I am trying to trace ancestors Donald McAuley who married Katherine McElroy. They had six daughters and two sons that I can trace. Mary, Kate, Sarah, Jane and Margaret and Charlotte who were twins. Sons were Hugh and Daniel. The twins emmigrated to New Zealand in 1878 I think the children were all born in Cushendall but would love to hear from anyone about thuis couple.
I can see a birth for a Margaret McAulay on 3rd April 1876 in Kilmore, near Cushendall, to the parents you have given. She wasn’t a twin though.
There are some McAulays in Kilmore in the 1901 census. This may be Katherine and daughter Sarah
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Red_Bay/Kilmore/923683/
Sarah was born at Kilmore on 20.1.1866, to the same parents:
Sarah appears to have married Robert Hamilton:
Catherine died 17.11.1909:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
Sarah & Robert in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Red_Bay/Kilmore…
Elizabeth,
I think it would be helpful to others if you could give a bit more information about the family you are interested in. When (approximately) were Donald & Katherine born? When were their children born (names and approximate years please).
What was Donald’s occupation (should be on any children’s marriage or death certificates)?
McAuley is a common name in that area and so anything to distinguish your family from the others is bound to make things easier.
Dear Elwyn - if you arre still there - I am very grateful for the information above. The twins were Mary and Charlotte who I have traced to New Zealand. they were born 1859. I believe there were two sons - Hugh and Daniel. Sarah (as mentioned above) Jane born 16.11.1867; Kate; Margaret born 3.4.1876 who married Bernard Delargy in Cushendall on 28.5.1898 and settled in Scotland. sI believe Katherine McAuley (McElroy) was in the 1901 cencus living with her daughter Sarah and died on 17.11.1909. I cannot find any information on Katherine and Donalds birth or marriage and nothing on Donald's death. I would be extremely happy and grateful for anything else you could provide. Many many thanks. Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
I found Donald McAuley’s death in 1900 aged 84. His daughter Margaret was the informant. Presumably she moved over to Scotland soon after his death as she’s not in the 1901 Irish census. There was a regular ferry about twice a week from Ballycastle to Glasgow so a very easy journey. Folk went back and forth all the time:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
The Valuation revision records show his name deleted in 1902, so I realised it had to be around then. Griffiths clerks revisited every couple of years and their dates record when they learned of a change, rather than when someone actually died or moved. Katherine is a widow in the 1901 census (April 1901) I knew he presumably died just before that.
The location - plot 17A(a) - is shown as being near the gate house and cemetery. (Copy attached). That’s on the modern Glasmullen Rd, close to Kilmore Country House (originally known as Ballinluig). Plot 17 was Ballinluig House, so this was a cottage in the grounds somewhere. It’s probably no longer there. But you could stay in the big house.
https://kilmorecountryhouse.com
There are gaps in the parish records. Layde has records starting in 1838 but there are years missing. Katherine and Donald were born before the start of the parish records so you are not going to find a record of their births (nor is it going to be easy to get any further back).
I don’t see their marriage either so presumably it was in one of the gaps in the records. There’s a huge gap between 1844 and 1860 so that looks to cover the likely timing, doesn’t it?
https://www.johngrenham.com/records/rc_church.php?county=Antrim&parish=Layde&churchid=383
I had a look to see if I could find anything on Hugh & Daniel (junior). There are no deaths or marriages for either in the Layde area up to 1902 so suspect both moved away from Ireland. Possibly to Scotland because that's where so many went but without any clues they may be hard to trace.
If you are looking for some general background on your McAuley and other ancestors, a book you might find helpful is Brian S. Turner’s “Family names in the Glens of Antrim.” (See attached image). McAuley gets about 10 pages to itself, and the book is littered with references to them. In 1963 it was the most common surname in the Glens. Most of them appear to have come over from Scotland in the 1600s or earlier. They seem to be associated with the McDonnells (MacDonald in Scotland) who came over from Islay in the 1500s. Islay is the island north of Ballycastle, beyond Rathlin. It’s about 25 miles away and is easily seen on a good day. There are 3 famous distilleries along the bottom coast of Islay which have all helpfully been painted white and they stand out easily. But if you are interested it explains the background in the book. There are various references to Kilmore too. (Haven’t looked them up so don’t know what. Probably to the McDonnells of Ballinluig House).