Looking at Griffiths Valuation for 1862 Samuel Russell is listed as renting plot 18 in Crosskennan which was a 38 acre farm. The modern map that accompanies Griffiths suggests that’s today's cake factory.
The Valuation Revision records take Griffiths forwards. They are on the PRONI site. They indicate that in 1875 Samuel acquired plot 17 as well as 18. In 1880 he has also acquired plots 11 & 13. There are 3 houses within that collection and the records don’t show which one Samuel himself was living in.
By 1887 Samuel Russell jnr is shown against plots 11, 13, 14 , 15, 17 & 18. There were no houses on 14 or 15, and on 18 the house and forge were sublet to John Graham. Samuel could have lived in 11, 13 or 17 all of which had houses.
By 1903 plot 11a was let to James Russell. Samuel Russell jr had plots 13, 14, 15, 17 & 18 with the house and forge on 18 still sublet to John Graham. Whether James ever actually lived in plot 11 is unclear. Though there was a house there, I can see from the 1901 & 1911 censuses that he was living with Samuel in both years. So he may simply have farmed the land but lived with his brother and the house on 11 was unoccupied.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Antrim_Rural/Cr…
By 1906 the house and forge on 18 is rented by Samuel to J. Coulter and Antrim Rural District council have built a labourer’s cottage on 18 (shown as 18a).
By 1922 the house on 11 is deleted though James Russell continues to rent the land. The house is noted “roof falling”. Samuel junior’s name remains against the other properties with houses on 13 & 17. That’s also the position in 1929.
The on-line records stop in 1929 but there are paper records in PRONI in the VAL 3 series which take the ownership and tenancy details forward to the 1960s. A personal visit is required to view them.
Summing up, it looks as though the Russell family started out in plot 18 but later lived in 11, 13 or 17. Latterly they had a choice of houses on plots 13 and 17.
In 1929 they hadn’t bought the freeholds of any of those properties. They were all still rented either from the Boals or from the Skeffington estate (Viscount Massereene & Ferrard).
Probate abstracts from the PRONI wills site:
The Will of Samuel Russell late of Crosscannon County Antrim Farmer who died 12 March 1890 at same place was proved at Belfast by John Russell of Castlegore and Samuel Armstrong Russell and James Russell both of Crosscannon all in said County Farmers the Executors.
Administration of the Estate of James Russell late of Crosskennon County Antrim Horse Dealer who died 18 September 1911 granted at Belfast to Samuel A. Russell Farmer.
18th May 1917 Administration of the Unadministered Estate of James Russell late of Crosskinnon County Antrim Horse Dealer who died 18 September 1911 granted at Belfast to William H. Russell Gentleman.
Probate of the Will of Samuel Armstrong Russell late of Crosskennon County Antrim Farmer who died 17 January 1916 granted at Belfast to David Graham Farmer and James L.Clark Clerk
