William J. McKay - Glenarm Antrim - Deadend advice needed

[GeneCat]

I'm at a standstill with this person. William John McKay born abt.1861.  I have no experience with Northern Ireland records and would appreciate some tips on where to go next.

I have a William John Mckay that was married in Hampshire in 1890 (to Lucy Lydia Heath). The marriage certificate shows his father's name is also William John McKay (a Farmer). And that he (the groom) was born abt.1861

The 1911 Census and his military records show him as being born in Glenarm Antrim. 1901 census says born Ireland.

His military records show next of kin as his cousin, a Miss Sarah Kelly. Residence place Baron Mill Carrickfergus Antrim. He signed up aged 19, in 1879. Military record shows he was in the "Indies" at the time of the 1881 census and was in England by 1890.

So I'm at a dead end now, unable to find his birth or his father. Any help/advice much appreciated.

[aghadowey]

Civil registration of births started in 1864 so there won't be a birth certificate. Do you know what religion he would have been? If Catholic then lots of R.C. Parish Registers are online (free) with others possibly available from pay sites. If Glenarm then these are online registers- gap in 1860s but worth checking. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0414

Will have a look a bit more for parents, etc., but civil registration of Catholic marriages also started in 1864 (non-Catholic marriages & Registry Office ones started in 1845)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp

[GeneCat]

Thank you for your reply. I should of said, so sorry, but his millitary papers said CofE. So not Catholic.

[GeneCat]

Civil registration of births started in 1864 so there won't be a birth certificate. Do you know what religion he would have been? If Catholic then lots of R.C. Parish Registers are online (free) with others possibly available from pay sites. If Glenarm then these are online registers- gap in 1860s but worth checking. https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0414

Will have a look a bit more for parents, etc., but civil registration of Catholic marriages also started in 1864 (non-Catholic marriages & Registry Office ones started in 1845)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp

Thank you very much for the links also.

[scotmum]

Consider the possibility of Barn Mills, Carrickfergus https://carrickfergushistory.co.uk/barn-mills-barn-cottage/

[scotmum]

Always satisfy yourself of the accuracy or otherwise of details on Ancestry, but have you seen:

.    Born in Glenarm, Antrim, Northern Ireland on 09/06/1860 to William McKay and Jane Boyd. William John McKay married Lucy Lydia Heath     

[GeneCat]

Always satisfy yourself of the accuracy or otherwise of details on Ancestry, but have you seen:

.    Born in Glenarm, Antrim, Northern Ireland on 09/06/1860 to William McKay and Jane Boyd. William John McKay married Lucy Lydia Heath     

Ah yes I had seen this on ancestry tree. But there are no documents to back it up. I got the marriage certificate after seeing this.

[GeneCat]

Consider the possibility of Barn Mills, Carrickfergus https://carrickfergushistory.co.uk/barn-mills-barn-cottage/

Thank you for this link. I reading now.

[scotmum]

Confused. Have been trying to find the 1879 military record you mentioned. Has taken a while, as it seems to be under a John McKay  (no other forename or initial), of Glenarm rather than a William John McKay, with NoK his cousin, Sarah Kelly.. Do you believe John is same person as William John McKay?

*Added, I see that  the 1911 census does have a John McKay, Glenarm with a wife Lucy, so is this your chap and why you believe William John and John are one and the same? Is he also the 1947 death in Gosport, Hampshire under John W McKay?