There is one Lees family recorded as living in Islandmagee in the 19th century. Thank you to the Larne branch of the NIFHS for helping with some of the below information.

Thomas Lees married Jane Mann formerly McIlvaine 14 Sep 1876 at the Larne Register’s Office. He was aged 56, a Bachelor, Naval Pensioner living in Carnspindle, Islandmagee, the son of Oliver Lees, Excise Officer. Jane Mann was a widow of full age, also living at Carnspindle, the daughter of Andrew McIlvaine, a Labourer. James Kain and Margaret Kain served as witnesses.

Jane was the widow of Alexander Mann who she married 10 Jan 1868 at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Larne. He was a Widower of full age, a Shoemaker, residing in Carnspindle, Islandmagee, the son of Alexander Mann, Farmer. William Mawhinney and Elizabeth Ross appeared as witnesses.

They had three children; Margaret Mann b. 16 Nov 1868 Carnspindle, Jane Mann b. 27 May 1871, and Alexander Mann b. 8 Mar 1874 Millay. All in Islandmagee, Ballycarry, Larne. Alexander is possibly the man recorded as dying 1875 Larne aged 75, though I haven’t consulted the original register.

Thomas may be a relation of the Rev. Robert Lees mentioned in this memorial inscription in Ballypriormore Cemetery, Islangmagee:
Lees Sacred to the memory of the Revd. Robert Lees & his wife Jane Templeton. Also Jenny Gibson died 11 Jun 1849 AE 40. Also her husband Samuel Templeton who died 04 Dec 1874 aged 88 yrs. And their grand-daughter Sarah Eliza Campbell, who died 01 Mar 1866 aged 3 years. Carrie, in infancy, 1876. Mary, 1882 aged 17 years. Saml. Templeton was lost at sea 82 21. Martha, their mother 87 46.

Thomas Lees and Jane McIlwaine had four known children;

  • Martha Lees, b. Islandmagee 23 Jun 1878, baptized 30 Jun 1878 at 2nd Islandmagee Presbyterian
  • Rosanna “Annie” Lees b. Islandmagee 23 Dec 1884, baptized 26 Dec 1884 at 2nd Islandmagee Presbyterian
  • Thomas Lees b. Millbay 27 Sep 1876, baptized 27 Oct 1876 at 2nd Islandmagee Presbyterian
  • William John Lees b. Islandmagee 2 Jul 1881, baptized 15 Aug 1881 at 2nd Islandmagee Presbyterian

There is in record of any other Lees family in the Islandmagee Presbyterian church records.

Thomas Lees was born in 1819 and that is 10 years before the start of the 1st Presbyterian records in Islandmagee. His father’s records as an Excise Officer will be in the National Archives at Kew. Even if he was living at Islandmagee at some of the Excise stations, these are often simply listed as leased to the appropriate authority rather than naming individuals. There is no record of Oliver Lees in the renewal of leases 1770, address of loyalty 1772, tithes 1834 or Griffith’s 1860 and there is no grave record in the three old graveyards for him.

Thomas Lees senior was a merchant seaman, and there’s a record of his service on The National Archives, Kew website under reference ADM 139/324/32372, of which here are some abstracts;

  • His date of birth is given as 1 February 1819 on one document and 1 February 1820 on another.
  • He was 5 feet 10 inches tall (178cm), had brown hair, black eyes and a fallow complexion
  • It has a list of ships he served on starting 16 Nov 1841-1869 with his No in each of the ship’s books. These could be used to further track his career by consulting the individual ship logs.
  • In 1866 while serving on The Black Prince, it is recorded that Thomas had served the required number of years [20] entitling him to a pension, and as such it was submitted that his warrant be cancelled. It seems he still served further though, until 1869 at least.

In the separate British BT113 Merchant Seamen records 1835-1857 digitized on FindMyPast, Thomas’ year of birth is given as 1825 instead, and mentions that he had served in the Royal Navy and could not write.

