Of Prices Arms

Still another son of James of Tullywest was John who raised on the farm, lived a large part of his earlier and middle life in Saintfield as propietor of the "Prices Arms", a hotel which then was, as it is even yet, the largest and best public house in that section. While living there John McKee was an active Free Mason- at one time Master of Saintfield Lodge- and of convivial habits, as his son James, late in life, declared that certain resolutions, including one against secret societies, dated back to his early experience of his fathers condition when he returned from the lodge. It may be mentioned as illustrative of John McKee's force of character, that he gave up the hotel, resumed his farm life, and cut himself off entirely from all undesirable associates and habits belonging to his hotel life, scarcely ever going down to the village though only about a mile distant. After his return to the farm he had stated, perhaps annual, dinners for his descendants, and these reunion dinners were part of the recollections of his grandchildren to their latest days.

He was twice married. His first family consisted of James, Lucretia (Mrs Scott), Betty (Mrs. Gibson), Mary (Mrs Thompson), and several other daughters. Of the second family nothing is known, tradition says it consisted of seven daughters.