The most definite furthest back ancestor for Helen I have traced is a carpenter named Michael Hanna so we will begin with him and come forward in time. Then I will speculate toward the bottom of this section about other possible Hanna relatives.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1863 shows Michael Hanna living at 7a, Ballymarter (or Ballymarter). He held land and buildings from Elizabeth Calvert. Looking at the Rates Revaluation Books for the 1870s and 1880s we can see that he continued to live there, though now the house reference changed to Aa. There is no number but the next one listed is 5, so presumably he is at 4a. Michael was paying rates on the property though in 1885 the amount he paid was reduced. The extract below shows his name. Looking at the map shows that 7a and 4Aa are just across the road from each other.

The Rates Valuation Book for 1866 to 1887 shows Michael at 7a in Ballymarter. In 1871 the property was revalued and made more expensive. In total costs rose from £5-10 to £8. Note that 7c below was a house occupied by a James Hanna.

Below is the map showing where Michael lived and worked, presumably at 4a and 7a judging by Griffith’s Valuation of 1863. The map shows modern map under the older one to help find the property on the ground.

In 1844 Michael acted as sponsor for a Marianne Creen whose baptism occurred on 1st April. These are likely to be neighbours as Ballymartyr is given as their address. On 30th April 1848 a Michael Hanna sponsored another child, Eliza Lennon of Craigavodden.

Michael died in 1899. He was said to be 96 years of age but this is not necessarily accurate. The death certificate, copied below, shows that he died of cancer.

Michael had married a woman named Dorothea or Dorathea. This was Dorothea Bryce, as a Catholic Parish registry of such a marriage on 5th August 1852 exists. This was at Ardkeen. Michael appears to have been known as Mick. Unfortunately the marriage record does not name parents. Below is an excerpt, copyright of National Library Ireland, showing the marriage as taking place on 5th August 1852.

We know the couple had at least four children. These were Charles, Ellen, Sarah and Edward. Mother Dorothea was still alive in 1899 and the terms of Michael’s will made clear that Edward was required to look after her. Other children have been found on the RC baptismal register for Ballyphilip, as shown below. The priest (I presume) maintained the register diligently with very precise legible handwriting. Most wills before 1900 have been lost forever thanks to destruction of the Custom House in 1922 during Ireland’s Civil War but we are most fortunate to have this document.

The will implies that Michael actually owned the land held. It will be necessary to check the rates books for the 1890s regarding this. Certainly the 1890s saw a major redistribution of property in Ireland as landlords were obliged to allow tenants to buy their holdings. The Valuation Book for 1885 to 1898 shows Michael occupying the carpenter’s shop throughout that period. Rates of £2-10 had been reduced to £1 only. This was Aa on the map at Ballymarter. He is also shown as occupying a house at 7a. Michael paid rates of £4-10 for the land and £2-10 for the house. The house had been dilapidated but this was scored out. in 1885. The holding covered 3 acres, 3 rods and 5 perches. The extract below shows this.

The will informs us that Ellen was now in America. I have not been able to locate a marriage for her in Ireland and Ancestry has no clear evidence of her passage, though an Ellen Hanna did sail from Cork to USA.

Missing from the will is a reference to the eldest child, Charles. Had he died? Was he sufficiently independent that his father felt no need to refer to him? Had there been a falling out?

The 1898 to 1897 Valuation Book shows Michael replaced by Edward at the carpenter’s shop in 1900. He continued to pay £1 in rates.

The same is true for 7a:

Daughter Sarah had married John Hampton. John was a carpenter and it is likely that he worked for his father in law. The wedding certificate of 1894 tells us that Sarah was born around 1868. This is useful as often wedding certificates only indicate if they were of full age or not.

Unfortunately John and Sarah did not live a long and happy life together. The 1901 census shows that the family had moved to Belfast and John was no longer a carpenter. Rates Books may tell us who was occupying the carpentry shop. John is not shown living with his wife. Sarah had two children, Ellen and Eileen Hampton. The family were living at 17 Susan Street, at the bottom of the Newtownards Road. The girls were born around 1896 and 1898. There is also Mary A Hampton aged 7, apparently, but not listed as being at school so I suspect that she was really 7 months. Wading through the Valuation Books for 1897 to 1905 to P200 shows that the Hamptons were not the registered occupants of that house.

