Lawrence,
I looked in the tithe applotment records for 1834 and in Griffiths Valuation for 1862. There was only one Wiley household in Ballygrooby in both sets of records and that was headed by Robert Wiley who had plot 8. That was a 7 acre farm. Today that’s off the Magheralane Road. I’d say there is a fair chance that he would be related to Nathaniel.
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/drummaul-parish.php#.WThH8xR9eg0
There were a couple of Hughes households in Ballygrooby in 1862, notably a Hugh and Francis.
I looked at the Ordnance Survey memoirs for Drummaul (the parish that includes Randalstown). It lists the people who emigrated from the parish in 1835 – 1837. Sadly there’s no mention of the Wiley family in those records. After the names for 1837, the memoirs say: “Those who have emigrated for the last 3 years were chiefly labourers and small farmers, with a few tradesmen, who could command little or no capital, but emigrated to seek in a foreign land that comfort their own country no longer affords. All good characters.”
Patrick O’Kane has published a history of the parish “Sweet Drummaul.” I looked through it. The only mention of the Wiley family I could find was Robert of Ballygrooby who contributed to the building of the tower and spire on the church on 9th July 1848.
The Valuation revision records show the Wiley farm remained in Robert’s name till 1880 when Catharine Wiley replaced him. In turn she was replaced by Alex McDowell in 1882. Chances are that Robert died around 1880. Catharine was possibly his wife or daughter. I can see 2 possible deaths for Robert, both registered in Antrim. One was 24.12.1878 aged 50. The other 4.4.1879 aged 76. You might want to look at those deaths to see if either is the right man and who the informant was etc.
I don’t think there are any Wiley gravestones in Drummaul RC graveyard but you might want to check that.
