Early Life

We know from documents relating to his marriage and death, that Peter was born around 1888 and that his father was also named Peter and was a farmer.

If we have identified the correct birth cert (see Documents) then he was actually born on the 25th of July, 1888, and his parents were Peter and Mary McCullagh. He was born in a place called Tattykeel in the district of Omagh in Co Tyrone. Tattykeel is about 4.5 miles outside Omagh town.

Information from our cousin Mary Clare indicates that his parents were married on the 14th of June, 1871 in Gortin, Co Tyrone, and that his mother's maiden name was Morris

1901 Census

The 1901 census tells us that the family had moved to "house 31 in Binnafreaghan (Fallagh, Tyrone)".

Fallagh Road is about 16.5 miles from Tattykeel Road.

The people who were in the house on census day were Peter and Mary Ellen, and six children: Mick, Mary, Peter, Patrick, Bridget and Joseph.

The children ranged in age from 24 to 10. Peter's age is given as 17 although by our calculations he would not have turned 13 yet.

The whole family could speak Irish and English and they could all read and write except for the father.

1911 Census

In the census of 1911, the people who were present in the family home were Peter and three children: Mary, Patrick and Brigid. If they are in the same house, then it is now given as "house 3 in Binnafreaghan (Fallagh, Tyrone)"

Peter was staying in a lodging house in Ballymoney Co Antrim at the time of the census. His occupation was given as "Tea Traveller". Our cousin, Mary Clare, tells us that he was working for a tea merchant named Devine.

Married Life

Peter married Mary Ellen McCorry on 30th of August 1923. Peter would have been 35 and Mary Ellen 27.

Mary Ellen was from Correvan in the district of Holywell in Co Cavan, about 7 km outside Blacklion. They married in her local church, in Killenagh

They had five children. The names are given as following in his will: James Joseph, Peter Aloysius, Terence Patrick, Margaret Mary, Monica. Within the family they were known as J.J., P.A, Terry, Margaret and Mona

At some point in their marriage, they moved to Duncrun which is about 7.5 miles from Limavady and about 11 miles from Downhill

Mary Ellen's occupation was given as National Teacher when she got married and she was the school teacher in the local school in Duncrun. We think she taught all of her children. She continued to teach after his husband's death although we understand that they sold the shop.

Working Life

Peter's occupation in 1091 is given as "Scholar". In 1911 he was a "Tea Traveller". When he got married in 1923, it was given as "Shop Assistant"

After his death in 1935, his occupation from the probate document gives his occupation as "Farmer and Merchant"

Our understanding is that he had a shop at the time of his death

Passing

Peter was killed in a tragic accident in 1935 at the age of just 46.

The story we have been told is that Peter fell from his cart while making a delivery and was impaled on the spikes of a railing.

All we know from the documents which are available is that he made his will on the 14th of November 1934, and that he died five days later on the 19th in Belfast

He was buried w in the cemetery of St Aidan's Church, a short distance from his home

His wife was buried in the same grave in 1974. Their children Terry and Margaret were subsequently buried in the same cemetery