Newtownards, a pictorial history by Derek Beattie

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Last Update - 17 December 2015

Origins
This surname derives from the pre 7th Century Olde English and Anglo-Saxon word "waelisc", meaning "foreigner" or perhaps more likely in the passage of time, "stranger". Be that as it may it is one of the ironies of history that the invaders from North Germany and even the later Vikings, should apparently refer to the people that they conquered or at least drove from their original homes, as 'The Foreigner" and even more so that the name should have stuck. The surname is popular in many areas and countries, there being a large "Walsh" contingent in Ireland, where it is the fourth most popular surname, and even a small number in France, originally in the Nantes area. The modern surname is recorded in a wide variety of spellings, including Welch, Welche, Welsh, Walsh, Walshe, Walch, and Wellish. The early surname development includes examples such as Walter Walsheman of London in 1279, Simon Welshe of Bedford in the year 1279, John Walsh of Roxburgh, Scotland, in 1330, Margery Wellis in the 1327 Pipe Rolls of the county of Essex, and Lawrence Walsh of County Mayo, Ireland in 1588. The first recorded spelling of the family name is from Ireland. This is believed to be that of Haylen Walsh, the son of Phillip the Welshman, and dated 1171. He is recorded as being with Strongbow, earl of Pembroke, in his initial invasion of Ireland in that year. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Other Surnames on this page associated with the above
Adair~Anderson~Bennet~Brady~Camble~Campbell~Cavanah~Crooks~Donaldson~Ferguson~Fleming
George~Gilmore~Grice~Harris~Hull~Ingram~Job~Kane~Kidd~Lavery
McCay~McCoy~McDonald~McDonnall~McDowell~McGilton~McGreechan~McKay~Martin~Millen~Montgomery~Moore~Morrison~Murphy
Neely~Plunkett~Robb~Roddy~Rooston~Semple~Shaw~Sloan~Smyth~Stoupe~Stronge~Taylor~Thompson~Torney~Weir~Wilson

Where there is a question as to whether the surname is Walsh,Welsh etc. Walsh will be used until corrected.

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Welsh, Susanna - 17th. September 1834 - {Father Andrew Welsh} - {Mother Susanna Shannon} - @ Killynether

Welsh, Margaret - 10th. October 1836 - {Wife to Hugh Campbell} - Mother of Susan Campbell

Walsh, William Wilson - 28th. August 1838 - {Father Joseph Walsh} - {Mother Jane Wilson} - @ Charles Street
Family were members of Regent Street Presbyterian

Welsh, Catherine - 2nd. March 1839 - {Father Andrew Walsh} - {Mother Susan Shaw}

Walsh, Eliza - 8th. December 1845 - {Wife to John Bennet} - Mother of Mary Bennet

Welsh, Agness - 2nd. September 1846 - {Father Thomas Welsh of Scrabo Isles} - {Mother Agnes ......}

Welsh, Elloner Roddy - 29th. July 1854 - {Father Thomas Welsh of Scrabo Isles} - {Mother Agnes Millen~McMillen}
Welsh, William - 12th. July 1857 - {Father Thomas Welsh of Scrabo Isles} - {Mother Agnes Millen~McMillen}
Walsh, Henry Ferguson - 1st. June 1860 - {Father Thomas Walsh of Scrabo Isles} - {Mother Agness Millen}

Walsh, Martha Jane - 27th. December 1856 - {Father Stewart Walsh} - {Mother Jane .............}
Family lived in Newtownards but were members of Donaghadee Methodist

Welch, Elizabeth Sloan - 24th. April 1858 - {Father David Welch of Killarn} - {Mother Jane ............}

Welsh, Female - 31st. March 1864 - {Father David Welsh} - {Mother Jane Sloan}
Welsh, Susanna - 8th. August 1866 - {Father David Welsh} - {Mother Jane Sloan}

Welsh, James - 5th. February 1866 - {Father Stewart Welsh} - {Mother Mary Ann Parker}
Welsh, Martha - 29th. June 1868 - {Father Stewart Welsh} - {Mother Mary Ann Parker}
Welsh, Joseph - 18th. April 1870 - {Father Stewart Welsh} - {Mother Mary Ann Parker}
Welsh, Stewart - 15th. December 1871 - {Father Stewart Welsh} - {Mother Mary Ann Parker}
Welsh, Joseph - 16th. April 1873 - {Father Stewart Welsh} - {Mother Mary Ann Parker} - {sic}

