David Lees & Betty from Ballylummin

Scotish Origins

A descendant from this line has Y-DNA tested and confirmed as belonging to L1065, an almost exclusively Scottish haplogroup. As the earliest known individuals on this line were all Presbyterian, we can assume that their ancestors migrated to Ireland sometime after the plantation of Ulster began in 1610.

Y-DNA has also confirmed a match with the family of Oliver Lees and Elizabeth Laughlin and the Gortmacrane Lees, see this page for more.

Earliest known family

David Lees, a Farmer, was likely born sometime in the 1790s, based off of the age of his wife and children.

He is possibly the David Lees recorded on the 1831 Londonderry census and in the 1833 Tithe Applotment Books in the townland of Killymuck in the parish of Tamlaght O’ Crilly.

Tamlaght O’Crilly is in Co. Londonderry but bordered the parish of Ahoghill. It may be that the family first lived in Killymuck, Tamlaght O’Crilly before moving to Ballylummin in Ahoghill. I hope to either prove or disprove this theory after further research.

He is likely the David Lees who appeared at the Ballymena Petty sessions on 2 Nov 1857, and accused Rose Brizell of theft, for which she was acquitted due to lack of evidence. This suggests that David died between 1857 and 1863, as civil death registration was introduced in 1864 and he is not recorded there.

The article in question reads;
CHARGE OF ROBBERY. Ballymena Observer, 07 November 1857
ROSE BRIZELL appeared to answer the complaint of David Lees, who charged her with having stolen his breeches containing £3, 16s. 6d. in money, from his house at Ahoghill on the 26th of October last.
DAVID LEES deposed that on going to bed at night he placed his breeches and money under his bolster ; before the morning he felt some person dragging the garment away ; put his hand to the place to arrest its exit but was too late- the “Tory” had decamped and carried off the whole. He then alarmed his sons who rushed out in pursuit; did not himself see any person and can tell nothing more of the transaction.
THOMAS LEES deposed that on his father giving the alarm he ran to the door, which he found open, and saw a woman, whom he believes was the defendant, running away ; he followed, but missed her track, and the breeches, rifled of the money, were found in an adjoining field ; had never seen the defendant in his father’s house, and she resides at some distance from it.
The BENCH did not think the evidence sufficient to warrant a conviction, and the case was dismissed.

David Lees was married to Betty who was born about 1792. She died in Ballylummin on 19 Apr 1873 at the age of 81. Betty’s maiden name is presently unknown. She was the informant of the birth of grandchild William Lees, born 19 Oct 1870 in Ballylummin to Samuel Lees and Mary Jane Aiken.

David and Betty had 4 known children, though due to the year gaps, there were likely more siblings as yet unidentified.

  1. Mary LEES, born abt 1821; married James KENNEDY, 1 Nov 1848, Ahoghill, Antrim, Scotland; died 31 Dec 1893, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  2. David LEES, born abt 1829, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Ann MCGUIRE, 5 Jan 1850, Woolwich, Kent, England; died 16 Jan 1907, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland.
  3. Samuel LEES, born abt 1833; married Mary Jane AIKEN, 22 Jul 1859, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 27 Apr 1890, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  4. Thomas LEES, born abt 1839; married Eliza WALLACE, 10 Jun 1861, 1st Presbyterian, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.

  1. Mary Lees (1821-1893) who married James Kennedy (1819-1887)

Mary LEES and James KENNEDY were married on 1 Nov 1848 in Ahoghill, Antrim, Scotland. James KENNEDY, Farmer and Weaver, was born about 1819, the son of William KENNEDY. He died on 11 Apr 1887 at the age of 68 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. 

James KENNEDY and Mary LEES had the following children:

  • Jane KENNEDY, born 30 Apr 1849, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Samuel MCNEILLY, 6 Mar 1867, 1st Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 17 Feb 1885, Casheltown, Portglenone, Antrim, Ireland.
  • Elizabeth KENNEDY, born abt 1851, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Robert BROWN, 6 Jan 1871, 1st Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married John ALLAN, 8 Jun 1896; died 2 Apr 1915, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  • William John KENNEDY was born on 26 Jan 1853 in Ahoghill, Antrim, Scotland. He was christened on 19 Jun 1853 in 1st Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland.
  • Samuel KENNEDY, born 17 Jan 1856, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Nancy MCATEER, 28 Aug 1876, 3rd Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 27 Jul 1907, Casheltown, Portglenone, Antrim, Ireland.
  • Agnes KENNEDY, born Casheltown, Ahoghill, Antrim, Scotland; married James MCNEILLY, 9 Feb 1884, 1st Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  • David KENNEDY, born Mar 1864, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Rose BOYD, 29 Sep 1886, Ballymena, Antrim, Scotland.
  • Sarah KENNEDY was born on 10 May 1867 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  • Margaret KENNEDY was born on 28 May 1869 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  • James KENNEDY was born on 25 Apr 1872 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.

