Savage, Kelly + McCormick, Kirkistone / Kirkistown Castle
Kirkistown Castle, 2015
The following excerpt is a footnote to the discussion of Kirkistone Castle in 1884; taken from The Ancient and Noble Family of the Savages of the Ards, with Sketches of English and American Branches by George Francis Savage-Armstrong (1888), p.256:
Kirkistown Castle, 2015
The Castle has been preserved with laudable care by the Montgomery family, and some years ago it was in the charge of a farmer, Mr. James Kelly, who, strangely enough, traced his descent maternally to the Ballygalget Savages, thus: - Alice Savage, of Ballygalget, ran off with Mitchell McCormick, of Corney, mate of a ship. They went to England to be married. James Kelly, of Ballyfinderagh, married Isabella McCormick, daughter of the foregoing. James Kelly, keeper of Kirkistone Castle (aged 45 in 1884), is son of this James Kelly and Isabella McCormick. Alice McCormick (nee Savage) lived to the age of 92 and died in James Kelly's childhood. He remembered her and her brother, Mr. James Savage, whom he recollected visiting at his father's house when he was very young, and making a money present to him and his brother for the purchase of clothes. Mrs. Alice McCormick died about the year 1839. She was probably born, therefore, about the year 1747. She was possibly a daughter of one of the descendants of the Earlier Ballygalget line.
Research Notes:
Mitchell = Michael
Corney = Kearney?
James SAVAGE – b circa 1745, d aft 1820 (if James KELLY(Sr) actually met him as a child)
Michael MCCORMICK – b circa 1745, m circa 1770, d?
Alice SAVAGE – b1747, m circa 1770, d1839 aged 92
Isabella McCORMICK – b 1823, m circa 1842 James KELLY, d1908 aged 85
James KELLY(Sr) – b circa 1820, m circa 1842 Isabella McCORMICK, d1908
James KELLY (Jr) – b 1839, bap 25-Feb-1845 Cloughy Pres, m 1870, aged 45 in 1884, d1915
FIRST GENERATION
1. Alice SAVAGE & Michael McCORMICK
An examination of the descendants suggests that the dates of Alice Savage McCormick’s birth and death may be incorrect. Alice Savage would not have been 76 yrs. old when Isabella below was born. Alice could have been born later (+/- 40 yrs) or, perhaps, there is a generation that’s not accounted for.
1863 Griffiths Valuation:
Alice McCORMACK occupier; Andrew NUGENT lessor; T: Cloghy, P: Castleboy, U: Downpatrick, B: Ards, Upper, C: Down; Map Ref 17.
Could Alice SAVAGE be related to the family below? Patrick SAVAGE appears to be of similar age to Alice.
Ardkeen Graveyard
SAVAGE
[SFU, 353 Horizontal stone on the ground cracked]
Mingled with their native dust rest underneath the remains of Mr Henry Savage of Cloughy who departed this life March 12th in the year of Our Lord 1771 aged 65 years & of his son Captn Jas Savage who depd this life July 12th in the year of Our Lord 1789 aged 45 years Here also lie the remains of his son Patrick Savage who departed this life the 16th day of February 1802 aged 56 years.
Children of Michael McCORMICK & Alice SAVAGE: (making some assumptions that have yet to be proven)
1.1. Isabella McCORMICK, b c1823, m1842 KELLY, d1908
1.2.Michael McCORMICK, b c1830, m1853 DOUGLAS
1.3. Robert McCORMICK, b c1833, m1854 BAILIE
1.4. Hugh McCORMICK, b c1836, m1857 DAVIDSON
Second Generation
1.1. Isabella McCORMICK, daughter of Michael McCORMICK & Alice SAVAGE, b1823, m1842 KELLY, d1908
A more extensive listing of this family can be found here.
1863 Griffiths Valuation
James KELLY occupier; Jane THOMPSON lessor; T: Kirkistown, P: Ardkeen, U: Downpatrick, B: Ards, Upper, C: Down; Map Ref 51.
1901 Census - 3 Big Back Lane, Portaferry (Ards Upper, Down)
Kelly James, 80, head, Pres, retired farm steward, read & write, married [b1821]
Kelly Isabella, 78, wife, Pres, cannot read, married [b1823, nee McCORMICK]
Cloughy Churchyard
Erected by John Kelly, Ratalla. In loving memory of his mother Isabella Kelly who died 2nd July 1908 age 85 years, and his father James Kelly who died 18th Dec. 1908 age 88 years. Also his sister Eliza Orr who died 21st June 1909 age 52. Also the above named John Kelly who died 5th July 1929 age 86 year.
1.2. Michael McCORMICK, son of Michael McCORMICK, b? m1853 DOUGLAS, d
Marriage:
Marriage Date: 05/11/1853
Location: Newtownards Reg Office, Ards, Newtownards, Down
Husband: Michael MCCORMICK, 21, of Whitechurch Ballywalter, labourer, son of Michael, labourer
Wife: Sarah DOUGLAS, 21, of Whitechurch Ballywalter, daughter of William, farmer
Witnesses: Robert MCCORMICK, Henry BAIRD
1863 Griffiths Valuation:
Michael McCORMICK occupier; Thomas BAILIE lessor; T: Ratallagh, P: Ardkeen, U: Downpatrick, B: Ards, Upper, C: Down; Map Ref 8.
Children of Michael McCORMICK & Sarah DOUGLAS:
1.2.1. James McCORMACK, b1855
1.3. Robert, son of Michael McCORMICK, b?, m1854 BAILIE, d?
Marriage:
Marriage Date: 13/02/1854
Location: Downpatrick Civil, Down, Down, Down
Husband: Robert MCCORMICK, FA, of Ratalagh Ardkeen, servant, son of Michael, labourer
Wife: Mary BAILIE, FA, of Kirkistown, daughter of Thomas, labourer
Witnesses: Francis THOMSON, Mary Anne ADAIR
1863 Griffiths Valuation:
Robert MCCORMACK occupier; John WATSON lessor; T: Cloghy, P: Castleboy, U: Downpatrick, B: Ards, Upper, C: Down; Map Ref 18.
Children of Robert McCORMICK & Mary BAILIE:
1.3.1. Elizabeth McCORMACK, b1861
1.4. Hugh McCORMICK, son of Michael McCORMICK, b c1836, m1857 DAVIDSON, d?
Marriage:
Marriage Date: 03/01/1857
Location: Newtownards Reg Office, Ards, Newtownards, Down
Husband: Hugh MCCORMACK, 21, of Portavogie St Andrews, labourer, son of Michael, labourer [b1836]
Wife: Jane DAVIDSON, 23, of Portavogie St Andrews, daughter of James, sailor[b1834]
Witnesses: William WATSON, Eliza KENDRY
Third Generation
1.2.1. James McCORMACK, son of Michael McCORMICK & Sarah DOUGLASS, b1855
Birth Record:
Parish: Ballygalget
Birthdate/Baptism: 03/03/1855
James McCORMACK, M, Roman Catholic
Father: Michael McCORMACK
Mother: Sarah DOUGLASS
Witnesses: James NUGENT, Susanna MAGEE
Comment: Rev. J Crickard, Micahel=Mick
1.3.1. Elizabeth McCORMACK, daughter of Robert McCORMICK & Mary BAILIE, b1861
Birth Record:
Parish: Ballygalget
Birthdate/Baptism: 21/07/1861
Elizabeth MCCORMACK, F, Roman Catholic
Father: R MCCORMACK
Mother: Mary BAILIE
Witnesses: Patrick MCKEATING, Rose MAINE
Comment: Rev. J Crickard
