Chapter Four

Descendants of Rev. Andrew Breakey of Killyleagh

1.         Anna Breakey was born in Killyleagh, County Down, circa 182622 to   Andrew Breakey and Jane Leslie Breakey.  She married, in Ireland, during the year 1853 (Marriage Licence Bond # 290) Robert Sayers, born circa 1827, in Fethard, County Tipperary, son of Henry Sayers and Joanne Ryall.  Robert and Anna (Breakey) Sayers had six children:

i.     Henry Sayers born circa 1855 in Tittleshall, Norfolk

ii.    Jane Caroline Sayers born circa 1857 in Tittleshall, Norfolk

iii.   Anna Katharine Sayers born circa 1858 in Tittleshall, Norfolk

iv.   Edith Sayers born circa 1859 in Tittleshall, Norfolk

v.    Gertrude Elizabeth Sayers born circa 1861 in Tittleshall, Norfolk

vi.   Andrew E. Pester Sayers born circa1869 in Northrepps, Norfolk23

Rev. Robert Sayers was educated at Trinity College, Dublin:  BA in 1851; appointed a Deacon in 1852, and ordained a Priest in 1853, both by the Bishop of Chester; curate of Tittleshall & Oxwick, Norfolk [Crockford’s Clerical Directory – 1860]  (Neil Hamilton-Smith to author, 5 October 1990).

At some point, following their marriage, Robert and Anna migrated to England. In 1861 Rev. Robert Sayers and his wife lived in Tittleshall, Norfolk, and, based upon the birth places of their children as noted in census records, apparently had done so since 1854/5 At the time of the 1861 census, Robert Sayers’ occupation is listed as ‘curate.’ In the British Census of 1881, Robert Sayers’ occupation is listed as ‘Rector of Roughton B A F C B.24  Further shown in that census is son Andrew E. Pester Sayers, age 12, born Northrepps, Norfolk.

2.         Isaiah Breakey was born in   1827 (Nesbitt, 107) to Andrew Breakey and Jane Leslie Breakey.   He “studied   at Trinity College, Dublin and Assembly’s College, Belfast, gaining the General Certificate in 1846, and being licensed   by the Comber Presbytery   on 17 July 1849 before his ordination in Fethard in 1851” (op. cit).  He married 20 October 1852 (in the Presbyterian Church, Rev. James Breakey, Carryduff officiating) Margaret Ferris, second daughter of the Rev. Robert Ferris (Belfast News-Letter, 1852).   Rev. Isaiah Breakey died of smallpox   on 2 December 1853 (Nesbit, 107).  Margaret Ferris (Chapman) Breakey immigrated to Canada and was married 23 August 1859 at St. Catharine’s in Ottawa [known as the village of Bytown from its incorporation in 1827 until 1855 when it became the city of Ottawa] to James McCaughey (Barr).

3.         Samuel Leslie Breakey (Brakey) was born in County Armagh circa 1830 (Nesbitt, 107) to Andrew Breakey and Jane Leslie Breakey.    He attended Trinity College at Dublin graduating   BA in 1851 and MA in 1856 [altered his name to Brakey] (Burtchaeli & Sadleir, 94).  He “was ordained a   priest of the Established Church25 in 1859.  He served in different   parishes and as Clogher Diocesan Financial Secretary for 30 years” (Nesbitt, 107). Rev. Brakey married Frances Maude, daughter of Captain John Crowe in 1869.  By virtue of   his father’s will he was the recipient of the farm in Keady, County Armagh.  He died in 1902 at the age of 72 (op. cit), and the value of his Disestablishment Annuity was reported at [pounds] 431.2.9 (op. cit.).

With the exception of his literary pursuits, to date little has been recorded for posterity of Rev. Samuel Leslie Breakey (Brakey).  In 1861 he penned “A Few Words About Sermons” for The Cornhill Magazine, 3 [1861: 544-52], (Ellison), a literary magazine whose editor was William Makepeace Thackeray during the years 1860 – 1862, and in which such authors   as Thackeray, Anthony Trollope, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot and Wilkie   Collins penned articles pertaining to science, technology and medicine (Dawson). In 1863 Rev. Breakey (Brakey) penned an essay relevant to the game of chess for   Cornhill Magazine, 7   [1863: 589-600]: 26