2. David Lees (1829-1907) who married Anne McGuire (1832-1890)

David was born about 1829 in Ahoghill, Co. Antrim. He died of Senile Decay on 16 Jan 1907 at the age of 78 in Newport, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

David was a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and served from 1847 to 1869. He was mostly stationed around Ireland and England but spent 10 months in Canada and 11 months in Crimea where he fought in the Crimean War.

David was awarded with a Good Conduct Badge, a Crimean Medal with Sebastopol clasp and a Turkish Crimea Medal. Over the years his occupation is variously recorded as Gunner, Driver, Labourer, and Farmer.

David LEES and Ann MCGUIRE were married on 5 Jan 1850 in Woolwich, Kent, England who he was stationed there (now part of London). Ann MCGUIRE, the daughter of Hugh MCGUIRE, was born about 1832. She died of Heart Disease on 15 Feb 1890 at the age of 58 in Newport, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

David LEES and Ann MCGUIRE had the following children:

  1. Esther LEES, alias Hester, born 16 Jul 1850, Greenwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom; married Robert PERRY, 8 Jul 1872, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 16 Dec 1903, Kinning Park, Lanark, Scotland.
  2. David LEES, born 15 Nov 1851, Kilmainham, Dublin, Ireland; married Ellen BRIEN, 28 Nov 1885, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland; died 11 Mar 1901, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland.
  3. Hugh LEES was christened on 4 Sep 1853 in Rathmines Catholic Church, Dublin, Ireland. Sponsors: Thomas McMullen, Lidia Jenens. Hugh likely died young as I have found no other record of him after his baptism.
  4. Elizabeth LEES was born on 27 Apr 1855 in Milford, Hampshire, England. She was baptized on 20 May 1855 in Milford, Hampshire, England. She died sometime after 1877. There is a record of her conversion to Catholicism in 1877 Nenagh, Tipperary. I have found no record of her after this date suggesting she may have emigrated.
  5. William James LEES, born 9 Jun 1857, Portobello, Dublin, Ireland; married Elizabeth TODD, 1877, Birr, King’s County, Ireland; died 29 Aug 1878, Station Hospital, Belfast, Antrim, Ireland.
  6. Samuel LEES, born abt 1861, Athlone, Westmeath, Ireland; 1st married Mary Anne BROWN, 2 Feb 1882, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland; 2nd married Catherine DEGNAN, alias Kate, 24 Sep 1897, St Margaret’s, Kinning Park, Lanark, Scotland; died 31 Jan 1922, Pollockshields, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.
  7. Thomas LEES, born 1 Oct 1866, Portobello, Dublin, Ireland; 1st married Margaret MALONEY, 27 Sep 1888, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland; 2nd married Mary ROURKE, 5 Jul 1905, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland; died 24 Jun 1928, Coole, Newport, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland.
  8. Jeremiah LEES was born on 28 Aug 1868 in St Michael’s, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. He was christened on 25 Oct 1868 in St Michael’s Garrison Chapel. He died in 1869 at the age of 1 in Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

3. Samuel Lees (1833-1890) who married Mary Jane Aiken (1841-1889)

Samuel LEES was born about 1833. He was a Farmer and took over the lease of the land in Ballylummin from his father David. Samuel died on 27 Apr 1890 at the age of 57 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.

Samuel LEES and Mary Jane AIKEN were married on 22 Jul 1859 in Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. Mary Jane AIKEN was born about 1841, the daughter of George AIKEN. She died on 18 Jan 1889 at the age of 48 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.

