If documentation is missing you might guess that Alexander Orr McGowans eldest grandson would be named after him in the ususal way. The Tithe Aplotments for Ballykeel do not list any McGowans but several Orrs - James Orr and James Orr junior and Margaret Orr. James Orr McGowan does show up in Ballykeel in Griffith's and likely you have his gravestone information from his headstone in Moneyreagh Non-sub. Presb. There was a Rev.William Orr McGowan who was minister at the Unitarian (non-sub. Presb. church) in Greyabbey. Ballyhalbert is in Ballyhalbert Parish and not Comber. Tithe Aplotments from there would be worth a look as there is no Ballykeel listing. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Bartos" <irishspring5@yahoo.com> To: <nir-down@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:17 AM Subject: [NIR-DOWN] MCGOWAN MCKITTRICK ORR > Hello Listers- > I am still trying to verify the names of the parents of my gr gr > grandfather, ALEXANDER ORR MCGOWAN. He was born in 1812, in either > Ballykeel or Ballyhalbert, Comber Parish, Co Down.. His biography states > that he was raised by his paternal grandfather, with his father being an > invalid for the past 13 yrs. No mention is made of his mother in the > biography. > > He was a teacher in the National School in 1833, at Tullygirven, (known > as ORR MCGOWAN there) and is listed on pg. 34 in the Comber Parish > chapter of the "Ordnance Survey of Ireland, Parishes of County Down II > 1832-4,1837, No. Down & the Ards." > > In 1843 he moved to Dunmurry, Co Antrim, along with his wife, (MARGARET > MCKITTRICK, daughter of ADAM MCKITRICK AND MARGARET ORR) who was the > first teacher for girls at the National School there as well. She was > also the Postmistress there. They emigrated with their 3 children to the > US in 1850, eventually settling in Warren Township, Wisconsin. > > In regards to this search, a kind researcher checked his database in the > "Ulster Pedigree-the Many Descendants of James Orr", and came up with a > possible match - David McGowan of Crossnacreevy and Eleanor Orr of > Ballykeel. Their children are listed as Mary, James, Alexander and > William. No dates are given here, but the area, family names and > townlands are right on. > > David McGowan is also listed as being "rebuked" by the Presbyterian Kirk > Session, no date or reason given. He and Eleanor were part of the > Moneyrea Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church. > > Another researcher told me that Eleanor is listed in an old area > newsletter obit, saying she was born in 1784 and died Nov 30th, 1844, at > the age of 60, and had been married to the late David McGowan of > Crossnacreevy. He evidently died before 1844 - and this time period of > the earlier death, matches the family biography time line. > > If anyone can help me dig further in my search, or give some suggestions, > it would greatly be appreciated! > > I will enclose a link to the family biography, written by his oldest son, > Robert James Orr McGowan. > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~wiwausha/aomcgowan.html > > Thank you for taking the time to read this! > > Pat McGowan Bartos > patmcb56@sbcglobal.net > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > NIR-DOWN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message