Thank you all for your interest and contributions - I am new on this thing and was quite overwhelmed at the prompt responses ! Anyhow as some of you know the Parish of Devenish is a book by W.B.Steele - I have a copy at home - obviously handed down with various jottings by the grandparents etc so I have a rough idea of the Briens and am beggining to link up what it is all about . Here is what it says about the Brien family that I am apparently related to : ( or all those of you who say we are related - maybe we can find the link !) BRIEN ( formerly O'Brien) of Castletown and of Stralongford, Co Tyrone. Compiled from a M.S Genealogy by Mrs Atthil of Ardvarney, nee Brien. Records of Kilskeery and Devenish Parishes. Wills abd Estate Deeds. James O'Brien Churchwarden of Kilskeery, 1674, formaly ofo Co. Cavan, settled at Block Hill in the Parish of Kilskeery, on the estate of Henry Mervyn. Seised of a portion of estate in Co. Cavan, near Carrigallen, which passed to his male descendants until 1856 when it ws bequested by Capt. John Brien , D.L. , to his surviving daughters. Pressue\med to have been a member of the family of O'Brien seated at Drumhalla, and aterwards at Dumsilla in Co. Leitrim, near Carrigallen. John O'Brien of Drumhalla, D.L , was high sheriff Co. Leitrim 1771. His son William O'Brien , D.L , was High Sheriff 1791. He had issue : 1. Henry O'Brien ( or Brien) 2. Robert Brien, churchwarden ,Kilskeery, 1705 3. Edward Brien, churchwarden Kilskeery, 1707 Henry Brien of Block Hill was churchwarden of Kilskeery 1711 and 1726 . He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Andrew Hamilton, Prebendary of Kilskeery and rector of Magheracross, 1639 to 1632 , by Rebecca daughter of Lt. Col . James Galbraith o Magevelin Castle, near St Johnston, M.P. for Strabane 28 feb 1639. The Rev. Andrew Hamilton Jr. son o the above, and his successor at Kilskeery, was author of the Actions of the Enniskillen Men. Henry and Mary Brien had issue as follows : 1. John Brien 2. Henry Brien Churchwarden of Kilskeery 1739 3. Edward Brien , Churchwarden of Kilskeery 1734,48,59 . John Brien of Stralongford the oldest son was churchwarden of Kilskeery 1746 and died beore 1794. He married Jane - daughter of James Kirkwood (living 1733,) who appears to have rented Crevenish Castle in 1697 by Cathrine Lowther. James Kirkwood was son o Rev. James Kirkwood probendary of Kilskeery and rector o Magheracross , 1693 res. 1704, and Chaplain to King William III . Catherine Lowther's brother, Dr James Lowther, purchased from Henry Mervyn, the freehold o Stralongford Townland from whom it descended to his grand nephew John Brien. Jane Kirkwood's brother , Lowther Kirkwood was of Mullinagarve Co. Cavan, a Townland on the O'Brien estate. John and Jane Brien had issue as follows : 1. John Brien of Stralongord of whom presently 2. James Brien M.D of London (unmar) by his will appointed his brother John as heir. 3. William Brien married and had issue, a son John who dies before 1811, and a daughter Catherine of Lettermoney who d 22 Jun 1819. Her Uncle John Brien laid a mortgage of 5000 pounds in her favour on the Castletown estate. Indenture 1 jan 1811 , trustees Rev Robert Thompson curate of Kilskeery and Thomas Wilson. 4. Jane Brien married to Cristopher MacGregor Cornet. in Enniskillen dragoons 1745, son of Patrick MacGregor, QM of Enniskillen dragoons 1708 and agent to Cristopher Irvine of Castle Irvine M.P . John Brien of Stralongord, the eldest son. About 1790 he purchased the manor of Castletown, Monea , he continued however to live at Stralongford but was resident for a time at Clontarf and again at Market Hill near Monea. He died 1811. Executors John Brien and William Humphries. He bequeathed all his estates in fermanagh, Tyrone and Cavan to his fourth son, John Brien . He married Jane Noble still living 1823 and had issue : 1. James Brien b 9 sept. 1770 , Capt. Tyrone Militia living at Market Hill 1788. Died 1816. Burried at Old Rossory ( M.I.) marr. Elizabeth Phibbs b 1772 died 1857 male issue extinct 2. Edward Henry Brien (married Mary Williams of Plymouth)Had issue : i. Rebbecca (unmarr) ii. Marry Jane (unmarr) iii. Charles Robert (marr. Agnes fitzgerald ) 2 sons both unmarr. ell in action in the Great War. 3. Rebecca Brien b 1773(marr. Rev. James Brandon) 4. Lowther Brien b 1774(marr Margret Harper )had issue i. Jane ( marr Edward Atthill) ii. Margret, (marr Edward Jameson) iii. Matilda (d young) 5. John Brien of Castletown (of whom presently) 6. Mary Brien (marr. Sammuel White - moved to USA) 7. Isabella Brien (marr Andrew Edward Campbell) 8. Elizabeth Brien (unmarr) 9. Andrew Brien (marr Mary Barry ) 10. Jane Brien (marr William frith ) 11. Robert Brien marr Susan Rogers issue: i. George (unmarr.) ii. Susan (marr. John fosse Harding ) iii. Robert marr with no issue. iv. Jane (marr Thomas Jameson).v.+vi. Agnes and Ellen both died young . 12. Charlotte Brien (unmarr) 13. George Brien (Lt) unmarr. John Brien the 4th son ( High Sheriff) succeeded his father - married Charlotte Dawsonthey had issue : i. Jown Dawson Brien ( High Sheriff)marr frances Smyth . ii. Rosanna Caroline Brien (marr Lotus Reade) Their sons and grandchildren succeeded to the Castletown Estate. 3. Mary Elizabeth Brien (marr Henry Braddel J.P.) 4. Charlotte Brien (marr francis Battersby). 5. Wilhelmina Ruth Brien marr (1) Robert Weir marr(2) Rev Alexander Braddell. Well as you can see I got a little tired of all the details so cut it short. I hope it maybe helped some of you. The big question or me is my grand father was a Gerald Percival Brien ( b 31/10/09) - his father was a Charles William Brien ( apparently a headmaster of the school at Moyglass ) He married a Dinah Elliott who died in Belast around 1950. The question is though who is Charles William Brien's father and thus grandfather ?? Any suggestions from those newly found relatives apparent ? Thank you all again for your replies ! Warm regards Paul ps please excuse the spellings !