I have also found a Kathleen Eileen Hampton born on 4th December 1896 in Belfast. I cannot read the street name.

Where was husband John? Another census entry shows that he was now working as a railway porter. John died a few months after the census was taken. His brother in law Edward Hanna registered his death from TB and had been present at the end.He died at his brother in law’s home in Portaferry but his home was said to be 208 Templemore Avenue which is close to where his wife was living in 1901.

After his death his widow moved back to the Portaferry area with her children. The 1911 census shows that she was living with (or caring for) her aged mother Dorothea at 60, High Street, Portaferry. It confirms that Mary was indeed 7 months old on the 1901 census.

I have not found evidence of Sarah remarrying before 1921 in Northern Ireland.

The birth certificate of Ellen Jane Hanna shows she was born on 11th July 1895 at Ballymarter.

Her sister Mary Ann Hampton was born on 8th July 1900 at 17 Susan Street in Belfast, as shown below.

Mary Ann must surely have had no memory of her father as an adult and Ellen only knew her father for 5 years.

By May 1914 Sarah and her daughters had taken the decision to cross the Atlantic Ocean but why they chose Chicago, Cook County, Illinois is not explained. Nonetheless, on 1st June they docked at New York and presented themselves to customs and immigration.

They were admitted to America. Mary apparently married a Northern Ireland-born man, Kieran or Kieron Doherty but I have not found the marriage certificate. It was not before the 1920 census as the 3 girls were living with their mother. Interestingly, Sarah claimed that her parents spoke Gaelic as their mother tongue, ie first language and that it was hers, too.

Circumstances had changed by 1930, however, as Mary was now a Doherty. Kieran was working for himself, it seems. All said they spoke English. Kieran said he had been born in the Irish Free State rather than in Northern Ireland. His Christian name spelling had changed to Kyran. Perhaps this was to help ease pronunciation difficulties in America. Ellen, known as Nellie, was a ticket agent for the E Line, the elevated railway running through the city. Eileen was a sales lady for a retail department store. Kyran was fulfilling a similar role- perhaps they worked together?

A new person in the household was Kyran’s cousin Charles Hinds who had come only the year before.

The Dohertys had two girls, Vivian born around 1924 and Lillian, born around 1927. She was 3 and 3/12 years of age.

The next census was taken in 1940:

Kyran was still a salesman and said he had been born in Northern Ireland. He was now head of household, so mother in law Sarah Hampton nee Hanna was likely dead. There was now a third daughter named Joyce. She was born around 1936. Wife Mary’s unmarried sisters, Eileen and Ellen or Nellie were still living with them but cousin Charles had gone.

Family of Michael Hanna and Dorothea Bryce:

1. Charles Hanna, baptised May 1853 Ballymarter
2. Sarah Hanna, baptised April 1855 Ballymarter
3. Mary Hanna, baptised 31st March 1857 Ballymarter
4. Ellen Hanna, baptised May 1859 Ballymarter
5. Edward Hanna, baptised August 1861 Ballymarter
6. Sarah Hanna, baptised 1864 Ballymarter

The baptisms of Ellen, Sarah and Edward can all be seen, as shown above, and the marriage of Michael Hanna to Dorothea Bryce is confirmed by her maiden name in the baptismal records.

Baptism of Ellen Hanna in May 1859:

Baptism of Sarah Hanna in 1864:

Turning to the younger son, Edward Hanna, he took to carpentry like his father. Presumably Michael taught him the business. The will may be read in a strict way, implying that Michael did not fully trust his son as it states explicitly that he must look after his mother and that he is not to sell any of the land. It is possible to see Edward as less diligent than his father from this. Or does the reference to using his tools as he did in life suggest humour, an acknowledgement of fact or a sense of irritation?

Two newspaper articles, further below, indicate that Michael did not trust his son and perhaps had good reason not to.

Edward’s birth has not been located, not helped by an inconsistency over his age. I thought it possible that he had been born outside Ireland as father described himself as a ship’s carpenter early on. Edward, however, said on both census entries that he was born in Co Down.

