Presbyterian by the way, as do the Taggart family from Donegore. Does that fit with known family history (bearing ion mind Mary Ann was married in the Church of Ireland)?

Samuel Warwick is listed in Tobergill in Griffiths in 1862, as is a James Warwick. There was also a David Warwick of Tobergill mentioned on PRONI?s probate file site in 1864. He died in 1900. There were two Warwick farms in Tobergill in the 1901 census.

I'm so thankful for the helpful information and that there are volunteers like you out there. I'm not sure I'll ever find the specific information I'm looking for but the journey is quite amazing.

Mary Ann Taggart's history is starting come together. I found her on the 1841 Scottish census. Lists

Widow Taggart 40, Hellen Taggart 15 cotton power loom weaver, Mary Ann Taggart 12 cotton power loom weaver, Isabella Taggart 9, & Sarah Taggart 7. All born in Ireland. So this likely tells me that her father Frank/Francis Taggart had died prior to 1841. I now know that Mary Ann is born in Ireland, her family moved to Finnieson/Stobcross Street Glasgow for some reason prior to 1841 (familial ties? work?). Then at least Mary Ann moved back to Ireland (my guess is to work in power loom weaving industry) and possibly met Thomas Wright Vennard there. They married June 3/1846 in Tartaraghan. He lists as weaver from Derrykeevan while she lists as spinster from Cloncore. I was incorrect when I said earlier that she list her father as a farmer. He actually lists as a labourer. Thomas Wright Vennard shows up as a missionary in Northmavine Shetlands for United Presbyterian Church on 1881 Scottish census while Mary Ann shows up in Glasgow on same census as missionaries wife. I found it interesting that she now lives within 1.6 miles of her address on 1841 census.

All branches of ancestors from this family line show very strong protestant roots including Covenanters in Lanarkshire Scotland. Vennard line were living mainly on William & Charles Brownlow land which also suggest political affiliations.

My Vennard connection is most strongly linked Lurgan, Cloncore, and Timakeel Armagh. My brother is also tracing family tree and will be visiting Armagh mid March. One thing he noticed quite some time ago was John Rocque's 1760 map of Armagh listing a Winard Bridge. Because Winard is a variation of Vennard the naming of the bridge is of interest to us. That is only reference we have found for that bridges existence. Possibly dried up & no need later? Still trying to figure that out.

Again thank you for response as I know volunteer time is taking your time from someone else. Peace from New Westminster, BC, Canada

You are obviously curious as to why the family went to Scotland. One of Ireland?s problems is a lack of natural resources. There?s no coal, oil, iron ore etc, and so apart from a modest amount of shipbuilding in Belfast and the linen mills (which mostly only employed women), it did not really get the industrial revolution that benefited England and Scotland where mills, steelworks, ship building, coal mining and all their support industries were major employers creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. Much better paid than subsistence farming or weaving. Added to that you had the effects of a massive population explosion in Ireland ? up from 3 million in 1750 to 8 million in 1841 (no-one is really sure of the reasons why but reduced neo-natal deaths seem to be a factor) and the famine. So some push factors and some pull factors saw huge numbers of people leave Ireland. Something like 2 million people emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s.

 If you look at the Scottish censuses for the Glasgow area in the late 1800s, you will see that about every fifth person recorded there was born in Ireland. Scotland was a particularly popular place to go to work because it was easy and very cheap to get to. People working in Scotland could come home for weddings or the harvest, as well as holidays (or to get married in Mary Anne?s case). You could also send children back to stay with their grandparents, thereby leaving the wife free to work. You couldn?t do all those things so easily from Australia, America or Canada. For further background on Irish migration to Scotland, see this link:

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/higherscottishhistory/migrationandempire/experienceofimmigrants/irish.asp

I would say that the trigger for the move to Glasgow was probably Frank?s death. It was probably too hard for a widow with 4 daughters to make a living in Cloncore or thereabouts (ie labouring work. Weaving alone wouldn?t bring in a living).