Welsh, Halliday - 4th. August 1867 - {Father Halliday Welsh} - Mother Eliza-beth Fleming

Walsh, Samuel - 1st. February 1869 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy}
Walsh, Martha - 17th. September 1870 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McKay} - @ Killarn
Walsh, Mary Robb - 5th. May 1872 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Anna - 19th. August 1873 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McKay} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Elizabeth - 9th. June 1875 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, John or George - 22nd. March 1877 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Sarah - 15th. May 1879 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Henrietta - 3rd. January 1882 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCoy} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Susan Grice - 25th. January 1884 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCay} - @ Ballybarnes
Walsh, Eleanor Neely - 13th. August 1885 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCay} - @ Killarn
Walsh, William - 2nd. March 1888 - {Father David Walsh} - {Mother Jane McCay} - @ Ballybarnes

Welsh, Sarah - 23rd. June 1869 - {Wife to William Kane} - Mother of Joseph Kane

Welsh, Eliza - 21st. October 1869 - Mother of William

Welsh, Nelly - 15th. March 1874 - Mother of William

Welsh, Eliza - 3rd. June 1874 - Mother of James

Welsh, Agnes - 16th. January 1882 - {Father William Welsh} - {Mother Jane Moore}
Welsh, Agnes - 16th. May 1885 - {Father William Welsh} - {Mother Jane Moore} - {sic}
Welsh, Sarah - 23rd. january 1887 - {Father William Welsh} - {Mother Jane Moore}
Welsh, Elizabeth - 22nd. December 1889 - {Father William Welsh} - {Mother Jane Moore}

Welsh, Lizzie - 4th. April 1885 - {Father John Welsh} - {Mother Jane Scott}
Family were members of Greenwell Street Presbyterian

Walsh, David - 1887

Walsh, Susan - 18th. June 1907 - {Wife to Henry Wallace Donaldson} - Mother of Mary Donaldson

Walsh, Alice - 6th. March 1912 - {Father William Walsh} - {Mother Margaret McGreechan}
Family were members of 1st.Presbyterioan

Walsh, David John - 1914

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H = Headstone Image

Walsh, David - 1888 aged 9 - {b.c1879}

Walsh, David - 1906 aged 61 - {b.c1845}

Walshe, Frances Elizabeth - 14th. September 1943 - Sister of M.L.Kidd - H

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Walsh, James of Newtownards - 13th. April 1816 - Married Jane Dixon @ Killinchy

Welsh, Eliza - 10th. November 1833 - Married Joseph Hull
Witnesses were Robert Thompson and John Semple @ 1st.Presbyterian

Walsh, Ellen - 1850 - Married Martin Murphy

Walsh, Ellen - 2nd. March 1850 - {Father Andrew Walsh} - Married Archibald Smyth - {Father William Smyth}

Walsh, Mary Ann of Bangor - 25th. November 1852 - {Father Ross Walsh a coastguard} - Married Thomas Campbell of Bangor @ Ards.Reg.Office

Walsh, Stewart - 5th. December 1854 - {Father Stewart Walsh} - Married Jane Gilmore

Welsh, Harriet - 28th. July 1855 aged 26 - {Father Ross Welsh} - Married Edward Cavanah

Welsh, Martin - 19th. October 1855 - Married Mary McDowell

Walsh, David - 1857 - Married .....................

Welsh, Elizabeth - 1st. August 1858 - {Father Stephen Welsh} - Married Quintin Morrison - {Father James Morrison}

Walsh. Sgt. Halliday - 24th. July 1860 - {Father Stephen Walsh a carpenter} - Married Eliza Fleming
Witnesses were N. Walsh and Quinton "Quinn" Morrison @ 1st.Presbyterian

Andrew Welsh - 8th. October 1861 aged 29 - {b.c1832} - (Father Andrew Welsh) - Married Jane Lavery aged 23 - {Father Edward Lavery}

Welsh, Eliza~Beth - 17th. August 1866 - {Father Thomas Welsh a labourer of Scrabo} - Married Solomon Job
Witnesses were Samuel Moore and Margaret Job @ 1st.Presbyterian