A lot of knowledge about Edward’s family has been handed down orally but the records add detail and a little contradiction of family belief. The 1901 census shows Edward, wife Mary and children Charles, Edward, Ellen and Sarah. They were living with his aged mother Dorathea (fulfilling the terms of father Michael’s will).

Family tradition told how Edward’s wife died young and he remarried. This is borne out by documentation which shows him marrying a Kate or Catherine Savage in 1906. Edward and Kate were living at Church Street in Portaferry. Mother Dorothea was now living with daughter Sarah, of course. Added to the family now were Sarah Catherine (known in the family as Cassie), Michael and Mary. Later Gertrude was added. Family tradition has it that Catherine was a half sister but her birth certificate shows otherwise. She was born to May Ann Hampton in August 1900.

PRONI holds school records for Ballyphilip (St Mary’s) School, labelled SC/1227/1. The boys’ register lists only three Hannas. James J Hanna was enrolled at the age of 6 on 14th September 1895 (though 1896 is more likely). As he was RC and from Ballymartyr he is surely related to our family, though his father is said to be a farmer. James was struck on 23rd October 1903 but his attendance was erratic. He had previously attended Ballyphilip Infant class or school.

The other two Hannas are certainly the sons of Edward Hanna the carpenter. They were enrolled together on April 22nd 1899, their father a Catholic carpenter of Ballymartyr. Charles attended until 30th June 1908, having completed the examination at the end of Class V successfully.

Edward did not successfully complete the Class V exam before finishing school on 30th June 1909.

The family on the 1911 census at their Church Street, Portaferry home.

Edward died young, in 1915. As my wife pointed out, he did not die long after his mother who had lived to such an old age. The cause of death is lobar pneumonia. He was said to be 50, indicating birth in 1865. His age on the 1901 census was given as 34, suggesting 1867. The 1911 census, however, suggests a birth around 1870. In any case I have not been able to locate his birth yet. Edward’s death certificate is copied below. It shows that the family were living at 16 Russell Street in Belfast but the Rates Valuation Books do not list the family there, implying that he (or the family) was subletting.

Edward may have had health issues linked to alcohol misuse. Certainly he had been in court for this in 1897, as the Belfast Newsletter of 28th April 1897 showed:

Edward is listed as occupying 4Aa at Ballymarter on the 1908-1918 Rates Valuation Books. This shows that he paid £1 for the carpenter’s shop. He held this in fee from1912. Another person took over occupancy from 1915 and it became a forge. The same is true of the house, office and land at House 7.

Edward also held house, office and yard at 42 Church Street Portaferry from 1910 to 1914. This was the house his mother was living in until her death. Edward was paying £8-10.

His second wife Kate then remarried in Belfast in 1919. This meant that the children of Edward Hanna and his first wife Mary Ann Hampton were now being raised by two people who were not actually blood relations!

Kate married a stone cutter named Patrick Murray at the beautiful church of St Malachy close to their home. They were both living in Joy Street at the time.The registration does not give a house number and neither name is listed as a householder on the 1815-1830 Valuation Book.

Street directories at the Linenhall Library in Belfast may be helpful in tracing the family forward in time.

William Hanna was born to Edward and his first wife. His existence had not been recorded in family tradition. Children who die very young are often not spoken of and the documents available long after may be the first inkling anyone has, especially if they were the eldest child.

William died at 2 Woodbine Cottages in October 1898.

What became of the other children is not at all certain in many cases. Gerard Hanna never spoke of them so perhaps he had no knowledge of them beyond a couple. Certainly the family kept contact with “Aunt Cassie” throughout her life. She never married and ended her days cared for by nuns at Nazareth House in the Rosetta area of Belfast.

Turning to Edward Hanna’s first wife, she was Mary Ann Hampton. They married in 1893 at her RC church in Kilclief. The record shows Edward as being born around 1860 and Mary Ann around 1863, annoyingly just before civil registration began. There is a discrepancy in the name and occupation of Michael’s father but no other Edward Hanna is recorded as marrying a Mary A Hampton so this must be the correct couple. Does it suggest some impropriety or does it suggest that Michael was formally Richard at birth? The witnesses were John Hampton, presumably her brother, and his sister Sarah. They married later, of course.