Samuel LEES and Mary Jane AIKEN had the following children

  • Elizabeth “Eliza” LEES, born 1 Jun 1860, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Richard WARD, 10 Nov 1900, 3rd Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 21 Jan 1936, Larne, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
  • Jane LEES was born on 23 Mar 1862 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. She was
    christened on 2 Jul 1862 in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland. She died on 27 Jan 1946 at the age of 83 at Larne District Hospital in Larne, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
  • David LEES was born on 27 Mar 1865 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. He was
    christened on 20 Jun 1865 in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland. He died on 7 Jul 1886 at the age of 21 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  • Mary LEE or LEES was born on 21 Feb 1868 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. She was christened on 25 Mar 1869 in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland. She died on 1 Jun 1900 at the age of 32 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland.
  • William LEE or LEES was born on 19 Oct 1870 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. He was christened on 16 Feb 1871 in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland. He died of an Accident on 17 Dec 1937 at the age of 67 in Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. He was buried in Wallacetown New Cemetery, New Zealand.
  • Samuel LEE or LEES, born 14 Aug 1873, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Annie McKay MCDONALD, 15 Aug 1899, Parish Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died after 1939, likely in England.
  • Thomas LEE or LEES, born 18 Jun 1874, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Mary Elizabeth COUSINS, 20 Jul 1907, St. Stephen’s Parish Church, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom; died after 1939, likely in England.
  • Esther, Hester or Hessie LEE or LEES, born 27 Apr 1879, Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; married Robert SWANN, 8 Nov 1906, 3rd Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland; died 18 Sep 1946, Wrights Bush, Southland, New Zealand.
  • James LEE or LEES was born on 17 May 1882 in Ballylummin, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. He was christened on 16 Sep 1886 in 3rd Ahoghill Presbyterian, Antrim, Ireland. James was a Painter by trade. He died on 27 Jun 1916 at the age of 34 at Circular Road in Larne, Antrim, Ireland.

4. Thomas Lees (1839-?) who married Eliza Wallace

Thomas LEES was born about 1839 and was a Weaver by trade. Frustratingly I have not been able to find any record of Thomas after 1861, suggesting that he and his wife may have
emigrated. Alternatively, they could also both have died 1861-1863 before the civil registration of deaths began.

Thomas LEES and Eliza WALLACE were married on 10 Jun 1861 in 1st Presbyterian, Ahoghill, Antrim, Ireland. Eliza WALLACE, daughter of John WALLACE, was born about 1842.

Jane Lees & Samuel Dodds of Ballynafie

Jane Lees b. abt 1810 Ireland to David Lees & Mary McKee, married Samuel Dodds likely c1835, later emigrated to Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland, died there 1903 aged 93. Her parents names are recorded on her death certificate.

Daughter Agnes Dodd m. George Bristlow 1866 Ahoghill, Co. Antrim at Ahoghill Parish Church.
Son William Dodds m. Maria Money, 19 Apr 1859 Ballynafie, Ahoghill, Co. Antrim at 2nd Presbyterian Church.

A Samuel Dodds is listed Casheltown townland in the 1825 tithe applotment books for Portglenone.

Anne Lees & Thomas Logan of Casheltown

There is an Anne Lees and her husband Thomas Logan (also spelled Lagan) who lived in Casheltown and Ballylummin townlands. The following children are recorded as baptized in the Ahoghill Catholic Chapel;

  • Hugh Lagan baptized 2 May 1837 wit. Charles Lagan & Mrs Stone, Calhasne?
  • – Logan baptized 25 Nov 1838 wit. James Laney? & Nancy Bradley, Castletown [Casheltown]
  • Jane Lagan baptized 20 Feb 1841 wit. Mrs Clarke? Ballylemian [Ballylummin]
  • Thomas Lagan baptized 25 Feb 1843 wit. Nancy Laverty, Ballylummin
  • Eliza Lagan baptized 12 May 1844 wit. Charles and Katty? or Betty? Lagan
  • Jane Lagne baptized 17 Apr 1846 wit. Sally Henry

I have located no marriage record for the couple, neither have I succeeded in tracing what became of any of them after 1846. There is a record of an Annie Logan age 1877 who died Ballymena age 77 that is a possibility.

The following Logan appear on the 1825 Casheltown Tithe Applotment, however I cannot say whether this record is related to the family
Francis Logan, Casheltown

Anne Lees may have been another child of David and Betty Lees of Ballylummin. Although she was Catholic and they were Presbyterian, inter-faith marriages did occur.

There is also a Matilda Logan baptized 13 May 1855 Ahoghill Catholic Chapel to a Thomas and Eliza Logan, wit. John Hardy & Ann Hardy, no townland mentioned.

There is a Mary Logan, born 15 Jul 1867 Casheltown, Portglenone and baptized Ahoghill Catholic Chapel to a James Logan and Mary McClenagan with witnesses John Heaney & Anne Scullion. The couple then emigrated to Durham in England, though I was not able to locate a marriage record for the couple. Logan was a fairly common name in Northern Ireland so I don’t want to jump to conclusions and assume they are related, but it would be good to know more about this family, if only to rule them out.

Here is the family in England in 1871 at Shore, South, Gateshead, Durham, England;
James Logan Head – Male 30 1841 – Ireland
Mary Logan Wife – Female 30 1841 – Ireland
Mary Logan Daughter – Female 4 1867 – Ireland
Henry Logan Son – Male 2 1869 – Durham, England
Catharine Logan Daughter – Female 0 1871 – Durham, England