MCHENRY - Loughconnelly, Broughshane, Munie and Glenarm

[fyldemac]

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

[akanex2]

Try this site for graveyards in Ballymena district

http://www.thebraid.com/genealogy.aspx

[aghadowey]

Have you checked Will Extracts on www.proni.gov.uk yet? 30 McHenry records for Belfast Registry Office are on file including the one below-

Administration of the estate of John M'Henry late of Munie County Antrim Farmer who died 24 March 1898 granted at Belfast to Rose M'Henry of Munie the Widow.

[fyldemac]

Many thanks for both replies. 

I've looked at the cemetery records and there are both McHenrys and McKendrys listed - so I'll pursue further. Interested to see the entry for the burial of a Hugh McHenry of Tully in 1866.  I know there is/was a Townland of Tully near Glenarm. Is it the same place or is there another place called Tully? And am I right in thinking that Crebilly is a Roman Catholic cemetery?

I hadn't realised PRONI had listed Wills online so very grateful for that information. I know of the John McHenry of Munie listed but didn't know when he died, so that's very helpful. The family seem to be called McKendry thereafter and I believe the eldest son Patrick inherited the farm, which was in the family until the 1940s.

I'll keep pressing on in the hope that I can find a link between any of these McHenry families and my own.  Hard work in the absence of so many records but if my elusive McHenrys were living in the Glenarm area from at least 1832-1845 (from children's births) then there must be a connection somewhere. 

thanks again.

Ian McHenry

[Eve45]

Hi Ian,

I have McHenrys from Ballymena and thereabouts - my ancestors John McHenry and Martha Robinson married at Broughshane First Presbyterian in 1856. John's parents were William McHenry and Ellen (McVeigh, according to Aus certificates). Martha's were Samuel Robinson and Mary.

John was born around 1933 and he, Martha and son James Robinson McHenry came to Australia in 1859. On the passenger list and in early Western Australian records their surname is McKendry. They later moved to Victoria and the name seems to have settled to McHenry. There are many, many descendants in Australia.

On the same passenger list was a Miss Sarah McKendry, Irish, aged 18 yrs, servant - I've not been able to find out what happened to Sarah or whether or not she was related.

Do you think there might be a connection?

Cheers,
Eve

[jasonwentcrazy]

Ian,
It looks like I'm hunting for the same sort of connection as you are and much of your post read like my own notes. I'm looking for a John McHenry and a Thomas McHenry mostly. John is my GGG Grandfather and his son was my GG Grandfather Thomas. I am certain that Antrim weighs heavily into the equation for me as I am told that there was a map or something like one hanging in the living room in St. Louis, Missouri. The map was of Antrim and everyone assumes they had it hanging there as this was where they were from. Or their parents. I've got most of the men in my family named Thomas, William or John.

I found some recent documents that indicated that my McHenry family actually lived in England after leaving Ireland and they eventually hopped on a ship to America. I have my GG Grandfather Thomas actually listed as being born at sea and he is the one that has the England connection. I'm also growing increasingly more certain that I need to be looking at the McHendry and McKendry surnames as well. [And other variations.]

I wonder what you might tell me about the McHenry's of yours that moved to England and then, perhaps, to the US. I truly appreciate your time and I hope that everything is well for you on your end.

Solid handshakes,
Jason McHenry

[fyldemac]

Eve and Jason

I've just returned from a US visit to pick up your messages. Afraid I'm away again this next week on a golf trip! so, if you'll bear with me, I'll post replies to you both in w/c 18 May.  Certainly happy to share with you what I know of "my" McHenrys.

regards

Ian

[fyldemac]

Eve

Sorry for not getting back sooner.

I can’t really make connections because of the lack of hard information – church records etc. But it seems to me that your John McHenry c1833 may well be the son of the William and Ellen McHenry who are buried in the old Glore churchyard – about 3 miles inland from Glenarm.  See my first post.

Thomas McHenry c1845, the son of William and Ellen, says he was born at Loughconnelly, which is near Broughshane, where your John married. 

Thomas  married in 1872 [Thomas McHenry of Deerpark, father William married Martha Wright of Deerpark] and, on the 1911 Census, living at Bay Street, Larne is a William McHenry aged 39 [Presbyterian] who says he was born in Munie [where Thomas lived]. I think he must be Thomas’ son.  [William’s wife was Sarah aged 40 from Glenwhirry].  No children.

Thomas’ father, William McHenry [or McHendry] rented land in Deerpark Farms, which bordered Munie.  So it looks like the Elizabeth McHenry of Deerpark, who married Thomas Russell of Munie on 29 April 1870, and Martha McHenry of Deerpark who married John Montgomery of Old Church in 1876, were his daughters. [Glenarm Presbyterian].

You’ll see I’ve set out my McHenrys for Jason and, if you want to explore the family links further, then perhaps you could send me a personal message and we can exchange ideas. I can certainly send you a photo of John McHenry c1843 and his sister Mary Ann c1831.   

Regards

Ian

[fyldemac]

Jason

Sorry for the delay in responding.

My gt gt grandparents John and Sarah McHenry probably came to England in the early 1860s. [They are not on the 1861 England Census]. John was born c1801 in Ireland [died 24 December 1873 aged 72 years) and Sarah c1805 (died 23 November 1892 aged 87 years) – both died in Birkenhead, Cheshire [across the Mersey from Liverpool].

I know their daughter Mary Ann c1831 was working in the Birkenhead area by 1851 and, by 1861, Isabella c1832 and Margaret b1845 were also there. My gt grandfather John c1843 was working not far away in  North Wales.

John & Sarah first appear on the 1871 England Census with son William c1842 and his family. [William married in Liverpool in 1867].

It may be that other children or siblings from Antrim went to America but I know of only two McHenrys who went there – both children of John McHenry c1843.

Donald Evan McHenry [birth registered and baptised as Daniel Evan] b1867 Henllan, North Wales emigrated in 1888. His brother William Dickson McHenry b1876 Bolton, Lancashire went in 1899. Both left from Liverpool and settled in Patterson, New Jersey.

So, I can’t see any obvious connection to your McHenrys but I certainly think there must have been other children born to John and Sarah (and possibly siblings) who either continued to live in Antrim or emigrated directly to the US – my problem, like yours, is finding them!

Happy to help further if I can.

Regards

Ian