Hugh McKenna (1812-1880)

Hugh and Mary McKenna lived in County Tyrone, Ireland in the early 1800s. The most common McKenna forenames in the area are Hugh, John, James and Patrick.

Born around 1812, Hugh McKenna married Mary around 1832 and they had at least five children: Ellen (b. 1838), Sarah (b. 1839), John (b.1840), Thomas (b. 1844) and James (b. 1851). Like most families in rural Ireland, Hugh and Mary lived on a small farm and paid rent to a Protestant gentry - in their case Francis J. Gervais. By law, any improvements they made, such as building a stone house, became the property of the landlord. Thus there was never any incentive to upgrade their living conditions. Their farm was so small the only way they could live was to grow potatoes, oats and perhaps some flax for spinning.

Life in Belfast

By February 1852, Hugh and Mary were living in Belfast with their six children. The Christ Church Census and a Belfast Street Directory showed them living at 6 Albert Street Place. Hugh was working as a millworker, as was his oldest daughter Ellen.

The Linen Industry in Belfast was emerging as a major player the Irish linen industry. Belfast produced about one half of all the linen produced in Ireland. In 1852, there were 28 linen mills in Belfast, with eight located on the Falls Road, very close to where Hugh and Mary lived. Between 1850 and 1861, the number of spindles would double and the number of power looms would rise from 100 to almost 5,000. The typical millworker worked a 12-hour shift. The mills used a “wet spinning” technique that kept the factories hot and humid. Workers often went barefoot to avoid slipping. Wages were low and injuries and illness were common among factory workers.

"Improving on the Old Stock" - While Hugh was an unskilled labourer, he wanted his children to have a better life. Their son Thomas became a carpenter and John became a "master painter". Thomas built housing units in Belfast and was later a carpenter for the Union Pacific Railroad in the United States. John stayed in Belfast and one of his last jobs was to paint the gold gilding in the staterooms of the Titanic. James was an exception to this improved way of life as he worked as a labourer and several of his children were born in the Belfast Union Workhouse.

Religious Conflict in Belfast -

Catholics from rural Ulster flocked to Belfast in search of work and set up their own neighbourhoods, predominantly in the west of the city. In response, working class Protestants were attracted to militantly loyalist groupings. The segregation was both a result of and a source of increasing religious tension. The Pound Area (just south of Divis Street) was a center for Catholic gatherings and Sandy Row was the center for Protestant gatherings. The two areas are connected by Durham Street, with Christ Church being the dividing line between the two areas. Durham Street was regularly the site of religious riots and bloody battles between sectarian rivals. Serious disturbances occurred in 1857, 1864 and 1872. Galway Street, where Hugh and Mary McKenna family lived, was just off Durham Street. They certainly would have witnessed the conflicts and their safety would have been impacted (See more details at Historical Events (1810-1900)).

Religious Revival of 1859-

In 1859, a significant religious revival descended on Ulster and caused a renewed religious zeal in Belfast. Hugh Hanna, minister of the Berry Street Presbyterian Church, was one of the influential leaders of the revival. Hugh and Mary McKenna's family may have been caugth up in the religious fervor of the revival. For example, their son Thomas McKenna, who was only 14 years old at the time of the revival, went to Hugh Hanna to be married to Sarah Singleton in May 1864 (See more details at Historical Events (1810-1900)).

Addresses in Belfast -

6 Albert Street Place - When the family moved to Belfast, they first lived at 6 Albert Street Place. The Christ Church Census, conducted by the Church of Ireland, covered about 3,700 members of the congregation. The only other McKennas in the Christ Church census were George and Mary A. McKenna living at 1 Killen Street. George was 36 years old and Mary A. was 25. George was a carpenter. George is of interest because he may been related to Hugh.

• Hugh is 40 years old compared to George who is 36 years old

• Both Hugh and George belong to the Church of Ireland which is unusual for McKennas, who are traditionally Catholic

• George lives at 1 Killen Street which is right next to Galway Street where Hugh would move before 1860.

9/11 Galway Street - Galway Street is off Durham Street and is only .4 miles from Albert Street Place. Hugh lived here in the 1860 Griffith's Valuation, and in the 1868 Street Directory and also when his adopted daughter Mary A. McKenna died in 1865. Thomas likely lived here when he married Sarah in 1865.

16 Boyne Court - This is where Hugh McKenna lived in the 1870 street directory. Sarah McKena lived at 40 Boyne Square when she died in May 1888.

112/116 Malvern Street - This is where Hugh and Mary are living when Hugh died in 1880 (see death certificate and burial record). They are also living here in the 1880 Street Directory. Their son James was living close by, at 20 Fleming Court, at this time.

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