Jane (Lowry) McKeown (1833 - 1873)

Born 1833 in Kilmore, County Down, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of Hans McKeown — married 6 Aug 1853 in Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland

Descendants

Died 29 Jun 1873 at about age 40 in Magheralone, Kilmore, County Down, Ireland

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lyle Larkin [send private message]

Biography

Jane (Lowry) McKeown was born in Ireland.

Birth
Jane Lowry was born in 1833 in the parish of Kilmore in County Down, Ireland. She was the daughter of Thomas Lowry, a farmer, and Margaret Campbell. Jane was baptised on 10 December 1833 in Kilmore, County Down. ^[1] Her parents may have lived in Carnacally townland in the Parish of Kilmore in County Down (where Jane and her siblings resided at the time of their marriages).

The Famine Years (1845-1852)
Jane was a teenager during the years of the Irish Potato Famine. We cannot know for sure how Jane and her family were affected by the famine. The years after the famine were ones of economic decline in much of Ireland, as the population continued to contract. As an example, Crossgar’s population (in the parish of Kilmore) in 1851 was 860 persons, but this would be a high mark. It would not surpass this number until 1971. ^[2] Jane's brother James Lowry would leave Ireland in 1860, likely as a result of the economic downturn after the famine.

Jane's father Thomas Lowry died some time before 1854. Jane's mother, a widow from Carnacally remarried to James Singer, a bachelor flax dresser from Carnacally, on 10 October 1854. They were married in the Registrar's office in the Town of Downpatrick in County Down.

Marriage
On 6 August 1853, Jane, a full age spinster from Carnacally, married Hans McKeown , a full age bachelor linen weaver from Kilmore in the Parish of Kilmore. They were married in the Registrar's office in the Town of Downpatrick. Hans' father was listed as James McKeown, a linen weaver. Jane's father was listed as Thomas Lowry, a farmer. Their witnesses were James Lowry (brother of the bride) and Agness Dick. Their marriage was registered in the Downpatrick registration district. ^[3]

Also in 1853, Jane's sister Margaret Lowry, a full age spinster from Carnacally Townland in the parish of Kilmore, married James Stranaghan, a widower, working as a shoemaker in Kilmore townland in the parish of Kilmore. They lived in the town of Ballynahinch and had four known children.

In 1857, Jane's brother James Lowry, a 24-year-old labourer from Carnacally, married 22-year-old Anne Taylor from Klimore. They were wed in the Kilmore parish church. James and his wife had two daughters together before moving to England in about 1860.

Hans and Jane would have at least seven children together. Their known children were:

1. James McKeown, born about 1855
2. Margaret Ann McKeown, born about 1858
3. Jane McKeown, born about 1861
4. Mary McKeown, born 24 June 1863
5. Hans McKeown, born 17 December 1865 ^[4]
6. Ellen McKeown, born 27 May 1868 ^[5]
7. Fanny McKeown, born 17 October 1870 ^[6]

It is unclear where Hans and Jane were living from 1853 to 1865. Birth records for children born those years are not available. However, their daughters Margaret Ann McKeown and Mary McKeown (born in 1858 and 1863 respectively) both indicate on their 1911 Ireland Census returns that they were born in Kilmore, County Down.

Birth records for children born 1865 to 1870 show the McKEOWN family living in several different townlands and parishes in County Down. At the birth of their son Hans McKeown in 1865, they were living in Carnacally townland in the parish of Kilmore where Hans worked as a parish clerk. Their daughter Ellen McKeown's birth in 1868, showed them living in Maghera (near Newcastle) where Hans worked as a weaver. At the birth of their daughter Fanny McKeown in 1870, they were living in Farranfad townland in the parish of Loughinisland, where Hans once again was working as a weaver.

Jane's mother Margaret (Campbell) Singer died from liver disease in 1872. On her mother's death record, she was listed as a 71-year-old married wife of a labourer. At the time of her death, she was living on Dromore Street in the town of Ballynahinch. Her son-in-law James Stranaghan, also of Dromore Street in Ballynahinch, was present at her death and was the informant for the death record.

Death
Jane died from "phthisis" (tuberculosis) in 1873. At the time of her death, she was living in Magheralone Townland in the Parish of Kilmore. On her death record, Jane was listed as married, age 38, and a weaver's wife. Her husband Hans was present at her death and was the informant for her death record. ^[7] Hans was now a widower with seven children, aged 2½ years to age 18 years of age. He would remarry the following year.

Research Notes

Birth location

Jane's daughter Ellen (McKeown) Machin states that her mother was born in Scotland on USA census returns for 1900 and 1920, but states "England" on the 1910 USA census form. Ellen's death certificate also states her mother was born in Scotland (though her son William MACHIN was providing this information and also lists his grandmother's name as "Jennie Laurie" and his mother's birth place as "Belfast"). Jane's son Hans McKeown states on his 1910 USA census return that his mother was born in Ireland. An un-sourced Ancestry.com family tree for "Kelly Family Tree" shows Jane's birth location as Creevytenant townland which is in the parish of Magheradrool (near Ballynahinch) in County Down.

More research is required . Perhaps there are records in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) that could help (e.g., parish baptism records).

1853 to 1865 residence location

It is unclear where Hans McKeown and Jane Lowry were living from 1853 to 1865. Birth records for children born those years are not available on the Irish Genealogy site (civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords).