The Vennard family appear to have been Church of Ireland (whilst living in Ireland).  There were 96 of them in Co Armagh in the 1901 census. None was Presbyterian. All were Church of Ireland (ie Anglican) or Methodist (an offshoot of the Church of Ireland). So Thomas?s switch to Presbyterianism must have come about following his move to Scotland. The Taggart family also appear to have been Church of Ireland.

So the 1846 marriage cert places both the Wright and Vennard families in Tartaraghan. I would therefore be inclined to search the Church of Ireland parish records for their baptisms. The Tartaraghan baptisms are not on-line anywhere, so far as I am aware, but there is a copy on microfilm in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. They have baptisms from 1825, marriages from 1824 and burials from 1828. So you may find all the children?s baptisms and Frank?s burial (1833 ? 1841). A personal visit is required to search them. (They are free to view). So perhaps something for your brother to look up when he visits?

The two families appear to have been labourers and weavers (the two go together, the weaving was done at home when there was no agricultural labouring work available, eg in the winter months). Labourers and weavers tended to have leases for a year or less and often moved to where work was available. A subsistence living, based mostly on barter plus a little cash from the linen making (which is why they would have moved to Glasgow to get steady paid employment) and one that makes them difficult to trace in official records. Cloncore and Derrykeevan share a common boundary, just beside junction 12 on the modern M1 motorway from Belfast to Dungannon. So it?s easy to see how they would have met each other. Their homes were probably within half a mile of each others.

I had a look in Griffiths Valuation (1864) for Cloncore and Derrykeevan to see if there were any Vennard or Wright households listed then. In Cloncore I noted Anne & John Venart (note spelling) beside each other on plots 7 & 8 (each a house and 1 acre). That would be a subsistence farm. (Situated on the modern Derryard Rd, just north of the M1 motorway). Anne was probably a widow. They were the only households of either surname in the two townlands. That doesn?t mean there weren?t other Wrights or Vennards there, because Griffiths only listed heads of households and very poor houses (of too low a value to be worth taxing) weren?t listed. Often agricultural labourers and weavers cottages/cabins weren?t listed.

It might be worth looking at the tithe applotment records (1820s/1830s) to see if either family appears in either townland. Those for Co Armagh are not on-line but there is a copy in PRONI. (It only lists those with land, but the Vennard family might make it in if they had a little land).

Elwyn

Again a huge Thank you. Your notes enable me to get a clearer idea of what was probably going on for my ancestors.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?

fbid=101680060575987&set=a.100674417343218.1073741828.100022019791072&type=3&theater

Thank you for posting. This is their marriage document. I do have it but also appreciate your posting in case I didn't.  Not sure if following information relevant but it is most up to date as I know it & possibly useful to someone.

I'm not having much success in finding information before marriage.  

Mary Ann's marriage document lists father as Francis Taggart labourer while death document indicates her parents as Frank McTaggart farmer & Ann Baxter (both deceased). I'd expect her marriage information to be most accurate since she is alive at time of marriage so in position to know. I think it is her father, baptized 1797 Oct 13 Francis Taggart at Shankill & I have no information on mother.

Thomas Wright Vennard's marriage document indicates his father as Thomas a weaver while death certificate lists father as William a farmer. I will consider Thomas to be correct for same reasoning as Mary Anne. (Possibilities: William was Thomas middle name, William was an uncle & like a father to Thomas Wright Vennard after passing of father, error in recording.). It has always been thought that his mother was an Ann Wright. So I quite like the baptism of an Anna Wright 1798 Jun 4 at Shankill. I like this Anna as she is born in same place, baptized by the same Rev R Dodds in same church (St Anne's COI) within 8 months of Francis Taggart. Possibly they knew each other growing up.

