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McIntyre, William 1858-1927

Summary

William McIntyre (c. 1858 – 1927) was an Irish farmer and family man from Culdaff, Inishowen, County Donegal. He married Elizabeth McEldowney in 1887 and raised six children on the family farm. His life spanned a period of profound change in Ireland, including the Great Famine’s aftermath, the rise of Irish nationalism, and the partition that created Northern Ireland. William died in Belfast in 1927 from a brain tumour, preferring to die “in his senses,” and was buried back in Culdaff.

Early Life (1858 – 1887)

  • Birth: William McIntyre was born around 1858 in Culdaff, Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland.
  • Family: His parents were Robert McIntyre (1813‑1907) and Catherine Ann Moran (1829‑1872). He had at least four siblings: Frances A., Andrew (1855‑1938), Elizabeth, and an unnamed sibling.
  • Historical Context: William’s childhood occurred during the recovery period following the Great Famine (1845‑1852). Rural Donegal remained largely agrarian, with many families working small plots of land under the landlord system. Nationalist sentiment was growing in the 1870s, setting the stage for later political developments.

Marriage and Early Family (1887 – 1900)

  • Marriage: On 13 June 1887, William married Elizabeth McEldowney (1856‑1932).
  • Children: Together they had six children:
  • Francis Moran McIntyre (1888‑1964)
  • Harriet Elizabeth McIntyre (1889‑1967)
  • Robert Alexander McIntyre (1891‑1969)
  • Catherine Ann McIntyre (1893‑1972)
  • Andrew Frederick McIntyre (1895‑1909)

  • Violet Winifred McIntyre (1897‑1983)

  • Historical Context: The 1880s and 1890s were marked by the Land War in Ireland, with tenant farmers demanding fair rents and land ownership. In Donegal, many families sought to secure their livelihoods through farming and local trade.

Life as a Farmer (1901 – 1926)

  • Residence in 1901: On 31 March 1901, William was listed as the head of his household at age 43 in Culdaff.
  • Residence in 1911: By 2 April 1911, at age 54, he remained head of household, now living in Glackadrumman, Donegal.
  • Farm Details (1926): On 18 April 1926, he was recorded as head of household and farmer owning 97 statute acres in Glackadrumman, Culdaff.
  • Historical Context: William’s farming career unfolded during a period of significant change. The early 20th century saw the decline of the landlord system, the rise of Irish Home Rule debates, and the impact of World I (1914‑1918) on agricultural production. The 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty created Northern Ireland, placing Donegal within the Irish Free State while nearby Belfast became part of the United Kingdom. This partition influenced trade, land ownership, and political affiliations in the region.

Later Years and Death (1927)

  • Death: William McIntyre died in September 1927 in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. He succumbed to a brain tumour and reportedly refused all drugs, stating “I want to die in my senses.”

  • Burial: He was buried on 18 October 1927 in Culdaff, Inishowen, County Donegal.

  • Historical Context: His death occurred during the early years of the Irish Free State, a time when many rural families were adjusting to new political boundaries and economic realities. Belfast’s status as a major industrial city contrasted with the agrarian lifestyle of William’s homeland.

Legacy

William McIntyre exemplifies a generation of Irish farmers who navigated the transition from a predominantly landlord-based rural economy to an independent national structure. His family’s continuity—six children who survived into the mid‑20th century—reflects both personal resilience and the broader societal shifts of early 20th‑century Ireland.