Hi Everyone, As part of my one name study into the *Lees* surname in Cos. Tyrone, Londonderry and Antrim, I came across *Matthew Lees*, a Co. Tyrone native of Artrea. *Matthew *was one of 24 survivors out of the 244 people on-board the ship Pomona which sank off Co. Wexford in 1859 after setting sail from Liverpool towards the destination of New York. Only three of the survivors were passengers, the rest were ship crew. There are several accounts of the disaster outlined in newspapers of the time. I have not fully transcribed them, as they are quite long, but I have abstracted the information related to *Matthew Lees*.
*Matthew Lees *is quoted as stating that he formerly lived at Stewartstown, being by trade a flax scutcher. He is mentioned as having a sister residing in New York, who had sent for him to go there. This is likely the Jane Lees who died in Brookyln 1883, see her burial record on Findagrave <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181655985/jane-lees>. *Matthew* went to Liverpool with his wife, his mother, and two children, aged two years and ten months respectively ; he took passages for the whole of them at Tapscott’s offices in Liverpool, and went on board the Pomona one day before sailing. From the ship's passenger list, we can identify his family: - *Rachel Lees* 50 - *Matthew Lees* 30 (saved) - *Catherine Lees* 22 - *Rachel Lees* 2 - *William John Lees* infant After the disaster, *Matthew* stated he was going back to Co. Tyrone, but thought he would still try to get to New York. Aside from the disaster, I have tried to piece together more of *Matthew*'s history, which I will attempt to summarise. *Matthew Lees* was baptized 9 Oct 1831 at Artrea Church of Ireland, the son of *Randall Lees* (alias *Ronald*, *Reynolds* or *Reynold*) and *Rachel Hogg*. The couple resided in Tullyveagh townland and are likely related to the *Lees* families from the neighbouring townland of Tullyraw. At some point before marriage, *Matthew* moved to Donaghenry parish, Stewartstown, as on 13 Jan 1857 *Matthew Lays*, Labourer, son of *Randall Lays*, in Ardpatrick, Donaghenry, married *Catherine Casey*, daughter of *Peter Casey* in Stewartstown, both Single, Married Donaghenry Parish Church before witnesses *James Barkley* and* Robert Hogg*. *Matthew Lees* is likely the tenant appearing in 1859 on Griffith’s in the townland of Galvally, or Stevenson’s Dowery, Town of Stewartstown, Back row; *No. 27, Matthew Lees, tenant of a House and yard with an annual value of £1″0″0 owned by John Little.* *Matthew* appears as tenant until 1891 when he is replaced by a *Patrick O’Neil* *Matthew* does not appear to have stayed In Ireland for very long however before again heading to New York. I cannot yet confirm it with 100% certainty, but he appears to be the *Matthew James Lees*, b. abt 1830-3 Ireland who married *Elizabeth Beresford* and lived in New York on the 1860 and 1870 census. The couple married around 1860, were also Episcopal and had several children there including a daughter called *Rachel*, matching his mother's name. This *Matthew* appears variously as *Lees* or *Lee* and was buried 9 Aug 1891 at the Episcopal Chapel of Zion and St Timothy in New York. This matches with the year that *Matthew *was replaced on the valuation revision books in Ireland. Interesting that he held on to the lease although he was on the other side of the ocean I have traced a lot more on other *Lees* families from Artrea including *Matthew*'s parents and siblings, and have posted much of my research on my website http://ulsterlees.azurewebsites.net/families/co-tyrone/artrea/ <http://ulsterlees.azurewebsites.net/families/co-tyrone/artrea/> I <http://ulsterlees.azurewebsites.net/families/co-tyrone/artrea/> hope people find this of interest. Kind regards, Tunji Lees _______________________________________________ CoTyroneList Mailing List Mailing List Email Address: [email protected] Change Your Preferences: http://cotyroneireland.com/mailman/listinfo/cotyronelist_cotyroneireland.com Mailing List Archive: https://goo.gl/mQCKrY
