Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland

The home of our American Ancestors

Killyleagh, situated on the western shore of Strangford Lough, is an ancient village in County Down. Only a short distance across the Irish Sea from southwest Scotland, it's history stretches back some eight centuries. It actually began in the time of the Vikings and in about the year 1606 began to see a migration influx of Ulster-Scots from the lowlands of Scotland who populated the area.

The McBrayers/McBrairs of the Dumfries area of southwest Scotland were loyal to King James I, and as such were probably some of the first to be resettled here when the lands were confiscated from the rebellious Irish. We know that some of them were followers of Joh Knox - Protestants - and that those who were resituated were mostly Presbyterians. 

They continued to live here, possibly farming and fishing in the lough, until sometime in about 1730-1735 when some of the sons of Alexander McBrear decided to seek a better life for themselves and their families and migrated to America. Just what imposed the decision is not known at this time, but it is known that many of the Scotsmen of the area were trying to escape the turmoil of the times dictated by the Irish who resented the royalty of England giving their land to these Scotsmen.

(a continuing work)