Collin Hill - County Antrim

[bsundeen]

My g-g grandfather, William Johnston, was a gamekeeper in Antrim County. For several years he and his family lived in the country near a hill known as Collin Hill. I believe it may have been near Derryaghy, close to Stoneyford or Ballycollin. Can anyone fill me in on any information about Collin Hill, or what a gamekeeper did. They lived there in the 1890's, up until about 1907 when they moved into Belast.

[artygirl]

Hi there!

my ancestors were from here and I also lived here until I was 4. It sounds as though you're talking about Colin Glen which is part of Black Mountain near belfast. If you've any more info or want to know more let me know

 Gamekeepers tend to work to make sure nobody poaches animals (on estates for example). They get rid of the likes of vermin too!

[bsundeen]

Hi there!
I really would appreciate any general information about the area. I just know my great grandmother grew up there. Her birthplace is listed as Ballycollin, but on several records she wrote Stoneyford. Are they close together?

[akanex2]

Ballycollin is a townland in Derriaghy parish in the hills above south west Belfast.  Stonyford is the nearest village in the other direction.  You can look it up in Griffith Valuation at:

http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_family_search_results.php?familyname=&firstname=&offset=20&countyname=&parishname=&unionname=&baronyname=&totalrows=43&PlaceID=59055

If you click on the map icon you should be able to zoom in and see the area both then and now.

No sign of a Johnston family there in the 1850s, but the landlord appears to be the Marquis of Hertford who presumably employed William as gamekeeper.

[artygirl]

They are indeed. There's the ballycollin road just off the colin glen/mullaghglass road even today. Stoneyford is also in the area. My ancestors were from there too. Other names associated with the area are Tullyrusk, glenavy, 'the rock', Hannahstown, wybridge. Keep a look out for these while searching for your ancestors whereabouts perhaps.

You mentioned derriaghy,  it is pretty near here indeed although the places listed above are much more local.

It was very much a rural area and still is (although it does so a lot of traffic as it's part of the route to the belfast international airport.

My ancestors were buried in the ancient graveyard, tullyrusk.  It's still there today but it very much overgrown and is located in the middle of an overwhelmingly overgrown field (haha, leaving me waist-high in grass when I visited!)

Many people from this area seem to have moved to Belfast for work eventually as it's not far away. If your ancestors were catholic, take a look at the falls road, glen road (and general west belfast area) as this is directly down the road from colin glen.

As akanex2 says, the Marquis of Hereford was indeed associated with this area.

[bsundeen]

Thank you all for your help. I appreciate the insight and information. Do you know of anyone I could contact for further information about Colin Glen, or possible any early photographs? Also, my family were members of the Church of Ireland. Where would they have attended? My grandmother used to say there was a little river running by their schoolhouse? Any clues as to where this might be? I'm full of questions, but I appreciate anything you have to offer. Thanks again!

[akanex2]

As they lived in Derriaghy parish, the parish church there would be my first stop.  As Belfast expanded new Church of Ireland parishes were created, including the Parish of St John the Baptist on the Stewartstown Road in 1859 which would also be a strong contender.  If you zoom in to the Griffith map (see my earlier link) you should be able to see schoolhouses and rivers marked which might enable you to narrow the possibilities.

[sucram]

http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Colin-Glen-Forest-Park-Dunmurry-Belfast-P2790

[patcan]

Colin Glen used to be called McCances Glen if you google this it will throw up other sites related to Colin Glen


Pat