Mary Ann Flanagan Legland Fermanagh N. Ireland

Andrea:

The second record at this link has the 1883 marriage of Mary Ann and John Maguire. Mary Ann indicated that she was at least 21 when she married which would indicate a year of birth of 1862 or earlier.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

The RC parish is Devenish/Derrygonnelly/Botha. Baptismal records for that parish start in February 1853.https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0301

I searched on the subscription site FindMyPast and the only baptismal record I located was for a Thomas Flanagan baptized Feburay 25 1855 in Devenish with father Patrick Flanagan and mother Bridget McHugh. So possibly Mary Ann was baptized before February 1853 and her record is not available or the record could also be on the register but was missed in the transcription process.

There were four Flanagan families in Legland in the 1901 census. Not sure how they fit in with the Patrick Flanagan family. Some of the records could be for one or more sons.  http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Fermanagh/Old_Barr/Leg…

Roger McDonnell

Andrea,

You may notice that Mary’s father was the late Patrick. A witness was Hugh Flanagan, so presumably a brother or close relation. John Maguire lived in Ballyshannon which is in the neighbouring county of Donegal. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so Monea is probably where she was baptised. Monea is in the RC parish of Devonish and their records start in 1853.

Here’s Bridget’s death in 1879 aged 67, so born c 1812.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1879/06527/4880773.pdf

Her husband had pre-deceased her. Informant was another Pat. A son perhaps?

Death registration started in 1864. If Patrick senior died before that there won’t be a record. There are 2 possible records though post 1864 and before 1879. One in 1870 aged 70 and another in 1865 aged 79.  Those years aren’t on-line free yet. You can view the original certificates on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option. You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate: 

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

Griffiths Valuation lists Patrick Flanagan in 1862. He had plot 7 which was an 82 acre farm. He also held a share of another 129 acres in common with Owen & Michael Flanagan (presumably relations). The farm today is up a lane off the Knockmore Rd, outside Derrygonnelly.

Hugh Flanagan married Mary McCaffrey in 1885 and the marriage certificate records his father as Patrick deceased. So Hugh was Mary Ann’s brother.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1885/10883/5974595.pdf

Here’s Hugh & family in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Fermanagh/Old_Barr/Legland/1362638/

Same family in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Fermanagh/Old_Barr/Legland/514852/

The Valuation revision records on the PRONI website take Griffiths Valuation forward right up to 1930. I can see from those records that the farm passed from Patrick to Hugh in 1885. In 1920 Hugh bought the freehold under the Land Act (ie normally with a Government mortgage). In 1928 the records show the farm passed to James Flanagan, presumably his son.

Hugh looks to have died intestate in 1926:

Flanagan Hugh of Legland county Fermanagh farmer died 1 January 1926 Administration Londonderry 17 February to James Flanagan farmer. Effects £717 7s. 11d.

The farm might yet be in Flanagan hands.

Hugh Flanagan was born c 1850, so his parents presumably married before that. If they married locally, as is likely, then there probably isn’t a record of that. Like Roger, the only baptism I could spot was on 25.2.1855 for Thomas Flanagan (parents Patrick F & Bridget McHugh).  I didn’t see Mary Ann’s baptism, nor is she in the statutory birth records which start in 1864. I’d say she was born before 1864. The church baptism records may be incomplete. 

I came across a rather sad item in the Dundee Courier of 5th Jan 1929. John Joseph Flanagan of Legland was charged with the  murder of his cousin Bridget Elizabeth Flanagan in Legland. Allegedly murdered by phosphorous poisoning. I don’t know the outcome of the murder charge but there is a list of people executed in Northern Ireland up to 1973 when capital punishment was abolished. John Joseph’s name is not on that list so, if he was convicted, he wasn’t sentenced to death.

Belfast Telegraph of 26th November 1935 reported John James Flanagan and Denis Flanagan of Legland were charged with evasion of customs duties on cattle brought from the Irish Free State.

The Donegal Independent of 1st September 1905 reported Michael Flanagan of Legland being prosecuted for ill treatment of a horse. He was fined 2/6.

Fermanagh Times of 31st May 1923 reported another animal cruelty case involving John Flanagan of Legland’s donkey. Fine 2/-.

Weekly Irish Times of 20th Aug 1881 reports the death of John Flanagan of Legland following a violent struggle with Patrick Maguire.

Fermanagh Herald of 3rd September 1904 reports Peter Flanagan of Legland being charged with assault.

Weekly Irish Times of 3rd July 1909 reports that Master John Flanagan, aged 8, of Legland, Derrygonnelly had been awarded first prize for a letter about Knockmore. The prize was “Granny’s Hamper.”

Thank you so much Roger and Elwyn.  How kind of you to find all of this delicious information about my family.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much.  Andrea.