Follow the Landlord

As I have mentioned before the key to researching ancestors in Ireland is location - townland, parish, county. For those with farming ancestors who held leases it is important to know the history of the townland, who was the landlord and what estate did it belong to? Take for example Isaac Watson whom we find in the townland of Glenkeen in the parish of Glendermott (or Clondermott) in county Derry. Griffiths valuation of tenements reveals a lot about Isaac Watson.
 

Isaac Watson number 10 in Glenkeen held a farm of some 23 acres from his landlord Henry Stacy Skipton (rateable value of £12-10sh). In addition he himself was a landlord renting 3 houses to John Bradley, Robert Thompson and Edward Jervis.

His landlord, Henry Stacy Skipton, was from a prominent county Derry family and his ancestor was Alexander Skipton who had purchased the townland of Glenkeen in the early 17th century, however, he was murdered in 1624 by an O'Cahan over a disputed lease.

The Rev Alexander Skipton (c1712-1793) was also of this family and he wrote a detailed family history for posterity (available in PRONI D1725/6). 

In his family history he reveals that his ancestor, the progenitor Alexander Skipton (died 1624) was married twice, his first wife was Young, the name of the second uncertain. By the first, he had an only son called Thomas who succeeded him. By the second he had two daughters the eldest called Elizabeth married to Mr Freeman, landlord of the Manor of Goldsmiths of Goldsmiths.

"Alexander's other daughter named Margaret was married to one Mr Waitfield (Whitfield) of Co Tyrone whose daughter was married to the Rev Mr Watson, curate of Cumber, from whom are descended the present family of that name in Glenkeen."

Isaac Watson died 1876 aged 84 years giving him a lifespan of c.1792-1876. His parents were most likely James Watson and Margaret Lowry of Glenkeen mentioned in a deed of 1813  (Registered deed Book 658/page 250 memorial number 453349). 

It is almost certain that Isaac Watson was a distant relation of his landlord Henry Stacy Skipton.

The information from the family history has opened possiblities into tracing the tree of the Watson family of Glenkeen. The Rev Skipton revealed that the Watsons of Glenkeen descend from Alexander Skipton through his daughter Margaret.

Research would focus on records available for the townland of Glenkeen and on the tracing the Whitfield connection in Tyrone and also on the Rev Mr Watson, curate of Cumber.

In this case, following the landlord, led to a surprising discovery concering the Watson family of Glenkeen.






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