I've been able to develop quite a detailed history from 1880 onwards in Glasgow where he has become a missionary for United Presbyterian Church. He later settles in at 3 Crossmyloof, Glasgow working as bakers clerk for Neale Thomson well known in Glasgow for his Crossmyloof bread & providing land to the Presbyterians.

from http://www.glasgowwestaddress.co.uk/100_Glasgow_Men/Thomson_Neale.htm "...At a time when bread in the city was not only as a rule poor in quality, but high in price, the quarter loaf selling, we believe, as high as a shilling, he determined after great consideration to start himself an oven for his workers, and supply them with the purest material at the lowest possible cost. The instant the first oven was started the demand was enormous. The bread was so much cheaper and so much better that parties from all quarters sent out for it to Crossmyloof, where alone at first, and only for ready money, it was to be obtained.

my email frncsmrk@aol.com if u want to contact me i can fill u in on some more details

frances Markey(Wright)

VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT MAY BE WHY THOMAS VENNARD BORN 1827 WENT TO THE SHETLANDS AS A MISSIONARY PLEASE READ LINK CAME UP WHEN I WAS CHECKING NORTH MAVINE

SHETLANDS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruption_of_1843

https://www.preceden.com/timelines/150324-the-history-and-the-here-and-…

The first place of worship of any kind in Portadown was the Methodist Chapel built in 1790. It was situated on a site between Mandeville Street and Church Lane. It was followed by a Chapel in Thomas Street (now Thornton's Stores)

..attached map from placenames.org shows site of Francis' baptism. Seems reasonable that Francis' father, Thomas Wright Vennard would have been involved with this church at time of preparing for missionary if having his son baptized here.

Francis Vennard born 07-Dec-1863, baptized Jan 1 at PORTADOWN - THOMAS STREET,  County ARMAGH.
Denomination: Methodist.
parents: Thomas & MA Vennard     

Mother: M A

www.rootsireland.ie

Thank you Frances for posting documents. Do you have the dates for the Barony of O'Neiland West that lists William Wright with 3 lives/tenure William, James and Thomas Wright? Possibly that is the Thomas Wright I list for Anna's father.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101880887222571&set=a.100674417…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101878057222854&set=a.100674417…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101880887222571&set=a.1006744173...   DATE 1824

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101878057222854&set=a.1006744173... DATE 1818

http://www.lurganancestry.com/brownlowpapers.htm

Thank you for posting the 1818 and 1824 images. Not sure if you saw the 1753 image showing William Wright listed already at Drumnakelly. I see Thomas is also listed on 1753 but for Derrychild plus couple other Wright - all in Armagh

I've always been interested in pursuing the Brownlow papers.Maybe it's almost time.

I think it should be Derrychill (not Derrychild)

Hand transcription from a brother who visited Armagh within last couple years.

Public Records Office of Northern Ireland
Written on outside of parchment sealed with leather strip
R99 [99 crossed out-140 written in] dated 1 Apr 1786
Lease of part of Timmakeel containing 7:2:5

D1928/L/66/20 Acc No 15590
Timmakeel No 13 [13 crossed out-17 written in]
Mr Brownlow Office Lurgan

This indenture made the 1st day of April 1786 between the Rt Honourable William Brownlow of Brownlow's Derry, in the county of Armagh of the one part and John Vannard of Timakeel in the county of Armagh Farmer of the other part, witnesseth.  That the said William Brownlow for and in consideration of the Rents and Covenants hereafter mentioned; HATH demifed, granted, fet and to Farm let, and by thefe Prefents DOTH demife, grant, fet and to Farm let unto the faid John Vannard all that Parcel of Land now in his possession containing by a late survey seven acres two Roods and five Perches English Measure [7:2:5] be the same more or lefs.  fituate, lying and being in the Townloand of Timmakeel Manour of Richmount and County of Armagh aforesaid; together with Liberty of making One Hundred Keth of Turf, [etc. etc.] from the 1st day of November last for and during the Term.  Time and Space of the Lives natural of him the said John, Joseph his son aged thirteen years and George his son aged nineteen years and for and during the Life of the longest liver of them [etc. etc.] the clear yearly Rent of five pounds thirteen shillings Sterling, together with ten shillings, Sterling, for every Keth of Turf, which he or they shall make yearly, and so proportionately for a greater or lesser number; the said rent and Turf Money to be paid half-yearly, by equal portions to wit on every first day of May and every first day of November the first payment to be made on the first day of next May.  1/16 to W. Brownlow oats, bere, Barley Malt, Peafe, Brans, Wheat, Rye, etc., Apples, Crabtree, Sycamore, Oak, Ash, Elm, etc.

