RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: mmjones on Monday 09 October 06 01:22 BST (UK)
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Hello,
My Irish ancestors are from Ballymena, Antrim and Ballymoney, Antrim. Can someone who is familiar with the area please explain to me where these two places are in relation to one another? I have so far found Ballymoney on genuki maps but not where Ballymena is. Thanks.
Regards,
Lynnwin
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Hi Lynnwin:
Here is map showing both.
http://www.antrimtourist.com/towns/ballymena/
Pat
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Hiya Lynnwin,
When were your ancestors in Ballymena?
I looked in the 1852 Directory of Belfast and the Province of Ulster.
The Directory only shows merchants and traders. It does not show residents.
There were no Wallaces or McGarrys shown but three Smiths and three Taylors.
The Misses Smith, haberdashers, Bridge Street
John Smith, publican, Bridge Street
Robert Smith, publican, Wellington Street
Archibald Taylor, grocer, wine and spirit merchant, Mill Street
James Taylor, grocery, bakery, wine and spirit stores, Church Street
William Taylor, cloth merchant, Church Street.
All the Best, Chris
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Thanks Pat :D
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Hi Christpher :)
I don't know how long before the McGarry family lived in Antrim but they apparently had flax fields and a Linen
Bleach-Green business in Ballymena from about 1800 to 1875 when they sold the business and moved to Canada. Isaac Taylor was John's father-in-law. I don't know what his occupation was. I think I may have found a reference to them both on Griffiths Valuation on Town Head & High Street in Ballymena.
Lynn
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There was bleaching done in Knockboy Townland, Parish of Skerry. In Griffiths 1861-62 there are James, Hugh, John McGarry all living in Knockboy. This isn't far from Ballymena. Rosemary
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Hiya
Ballymena is close to Antrim, Ahoghill and Galgorm. Where abouts in Ballymena are you looking for?, I rememeber when when i was young my brother going to school (Ballymena is where i am from) with a boy whos surname was McGarry. Good Luckk ;D
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I have lots of McGarry Records - collating my research at the moment - mainly from Antrim town and Crumlin area of Northern ireland.
Fiona
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Hi Cazz033,
I don't know where the McGarry's lived in Ballymena but I suppose it might have been close to their church Finvoy Presbyterian. Is that near where you and your brother would have gone to school?
Lynn
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Hi Fiona,
Other than knowing that the McGarry's lived in or near Ballymena, worked in linens manufacturing and attended Finvoy Presbyterian Church I have very little other information about them or their extended family. Since there are few records online and since I live in the USA I seem unable to gather much more information about them, unfortunately. Does anything about my McGarry's ring a bell with you? I wish I knew more. Can you suggest any avenues that I can try that you have had success with?
Regards,
Lynn
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Hi Lynn,
Finvoy is around 30 mins away from Ballymena (15 miles) near a place called Rasharkin
The McGarrys that went to school with my elder brother lived in a placed called Ballee, which is just as you enter Ballymena from the Antrim side.
Hope this helps?
caroline ;)
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Finvoy Presbyterian Church between Ballymoney (not Ballymena) and Rasharkin. Have Survey of Graveyard and no McGarry headstone appears there.
Suggest checking Ballymoneyancestry website to search records there and to post a message.
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Hi aghadowey,
I am very surprised that there are no McGarry's buried at Finvoy. Do you know if there is a Presbyterian Church in Ballymena with a very similar name like Finvoy? Could the name be Finloy instead?
Lynn
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Hello again aghadowey,
I have had another look through my records and figured out (I think) why there are no McGarry's buried at Finvoy. John's parents were married at the Killead Preb. according to the IGI so that is most probably where THEY would be buried I suppose. And John moved away to Canada with his family so no burials for them would have taken place at Finvoy.;D
Lynn
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Marriages usually, but not always, took place at the bride's church but perhaps they both belonged to Killead and were married there. It would certainly be worth checked the records for Killead.
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I have old McGarry Records for Killead - I can hunt them out if you wish - In particular I quite remember a John McGarry who is member of the church - from Oldstone - I have lots of information about this way and in fact wonder if my Henry McGarry from Oldstone too is connected to John.
Can you tell me a little more about the dates you are looking for and the families so I can give you the most appropriate info?
Fiona
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For example I have a James McGarry and Eliza Jane Hunter having children Killead Pre 1830s. Lots of McGarrys and Megarrys [always changing their surname] who are Presbyterian on the 1901 census in Seacash Killead Antrim. I have a John MeGarry and Sarah Rea having children in Dungonnell 1870s. There are others in British and Tully Some linked to Taggarts and Mulhollands etc...lots of them here....Just give me more info and I can maybe remember about other records I have - I'll have to dig out my Killead Pres notes....
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I have a more recent grave with McGarrys Adams and Mulhollands all mentioned - deaths 1910. Adams is a name you are interested in?
Fiona
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Hi Fiona,
Do you have a McGarry married to a Jordan (with its variation on spelling)?
Do drop a line to let me know if you have such information in your file.
Gratefully yours,
Tees
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Hello Fiona,
I have 4xgreatgrandfather John Mcgarry who married Jane Wallace abt 1810-1820. Don't have any further information about this generation of McGarry siblings but he may have had a brother James or Henry? My 3xgreatgrandfather John Mcgarry married Mary Adams 1843 in Killead.Also have no information who any siblings were. John Mcgarry 3rd married Lillian Taylor in Ballymoney in 1860. Again he may also may have had brothers but they would have died prior to 1870 because it is reported in family records that John Mcgarry 3rd was an only surviving son by then which suggests he did have at least one brother. Does any of this look like it might fit somewhere with the McGarry's you have?
Lynn
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Hello Lynn,
Six people named McGarry signed the Ulster Covenant in 1912 ...
Agnes, Edward, Lizzie, Maggie, Margaret and Thomas.
Chris
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Ballymena the civil parish is skerry. :)
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Hello Lynn i have read through the various messages regarding the name McGarry - my grandfather was McGarry from Rasharkin which is near to Ballymena in Northern Ireland. I read you are from America. Who are you trying to trace? Gerry