Ballantyne family

[fergaine]

Hi,

I'm trying to trace my grandmother's family.  Her name was Ellen Ballantyne, and she was born in 1903 in Carrondoo (not the right spelling) near Ballycastle.  I believe there's a golf course there now.  She was part of a large family, of which Duncan and daniel are the more unusual first names.   Her parents were Duncan Ballantyne and Rosetta McLean.

There may have been a small farm there, belonging to the family.

I'd be glad of any data of Ballantyne/Ballantine/Bonnatines in the area.  The birth records seem to have been destroyed.

Thanks,

Elaine

[aghadowey]

First of all, I've moved your post from Antrim Requests to Antrim-General board since you aren't really looking for one particular bit of information and I suspect that more people will see it on general board.

Civil registration of births started in 1864 and no Irish birth (or death or marriage) records were detroyed.

To start with the 1911 census just came online (free) in Dec.2008. I took a quick look and couldn't find Ellen but perhaps you'll have better luck.
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search

Most census records and many Church of Ireland registers were destroyed.

Duncan Ballentine married July/Sept.1894 Ballycastle registration district  (vol.1 page 101) Rosetta M'Lean.

[fergaine]

Thanks, Aghadowey, I'm new to the site and appreciate all the help I can get.

Ellen moved to Scotland about 1905 aged 2 - so will be in no Irish census.  When she retired she sent off for her birth certificate (to Dublin, I think)  she believed that it, and a lot of other data had been lost when the Records office had caught fire. 

Thanks for the link.  I will check the 1901 census for her older siblings, parents and grandparents.

[aghadowey]

At least I can see now why I couldn't find the family in 1911 census. 1901 census does survive but is not yet online- will be added to National Archives site when all 1911 for Ireland is complete (could be a while yet).

It's possible that the problem with Ellen's birth certificate was the spelling of her surname (in those days the printed index volumes would have to have been checked manually- 4 volumes (quarters) for each year- whereas now we can search the indexes online very quickly.

Do you happen to know her grandparents' name and also what religion the family were in Ireland?

[fergaine]

Hi - aren't you efficient!  You're so fast getting back to me.  It's great.

Ellen's parents, my gt. grandparents were Duncan Ballantyne/Bonnatine b. circa 1864 in Ballycastle or Ballintoy and lived in Carrondoo (sorry about the spelling) and married Rosetta McClean/McLean, as you said, in 1894, in Ballintoy.  His sister, Nancy Bonnatine had a small farm in or near Carrondoo.

My gt. gt. grandparents were Duncan Bonnatyne and Ellen Morgan, both born in Ireland.  He is listed as a farmer.  That's where the trail ends.

Thanks,

Elaine

[fergaine]

P.S.  All I know is that they were Protestant, becoming members of the Church of Scotland when they moved to Scotland.

[aghadowey]

A bit more information you might not have.

Duncan Bonnatine and Ellen Morgan had:
1. Nancy born 26 Apr.1867 Croagh district
2. Daniel born 19 Apr.1870 Co.Antrim
3. Henry born 6 Dec.1872 Croagh district

There are only 8 Bonnatines listed in civil registration indexes (all Ballycastle reg. dist.):
Betty born c1864 died 1868  (Elizabeth born 1864)
Henry born c1859 died 1867
Rose born c1776 died 1865
James born c1794 died 1867
as well as the births for Nancy, Daniel & Henry above

[fergaine]

Terriffic.  thanks for all this.

[aghadowey]

Wonder if the townland 'Carrandoo' was Carnduff (duff and doo in placenames are interchangeable).