Around 1860 three families of Kelly had houses in the townland as well as families of Christies, Blacks and McMicken. William Sharp and Alexander held land in the townland but did not reside there.
The Kellys
In the Griffith’s valuation, circa 1860 William Kelly was recorded as holding a house and garden, offices and land. A revision made to the valuation indicates that by 1893 the property was occupied by Francis Black who held it well into the twentieth century. However it is likely that Francis did not reside in the townland as he does not appear in the 1901 census for Ballydurnian.
Anne Kelly held a house only, leased from William Sharp (see below). Anne Kelly remained the named occupier of the property in to the twentieth century but she is not mentioned in the 1901 census, indicating that she no longer lived in the townland. Perhaps Anne moved to live with relatives in her old age.
At the time of the Griffith’s Valuation circa 1860 James Kelly held a house, an office and land in Ballydurnian. A revision made to the valuation indicates that by 1892 Mary Kelly became the listed occupier, probably James’s widow. The 1901 census shows that Mary, a widow, and aged 38, lived with children Rosetta, aged 18, a ‘general servant’, James, 16, a ‘farm servant’ and Sarah, 13, a general servant.
There was another family of Kellys, that of Archibald Kelly who appears in 1889 as the occupier of property which had been occupied by John McMicken in the Griffith’s Valuation of 1860 (see below).
From the 1901 census we know that Archie Kelly, 44 lived with his wife Mary J., 40 and children William, 12, John, 11, Rosetta, 7 and Archie, 4.
We have not determined how these Kelly families were related, if at all.
William Sharp
William Sharp held land in the clachan and leased a house to Anne Kelly (see above). He does not seem to have resided in Ballydurnian.
A revision to the valuation indicates that by 1880 Elizabeth Sharp (probably his wife) was the occupier of the land. By 1896 she was replaced by Francis Black.
The Christies
At the time of the 1860 Griffith’s Valuation Alexander Christie held a house, offices and land in Ballydurnian. Revisions to the valuation indicate that by 1867 Alexander had been replaced as occupier by John Christie, and John had in turn been replaced by Sarah Christie by 1872. A revision made in 1896 indicates that by this time Sarah had died and the property was held by her representatives and a 1901 revision lists Archibald Christie as the property’s occupier. From the 1901 census we know that Archibald Christie, 56 and unmarried, lived with his sister Sarah Clarke, 50, and described as a general servant, and Sarah’s husband, Daniel Clarke, also aged 50 and described as a ‘farm servant’. It is very likely that this Archibald was the son of John and Sarah Christie.
Francis Black
Francis Black was listed in the Griffith’s valuation circa 1860 as holding a house, offices and land and, as noted above, a Francis Black held lands in the 1890s which had been occupied in 1860 by William Kelly and William Sharp. However Francis Black was not listed in the 1901 census returns for Ballydurnian, indicating that he did not live in the clachan at this time.
John McMicken
John McMicken was listed as the occupier of a house, offices and land in Ballydurnian in the 1860 Griffith’s valuation. He was succeeded by James Kelly in 1884 who was in turn succeeded by Archibald Kelly in 1889 (see above).
1901 Census Returns
There are three families listed in the 1901 census who did not appear in the Griffith’s Valuation as they did not lease land.
McGarrys
Matilda McGarry, a widow, aged 70 in 1901. Matilda’s occupation was listed as a general domestic servant and she lived with her son John, an agricultural labourer, aged 28.
Dempsters
Thomas Dempster was aged 57 in 1901 and described as a farmer. His land may have been in a neighbouring townland as his name does not appear among the lessors in the Griffith’s Valuation or the subsequent revisions. Thomas lived with his wife Jane, aged 82 and his son George, aged 36.
McCaffertys
John McCafferty, aged 40 in 1901, was described as a farm servant in the census. He lived with his wife Margaret also aged 40, and described as a general servant, and his son John, aged 12.