Hi, I am attempting to do some research on my father's family. I know that my Great Grandfather left Ahoghill Ireland in 1899. His name was William Robert Hamiltonand his brother left Ireland in 1901. I was looking for any relatives still in Ireland or any information really. The only other name that I have is their mothers possible name was Martha or Marguerite Hamilton.
Thank you!
Can you tell us roughly when your Gt Grandfather was born, and what was his brother’s name (and approx. year of birth)?
Have you searched for a marriage or death certificate, either of which might give your gt grandfathers parents full names?
I searched the birth records for the Ahoghill area 1864 – 1885. There are 20 William Hamiltons born there in that period. So I need to a bit more to narrow the search. I do see a possible birth that might be your ancestor but I need a bit more about him and his brother to say for certain.
Wow! Thank you. I will have to look up his birth date this evening. His brother was Andrew. I know they sailed from Liverpool, England.
I think the family you are looking for are William Hamilton born c 1838 who married Martha Greer born c 1841 at Ahoghill Church of Ireland on 21.8.1867.
https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/
William died in Ahoghill on 27.6.1886. Martha was the informant. This is her in the 1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ahoghill/Ahoghill_Village/924237/
They had the following children:
Eliza Ann 7.6.1869
William Robert 22.12.1873
Martha 3.4.1876
Andrew 21.7.1878
Martha looks to have married James Wallace in Ahoghill Church of Ireland on 2nd November 1895. This is that family in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ahoghill/Ahoghill_Village/924187/
Eliza Ann was the mother of at least 3 of the 4 children in the 1901 census. (I can’t see a birth for Samuel but presumably he was hers too)
Family in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ahoghill/Ahoghill_Town/115426/
Martha Hamilton died 30.5.1923. She and her husband William are both buried in Ahoghill Old churchyard.
That's them!! Thank you so much! I never knew that William Robert had an older sister! This is exciting!
There’s a clue as to the possible father of Lizzie Ann’s children. In the 1911 census, Samuel appears to have the middle name Perry. There’s quite a few Perry households in and around Ahoghill. Maggie Hamilton (twin with Martha, born 23.10.1897) died 30.9.1901 of whooping cough.
I can’t see births for either Samuel or Robert so possibly neither was registered.
This is amazing! Thank you so much. I am curious if there are Wallaces still living in Ahoghill? Possible relatives?
I don’t know if there are Wallaces there today. I’d suggest you write to the church to see if there are any in his congregation. Rev DC Christie, St Colmanell’s church 42 Church St, Ahoghill, Co Antrim BT42 2PA. Alternatively they have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/StColmanellsAndPortglenoneChurchOfIreland
I found your Wallace family in the 1911 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ahoghill/Ahoghill_Town/115425/
Martha Wallace (nee Hamilton) died 2.4.1917 at Killane (a townland near Ahoghill). Her sister Lizzie Anne was the informant. Martha’s 7 weeks old son Hugh died a few days later on 10.4.1917. Lizzie was also the informant.
I don’t know what happened to them after that as there are not really any more recent records to consult.
There are 2 Wallace gravestones in St Colmanell’s graveyard. Neither has any specific names engraved on it so can’t tell you if either is your family.
Wow! I will write to the church and keep digging for information. I very much appreciate all of your help!
Just stumbled upon this thread doing some deep family history research.
Robert Gordon Hamilton (1800-1899) and Elizabeth Beatie (1803-1879) had William Robert Hamilton (1838-1901) who married Martha Greer. They had William Robert Hamilton (1873-1919) who married Nettie Austin (1876-1951). They had Harold Hamilton (1915-1992) who married Arlene Hall (1924-1996). And they had my grandmother, Joan Hamilton. It appears you have some relatives in Upstate New York.