John LESLIE (Dree) and Margaret HARPER (Ballyvicknally)

Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church (after which she’d normally attend her husband’s) so Dromara 1stPresbyterian may be where Margaret was baptised, along with any siblings. The church’s baptism records go back to 1762 and marriages to 1799. I don’t think they are on-line anywhere but there is a copy in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.

Both John & Margaret’s parents are listed as farmers on the 1847 marriage certificate.  The tithe applotment records for Dromara (1828) should list all farmers there then.  There’s a widow Lesslie in Dree who is presumably related to James & John. No Harpers in the parish at all indicating that the family didn’t have a farm there then. They might have been there as labourers (who are not normally listed in the tithes) or they may have moved there after 1828. Margaret’s father was evidently dead by 1847 as he is referred to as the late John.

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/down/tithe-applotment-books/dromara-parish.php

There’s a James Leslie listed in Griffiths Valuation for Dree in 1863. He had plot 4 which was a total of just over 11 acres. There was no house on that land so he lived somewhere else. Plot 32 had a Sarah Leslie on it with a 15 acre farm. Perhaps related?

Probate abstract:

The Will of James Leslie late of Dree in the County of Down Farmer deceased who died 14 February 1858 at Dree aforesaid was proved at Belfast by the oath of David Campbell of Dromara and David Irvine of Clintinagooland both in the said County of Down Farmers two of the Executors.

The will itself is on-line on the PRONI wills site and mentions sons Henry, William, John & James, as well as daughters,  Agnes, Maria, Elizabeth (married to John Turner) Ellenor (married to Thomas Scott), Mary Anne (married to Thomas McShedan) & Sarah (married to Hugh McKracken). It also mentions land in Finnis and Clonwhillian.

No Leslies residing there in the 1901 census. However the Valuation revision records show the land remaining in James name till 1920 when it changes to Martha & Agnes Leslie. And in 1929 it changes again to Hugh Henning. Looks as though they had land in more than 1 farmland and lived in Finnis:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ardtanagh/Finnis/1205027/

Going backwards, there’s a record of Henry Leslie of Dree & Finnis who obtained a lease on the land in Dree in 1798 and who died around 1842 (there’s a will dated that year). The lease is in PRONI ref D778/331. It was a 3 lives lease on 9 acres. Likewise a 3 lives lease in 1799 to James Leslie is D778/374. 

There’s a rent roll for Finnis (and other townlands) in 1731 T1007/38.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/genealogy/SURNAMES/L/LenLey.htm

It also mentions James Leslie and his wife Sarah Holmes plus the baptisms of several children. James was 78 when he died and is buried in Dromara parish graveyard (so that will be the Church of Ireland graveyard).

Maria married Robert Alexander in 1866.

In Ballyvicknacally there’s a George Harpur listed in Griffiths. He was on plot 56 which was a 20 acre farm. 

Possible death here for George Harper in 1885 aged 57. Daughter Rebecca Clarke was the informant:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1885/06272/4796735.pdf

Here’s Rebecca’s marriage:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1873/11269/8132774.pdf

Being Presbyterian and living in Co Down points strongly to Scottish ancestry. The vast majority of the Scots settlers in Ireland arrived in the 1600s.  I don’t see any Leslies in the area in the 1630 Muster Rolls so they probably arrived after that. There were quite a few Harpers there though so they probably came before 1630, perhaps as part of the Hamilton & Montgomery Settlement, which brought  a lot of tenants over from Ayrshire and adjacent counties. There are no detailed records of individual families though and tracing back to Scotland is not normally possible unless you are very lucky.

Thank you, Elwyn, for your prompt, comprehensive, and most welcome reply. Your information has consolidated, solved and focussed my research all in one go. I am most grateful to you.  Wendy Reid, Auckland, New Zealand