The Smiths of Strabane -
early history - to late 18th Century

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My Smith family in Strabane - see previous page for ancestors in Cavandoragh, Ardstraw

Thomas Smith - woollen draper of Strabane. and elected Town Commissioner on 29 October 1828 was married to Margaret Ann McClelland daughter of Alexander a farmer. He was shown as draper there as early as 1824. Thomas died in 1860 and is buried in Camus graveyard.

The Will of Alexander M'Clelland late of Strabane Co Tyrone Woollen Draper deceased who died 15 February 1876 at same place was proved at Londonderry by the oaths of Hugh Hamilton of 35 Anne-street Belfast Auctioneer and John Honeyford of Strabane Butter Merchant the Executors. Effects under Ł1,500

Margaret Ann McClelland (widow of Thomas Smith) married John Honeyford 1825 -1898 in the Wesleyan Chapel, Strabane in 1861. On their marriage she was described as a draper and a widow and he was a merchant .

Strabane Methodist Church

He was the son of Benjamin and Abigail Honeyford and after Margaret Ann died - in 1877 - he married
Mary ? - who died in 1906

The Will of John Honeyford late of Strabane Co Tyrone Provision Merchant who died 2 February 1899 at same place was granted at Londonderry to Christopher Thompson Commission Agent and Robert J. Smith Merchant (nephew of his wife's 1st husband) - both of Strabane Effects under Ł1,500

John's sister Frances married Thomas Sweeney in 1846 - from Sweeney and Co; Egg and Butter Merchants, Strabane They had a son Thomas who married Martha Jane (Meta) Deane.

6 known children of Thomas and Meta included Irene who married Robert Smith Ballybogan farmer and son of RJ Smith

Smith / Honeyford / Sweeney graves in Strabane graveyard in parish of Camus
Smith grave	Honeyford grave	Sweeney grave

Smiths/Smyths were also living in Gallany townland of Urney parish.

2 brothers John1764-1812 and Robert 1766-1817 Smyth born at Gallany were Merchant partners in Strabane and are buried in Urney graveyard

John married Annie 1776-1838 and she and 10 of their young children (not named) are also buried in same grave.

Another grave has David Smyth 1798-1867 born Artigarvan townland of Leckpatrick parish and his wife Elizabeth Mease who died 1865 and their 2 sons John Robert 1842-1959 and William Fleming Mease 1846-1915.

Smyths of Gallany buried in Urney graveyard

Tithe Applotment Books 1828

Parish of Camus, Townland of own Parks of Strabane

David Smyth, Mrs Mease

Griffiths Valuation 1857

Parish of Camus, Townland of own Parks of Strabane

David Smyth, William Smyth, Margaret A Smith, John Smyth

Parish of Urney, Townland of Gallany

David Smyth

Some Smith Strabane records:-

Protestant Dissenters Strabane 1775

2 James Smiths

1824 Pigots Directory OF Strabane Co Tyrone

Smith David, Main Street Merchant & Tobacco Manufacturers
Smith Thomas, Main Street Woollen Drapers
Smyth Robert, Bridge-End Street Linen Yarn Merchants

Database of Town Commissioners in Ireland, 1828-43

Smith Thomas Woollen draper Strabane Tyrone - Elected 29 October 1828

1839 Trade Directory for Strabane, Co. Tyrone

Smith Thomas, Main Street Caledonian Fire and Life & Haberdashers, Linen, And Woollen Drapers

Smith David Cross House Merchant & Tobacco Manufacturers

Another interesting record is the baptism of Ann Franklin Smith, the daughter of James and Jane A Smith on 26/11/1878 at Cavandoragh Church Ardstraw. The parents were residents of Strabane. This further links the Cavandoragh Smiths and the Strabane Smiths

Castlederg 1920s There were 3 main egg merchants, Hughes Bros at High St; Graceys at Ferguson Crescent and Hunnifords who had premises on the ground floor below the Courthouse in the Diamond

A likely connection of Elizabeth Mease Smyth, wife of David Smyth

John Mease 1740-1826 was born in Strabane, County Tyrone and emigrated to America. He became a prosperous merchant in Philadelphia. He joined the revolutionary army and crossed the Delaware with Washington. It is said that he subscribed a large sum of money towards army supplies in 1780 and suffered much personal loss. He was made Admiralty-Surveyor of Philadelphia where he died

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