Brownlow Witness
Michael Bligh
Richard Eustace

Vannard Witness
John Dougan
Richard Eustace

his
John Vannard
X mark

William Brownlow
Signature

SEAL
---
John Vannard Timakeel Lease

My current thinking- Thomas William Vennard b abt 1795 (who is actually Thomas Vennard. I gave Thomas Wm since marriage & death documents conflicted). 1786 indentured John Vannard cannot be Thomas Vennard's father because the indenture document indicates  John's son George b abt 1767 and son Joseph b abt 1773. Not reasonable for there to be abt 20 yrs between children even if multiple mothers. I believe Thomas' father to be Wm likely b abt 1765, an to be the same Wm who is listed on 1824 Freeholder list with George & Joseph. Suggests to me that John Vannard has passed away, with his eldest son Wm on part of his land at Timakeel with his 2 younger brothers George & Joseph as other lives. Also would explain, why Thomas Vennard (s of Wm) is also at Timakeel. Also seems a reasonable explanation for confusion on Thomas Wright Vennard marriage record listing father as Thomas (likely he would know who his father is) & death records listing Wm (wb his grandfather).  Not sure why Joseph not listing separately on freehold like George does - possibly he does & I can't put to my fingertips at moment, possibly in military service or there is some other reasoning. I asked myself why John didn't list Wm on indenture but considered that possibly because Wm is eldest & as an adult had his own situation in play. Hmmm.

I think it is actually Thomas Wright Vennard not william

I think it is common place for the son to take the mothers name

In the days of large families we can be confronted with several little cousins all carrying the same names but these can be untangled thank goodness.  

The Scottish lines I've been following have all used the regular naming pattern of 1st son, 2nd dau named after paternal grandparents - if the daughter has a middle surname it was always the grandmother's maiden surname.

1st dau, 2nd son named after maternal grandparents - here again the middle surname was usually the grandparental surname.

the 3rd son & dau named after their parents, then the 4th son named after father's eldest brother and 4th dau named after monther's eldest sister. 

If an earlier generation had been widowed before producing either a boy or a girl, then quite often a child of the widow(er) would give one of their children the name(s) of the missed out gt. grandparent(s)

The Scots often named a child after a benefactor - sometimes you might be lucky enough to discover it was an employer or a neighbour, a doctor, or a woman who acted as a surrogate mother.  These benefactor names can be passed down the generations - for instance two of my living cousins carry the full names of benefactor cousins of our great grandfather from the early 1800's. 

I'm also following my grandfather's line in Norfolk, England.  The first son always carried the middle surname Halladay (a corruption of Holyday) but as yet I've not found the original Halladay.  There was a Eureka moment when I traced back through many census the travels of  my g.grandfather Robert Thomas Blake Shearing and his father John.  I found father John was apprenticed to a fellow called Thomas Blake. 

Good hunting,

I think it is common place for the son to take the mothers name

In the days of large families we can be confronted with several little cousins all carrying the same names but these can be untangled thank goodness.  

The Scottish lines I've been following have all used the regular naming pattern of 1st son, 2nd dau named after paternal grandparents - if the daughter has a middle surname it was always the grandmother's maiden surname.

1st dau, 2nd son named after maternal grandparents - here again the middle surname was usually the grandparental surname.

the 3rd son & dau named after their parents, then the 4th son named after father's eldest brother and 4th dau named after monther's eldest sister. 

If an earlier generation had been widowed before producing either a boy or a girl, then quite often a child of the widow(er) would give one of their children the name(s) of the missed out gt. grandparent(s)

The Scots often named a child after a benefactor - sometimes you might be lucky enough to discover it was an employer or a neighbour, a doctor, or a woman who acted as a surrogate mother.  These benefactor names can be passed down the generations - for instance two of my living cousins carry the full names of benefactor cousins of our great grandfather from the early 1800's. 