Some FamilySearch users show that their children were born in "Maghera" (no sources to confirm), but this parish is much farther to the south near Newcastle and Castlewellan - however, a 1868 birth record for "unknown" female (presumed to be Ellen) was born in Maghera, Kilkeel.

Some Ancestry.com users show that their children were born in "Magheratimpany" (no sources to confirm). This townland is located in the Parish of Magheradrool and borders Drumaness on the west. This makes more sense than Maghera.

The 1911 Ireland Census for Margaret Ann (McKeown) Bain shows her birth location as "Kilmore County Down". "Kilmore" was crossed out, as were other precise locations for other family members like Ballynahinch, Downpatrick, Chatham, Drumaness, but all the crossed out locations match records (spot on). I think we can assume that Kilmore, County Down is an accuate birth location for Margaret Ann too. Maghera and Magheratimpany are not townlands in the Parish of Kilmore, but the townland of Magheralone is found in the parish of Kilmore and borders Drumaness on the east. It SEEMS MORE LIKELY that they were perhaps living in Magheralone Townland, Parish of Kilmore.

The 1911 Ireland Census for Mary (McKeown) DODDS shows her birth location as "Kilmore County Down". "Kilmore" was crossed out, as were other precise locations for other family members (as with her sister above). I think we can assume that Kilmore, County Down is an accurate birth location for Mary too.

Records of children born to Hans McKEOWN and Jane LOWRY:

Unsourced: (A=Ancestry trees, FS= FamilySearch users):

James (Abt 1855), Magheratimpany (A)

Jane (Abt 1861), Maghera (FS) Magheratimpany (A)

Sourced:

Margaret Ann (Abt 1858), Kilmore (1911 Census)

Mary (1863), Kilmore (1911 Census)

Hans (1865), Carnacally, Kilmore, father a parish clerk

Ellen (1868), Maghera father a weaver

Fanny (1870), Farranfad, Loughinisland, father a weaver

The Famine Years (1845-1852)
The Great Famine or the Irish Potato Famine began in 1845 and was caused by a blight which attacked and destroyed the potato crop, the main staple of Ireland's peasantry. The potatoes rotted in the fields, leaving millions with nothing to eat and unable to pay their yearly rents to the landlords. Relief measures were introduced, but when the crop failed the following year, the crises became a catastrophe. Between 1845-1850 the population of Ireland fell from around eight million to about five million. As many as one million died from hunger and disease. Another two million were forced to emigrate.

The north of Ireland didn't suffer as badly from the Great Famine as did the south and south west of Ireland because they were sheltered by the textile industry. But they still suffered. The effect of the famine in County Down can be seen from census records. Between 1841 and 1851 County Down's population declined by almost 44,000. Ulster’s population declined by 15%, all of Ireland’s by 20%. ^{[8] [9]}

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881", database
   FamilySearch Record: VRSX-LSR (accessed 31 October 2023)
   Jane Lowry baptism on 10 Dec 1833, daughter of Thomas Lowry & Margaret, in Kilmore, County Down, Ireland.
2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Crossgar," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Crossgar&oldid=1088397281 (accessed July 11, 2022).
3. ↑ Marriage Registration: "Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages", database
   General Register Office, Ireland; Group Registration ID: 3234209; SR District/Reg Area: Downpatrick
   IrishGenealogy.ie Image - IrishGenealogy.ie Record (accessed 30 October 2023)
   Hanse McKeown marriage to Jane Lowry on 6 Aug 1853 in the Downpatrick registration area.
4. ↑ Birth of son Hans: "Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages", database
   General Register Office, Ireland; Group Registration ID: 7780764; SR District/Reg Area: Downpatrick
   IrishGenealogy.ie Image - IrishGenealogy.ie Record (accessed 30 October 2023)
   Jane Lowry, mother, in entry for Hans McKeown birth 1866 in the Downpatrick Superintendent Registrar's District.
5. ↑ Birth of daughter Ellen: "Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages", database
   General Register Office, Ireland; Group Registration ID: 8184095; SR District/Reg Area: Kilkeel
   IrishGenealogy.ie Image - IrishGenealogy.ie Record (accessed 30 October 2023)
   Jane Lowry, mother, in entry for Unknown McKeown birth 1868 in the Kilkeel Superintendent Registrar's District.
6. ↑ Birth of daughter Fanny: "Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages", database
   General Register Office, Ireland; Group Registration ID: 10651018; SR District/Reg Area: Downpatrick
   IrishGenealogy.ie Image - IrishGenealogy.ie Record (accessed 30 October 2023)
   Jane Lowry, mother, in entry for Fanny McKeown birth 1871 in the Downpatrick Superintendent Registrar's District.
7. ↑ Death registration: "Civil Records of Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages", database
   General Register Office, Ireland; Group Registration ID: 7156867; SR District/Reg Area: Downpatrick
   IrishGenealogy.ie Image - IrishGenealogy.ie Record (accessed 30 October 2023)
   Jane McKeown death 1873 (age 38) in the Downpatrick Superintendent Registrar's District.
8. ↑ ”The Famine in Co. Down, Ireland 1845-1850”, Rootsweb, Ros Davies' Co. Down, Northern Ireland Family History Research Site, https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/genealogy/WORDS/Famine.htm
9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Great Famine (Ireland)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Famine_(Ireland)&oldid=1097436696 (accessed July 11, 2022).

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: KLPS-D2B
• The Irish Potato Famine, YouTube video by Geographics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKh71EHGXwI