LIFE OF EDWARD DORAN....
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Edward Doran was born circa 1782 in County Down, Northern
Ireland. He was probably born in or
nearby to Ballygraffan, in Ballyhalbert
Parish. There are some reports that his
full name was Edward Robert Doran, though those are unconfirmed – though Robert
is certainly a family name. At this time
(December 2009), his parents’ names
are not definitely known. Edward had at
least one sibling, described as being “well to do” with many daughters but no
son. (His family always rode very proper
in their own carriage, and Edward’s children would run behind and try to jump
onto the back of it.)
Another possible lead from Ardkeen parish graveyard is the following – perhaps it is
the family plot of Edward’s parents?
“Dorrian – The family burying ground of Charles Dorrian, Kirkcubbin, wherein lieth his remains. Also his wife Eleanor Dorrian alias Brannif.
Also in memory of their son James Dorian, late of Blackabbey,
who died 25 Oct
1837 aged 74 years. Also his wife Agnes Dorrian alias McCann who died 20 Nov 1835 aged 72 years. Christina Walsh alias Dorrian died 26 Jun 1857 aged 68 years. Andrew Dorrian died 01 Sep 1861 aged 59 years. James Dorrian
died 07 Nov
1866 aged 70 years. Also Charles Dorrian who departed this life 03 Sep 1881 aged 75 years.
Also his sister Lucinda Dorrian who departed this
life 14 Jan 1895 aged
96 years.”
(If this inscription were truly Edward’s
family, it would mean this: His father:
James. Mother: Agnes McCann. Grandfather: Charles. Grandmother: Eleanor Brannif. And various aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
buried there as well.)
For more information about this particular plot, CLICK
HERE.
(Many thanks to Ros
Davies for this inscription.)
Edward married circa 1803, MARY LITTLE. There are two conflicting stories regarding
her origins. Some say that she was born
nearby to Ballygraffan, perhaps in one of the
surrounding Parishes. Others, however,
state that she was actually born in Scotland.
For she was descended of the Scottish “Clan Little,”
which came from Dumfriesshire, close to the English
border along the Solway Firth. (The Littles’
ancestral seat being at Meikledale, in the Ewes
Valley just North of Langholm.)
Edward and Mary resided at Ballygraffan, Ballyhalbert. They lived in a rather large house
(comparatively, against the other houses in the area). His father lived in a smaller stone cottage,
apparently on the same property. The
property was supposedly rather extensive.
During this time, they had several children. All of them were baptised at the Kircubbin Presbyterian Church, as the children took their
mother’s Scottish religion. (Edward
himself was Catholic, as his family apparently had been for some time.)
Edward kept livestock, and had grand
dreams of someday buying up a huge herd, and taking them to Scotland, where he
planned to sell them for a good profit.
These dreams never came to pass.
For some men “gave him a few glasses” and then convinced him to sell his
existing herd. They handed him a
check. Upon getting home, he went to the
bank and was told that it was a fake, not worth a penny. And so he had to sell his
real estate, for which he got about fifteen-hundred pounds. The family then moved to the Isle of Man,
where they lived in Arbory Parish. It was in Arbory
that Andrew, their youngest child, was born in 1825.
Edward died between 1825 and 1847,
though most probably between 1825 and 1836.
He died in rather tragic circumstances, as he was killed when he fell
off his horse. He was buried on St.
Patrick’s Isle, on the Manx coast at Peel Town.
Most probably, he was buried inside the abandoned St. German’s Cathedral
on that Isle, as that was a main burial place for local Catholics at the time.
Following is a list of all known
children of Edward & Mary:
1.
James,
b. 06 Feb 1806
2.
John,
b. in or before 1808 (lost)
3.
Edward,
b. 1809 (died 1830s on Isle of Man
without issue)
4.
William,
b. 01 Nov 1811
5.
Charles,
b. 1813
6.
Robert,
b. 1815 (died as infant)
7.
Robert,
b. 1818 (probably died young)
8.
Willmina, b. 20 May 1820
9.
Thomas,
b. abt. 1822
10. Andrew, b.
1825-26
And
also possibly:
11. Mary, d. 1824-25
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