McGills in County Antrim ***COMPLETED***

[amanda t]

I am searching for James McGill born in the 1860s, he had a brother called Patrick and their father was called John McGill, a labourer in the coal mines. The two brothers left Ireland in the late 1880s to live in Durham, northeast England. Does anybody have any information on this family or know how I can find more details?
James and Patrick died in Durham in the 1890s. James's daughter, Mary Ann McGill (my grandmother) was orphaned and sent to her Irish family in the 1900s where she was brought up in "Castle Carey" (not sure of the spelling). Can anyone let me know how I can find out more details please? I have been working on this for four years!
Thank you
Amanda Thomas

[amanda t]

Hi All

Many thanks for those of you who have considered this request.
Just to keep you up to date: I have now learned that there is a school called Castle Carey in Ballyrattan Donegal, so for now I am following the Donegal lead! I also understand that the only coalmine in the area is in Coalisland of County Tyrone so I'll have to do a bit of searching around there too!

Cheers!
Amanda

[aghadowey]

It's quite possibe that the men were only coalminers in England and worked as labourers of some other sort in Ireland.

[amanda t]

Hi Aghadowey

It was James McGill's father (John McGill) who was the labourer in the coal mines and as far as I know he didn't come over to Durham England with his sons. I have searched the Durham census and have not found any John McGills of a suitable age.

Not to worry. I am keeping my mind open to any possibilities.

I am visiting the LDS in London next week to follow up ALL the James McGills born 1864-1868 in Ireland; quite a task ahead but I am not giving up!

Thank you for all your help, if you have any other ideas please let me know!
Best wishes
Amanda

[aghadowey]

Although birth registration began in 1864 it was not compulsary until 1870 so the birth might not have been registered.

[amanda t]

Wow! That is very helpful. 

I have previously commissioned help from IrishWorld and they found a McGill family in Tyrone with James' father and brother listed but not James.  This could be the family assuming James' birth had not been registered. 

I will still follow up further Tyrone and Donegal leads but also keep this idea in mind. My Irish lines are very frustrating, I wish I had asked my grandmother more questions when she was alive!

Amanda

[amanda t]

Hello Aghadowey

Searching through the all the Irish BMDs at the London LDS I found only one James McGill (of the correct age) with a brother Patrick and father John McGill/Magill living in the same county. They were from Castlequarter, Ballymoney County Antrim and James' mother was called Margaret Laverty.

I realise not all births had to be registered until 1870 but as this is all I have I am satisfied that this is my family. Which census are available for Ballymoney? Any suggestions how I can proceed?

Amanda
PS.. Please see my post to you on the Donegal board.

[aghadowey]

Amanda- might be worth keeping that family in mind but not all births that were registered are on IGI or on LDS site.
Checked on Ballymoney Ancestry site and 36 McGills entries came up but most far too early and nothing that seems to connect to John & Margaret's family.
Castlequarter is the Registration District and is east of Ballymoney. Parts of Loughuile, Killagan and Kilraughts all seem to come under it.
IGI shows 3 children to John McGill & Margaret Laverty: Patrick, James & a William born 15 Dec.1864.

[amanda t]

Thanks, I hadn't found William.

I tried looking for a William McGill in Durham on the 1891 census when Partick and James had emigrated to England, but he is not there.

Are there any census available for the Castlequarter district?

Amanda