Antrim rifle regiment of militia 1850's

[Dee3]

Does anyone know how I can find information on this regiment? I have a john Aicken who was a member in1858 and transferred to the royal Marines in England, he then lived there married and had children.  I am hoping that some records have been kept from his time in the Militia as I was able to get information from Nat. Archives about his time in the Marines.  On his marriage certificate he names his father as Mathew Aicken, I also have a copy of the Attestation document for the Marines which states he Lived in the Parish of Bucknor and town of Broughshane antrim apart from this I have no other information on his life in Ireland,
cheers Dee

[Elwyn Soutter]

Bucknor is probably Buckna which is just outside Broughshane. What denomination was John, and what was his father Matthew’s occupation?

I noted this grave inscription in Kirkinriola cemetery, which is very close to Broughshane:

ERECTED BY THOMAS GILLILAND, DUNFANE. IN MEMORY OF HIS UNCLE MATTHEW AIKEN, WHO DIED 12TH FEBRUARY 1896, AGED 83 YEARS.

[km1971]

The musters are in the National Archives. They are not online

Ken

[scotmum]

Buckna townland was in the parish of Racavan.

At time of Griffiths Valuation c1862, there is no obvious Aicken of any spelling in Buckna, but there is an Anne Aiken in nearby Drummuck (also known as Drumock/Drumack) townland:

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/antrim/racavan.htm

she is possibly the Widow Aickin noted in Buckna Presbyterian church visitation records for Drumock of similar timescale.

[Dee3]

Thanks for everyones input but not sure where this leaves me, I only have the name of the father on marriage certificate (which took place in England) and his occupation was Labourer.  The age of my John was 19years and 1 month on his Attestation doc dated 8/6/1859.  Are the musters that you mention in the Nat Arch. in Ireland? I did find a 1851 census for a John Aikin but the townland was Ballyclan, parish Killead and I have no idea where this is!! I was hoping when I got the information about the Marines that it would have mentioned his religion as well as next of kin etc, but no such luck, thanks Dee

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   Ballyclan is in the Crumlin district on the east coast of Lough Neagh and about 30 miles south of Broughshane.

Regards

[Dee3]

Thanks for that information, so would it be reasonable to think that the family there could be related to my aickens or is 30 miles to far?
regards Dee

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   I would suggest that it is a bit far for those days but if they were labourers then they may have moved about to find work.

Regards

[Elwyn Soutter]

Bear in mind that the 1851 census is incomplete. All that remains are a few fragments. The census for the Broughshane and Buckna area is lost. So there could easily have been an Aicken family or two there. It's a common name.