Samuel Ahara/O'Hara & Margaret Greenwood - Ballymena?

[sjm21560]

Dear all, I'm trying to back-trace my great grandfather, James Ahara, and his parents Samuel Ahara & Margaret Greenwood, but I have very little quality information to go on.

Census and marriage records tell me that James was living in Greenock, Renfrewshire, at least from 1878 till his death in 1915. He was born in Ireland abt. 1857.

Family lore suggests that he changed his name from O'Hara to Ahara around 1889.

I have only one tenuous hint of his Irish origins - an IGI marriage record for Samuel O'Hara & Margaret Greenwood, 23 Mar 1849, Kirkinriola Ballymena. IGI has five birth records for children born to Samuel O'Hara & Margaret Greenwood: John abt.1850 Kirkinriola; Margaret abt.1852 Kirkinriola; Agnes 1865 Ballycreggy, Ballyclug, Antrim; Samuel 1867 Antrim and Elizabeth 1870 Antrim. Unfortunately there is no James.

Any help with this back-trace would be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Stewart

[SIMW]

According to Samuel's and Margaret's  marriage record, they were married in 1st Ballymena, Presbyterian church. In the early 1800's,  that would have been the closest Presbyterian church to the townlands of Ballycraigy/Ballycreggy and Ballykeel. There could be a chance the children were baptised in that church.
I think the church has records (marriage and baptism) from the early 1800's. There is a copy of their records at PRONI, or you could contact the church directly, I think they have a website.

[kingskerswell]

Stewart,
             The marriage is also listed in Emerald Ancestors on the same date and the church is 1st. Ballymena Presbyterian Church.

Regards

PS It is also listed on the IGI record search site and is in Vol2 Page 60 Ballymena Registration District.

[kingskerswell]

Stewart,
            I had a look for the AHARA name and found a James Ahara who married Margaret Curry in Eglinton Street Presbyterian Church, Shankill Parish, Belfast.



Forgot the date!  25 Dec 1876

Regards

[sjm21560]

Dear SIMW and Kingskerswell, many thanks for your replies which are much appreciated. I'll attempt to follow up the possibility of baptism records at the 1st Ballymena, Presbyterian church.

I'm not sure about the marriage of James Ahara to Margaret Curry. It may be another relative but as far as I know, my James Ahara's first marriage (he had three wives) took place in Greenock in 1878. I have a similar post on the Renfrewshire site which you view at the address below if you require any further information.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,406152.0.html

Contributers to the Renfrewshire post have identified two probable brothers for James: Hugh b.abt 1859 and Joseph b.abt 1861.

Kind regards
Stewart