Find My Past newspaper records include a mention of Edward Hanna in the North Down Herald and County Down Independent of 29th August 1902. It paints an unpleasant picture of a neglectful home life:

The story was also carried in the Belfast Newsletter. It said that the previous appearance had been on 25th March.

Edward and Mary Hampton’s son Edward John Hanna was born on 13th July 1896, as shown below:

Young Edward trained as an apprentice to his father. For whatever reason, he enlisted in the army early in WW1 (4th January 1915), before he was of legal age to do so. Given that this was only a month before the death of his father it is likely linked to his father’s state at the time. He chose to join the Royal Marine Infantry.

His grandson, Alan Hanna, informs me that he maintained a diary, which he described as being excited and positive in tone for much of the time that he was in training and up until the time he arrived at the front line. Hopefully it will be located soon. His service record, unfortunately, shows that his attitude declined as the war progressed in 1918, though this might just reflect the relationship with his officer. However, the decline was sufficient to see him labelled as “fair” upon discharge.

Edward’s description was recorded upon enlistment. Apparently he stood 5ft 4 inches tall (which surprised his grand daughter Helen). He ha fair complexion and grey eyes with light brown hair. Interestingly, he had a scar upon his right knee. This doubtless was as nothing to the injuries acquired in the war.

His service record can be viewed on Find My Past. Edward remained with the colours until April 1919 and then was demobbed. He became a coach-builder. This was his occupation when he married Mary Bradley in 1920. The wedding took place on 14th December. Edward was living at 91 Joy St, in the Markets area of Belfast, very close to the beautiful church of St Malachy’s and to the City Hall.

Edward Hanna was entitled to a military pension upon discharge. To read it in full would require a subscription to Fold 3 on Ancestry, unfortunately. It shows his discharge as being 13th May 1919.

Another Edward Hanna featured in the news in 1934 as was one of a group of former servicemen asking for a court judgement to accept that they need not pay rent for their homes, owned by the Irish Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Land Trust.

Mr Justice Megraw found against them and ordered that they pay costs. In evidence, Edward said that he lived at 106 Joy St and paid 7 shillings 6 pence per week for one room. He said he had a pension of £1 a week from the services and earned £3 15 sh a week as a joiner so he had returned to the work in which he trained.

The case was reported in the Belfast Telegraph and Northern Whig of 10th May 1934 as well as the Londonderry Sentinel.

However, despite the name and street this is not “our” Edward Hanna- it is odd that he said he occupied a single room given that “our” Edward had a family by now and as the birth certificate of son Charlie shows, Edward was living in one of the new houses on the Cregagh Road built specifically for ex-servicemen.

The court case provides an interesting juxtaposition as it highlights that Edward was among those fortunate to get a new house quickly after the war as there were still thousands in 1934 who had not been provided for.

The children of Edward Hanna and Mary Ann Hampton:

1. Charles Hanna. Born 10th Feb 1895 Ballymarter, died 26th Nov 1944 Proviso, Cook County, Illinois
2. Edward John Hanna. Born 13th July 1896 Ballymarter, died Dundonald (NI) 1967.
3. William Hanna. Born 25th July 1897 Ballymarter.
4. Sarah Catherine (Cassie) Hanna. Born 1900 Ballymarter, died Belfast 1982.
5. Michael Hanna. Born 4th Jan 1902. Died New York City 22nd Oct 1936.

The children of Edward Hanna and Kate Savage:

1. Mary Hanna. Born 14th Aug 1907 Ballymarter.
2. Margaret Jane Hanna. Born 18th Dec 1908 Church St, Portaferry.
3. Gertrude Hanna. Born 16th Dec 1910 Church St, Portaferry, died 5th Oct 1995 Melbourne, Victoria.

Earlier Traces of the Hannas on Ards Peninsula

There are several potential sources available. The starting point should always be family knowledge/folklore. Gerry and Charlie Hanna had a lot of information, stories and photos about their Bradley forebears but almost nothing recorded about the Hannas. I have appealed to Charlie’s grand-daughter for any information she may have.