Thomas appears on the 1861 census aboard the Narcissus, Vessels Royal Navy England.

Thomas died 10 Nov 1903 at Larne Workhouse. There will probably be a record of his admission there in the records held at PRONI and digitized at LDS Family History Centres.

LEES ERECTED By THOMAS LEES, Millbay,

In Affectionate Remembrance of
His Son THOMAS Who Died
From Falling from Aloft on Board
The Ship “Chelmsford” on a Voyage
From Melbourne to Tacoma
On 31st Dec. 1897, Aged 21 Years.

Beneath the dark blue rugged wave
His last remains are sleeping,
No mark is set upon his grave,
No willow o’er him weeping.

The Above-Named THOMAS LEES
died 10th Nov. 1903 aged 85 years.
Also His Daughter ANNIE LEES
Who Died 21 Oct. 1919, Aged 33 years.

In 1901 Thomas was assaulted in his home;

Alleged aggravated assault – Naval pensioner’s life in danger

At Larne courthouse on Saturday last Mr John Heggarty, J.P., investigated a charge of aggravated assault preferred against a tramp rag picker named Alexander Campbell. It was stated during the proceedings by head Constable English that prisoner was terror to Islandmagee and that the people ran into their houses and bolted their doors when they observed him coming. He was in the habit of walking into the houses, cooking whatever food he wanted, and taking other liberties. The complainant is a naval pensioner named Thomas Lees, 80 years of age, he served with distinction in China in 1867. He deposed he resided alone at Carnspindle, Islandmagee.

On Wednesday last, about the middle of the day, he was in his own house, when the prisoner in the dock entered. Campbell offered to give him 10 shillings for a boat, to which witness replied he was not going to sell it. Prisoner retorted that he would take the boat when witness would die. They both sat down in front of the fire, prisoner being on witness’s left. Prisoner took out a paper full of cheese and laid it on a chair. After that he took out a bottle of whiskey, which he uncorked, took part of it, and gave witness a little. Prisoner then asked for a drop of tea. Witness got tea and sugar from the mantelpiece, and Campbell put it in the kettle on the fire.

He then ordered witness to put the pan on and fry him some beef. Witness said he had no beef, but prisoner insisted on the pan being put on. Witness went out to the butcher’s shop, but it was shut, and, as he had not sufficient bread, he brought in two baps. He then came back to the house, and sat down beside Campbell at the fire, but there was no sign of Campbell making the tea, although he had the tea and sugar in the kettle. Prisoner court witness by the legs or lower part of the body, and threw him on his right side down on the hearth, afterwards kicking him several times on the face. Witness’s face was covered with blood. Campbell said nothing to him while he was assaulting him. But witness prayed him to God to quit – was he going to kill him?

Witness managed somehow to get out of the house, and went up to the magistrate’s, Mr Hill McKean’s. His wounds were not dressed until they were dressed by Dr M’Ninch in Larne. He had known the prisoner for the past 40 years, and they had always been on the best of terms, never having had a bad word together. They had each about two glasses of whiskey out of the bottle in mugs. Campbell did not appear to be under the influence of drink when he came into witness’s house. Witness was attended by Dr M’Ninch at Larne on Friday.

Head-constable English stated he arrested the prisoner at Dundressan, Islandmagee, on the previous evening, on a warrant charging him with seriously assaulting Thomas Lees at Carnspindle on the 24th inst. On being cautioned, the prisoner said – “I expected you, but I thought a summons would do. Tom took my whiskey, but it was all over a drop of whiskey.” Mr Heggarty said it was a shame that this fine old man should have been beaten in such a brutal fashion. On the application of District Inspector Lilly, prisoner was remanded for eight days. Complainant’s life is stated to be in danger, erysipelas having set in. His face presented a horrible sight in court from the wounds he had received.
Northern Whig 29th April 1901.