I'm also following my grandfather's line in Norfolk, England.  The first son always carried the middle surname Halladay (a corruption of Holyday) but as yet I've not found the original Halladay.  There was a Eureka moment when I traced back through many census the travels of  my g.grandfather Robert Thomas Blake Shearing and his father John.  I found father John was apprenticed to a fellow called Thomas Blake. 

Good hunting,

I think maybe Thomas had a brother William

Upon light of day - I totally agree with you. I'm relooking at the Freeholder lists and see the one with Thomas Vennard listing lives Thomas Vennard, Augustus, Adolphus. I think that is our Thomas, the father of Thomas Wright. I can now see how George & Joseph fit in as sons of John Vannard so I think they are more likely Thomas' uncles (likely Robert too but I'm not there yet). Do you think that Anne or Anna Wright family is connected to the Annie Vennard's George Wright or just coincidence in the surname?

Thank you for you generosity with information sharing. You aren't the first to try to educate me on the naming standards. Maybe it will stick this time. I've copied and now I'll have to compare and see if matches brothers' instructions (chuckling as type that).

I've found that I need to flesh out whole tree to sometimes see the bigger picture. I spent over 4 years looking for any record to conclusively connect a 3xgreat grftr to his father. Hired researchers specific to area to access what I couldn't. I developed every ancestral connection as far as possible looking for anything. Never found a birth or baptismal record but eventually had a eureka moment when accessed the will of a well known benefactor of East Knoyle, Wiltshire - Anthony Burbidge. His very long & detailed will not only identified my 4x as his family member but also who 4x's' father was. Took years & lots of wrong turns but I have a pretty comprehensive understanding of that branch. 4x's had 17 children all baptized in the same parish church. Burbidge branch will connect with Vennard in 1883 in Glasgow when Jane Bryson Burbidge marries Thomas Vennard. Jane is 1st generation Burbidge born in Scotland & not at Holloway, East Knoyle. I suspect her father left East Knoyle when hand loom weaving collapsed at Wiltshire & surrounding areas. * Your Halliday/Holyday made me think of Holloway. I'll be more watchful for those surnames.

I have reams of documents for Vennards that I've gathered. Will take some time to look at with fresh eyes but some things make more sense. For ex - 1828 George Vennard -couldn't identify before.

Still hunting...

1665 Hearth Rolls Vernett William 1665 Armagh Co. Armagh;

1740 Protestant Householders Venard Rose 1740 Shankill Co. Armagh;

Early 19th Century Tithe Books

Vernar Unk 1825 Cumber Aghaloo Co. Tyrone;

Vennard George 1828 Timnakeel Drumcree Co. Armagh;

Vennard Widow 1828 Timnakeel Drumcree Co. Armagh;

Vennard George 1834 Derrycarn Tartaraghan Co. Armagh;

Vennert William 1834 Dervinaw Tartaraghan Co. Armagh;

I just copied that info from an article online.

I was thinking the same thing aint it strange how the wright name comes in only thing is i think on george wrights census he say he was from lanarkshire and not ireland and maybe also his death cert it is so long since i looked at my papers i would need to re check if i had a death cert. But possibly his father was born in ireland.

Only thing i have to say is that i think his father came from falkirk, james wright the very rich one the big builder bought a brick merchants in falkirk and i think his grand father may have put him onto it. James did not live in falkirk but south side of glasgow so how did he know about the brick merchants i am sure the grand father put him onto it. He lived in the brick yard for a while i found that on a census.

Do you have a copy of your family tree in case i come across any info to add.

What i have found is that the vennards in the uk where in 4 or 5 areas.

In london I found them as far back as the 1600's

In cornwall 1700's

In Durham area 

In Armagh 

In Glasgow.

