McIllree, Belturbet Connections to Quigly family, Drope family, Ballyhaise, McMahon family

The McILLREE family lived in Belturbet from at least the late 1700s to c. 1841, then are found in Galway and other locations in Ireland and elsewhere. I have a considerable amount of information about them from such sources as the Tithe Applotment books, Griffiths Valuation and the Rev. Swanzy's notebooks but still trying to find out more about their connections to the Quigly, Drope, McMahon and Storey families.

John Drope McILLREE (c. 1782–1855) married Margaret QUIGLY (1783–1846) in 1802 (exact date and location unknown). Margaret's father, [Captain] Edward QUIGLY, ran the Straghagland mills at Belturbet, leased with Shillin houses from Robert Herbert Butler, Earl of Lanesborough, until his, Edward's, death c. 1802. Edward QUIGLY married a McMAHON but I have no information about this lady or her family tree. The McMahons may have been from around Clones, County Monaghan or from County Fermanagh.

There was a "McIlree Hill" in Belturbet (now Fairgreen?). JD McILLREE, who inherited lands in Cavan from his grandfather, John Drope of Ballyhaise, also had houses on The Lawn, Belturbet, still in his name in 1840. Some family papers also mention McIllrees at Waterview, Belturbet. Family records mention that some of the McIllree children were born in Belturbet: Confirmed McIllree births at Belturbet : 

• Dr Edward Quigly McILLREE in 1814 (attended TCD, Dublin, graduated 1835, was a doctor, possibly in Belturbet and Dublin, definitely in Leicestershire, England for about 30 years, then at The Rock, Ballyshannon, County Donegal in the 1880s and Newry, County Down
   
• William McILLREE was born on 26 May 1818 and baptised in the parish of Clontarf, Dublin on 31 May 1818. William attended TCD a least in 1836, becoming a clergyman. He died in December 1841 aged 24. The Register of Baptisms and Burials records for Castleterra Parish state: "1841 Decr 26 Buried William McIllree of Belturbet, Aged 24 years."
   
• Henry McILLREE born 1 September 1824, baptised Belturbet, Parish of Annagh the next day. Henry ran away to sea, aged about 14, (c. 1838) and ended up in Australia in 1849 after time in the British Navy and most likely the Merchant Navy. It would be interesting to know how he was educated before he joined the Navy. Perhaps he attended school in Belturbet. He was defintely very literate as copies of letters he wrote survive.
   
• Elinor McILLREE was baptised in the Parish of Annagh on 16 April 1826. She died at Belturbet in September 1840 and was buried at Ballyhaise on 29 September 1840.

The other known McIllree children: Robert, Anne, Frances, John Drope (became a British Army surgeon), several sons called Edward who died as infants, Margaret, and a Henry (died as an infant), may or may not have been born in Belturbet. Although years for their births can be estimated from death and other records, records confirming their births have not been located. 

Any information about the McIllrees' time in Belturbet gratefully received. 

The Dropes
The Drope family were centred around Ballyhaise. Robert McIllree, puportedly a Scot, married Frances Drope c. 1776. They had three sons: Robert McIllree (c. 1777–1848), John Drope McIllree and Henry McIllree. The first two sons are traceable but it is uncertain whether the Henry McIllree mentioned was a clergyman, a lawyer, or had another profession. What happened to Frances Drope after her husband Robert McIllree died about 1784 is unknown, but she may have remarried to a William Ogleby in Dublin the same year. Any information about the Dropes and a Belturbet connection gratefully received.

Storey family connection 
The McIllrees of Belturbet certainly knew the Storey family as indicated in Griffiths Valuation c. 1857 when Robert Storey was a representative, with others, of JD McIllree (deceased England 1855) for rental on a Belturbet house. Some family papers suggest the Robert Storey of Belturbet was "a cousin". Any information on Robert Storey and/or linking the Storeys by marriage to the McIllrees would be much appreciated. 

Jane Morrison