RootsChat.Com

Many thanks. I've picked up a huge amount of information on the McKernans/McKernons and Tottens/Tottons since my first post, as I've now had the chance to visit Northern Ireland. I'm very probably related to the Tottens of Aghalee, though neither of the Joseph Tottens I have on file had 10 siblings.  Do you have more information?

Niall

Can anyone explain to me variations in the fragments of the surviving 1851 census which can be found online? For the family I researching there is this full record for the Aghadavy townland, Ballinderry, available at http://1851.4t.com/photo.html:

ROSEY McKERNON, 60 (Head) [Widow - Married 1810] - NONE (Antrim) (R)
MARGARET McKERNON, 23 (Daughter) [Unmarried] - LINEN WEAVER (Antrim) (R)
RICHARD McKERNON, 14 (Son) [Unmarried] - CAMBRIC WEAVER (Antrim) (R)
JAMES WALKINGTON, 3 (Grandson) [Unmarried] - NONE (Antrim)
Absent from Household 30th March 1851:
JOHN McKERNON, 33 (Son) - LINEN WEAVER {Drumaleet}
WILLIAM McKERNON, 30 (Son) - PLOUGHMAN {Aghadarg?}
JAMES McKERNON, 21 (Son) - PLOUGHMAN {?}
Died since 6th June 1841:
CHARLES McKERNON, 44 (Husband) - FARMER - Decline Consumption - Spring 1846
MARY McKERNON, 17 (Daughter) - NONE - Decline Consumption - Winter 1846

But at http://www.rootsweb.com/~irish/igsi_published/cens-sub/ant5111.htm and other sources there is this much simpler record:

ROSEY MCKERNAN /HEAD/W//60/NONE/ANT/
MARGARET MCKERNAN /DAUGHTER/U//23/LINEN WEAVER/ANT/
MATTHEW MCKERNAN /SON/U/14//CAMBRIC WEAVER/ANT/

It's the same family, same townland, same building, despite the variation in surname, but the 14-year-old in one is Richard, and in the other he's Matthew. The first version has much more detail (if not entirely trustworthy - it looks like Charles McKernon, my great-great-great-great grandfather, married at the age of eight, which seems unlikely...). Which version should I trust, and why the differences?

Niall

Many thanks again for the helpful information. This is an excellent list.

A happy new year to everyone.


Niall

I am new to family history research in Northern Ireland. I hope to visit the province soon and visit PRONI etc, but I'd appreciate some advice first on investigating my family history in Antrim. My grandfather, Joseph Henry McKernan, was born in 1909 - according to the birth certificate at Tullyballydonnell, Aghalee, in the parish of Magheralin, Lurgan. The address is puzzling, because the townland of Tullyballydonnell and Aghalee were in Antrim, but Magheralin and Lurgan are in Armagh. His father was Charles McKernan, his mother Susanna nee Totton (or Totten), of whom I know nothing more. I know that there are McKernons listed in the 1851 census in Tullyballydonnell. Can anyone shed light on the McKernans in this area (or the Tottens) or advise me on where I might best look next?

Niall