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McIlroy/Rea/McLernon of Toome Area

Antrim

Hi! My wife Maureen Brett and I visited Toomebridge, Cargin and Ballymena and actually sat down with Elwyn at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Moneyglass to review some baptismal records. I am currently writing a book for the family of our discoveries. It seems that Mary McIlroy had a strong connection to Felix and Sarah Rea McLernon (McLarnon) of Millquarter, whose three children emigrated to Philadelphia, PA and two were baptismal sponsors for three of her children. I would like to know more about this couple. Their children were Eliizabeth (married Robert Carleton and lived in Ballyscullion around 1900), Isabella (who married a Listowel Kerryman in Phila.), Mary and Sarah who also emigrated to Phila. and married, Alice Jane, Felix (who married Bridget Johnston) and Margaret Ann who married Francis McCartney, a Belfast man. One of the baptismal sponsors of the McLernons was a Paul McLernon, a name found in the family buried at Cargin graveyard. My hypothesis is that the families were cousins, but I'd like to know the connection. As for the Rea family I suspect they may have originally been from Killead parish, Antrim, and the father was Daniel. I conjecture that he was married at least twice, and his second wife was Barbara. The question is, Were they Roman Catholic? Were some Roman Catholic? In 1851, a niece was living with them. Could she have been the adult baptism that we discovered in Moneyglass? I am trying to get details through GRONI but sometimes its like getting into Fort Knox (or in Irish terms- the Bank of Ireland). Thank you. Bob Brett

Dublinwoods

2 replies

Bob,

Hello again.

If the Rea family came from Killead then there are about 4 churches to choose from if you are looking for baptisms or marriages. Killead Church of Ireland lost its early records in the 1922 fire and has none for the period you are interested in. Killead Presbyterian has records from 1826, Loanends 1834 for baptisms and 1845 for marriages and Glenavy RC from 1849. Neither Killead Presbyterian nor Loanends records appear to be on-line anywhere. There are copies in PRONI in Belfast. Glenavy RC are on-line on the nli site.

GRONI will only be of use for births, deaths and RC marriages from 1864 onwards, plus non RC marriages from 1845 onwards. For earlier events you will need church records where they exist.

Trying to trace the McLernon families back further than you have already got will be challenging as there are no records for Duneane before 1834. If I recall correctly Felix died in 1899 aged 60, so born c 1839. If born in Duneane then you should find his baptism in their records. Millquarter is actually in Ballyscullion parish. Their RC records start in 1844. Worth checking them for the marriage to Sara Rea. Though tradition was to marry in the bride’s church, so if she came from Killead then that’s a more likely location.

McLernon/McLarnon is a common name in that area. I wouldn’t expect them all to be related. Some will be but the surname could be a coincidence.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Elwyn, Hope all is well. Regards Bob Brett.

Dublinwoods

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