Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Ballyfrenis Townland

DownDonaghadee (Down)

Hoping someone out there can help with some information.  I'm working on a One Place Study of Ballyfrenis Townland, and I think a small village named Ballyfrenis that used to be there.  I have a letter written by my grandfather, Robert Dunbar Reid, to my father, Robert Barclay Reid, telling him that he was the last person to be born in Ballyfrenis and that an earlier ancestor, William Reid, was the first in our family to live in Ballyfrenis.  William, a stone mason, apparently came from the Balbriggan area near Dublin to work on renovations to Carrowdore Castle in the early 1800's.  So, I'm curious, and curiouser about Ballyfrenis.  There were 31 family names on the 1901 census and 29 family names on the 1911 census which I will begin to research.  I have information about the Ballyfrenis Presbyterian Church (now converted to some other use I believe) and copies of my dad's birth and confirmation records.  Would love to connect with others who might have information.   Thanks!  Ann Reid Igoe

 

I'll post a picture of my great grandfather and great grandmother, Robert Bailie and Maggie Dunbar Reid, standing in front of their cottage in Ballyfrenis.

aigoe

4 replies

Ann,

Here’s a little information and some pictures of Ballyfrenis:

https://townlandsofulster.com/2016/03/29/ballyfrenis/

It mentions about the church. 2 congregations have combined. Here’s a bit about the meaning of the name:

http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=6808

There was never a village there just a scattering of farms and labourers cottages, plus the church.

Ballyfrenis is 266 acres. The earliest known reference to it is dated 1333. In Griffiths Valuation for 1863 there were about 25 or so houses in the townland. I do not see any Reid households then. In the 1901 census there were 33 houses (popln 114). This is the only Reid in 1901 and that family was United Free Church of Scotland, not mainstream Presbyterian. (So that’s essentially the equivalent of the Free Church of Scotland). I am not quite sure where their church would be but there was obviously one in the area.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Carrowdore/Ballyf…

Ballyfrenis Presbyterian has records as follows:

Baptisms, 1862-1917; marriages, 1864-1901; communion lists recording emigrations, deaths and marriages, 1862-1901.

There’s a copy in PRONI.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwyn,

Thank you so much for such an informative reply!  I had lots of links to follow and to learn from.  I'll be struggling along to fill out my study.  Since there wasn't really a town there it might be more difficult than I thought originally.  It will be fun and perhaps someday (sooner or later) I can visit and get information in person.

Ann

aigoe

Ann  Just noticed you posts about Ballyfrenis townland. I have plenty f information about the area including about the local school/church and families who lived there.Its just a short distance from our home. regards Shirley  email shirleyc153@gmail.com

 

 

Shirleyc153

Ann I  live just down the road from Ballyfrenis and have information about the townland thefamilies who lived there my email is shirleyc153@gmail.com regards Shirley

 

 

Shirleyc153

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.