James McCully : Short Biography

James McCully was my 3rd great-grandfather. He was born in 1812 according to his age at death. He married Margaret McCully to whom he was probably related. The marriage probably took place in 1836, maybe in Newtownards. The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory of 1852 has James as a grocer of Movilla St. In 1858, 1865, 1866 and 1870 he was a grocer of Greenwell Street. The Griffiths' Valuation of 1863 shows that James leased a house, yard and small garden and also leased out two houses in Greenwell Street. He made a will on 30 December 1879 which listed the names of his son and five daughters. Three other sons had been baptised at the 1st Presbyterian Church at Newtownards but presumably died in childhood. James's will gave the only clue to his parentage - his brother Samuel of Ballyalicock. The only Samuel McCully of Ballyalicock found was a son of Samuel McCully and Margaret Warwick. When James died in 1880 he was described as a cow keeper of Greenwell Street.