Another source is through DNA/Ancestry contacts with their own research. There are a couple of trees on Ancestry which relate to the family, seemingly, but I am unsure of how the research was conducted. In particular, I would like to see the details of the marriage of a Charles Hanna in America in the 1890s to verify which he was and if he really was a demonstrable relative.

Ireland.ie is a fantastic resource, free of charge, and I am deeply indebted to it. There are some records, especially for the 1860s, which exist as index-only. Some of us would love them to prioritise getting those records updated rather than the addition of each new year’s records. However, what would help researchers most would be the addition of Registration Districts to the indexes. I searched through (opened) over 100 records for Newtownards deaths of Hannas between 1864-1900 to locate those relating to Greyabbey. There were only 7, as it happens, but I had to wade through all the others to find them.

GRONI offers a pay-to-view facility for records relating to Northern Ireland only and it can be used to overcome those records which are index only on ireland.ie.

It also has the ability to allow searching by Registration District. The downsides are the need for credit on your account to actually start a search and a 5 year parameter.

Census records are of some use, obviously, but this is limited by the number of Hannas who died prior to 1901 and by only 2 census years being available.

Find My Past allows paid access to a range of newspapers which provide some information.

The map above shows the distribution of Hannas (Hannahs also) on the Upper Ards peninsula. The information is taken from the 1864 Griffith’s Valuation and the 1901 and 1911 censuses. The two pink families are definitely Helen’s forebears. I am endebted to the website thrutime.ca for the original parish map. This is a website which readers may find very interesting. The map came originally from Place Names of Northern Ireland Vol II: County Down II, The Ards by AJ Hughes and RJ Hannan, 1992.

Parish registers are increasingly the subject of digitisation and many are now freely available on-line. The Hanna family were living in the RC parish of Ballyphillip and Portaferry which is separated by the smaller parish of Ardkeen. Parish registers for Ballyphillip and Portaferry exist from 1843 onwards and for Ardkeen from 1828 onwards. The information recorded is very limited compared to the civil records of 1864 on but it is a potential source of information of value.

Interestingly, there are a number of Byres listed in the Ballyphilip school registers but no Bryces. Is the name Bryce actually a mistake? This is unlikely.

These records also provide a clue to other Hannas in the area at this time. For instance, we know that Charles Hanna was the eldest child of Michael and Dorothea, baptised on 26th May 1853. Civil records show a Charles Hanna, carpenter, died in 1909 but I cannot verify if this is the same man.

James Hanna and his wife Margaret (no surname) had two daughters baptised, Anne on 31st May 1857 and Margaret on 12th January 1855. It is quite possible that James Hanna and Michael Hanna were brothers.

This same Margaret (or another?) was a witness to the wedding of Alice Hanna in January 1857 to Terence Kelly. A free civil registration index shows an Alice Kelly dying aged 44 in 1867 but this need not be the same person.

Another witness to the wedding of Alice and Terence was a Mary Hanna. This may be the same as Maria Hanna who married William Denvir.

These people are probably a close age to Michael and it is tempting to assume that they must be siblings but they could also be cousins.

There are other Hannas in the parish records between 1844 and 1849.

Parish records do not show the baptism of Michael or Dorothea, unfortunately. There was a Hugh Bryce and his wife Mary Martin in Ardkeen Parish who had two children baptised, Hugh on 17th February 1853 and Mary on 12th December 1860. There was also a Nicholas Bryce (wife’s name not recorded) had a child named “Patt” baptised on 27th July 1854.

An Edward Bryce was tenant at 22 Strand Street in Portaferry. The value for house, office, yard and small garden on Griffith’s Valuation was £38-0. This was at the junction with Castle Street.

Going further back a John Hannay had a nameless child baptised in Ardkeen on 10th March . John lived at Kirkcubbin.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1864 shows a Francis Hanna holding land at Ballycranmore in Ardkeen Parish. The subsequent Revision Books show him continuing to hold land at 11Aa and 11B up until 1906.

11Aa consisted of 21 acres, 1 rod and 15 perches. Rates began at £23 and 10 shillings with a further £4 and 10 shillings for the house. It must have been quite a big house given this value. 11B was a smaller affair, 3 acres, 3 rods and 15 perches.