I think they are all connected and i think they came over from France if you check the UK map you can understand why they would end up in Cornwall.  There were  Vennards in poitiers that port is in the direction of poitiers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9ophane_V%C3%A9nard

just came across this a minute ago not read it yet https://www.ancestry.co.uk/boards/topics.religious.huguenots.huguenots-…

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u58UAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA532&lpg=PA532&dq=…

https://www.jstor.org/stable/43447619?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3A7…

 u need to click read for free then join worth it there is also a preview on the 1st page he is going by name vennard but further down page it says his name was vennard, he was a writer inline with shakespear in London in the 1600's his father came from somewhere else could have been wiltshire but i am guessing

sorry meant to say poitiers is in the direction cornwall, i think they went there first then

 to London then from London they went over to O"neiland, also the Baron of O'neiland was married to someone with connections to France I think they had a house there in france

Freeholder list
No 2221 1813 Aug 25 Vennard, William of Timakeel for 40s to landlord William Brownlow Esq for houses and land at Timakeel naming other lives or tenants Joseph and George Vennard;
No 2222 1813 Aug 25 Vennard, Thomas of Timakeel for 40s to landlord William Brownlow Esq for houses and land at Timakeel naming other lives or tenants Thomas Vennard, Augustus and Adolphus Fredk;

No 2226 1818 Aug 31 Vennard, George of Timakeel for 40s to landlord Charles Brownlow Esq for house and land at Timakeel naming other lives or tenants James and Elizabeth Huddell;
No 2227 1818 Aug 31 Vennard, William of Timakeel for 40s to landlord Charles Brownlow Esq for house and land at Timakeel naming other lives or tenants Joseph and George Vennard;

Document I titled ' 1610 Nov 18 Jacques Venard son born to Jacques Venard in Spitalfields as Walloon or French Protestant' was exciting find.

Earliest English record I have is from Calendar of Patent Rolls-Membrane 15: 1327 Jul 11 “John son of Matthew de Thorp Thenles for the death of John son of Thomas de Vynard – killed before the coronation, with the condition.

Back to Armagh I was excited to see Haliday listed on the very 1st document I looked at when peaked into my Armagh-Portadown folder. tonight. I've no idea any longer why I saved that page in particular 4 yrs ago. Title : All politics, no religion: a loyalist view of the Armagh Troubles’, 1796 By Eoin Magennis  The book is also with jstor. although I did attach the single page

https://www.jstor.org/stable/25746922?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

The 3 books I've only recently purchased & excitedly awaiting from Ulster Bookstore:

A very independent county: Parliamentary elections and politics in County Armagh, 1750-1800

Dissenting Voices: Rediscovering the Irish Progressive Presbyterian Tradition

Gravestone Inscriptions: Belfast, Vol. 1, Shankill Graveyard

Attaching military records for a John Vennard b abt 1822 at Drumcree.

I was tidying up details for Moses Jackson & Mary Vennard offspring John, Annie, Jane departing 19 Union St, Portadown via Londonderry for USA 1913 Jun 13, then noticed the Mary Wright with her assumed son listed directly above on passenger list. Not sure if/how connected.

1913 Jun 13 departure aboard Parisian from Londonderry port, Jun 22 arrival at Boston Massachusetts port with Mary Wright 46 widow housewife, s John Wright from Portadown heading to Holyoke, Mass

1913 Jun 13 departure aboard Parisian from Londonderry port, Jun 22 arrival at Boston Massachusetts port with John Jackson 24 weaver, Annie 19 weaver, Jane 27 weaver from sister Lizzie Jackson of 19 Union St, Portadown heading to Manchester, Connecticut

Specific reference to Drumnakelly in this excellent piece

The Linen Industry in the Lurgan Area By Kieran Clendinning

http://www.craigavonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/rev/clendinninglinenind.ht…
..."...One such manufacturer was James Brown who laid the foundation of his business at Lurgan in 1795. This business was to increase and multiply in the 19th century, trading under the name of John S Brown and Sons. It had at one time no less than 1,500 hand-loom weavers in Armagh, Down, Antrim and Tyrone. The Brown enterprise specialised in the weaving of monograms, crests, coats of arms and flags on linen. They supplied linen to the Queen and all the members of the Royal Family as well as steamship companies, railways, yacht clubs and hotels.The introduction of the power loom, however, sounded the death knell for this industry, and by the beginning of the present century hand-loom weaving was on the decline.... By this time, however, the majority of hand-loom weavers were old men and the introduction of the old age pension meant that many who were still able to weave abandoned their looms on getting the pension.BleachingWhen the woven material left the loom it was known as 'brown linen' and it had to be bleached to make it white. The principal bleach greens in 17th century Lurgan were sited along the outflow from the lake to Lough Neagh in the town-lands of Dougher, Drumnakelly and Kinnego..."...

