John McCallum, died 1892, gravestone at Armagh

John McCallum's gravestone has been discovered at the cemetery of Tullyallen Presbyterian Church, County Armagh.  His wife Sarah Sinclair Martin McCallum is also buried here. It was her father, John Dunwoody Martin who was pastor of this church for many years.

The gravestone lists John's birth as Sep 1843, however, I believe this may be in error. Estimates of his birth year from other records suggest 1845.   Also, his parents Daniel McCallum and Eliza Clarke were married some time in 1843. 

 

THANK YOU to Jennifer FitzGerald, Ph.D. for this discovery and photograph!

 

Dr. FitzGerald is Associate Professor of Political Science and teaches at the University of Colorado - Boulder.   Her recent book Helen Waddell and Maude Clarke: Irishwomen, Friends and Scholars (2012) brought us together related to John McCallum's daughter Amy McCallum, who was also a scholar connected with Waddell through Queen's University Belfast.

Posted below is his obituary from The Irish Times newspaper of Dublin, March 9th, 1892. 

 

Bryansburn House, Bangor, Down - Daniel McCallum family residence

Daniel McCallum (1853-1910) and his family resided at Bryansburn House, a stately home over looking Bryansburn Glen and Belfast Lough, on the west side of Bangor.

They lived here from 1888 to 1894 and leased it from the Gilmore family of Bangor.   The family later moved to Oriel House, right along the Bangor Quay afterward.

This photo is from about 1892/3.   From left to right Elsie, Mary Woods McCallum, Helen, Daniel McCallum, Daniel Jr., Mary.  The dog's name was Jeames, who would like to eat Danie's diabetic biskets and was intimidated by their cat (in Elsie's arms).

This photo was taken in 1999, just before a fire and its demolition in 2000.    We visited the property in Fall of 2000, and unfortunately it had been demolished.

Daniel McCallum obituary 1898 - and McCallum family origins

Daniel McCallum, (1820-1898) died at his home at the Omagh Gas Works on 18 May 1898, in County Tyrone, Ireland.   As previously mentioned, he had been the Manager, Engineer & Secretary of the Omagh Gas Works from its founding in 1850 until his death.

The obituary below gives us great information on the McCallum family origins and further ancestry.  It mentions he came from Belfast.   It also lists John Clarke of Belfast as a brother in law.   This confirms the theory that Daniel's wife was indeed Eliza Clarke, daughter of James Clarke, Belfast.   Both families lived right next to the Gas Works in Belfast in 1846-1852.

The article goes on to mention that some of his ancestry roots did indeed reside earlier in the Omagh area, withing the Drumragh Parish.   Furthermore it describes family gravestone inscriptions there back to 1700.   I am not sure if this is the McCallum paternal line or a maternal line, but we will research further.  

I am indebted to Colin McGaffin who provided both of these obituaries to me.

Eliza Woods, Newtownards, Down, Ireland 1901 Census

Eliza (McAlpine) Woods remained in Newtownards, County Down after her husband Dr. William Woods' death in 1869.  She shows up on the 1901 Ireland Census.  Her home is listed as house 23 on Great Francis Street.  The house she lived in is still standing, and in September 2000 was a dentist's office below and a tea room above.  

Dr. William and Eliza Woods house, Frances St., Newtownards, Down.
Presently "Temptations" tea room upstairs and optician downstairs.

Frances Street, circa 1900.  The Woods house is second on the left.

Also, note that her birth place is listed as County Antrim.  We know from her marriage record that she was from Ballycarry, Antrim.

1901 Ireland Census, Great Francis Street, Newtownards, Down

1901 Ireland Census, Great Francis St., Newtownards, Down - Resident List

1901 Ireland Census, House 23 detail - Eliza Woods

John McCallum, Financial Secretary National Education

I recently discovered proof that our Daniel McCallum, Manager of the Gas Works in Omagh, was father of John McCallum, Financial Secretery of National Schools of Ireland.  While perusing the Gas World periodicals, the article below mentions that Daniel needed to quit his position as President of the North of Ireland Association of Gas Managers due to the death of his son in 1892.  This son was indeed John McCallum, who died 21 March 1892 at Dublin.  John was born about 1843 and is buried with his wife at Tullyallen Presbyterisn in Armagh.  Finding his birth will help us locate the family origins.

Daniel McCallum and brother James McCallum, 1869 Examinations for Science

Daniel McCallum (b. 1853) and James McCallum (b. 1855) were the sons of Daniel McCallum (1820-1898), Manager and Engineer of the Omagh Gas Works.  Both were studying to be engineers like their father.  The Irish Examinations for Science in 1869 show that they both had taken exams in Mathematics and Acoustics, Light & Heat.  James was 13 years old and Daniel was 15 years old. 

James McCallum, First Stage Mathematics Exam, passed with 2nd Class Merit

Daniel McCallum, First Stage Mathematics Exam, passed with 3rd Class Merit

James and Daniel McCallum, First Stage Acoustics, Light & Heat Exam, passed with 2nd Class Merit

McAlpin and Stevely marriages in Templecorran Parish, Antrim, Ireland

Our ancestor Mary Stevely Woods was born at Newtownards, Down in 1860, to William Woods and Eliza McAlpin.  We know that her parents were married at Templecorran Parish:

• William Woods, son of John Woods (farmer) and Eliza McAlpin, daughter of Edward McAlpin (farmer) were married on 9 January 1852 at Templecorran, Antrim, Ireland.

From the marriage records of Templecorran Parish (also known as Ballycarry and Broadisland), Antrim, Ireland, we find the following information:

• Mary Ann McAlpin, daughter of Edward McAlpin, married 5 July 1847, to Edward Stevely, son of John Stevely. 

This is most likely the sister to our Eliza McAlpin, and it follows that Eliza named her daughter Mary Stevely Woods after her sister, whose married name was Mary Ann Stevely.

Research on the McAlpin and Stevely families of Templecorran has been sparse, however, I been able to find the following additional marriage records:

• Rachel McAlpine, daughter of Robert McAlpine, married 27 Sep 1853, to Robert McQuilland, son of John McQuilland.
• Eliza McAlpin, daugher of William McAlpin, married 17 Jan 1855 to Thomas H. Dickson, son of William Dickson.
• Mary McAlpin, daughter of Samuel McAlpin, married 22 Mar 1855, to Thomas Davison, son of John Davison.
• Jane Stevelly, married on 31 Dec 1845 to William John Grey.