The map above shows Francis Hanna’s holdings at 11A and 11B. Note the house at 11Aa. Satellite photos indicate that a building is still there, but whether it is a house or outbuilding I do not know.

In 1906 Francis’s name is scored through and James replaces it, in red ink. James continued to be listed as the holder until 1921. Whether he was still there in the 1920s I cannot say as Ardkeen was no longer included in the rates book but I cannot find where it was moved to.

What else can we know about Francis and James Hanna? Francis Hanna was the son of farmer David Hanna. He married Charlotte Hastings in 1856 and died on 15th April 1904 at Ballycranmore in Ardkeen parish.

Francis and Charlotte had at least 5 children: Charles, Eliza Jane, James* (born March 1866, see below), Margaret (born and died in 1864) and Margaret (born November 1868). This Margaret went on to marry a William Hughes.

Charles and Eliza Jane were born before civil registration, unfortunately, but I note the name Charles. The 1901 census (surname spelt with an h at the end) claims Francis was 90 years of age. This is possible but ages given for older people on censuses and death certificates are not very reliable. Eliza Jane seems to have been born around 1858 and James around 1867. Note that the family were members of the Church of Ireland.

James Hanna* seems to have emigrated. David Elwin Woodward maintains a tree on Ancestry naned the Morton Powell Woodward tree and it presents as well researched eg sources are cited.

From a brief check on that tree and on some sources, James Hanna and his family went to America around 1905. Margaret Young Love Hanna died in December 1918 at Geneva Township, Kane County, Illinois. Charlotte married a George Stedman Woodward on 10th April 1926. They went on to have 3 children, of which more at a later time.

Changing religion did happen and still does but as Michael was RC it raises the questions of whether these are not relatives at all or whether perhaps Michael converted to marry Dorothea Bryce?

I could not locate Eliza Jane and James on the 1911 census.

I mentioned above that Francis’s father was named as David Hanna, a farmer. The Ulster Historical Foundation has copies of 19th century (and earlier) gravestone inscriptions. This was the undertaking of Professor Richard Clarke, who published over 30 volumes between 1966 and 2005. I am sure many genealogists are greatly indebted to him.

David Hannah of Ardkeen was buried at Ardkeen on 16th June 1843. There was no requirement for those getting married to declare if their father was still alive at the time Michael married so this could be his father.

The same source shows an Eliza Hanna buried at Ardkeen on 6th April 1873, supposedely aged 92. Was this the wife of David Hanna? The mother? Or another relation?

The 1901 census does show Margaret Hanna, a widow aged 50, and her son William, aged 17 at Ballyeasborough. Francis’s holding was off the Ballyeasborough Rd: was she a sister in law, perhaps? By 1911 they were not showing up on the census.

The 1864 Griffith Valuation of Ireland shows a Nicholas Hanna holding 4 adjacent properties in the Ardkeen area. Subsequent land valuation records show Nicholas Hanna continuing to hold land at 30 Aa, 30 C and 30 D in Ballygelagh Townland. He held 18 acres, 1 rod and 23 perches in all. This was assessed at £13 in total.

The 1899-1905 book 35 ABa as held by the representatives of Nicholas Hanna, which was scored through and replaced with Selina Hanna’s name. This reflects the death of Nicholas Hanna the father in 1895 (accordingly to the civil record he was 93) and his widow steering on behalf of son Patrick.

Selina, Patrick and Nicholas (the son) are shown on the 1901 census at Ballygelagh Td, Ardkeen parish. Note that neither are described as farmers. Nicholas’s birth must be around 1865, Patrick’s a few years before civil registration. Again, is it a coincidence that these were both wood-workers like Michael Hanna?

Selina was to die in 1909, apparently aged 86. Son Patrick registered both deaths.

The 1911 census shows Nicholas and Selina’s sons Patrick and Nicholas living at the farm. The younger brother was now described as a farm labourer. Incidentally, note the spelling of Ballygellagh on this census- it’s something researchers need to be careful of when wading through census records unsuccessfully!