Walsh, David a widower - 2nd. August 1868 - {Father James Walsh} - Married Jane McCoy aged 20 - {Father Samuel McCoy}

Welsh, Mary - 31st. March 1871 - {Father Thomas Welsh a labourer of Scrabo} - Married Alexander Stronge a painter
Witnesses were David Adair and Jane Welsh @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Jane - 13th. October 1871 aged 19 - {Father Thomas Welsh a labourer of Scrabo} - Married Hugh Stoupe
Witnesses were Joan Crooks and Jane Stoupe @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Agnes "Nancy" - 27th. May 1872 - {Father Thomas Welsh a labourer} - Married John George
Witnesses were James Skilling and Eleanor Welsh @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Ellen - 12th. July 1879 - {Father Thomas Welsh} - Married Thomas Harris
Witnesses were Henry Welsh and Mary Martin @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Agnes Jane - 29th. July 1881 aged 20 - {b.c1861} - {Father David Welsh a labourer of Killarn} - Married John Megilton
Witnesses were James McGilton and Margaret Welsh @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Margaret a servant of Killarn - 15th. November 1882 aged 20 - {Father David Welsh a labourer of Killarn} - Married Robert Quinn
Witnesses were Thomas Quinn and Lizzie Megilton @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, William a stone-cutter of Scrabo - 12th. July 1884 - {Father Thomas Welsh a labourer of Scrabo} - Married Jane Moore
Witnesses were Harry and Sarah Jane Welsh @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Anna a servant of Ballybarnes - 27th. March 1889 aged 17 - {Father David Welsh a labourer} - Married John McDonald a weaver
Witnesses were James Skillin and Martha Walsh @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Grace - 11th. July 1889 - {Father Halliday Welsh a soldier} - Married George Rooston
Witnesses were Joseph Ingram and Elizabeth Rooston @ 1st.Presbyterian

Welsh, Sarah of Ballybarnes - 1900 aged 20 - {Father David Welsh a labourer} - Married William John Cairns

Walsh, William labourer and a widower - 17th. October 1908 - {Father William Walsh a labourer} - Married Margaret McGreechan @ 1st.Presbyterian
Witnesses were John McGreechan and Harriet Anderson

Walsh, Minnie Mary a hemstitcher of Bowtown Townland - 24th. November 1919 - {Father Harry Walsh a labourer} - Married Thomas McCullough @ Ballygilbert

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Walsh, Thomas - 25th. July 1756 - A methodist preacher visited the town but was attacked by a drunken mob and spent the night in fields around Scrabo

Walsh, John - 1810 - Subscribed to a book of poetry by Andrew McKenzie

Walsh, John - Saturday 12th. January 1811 - A passenger aboard the Harvey Hide arrived in New York from Belfast

Welsh, Louisa - Saturday 12th. January 1811 - A passenger aboard the Harvey Hide arrived in New York from Belfast

Walsh, Hugh - 1863~1868 - At 5c Ballyreagh - Leased a house from Thomas Montgomery

Walsh, William - 1863~1900 - Leased a house and yard at 146c Corporation South from William Colville

Welch, Mr.D. - 2nd. January 1875 - Held and exhibition of photography

Walsh, Stewart - 1876 - Leased a house and garden at 12ab Scrabo from William Miller

1901 Census - Residents of a house 22 in Church Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
Walsh	John	57	c1844	Male	Head	Ch.of Ire.	Co.Down	Labourer	Married
Walsh	Margaret	49	c1852	Female	Wife	Ch.of Ire.	Co.Down	Seamstress	Married

1901 Census - Residents of a house 12 in Curry's Street (Newtownards Urban, Down) *

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
Welch	David	57	c1844	Male	Head	Presbeterian	Co.Down	Agri.Labour Unemployed	Widower
Welch	Susan	17	*1884	Female	Daughter	Presbyterian	Newtownards	Wool Weaver	Single
Welch	William	13	*1888	Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single
McDonald	Martha	5		Female	Gr.Daughter	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single

1901 Census Residents of a house 7 in (Great) Francis Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
McMillan	William John	34		Male	Head	Ch.of Ire.	Co Donegal	Solicitor	Single
McMillan	Mary Jane	64		Female	Mother	Ch.of Ire.	Co Donegal	-	Widow
Hay	Margaret	70		Female	Aunt	Ch.of Ire.	Co Donegal	-	Single
Walsh	Mary	26	c1875	Female	Servant	R.C.	Co.Down	Domestic	Single

