Person:William Marks (7)

The market town of Magherafelt is situated halfway between Belfast and the City of Londonderry. It is close to Lough Neagh (the largest inland lake in the British Isles) and the beautiful Sperrin Mountains. Tithe Applotment books of N. Ireland list Wm. Marks as landowner in Magherafelt Magherafelt is in Barony of Loughinsholin and parish of Magherafelt.

brother is buried at Woods Chapel Ballyronan.

1766 Religious census of Ireland shows William Marks, religion dissenter ;Parish Magherafelt; diocese of Armaugh.  Other Marks in the 1766 census were in Co. Lough and named James, John, and Walsh.

County history for Ann Jane Marks's husband in Cherokee CO Iowa says Ann Jane's parents were William and Ann Marks. This is further suggested in a letter from a descendant of this family. Ann may have been a stepmother or Jane Scott's middle name.

There is a marriage record for a William Marks and Jane Scott who were married on October 18, 1819 at the Castledawson Presbyterian Church. Castledawson is right outside of Magherafelt.

Could be the Wm. Marks listed on freeholder list living. in Tandragee as 11 Aug 1817.

This line from William back is somewhat speculative and needs further proof.

A letter in the 1950's was written by Robert Marks of Belfast. In it he reported the family history. All of this information needs documentation to be verified. He said: ""I am the only surviving one of my father's family at age 68. I was born in Ballyronan near Magherafelt Co. Londonderry. My father was William Marks (b.1832). My grandfather was John Marks. He had brothers and sisters. William Marks had a tavern in Magherafelt. Robert Marks had one in Ballyronan. My grandfather was a contractor and had one in Ballyronan. Sisters Ann and Jane also in Grandfathers family. Mary and Jane they went abroad USA about 1845. Ellen also went to USA. Annie also. Uncle John went to Australia. James to America. Robert to Scotland. My father William remained in Ballyronan. So you see they all went abroad. My father’s brothers is all deceased. I have relations in Australia but I never hear from them. Some of them was in the Australian cabinet. My father often told me of Marks coming with Cromwell and settling down in this country. But regarding the William Marks who was married to Scott I could not be sure if he was the said uncle of my father."

Below is the family tree (some details left out for now.): Gen. 1: Godfrey Mark came from Normandy France to Suffolk England.

Gen. 2: MYles Mark --officer under Cromwell; moved to Waterford Ireland 1652. (note all further generations are descendants of Myles Mark John Mark --married Elizabeth Hastings and settled in colonial Virginia.

Gen 3: James Mark - b. 1684 had sons Patrick and John. Patrick’s son Thomas Edward was a wealthy merchant interested in business with the Cunard Ocean liner family. He was appointed by Queen Victoria as the Colonial Secretary of New FOundland. He married Helen Kennedy. John, son of JAmes b. 1740. He married a Moody, descended from an old Scottish conventer family.

gen.5-- children of John Mark and ---Moody: were John, William, Robert, Ann, Jane

gen 6 John Mark -- lvd. Ballyronan and worked as a contractor. Son John went to AUstralia, James to America, Robert to Scotland, William stayed in Ballyronan.

William Mark-- b. ca 1795. Married first to Jane Scott and married again. Children from both marriages. Daughters from first marriage. Children from second marriage however are unnamed.

Robert Mark -- (is referred to as the son of William) . This Robert is probably the author of the letter. Robert was a minister in Belfast and had children: William, Robert, Rachel, James, Edmund, George, and Hugh.