Nicholas died in February 1920 (a mistake on GRONI’s index suggests 1921) and Patrick died in February 1921. His will demonstrates that Nicholas and Selina had had another son named James. Nicholas left his effects of £92-10 shillings to James; Patrick left his effects to the same James, amounting to £286-18 shillings.

It may be a different person, of course, but two newspapers reported the start of a court case involving Patrick Hanna in 1915. The conclusion is unknown. Mercer and Co, bakers of Newtownards, sued Patrick Hanna of Ballygelagh for “2-16 sh and 3d for bread. The case was adjourned. I learned this from the County Down Spectator of 25th June 1915.

James Hanna, then, was living at Kintaugh near Portaferry in 1920. I have not been able to find his birth or that of Nicholas. However, the 1911 census shows that he was married and indicates his birth in the early 1860s. Note a different spelling of the townland.

It is possible to find their marriage, which I did. It does not give their ages but confirms his father and adds that he had been widowed. He and Kate had only been married a year and a half. Ballycranbeg is adjacent to the larger Ballycranmore.

I have not been able to locate the death of his first wife but can see from the NI Wills Index that James died in March 1926. I found no births to him and his second wife and presumably there were none to his first wife as there were no children in the house in 1911 and no provision for them in his will, seemingly, as he left everything to two McGraths (presumably relations of his second wife). James left over £1085.

Going back in time, Nicholas Hanna senior’s father was named as David Hanna when he married. I thought it interesting to note this obituary from the Down Recorder in 1853.

Another newspaper carries the same information but corrects the commanding officer’s name. I have not been able to learn anyhing from the internet about the Ards Yeomenry as yet.

I will return to Charles and David Hanna in early August, all being well.

Graveyard inscriptions for Ardkeen Graveyard present information on some more people with a similar name to Hanna. First, we have 3 graves bearing the name Haney. Then we have a grave named Hanneh.

1. This stone was erected by Daniel Haney. Underneath lie Hugh and James Haney, children to the above, who departed this life 1750. [There is no mention of Daniel or his wife].
2. A fallen headstone. IHS Here lies the body of Hugh Haney late of Balley Cranmoor who departed this life ye 30th day of March 1783 aged 74.
3. IHS Erected to the memory of William Haney, late of Ballycranmore, who departed this life 26th July 1817 aged 66 years. Here also are deposited the remains of his son John who departed this life 11th January 1819 aged 23. Likewise of his daughter Elizabeth who departed this life 22nd October 1827 aged 26. Also of Cecilia Haney alias Faloon, wife to William Haney. She departed this life 8th October 1833 aged 69 years. And of Henry Haney, their son, who departed this life 18th April 1834 aged 41. [This memorial is my favourite, giving such detail to the genealogist!]
4. Underneath are deposited the remains of James WA Hanneh of Echlinville who departed this life 26th May 1814 in the 10th year of his life. [note the place name link to Charles Hanna].

From this we can draw up one neat family group:

William Haney (1751- 26th July 1817) of Ballycranmore and wife Cecilia Faloon (1864- 8th Oct 1833) had children:

Henry (1793- 18th April 1834)

John (1796- 11th Jan 1819)

Elizabeth (1801- 22nd Oct 1827)

There may have been other children who lived, prospered, married and had children but these are not recorded here. David Hanna, father of Francis Hanna of Ballycranmore may well have been one.

Greyabbey Graveyard contains another two graves of possible interest. They read:

Here lieth the body of Janet Hanna who departed this life March 28th 1757 aged 40 years. Hugh Hanna. Also his daughter Agnes Jane who died 23rd March 1870. [the meaning of this is unclear- Janet cannot be the wife of Hugh and mother of Agnes given the year gap. She could be the mother of Hugh but then why is her husband not mentioned or Hugh’s wife?]

Erected by Elizabeth Reid in memory of her father William Reid, late of Greyabbey, who departed this life 1st April 1800 aged 52 years. A;so her mother Mary Reid alias Hanna who departed this life 28th June 1826 aged 75 years. Also 5 of their children. Likewise the said Elizabeth Reid died 10th October 1850 aged 60 years.

This is 8th August 2024. Investigations into the Hannas suspended for the time being.