8th Generation

Born - 18 Apr 1833 - Ballinliss, Armagh, Ireland

Died - 30 Aug 1906 - 56 Carlow Place, Leven, Scotland

This is the first Irish baptism certificate I have managed to confirm as correct. Mary Ann Devlin was born on 18th April 1833 – 190 year ago, her parents were John Devlin and Mary Mullen of Ballinliss, County Armagh. Armagh is in Northern Ireland. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the primates of all Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Ballinliss is situated in Killeavy in the heart of South Armagh about three miles from Newry.

Known as the Gateway to the North, Newry sits snugly amidst the natural splendor of the Mourne Mountains and the Ring of Gullion. It’s at the very heart of the Home of St Patrick, on the borders of Game of Thrones® Territory, and just a short trip away from the fairy-tale landscapes of Ireland’s Ancient East. It sounds like the most picturesque of childhoods.

Historically Newry is most famous for the Newry Canal. Built between 1731 and 1742 it brought fame and fortune to the town of Newry. It was built primarily to transport coal from East Tyrone to Dublin and in 1742, “the Cope of Lough Neagh” made this historic journey. due to the trafing with a great variety of merchandise including, sugar, fruit, flour, oatmeal, linen and timber, Newry soon became the fourth largest trading town in the whole of Ireland. Newry also became Belfast’s biggest rival. A direct passenger service to America was established while trade flourished with other countries further a field. In 1829 control of the canal passed to the newly formed Newry Navigation Company. In 1840 trade had increased considerably and continued to expand and in 1846, 120,000 tons were carried. Unfortunately this increase lasted only a few years as things declined.

I have no records to show if Mary Ann came to Scotland with her parents, extended family or herself as the first record we have for her is in 1861 when she married Thomas Brown in Bathgate.

By 1871 Mary Ann was living in West Calder on Muldrun Row with her husband, step daughter and 3 children. They even had a lodger living with them and Thomas was working for the Coltness Iron Company . Muldron Row is recorded as a “small row of cottages….. occupied by miners.” Census and valuation records show that a second row of houses, a company school and accommodation huts were later built, although these all seem to have been cleared prior to the 1893 map. The large majority of the ironstone miners are recorded as having been born in Ireland – she had her kin around her.

Unfortunately The Coltness Iron Company closed their last pit in about 1881, by this time Mary Ann and her family have moved to Shotts. This address comes up often in the story as there were 3 generations in the house. Charles Mullen was also a lodger in this house and would have been a relation to Mary Ann as her mother was Mary Mullen and Irish. Having her children, grandchildren and other relations all living in the house shows how important family was to Mary Ann.

By 1891 Mary Ann had lost her husband and was living with her son Peter and 2 of her granddaughters, Helen and Catherine. These girls were her daughter Agnes’s children whom we know from her story did not have an easy start to life and emigrated, with their brother to New Zealand – although not in Mary Ann’s lifetime.

By 1901 Mary Ann found herself living with her newly widowed daughter in North Street, Leven. North street is the street behind the High Street. At the turn of the century Leven was a busy seaside town where the tram ran along the high street and had a train station. People came from all over to enjoy the seaside town on holiday.

Mary Ann died in 1906 in Carlow Court, Leven. The houses had been build by Fife coal company in the 1880’s for the miners. Her death certificate is signed by Thomas Carrot, this is her granddaughter Catherine’s husband. Cause of death is Senile Decay. This refers to the progressive loss of mental capacity that leads to dementia and personal helplessness. (The majority of the cases recorded were most likely Alzheimer’s disease). She was not 60 but 74 years old!

Husband – Thomas Brown

Daughter – Agnes Brown