Maria McClements

The next owner of 47/49 Railway Street was Maria Caroline Clements, who purchased it at auction on 3rd June 1919.

She was born in 1878; the 1901 census records her as a seamstress, living in Killybodagh. In July 1913, aged 35, she married George Joseph McClements who at about that time ran The Cyclist’s Bar in Church Street, previously owned by Henry Searight.

George enlisted in the army during World War I, on 14th May 1915, at Antrim,  and was posted to 150th Field Corps as a Sapper. His enlistment documents show that at the time he was a carpenter and had previously served in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish (Rifles? Rangers?) but had purchased his discharge. His WWI discharge form in 1918 states that he wished to become a farmer.

What follows is somewhat strange.

The 1934 conveyance to Henry Clarke ‘recites’ the provenance of previous owners prior to John Kelly Ltd.

  • The conveyance to Maria McClements is dated 4th July 1919, a full month after the sale. This is not surprising as it would have taken time to finalise the legal formalities, pay the agreed price etc. But ….
  • … just a further month after the formal completion of the sale, there is another formal conveyance, from Maria McClements to John Kelly, coal merchants of Newry!

Why would Maria McClements dispose of the property so soon afterwards? Was she approached by Kellys with an offer far in excess of what she had paid for it? Why had she bought it in the first place – did she plan to live there? Was the auction rigged between Maria and Kellys? Why did Maria herself buy it, rather than her husband George? I have absolutely no clue!

1n 1923, George and Maria McClements and their three children – Richard (7), Doreen (3) and Muriel (2) – emigrated to Australia. On 18th December they boarded the SS Esperance Bay at the Port of London, bound for Sydney. George’s occupation is recorded as ‘farmer’.