7
« on: Thursday 09 April 09 10:20 BST (UK) »
I’m looking to make connections within the McHenry surname in Antrim – in the Glenarm to Ballymena area. The 1911 census has given me a possible lead.
In the old graveyard in the Townland of Glebe, out of Glenarm on the Ballymena road, Thomas McHenry of Munie erected a headstone in memory of his parents – father William McHenry who died 29 April 1887 at 70 years, mother Ellen who died 15 July 1877 at 66 years and sister Martha who died 9 July 1885 aged 35 years. Also his own daughter Martha who died 30 July 1911 aged 21 years and the said Thomas McHenry himself who died 26 December 1921 aged 76 years.
I have been searching for McHenry ancestors in the Glenarm area as my gt grandfather John McHenry c1843 said he was born in Glenarm, as did his mother Sarah [maiden name unknown] c1805 and sisters Isabella c1832 and Margaret born 23 March 1845. The only record found is the baptism of Margaret at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland in Glenarm.
My gt gt grandfather John McHenry born 1801 just said he was born in Ireland and I’ve not been able to trace his marriage to Sarah, who may have been of the catholic faith. Their children married in the Established Church, Roman Catholic and Presbyterian Church just to confuse things.
Thanks to Felix McKillop, local author and historian, I believe my McHenrys were leasing land in Munie, at least from around 1832 to the early 1860s, when John & Sarah McHenry moved to England. Also, I believe that the father of the above Thomas, William McHenry c1817 was farming in the Deerpark Farms around 1860. [A Thomas McHenry of Deerpark (father William) married Martha Wright of Deerpark in 1872.]
I can only think that these McHenrys were related and with the possible variations of McHendry and McKendry, all perhaps one and the same in this area. Even though my McHenry family moved to England, I suspect other family members stayed in Antrim.
Common family Christian names are the seemingly interchangeable Daniel and Donald, John, William and James.
On the 1911 Ireland census, the above Thomas McHenry was helpful in that, unlike most others who just said they were born in Co Antrim, he says he was born at Loughconnolly, Antrim. He was aged 67, Presbyterian, widow and labourer. Though struck through, Thomas discloses having had 10 children, 9 still alive. His daughter Martha, who died a few months later, was born in Munie.
From a previous post, I know that Loughconnelly is further inland from Glenarm, to the north east of Aghafatten before reaching Broughshane on the Ballymena road.
So, and finally getting to the point!, I wonder whether anybody has come across McHenrys in the Broughshane area – for example, in Presbyterian graveyards etc or in other records.
I live in Lancashire but I’ve been across to Glenarm and returned to Belfast [by bus] via Ballymena so I’ve travelled the Broughshane road. Since then, I’ve found out more about the Munie connection and intend to come across again this summer [this time by car] to do some more “exploring”.
Apologies for the length of this but any comments, help or information will be most gratefully received.
Ian McHenry
Show Posts