1901 Census - Residents of a house 78 in Mark Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
Walsh	Elizabeth	59	c1842	Female	Head	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Seamstress	Widow

1901 Census - Residents of a house 82 in Movilla Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status
Walsh	Jane	37	c1864	Female	Head	Ch.of-Ire.	Co.Down	Sewer	Widow
Walsh	Minnie	10	c1891	Female	Daughter	Ch.of-Ire.	Co.Down	Scholar	Single
Brady	John	32		Male	Boarder	Ch.of-Ire.	Co.Down	Flax-Scutcher	Single
Weir	David	8		Male	Son	Ch.of-Ire.	Co.Down	Scholar	Single
Brady	James	2		Male	Son	Ch.of-Ire.	Co.Down	-	Single

Walsh, William - 1905 aged 32 - Born Newtownards c.1873 - Imprisoned at Mountjoy, Dublin

1911 Census - Residents of a house 11 in Bootown (Newtownards North, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Plunkett	William	47		Male	Head	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Agri.Labourer	Married	-	-	-
Plunkett	Mary	42		Female	Wife	Presbyterian	Co.Down	-	Married	8	3	3
Plunkett	David John	6		Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single	-	-	-
Plunkett	William James	4		Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single	-	-	-
Plunkett	Robert			Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	-	Single	-	-	-
Walsh	Mary	22	c1889	Female	Niece	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Punch-Stitcher	Single	-	-	-

1911 Census - Residents of a house 7 in Ford Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Walsh	William	38	c1873	Male	Head	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Labourer	Married	-	-	-
Walsh	Maggie	28	c1883	Female	Wife	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Sewer	Married	3	2	2
Walsh	William	9	c1902	Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single	-	-	-
Walsh	Henry	5	c1906	Male	Son	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Scholar	Single	-	-	-
Walsh	Agness	3	c1908	Female	Daughter	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Infant	Single	-	-	-
Walsh	Maggie	1	c1900	Female	Daughter	Presbyterian	Co.Down	Infant	Single	-	-	-

1911 Census - Residents of a house 78 in Mark Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Welsh	Eliza	72	Female	Head	Presbyterian	Down	Embroiderer	Widow	-	6	3

1911 Census - Residents of a house 1 in Marquis Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Welsh	John	28	Male	Head	R.C.	Scotland	Labourer	Married	-	-	-
Welsh	Ellen	21	Female	Wife	R.C.	Co.Down	-	Married		-	-
Torney	Mary	21	Female	Boarder	R.C.	Co.Down	Dressmaker	Single	-	-	-

1911 Census - Residents of a house 48 in Movilla Street (Newtownards Urban, Down)

Surname	Forename	Age	Born	Sex	Relation to head	Religion	Birthplace	Occupation	Marital Status	Years Married	Children Born	Children Living
Walsh	Jane	44	c1867	Female	Head	Ch.of Ire.	Co.Down	Embroider	Married	22	4	4
Walsh	Mary	22	c1889	Female	Daughter	Ch.of Ire.	-	Mill Worker	Single	-	-	-
Walsh	David	18	c1893	Male	Son	Ch.of Ire.	-	Mill Worker	Single	-	-	-
Brady	James	11		Male	Son	Ch.of Ire.	-	School	Single	-	-	-
Brady	Rebecca	8		Female	Daughter	Ch.of Ire.	-	School	Single	-	-	-

Welsh, Mary - 6th. May 1912 aged 70 years - (Father Thomas Welsh) - (Mother Agnes Welsh) - Applied for a pension

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1967 L-R Derek Graham - Myself - Margaret McKeown later to become Mrs. Muir - Tommy "Tucker" McMillan and is it Jimmy Walsh
Many thanks to Jonathan Coates for advising that the event was we five opening of a new youth club "Music" if i remember that we had organised in the Young Farmers Hall Victoria Avenue
Pic added 4th. January 2013
I count myself very lucky, above is an image of just a few of my friends, sadly some are
no longer with us.

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The Town and Country Inn 1973
L-R = Dorrian Higgins - His Mother Mary Higgins - Billy Walsh - Anna Higgins and Mary Kirk
Pic courtesy of Bill Kirk

For Internal Use - � Derek Beattie

Census	LDS	T/Land	Trans	Emig.