No 109 Freeholder Name Crossed Out of Ballyhannon with landlord ? Blacker for 40s for house and lands at Ballyhannon with other lives Charles ?, Thomas Vennard, myself for 2 5s 6d - Registry Date 1810 Jun 25

No 110 Freeholder Thomas Vennard of Ballyhannon with landlord ? Blacker for 40s for house and lands at Ballyhannon with other lives John, Charles, Thomas Vennard for 3 3s - Registry Date 1812 Oct 7
*hmmm Does this mean our Thomas had a son Charles as well as John and Thomas (and James)?

Shankill Church Wardens from http://www.lurganancestry.com/shankillwardensp2.htm

1795 Joshua Des Voeux and James Pedley. (3rd June 1795 – Daniel McStea elected instead of James Pedley)

From http://lisburn.com/books/huguenots/huguenots_5.html

DE VOEUX

Vinchon De Voeux came to Dublin after the Revocation where with the Rev. Peter Droz, another Huguenot refugee, he started the first Literary magazine to appear in Ireland in about 1742. Although he later went to Portarlington, the name is found in Lisburn when Joshua De Voeux married Susan Brown in 1729

1760 John Rocque Topographical Map of County Armagh North is of interest with Winard Bridge (positioned between Maghery Craigavon & Milltown, Armagh). Other than the 1 map reference, never was able to find anything to indicate why named Winard (Vennard derivative). Haven't found it labeled on any other map to date & seems eventually not listed at all. I suppose the reasoning for bridge dried up. All information on Winard Bridge welcomed.

Thought this short article on Wm Brownlow (Armagh MP 1753-94) was interesting. This is 1st time I notice his mother, Lady Elizabeth Brownlow’s 2nd husband (m’d 1741) was a French nobleman, Francis, Count de Kearnic. I want to learn more about him & if connected to Armagh or England. I’ve read theory of a Vennard escaping France during French Revolution to Kent originally. I’m also interested to see the name Francis as see possibility as namesake for our first Francis Taggart b abt 1745-50. Certainly the article shows how popular Wm Brownlow was in his community at time of his burial & it is easy to imagine ancestors paying their respects.

http://www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?id=958

To date, Charles Vennard not found at Armagh after 1812 Oct 7 reference on freeholder list at Ballyhannon. A Charles Venard died at Dundalk 1871 Jan 8 at Vicarage lodge, Carlingford, aged 74 (b abt 1797). Our Charles? If so, why at Dundalk? From huguenotsinireland.com 'Some also settled in ... Dundalk in Co. Louth'. Any connection?

Some Historical Notes on the Guerin Surname in Co. Clare by Pat Guerin http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/guerin/huguenots_ire…
French (Huguenot) Connection: Huguenots in Ireland
...
The first three waves of 1572, 1628 and 1685 came from the business and landed classes; ... The fourth and final wave were driven out by the persecution of 1745-54 and were principally from the peasantry, small farmer and small manufacturing classes who had lacked the wealth or opportunity to escape as their richer co-religionists had done earlier.
...
“The (Portarlington)settlers, who were of varied origin, coming from Normandy, Languedoc, Saintonge and Dauphiny, were mainly military in profession, and were nearly all aristocratic in rank.”[11]
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    Dundalk and Collon, Co. Louth. Linen manufacture and farming settlements resp.
  ....

Sentence missed from previous note taking away context. Should read 'Other lesser settlements and their activities (some short-lived) were: Dundalk and Collon, Co. Louth. Linen Manufacture and farming settlements resp.'

Frances - I've created a family tree & sent it to your email address. I created from Jane Bryson Burbidge, wife of Thomas Vennard. You'll note from her mother most ancestors from Lanarkshire, and from her father, most from Wiltshire.