Meenan from Derry/Londonderry

Meenan Mary of Gortmacrane Kilrea county Londonderry spinster died 1 November 1929 Administration W/A Belfast 8 June to Isabella McKeown spinster. Effects £130.

Numerous newspaper references to the families. For example, Ballymoney Free Press and Northern Counties Advertiser of 12^th Feb 1885 reports a legal dispute between Charles Meenan and Mary & Peter Meenan of Gortmacrane in which he accused them of breaking down his fences and flooding his land.

Henry Meenan of Gortmacrane is in the same paper on 5^th July 1934 when he accused a neighbour of diverting a stream which he used for domestic and other purposes. (A decent supply of water was vital for various elements of linen making. Folk were always squabbling about it).

John Meenan is listed in Griffiths Valuation of 1858 as having plots 24 & 25 in Gortmacrane. About 12 acres. The farmhouse was on plot 24. That’s on the modern Drumsaragh Rd. Looking at the property today on Google Earth it still looks to be farmland though I think the old buildings have been demolished and replaced. . The Valuation revision records show that after John’s death plot 24 was occupied by Margaret (presumably his widow) in 1883 and then Richard Meenan in 1890. By 1892 the tenant was Thomas Calderwood.