Clones Was the Registration District

GILLIS

Family legend suggests that two brothers, James and David came from Scotland as planters to County Monaghan possibly in the 1700s. The James line is said to have ended after 2/3 generations. Monaghan was not a planter county although Scots did settle there and many came later from the planter counties of Old Ulster. By 1841, Monaghan was one of the most densely populated counties. There was good agricultural land around Donore and there were a lot of Gillis folk there although a significant number emigrated to North America in the mid 19th century, particularly Prince Edward Island in Canada.

The geography is difficult:

Clones was the registration district.

Corryhagen and Cordevlis are Townlands in Aghnamullen parish.

In 1750, Sir William Verner leased land in Cordevlis to the Breakeys (and later the Kerrs) but it is clear that his family also owned land in Corryhagen (see below). Corryhagen had a total of 236 acres and Cordevlis 243 acres. There is a census of Cordevlis in 1821 but no sign of Gillis families although they were there later. Rockcurry is the nearest small town and Ballybay the larger one.

There was a Presbyterian church in nearby town of Ballybay by 1801

What we do know:

DAVID (?1786 - after 1860)

Married Elizabeth Whittsitt or Whitsits on 31.07.1811 in Clones registration district

Issue:

Archibald bp 20.09.1812

John bp 05.02.1815 married Essy Chambers 1855 in Clones

Elizabeth bp 30.07.1821

Sarah Anne bp 25.04.1824

DAVID bp 22.10.1826

Robert bp 10.05.1829

Benjamin bp 18.08.1832

It seems that David worked on the land. He appears in the 1829 Tax Assessment Tithe Appointment Book for Corryhagen, in the civil parish of Aghnamullen, which is where Hugh continued to farm in the 1900s. (There is also a David in the 1832 book for ‘Shanroe’, Clones).

Griffiths Valuation in 1858 shows David Gillis farming 18 acres at Corryhagen, the land of Sir William Verner but it is not clear whether this is the father or his son.

DAVID (1826 - 1880s?)

Baptised on 22.10.1826

Married Jane Thompson (daughter of William) on 16.08.1860 in Ballybay. It is said that family called her Rebecca. She died in 1891

Issue who appear to have been born at Dawson Grove (see article)

Hugh (1861 - 1943) married Hanna Sarah Stevens from Armagh (1864-1937) in 1901. Son Stephen Hugh David (1905-1985) Will in National Archives?

In 1909, Hugh appeared at Ballybay Court for failing to repair a road. In 1912 & 1913 he was in Rockcurry Court applying for dog licences. In the 1911 census, they are described as Presbyterians and Hugh is farming at Corryhagen no 5, near Anny.

female 20.06.1865 at 167 Dawson Grove

Prudenchia born 07.09.1867 at 160 Dawson Grove

Minnie ? Married Mr Harbison Issue: William, Jean, Robert, David.

Rebecca Married 1887 Samuel Parks and in 1896 Robert Poots both in Castleblaney. Son Robert Baden Powell Poots

Rachel died at 15

Margaret born & baptised on 27.02.1870 (on IGI) at 190 Dawson Grove died Oregon.

Sarah Anne born 25.05.1873 (on IGI) married Alfred Saunders

LETITIA born 11.05.1876

married Edward Despard

It was probably this David (of Corryhagen) who appeared as a complainant at Ballybay court on 27.03.1865 about a man who had left his service contrary to an agreement. The defendent was advised to return to service at 8p per day.

The other Gillis families.

The most interesting is James Gillis who in 1858 Griffiths valuation was farming 36 acres from Sir William Verner at Cordevlis. He was fined in 1861 for refusing to move his cart! He may have been the father of David (1864-1943) This David applied for dog licences at Rockcurry Court in 1911,1912 & 1913. He may also have been the David Gillis who was fined 2s 6p at Ballybay court on 17.11.1890 for being drunk. There was still a David Gillis at Cordevlis in 1932 when he was selling a farm at Lisgillen and in 1933 when he was also selling a farm at Mullanacore. There were two other appearances by a David Gillis at Ballybay Court. On 30.12.1878 he took a man to court for assault. in 1903, he was one of the witnesses of a defendent who abused a horse in Ballybay.

Contemporaries of David senior in the Clones registration district are:

Andrew 1795-1867

James (& Sarah Baird) whose son Thomas was bp on 18.02.1821

James (& Elizabeth Little) whose daughter Mary Anne was bp on 21.06.1817

Archibald (& Jane Scott) who had Elizabeth Anne bp 31.12.1815, Thomas bp on 22.07.1821 and Archibald bp on 06.02.1831. This Archibald married Jane Schoales in 1856 and had a son Archibald.

Henry (& Elizabeth Gillespie) whose son, Robert was bp on 03.09.1832

John who had a daughter, Margaret in 1824

Contemporaries of David junior in the Clones registration district are:

James (& Anne Miller) whose daughters Elizabeth and Anne were born at 188 and 185 Dawson Grove in 1864 and 1867 respectively.

John (1832 - 28.07.1910) whose will left £ 908 to Robert Gillis a police pensioner and farmer. This Robert was born c1835. He married Isabella and joined the RIC and went to Armagh where his children were born in the 1870s and where he is living in the 1901 census.

John (1828-1866)

Patrick (1821-1867)

Griffiths valuation (c 1858) has:

Archibald, John, Andrew, Thomas and

There was a Thomas Gillis working as a publican in the town of Monaghan. In 1846 Warren and Gillis were brewers in Park Street Monaghan

1826 Tithe applotment books have a Robert and a William

1859 John took his brothers, Archibald and Thomas to court for assault. These were probably the sons of Archibald senior & Jane Jane Scott. John was then in court as the subject of an assault by others in 1861.

Another John born 1860 was a frequent resident of Kilmainham jail for theft & breaking/entering in 1895, 1898, 1903, 1916.