After noting that there are two distinct categories of chess player, observes that ‘it would be amusing to watch the collision where genius is pitted against science over a chessboard.  On this field genius is sure to get the worst of it.  […]  Science rather enjoys a wild-beast struggle like this, and sometimes lets the animal loose on purpose to torture him again, and see him plunge and tear. All this time science may be, originally, the less noble beast of the two.  But the arms, the “appliances and means” she has provided, more than make up the difference’ (591).   The two faculties necessary to be successful at chess – dept and breadth – ‘differ as the mathematician differs from the man of the world.   The mathematician reasons more patiently and more profoundly.  But he reason along a straight line, and sometimes forgets to take in all the facts when setting up his premises.  A mathematician, therefore, is not always a safe man of   business’  (594).  Asserts that ‘Man is a fighting animal.  The element of war is in his blood and being there it must come forth and show itself – somewhere’ (596).  The competitiveness of chess, however, is a ‘safety-valve for the spirit of war’ (597).  It is a ‘curious fact that ladies can never learn chess.  But the reason is plain enough.  It is an art of war, and nature intended them to shine in arts of peace.  For this particular recreation, therefore, they are incapacitated by natural constitution.  In common life instinct serves them instead of logic’ (598).  Also notes that ‘the Zulu mind’ is a mind arithmetically disposed’ (590) (Chess).

It is unknown when Samuel Leslie Breakey altered his surname to Brakey.

4.         Elizabeth Breakey was born circa 1832 to Rev. Andrew Breakey and Jane Leslie Breakey.  On 13 January 1857 Elizabeth, second daughter of Andrew Breakey   (Belfast Newsletter, 1857), was   married in the First Presbyterian Church, Killyleagh, her father officiating, to widower   Rev. Samuel Hamilton of Saintfield. Samuel Hamilton27, born circa 1812, the son of a farmer, didn’t attend “Old College, Belfast, until 1844 and was licensed in 1845” (Pearson to author, 18 April 2005).  Rev. Hamilton was appointed one of the Executors for the will of Rev. Andrew Breakey of Killyleagh.

Elizabeth Breakey Hamilton died 8 July 1882; Rev. Samuel Hamilton died 22 February 1892 (Rosalind Davies to author, 8 April 2005).

Elizabeth Breakey (Hamilton) and Samuel Hamilton had five children.  [Author’s note:  unless otherwise noted, the following information was provided the author by Gene Pearson (18 April 2005):

     i.  Andrew Breakey Hamilton born 22 December 1857; MA (QUI) 1879;

LL.B. (RUI) 1884 (Pearson); for fourteen years Minister of the First Presbyterian Church, Banbridge (Davies to author, 8 April 2005); died 31 July 1905; married Annie (surname unknown) who died 6 October 1917 (Davies to author, 8 April 2005).

ii.  Jane Lesley Hamilton born 28 February 1859 married Rev George Raphael Moore (friend and executor for the will of Rev. Andrew Breakey); Pearson reports, “She came to see us when I was about 6 years old and brought me a doll.  She was about 6 feet tall and quite frightening to me.  They had lived in India at one time, but I don’t know when”.

iii. Elizabeth Hamilton born 20 February 1861; died 19 July 1873 (Rosalind Davies to author, 8 April 2005)

iv.  Walter Moffett Hamilton born 2 June 1863 Saintfield, County Down married 23 September 1896 to Florence Hardy at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Ashton-on-Mersey.  Walter Moffett Hamilton was a medical practitioner; died 6 February 1921. Florence Hardy (Moffet) and Walter Moffet   Hamilton had two children:

a.   Florence Mary Hamilton born 25 May 1896

b.  Ian Moffet Hamilton born 13 December 1901, married 27 June 1923      Phyllis Shaw.  They had issue: Alan Moffet born 14 December 1923, died 3 December 1941; Gene Lesley born 6 November 1925.

[Author’s note:  Pearson reports that the surname Moffet is as stated on Walter and Ian’s birth certificates, although at times the surname is spelled Moffat (Pearson to author, 18 April 2005).28 ]

v.  Caroline Hamilton born 15 August 1868 married Rev. W. Harry Morrow 8 April 1881; died 1960. Pearson reports,  “She came to visit us once not long before I was married and brought a beautiful embroidered cloth that she had made which I still have.  Very different from Jane, she was only about 5 feet tall.”