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Ballyeaston Presb - Thomas McClean m Margaret Carmichael 1840

AntrimBallycor (Antrim)

Hi! My mother's maiden name is McClean and we are both keen to trace our family in Co Antrim. I hope that you can help us!

Thomas McClean, farmer
born 1815, "Ballyalma"
died 24/12/1884, Skilganaban, Ballyalbanagh (I think the record is our Thomas)

married

Margaret Carmichael
born 1819, Ballyalbanagh
died 7/11/1894 Skilganaban, Ballyalbanagh (I think this record is our Margaret)

Married 1840 in Ballyeaston. Presbyterian.

Thomas' siblings: Several children are listed in the 'House on the Hill' publication from Ballyeaston 1st Presbyterian Church - Agnas abt 1805, Jane abt 1807, Susanna abt 1809, Mary abt 1810, William abt 1812. Ancestry.com shows an Eliza baptised 13/12/1814. Several others on the site may be ours.

Can you confirm the family details of Thomas, and any about Margaret, from church records? Their parents, their siblings, and their children?

Their children: I have the following details so far...Elizabeth 1841, James 1843, THOMAS 1844, Stafford 1845, Eliza 1847, Samuel 1849, Mary 1850, Agnes 1852, Hugh Alexander and Sarah Carmichael 1855 (twins?), and Andrew 1857. I have gathered this basic information from Emerald Ancestors and other genealogy web sites. The census 1901/11 has details of Stafford's family but other family details are proving quite elusive.

I would love to have more details if they are available.

Thank you for considering my request. Please help if you can.

Warm regards,
Anita

IrelandXO member

3 replies

The following abstract relates to the Thomas you have mentioned. The will itself is on-line on the PRONI site. (It mentions wife Margt, and children Andrew, Wm, Jas, Sam?l, Hugh, Stafford, Eliza, Nancy & Sarah.)

The Will of Thomas M'Lean late of Skilganaban County Antrim Farmer who died 24 December 1884 at same place was proved at Belfast by John M'Clean and William Carmichael both of Ballyalbana in said County Farmers the Executors.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/willsSearchResultsDetails.aspx

Not sure you?ll get much more from the church baptism records than is on the Emerald site. All baptisms usually contain is the names, dates and townland. You probably have all that already.

If you want sight of the originals, there?s a copy in PRONI on microfilm MIC1P/24. The baptisms are indexed. A personal visit is normally necessary to get access to them.

Another probate abstract (This will is not on-line. Full file is in paper format in PRONI).:

McClean Mary Anne of Skilganaban Ballyclare county Antrim farmer married woman died 3 March 1942 Probate Belfast 15 September to Robert McClean farmer. Effects ?915 7s. 3d.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for your reply, and so quickly too. Marvellous! Thank you. 

Your response has given me valuable information and has helped me focus (sometimes the search is overwhelming!) I'm a novice at this and I do appreciate your assistance.

The will has provided names of two more children (Nancy and William), previously unknown and not on Emerald baptisms and not in the family trees of other researchers on ancestry.com. So I wonder if the church baptism records would be of help after all - to confirm this is my family after all or whether there are two families in the same place with very similar families.

It's exciting and frustrating in equal measure!

Many thanks,
Anita

IrelandXO member

Anita,

I should think this is your family. Emerald may have overlooked the 2 extra baptisms or the baptisms may not have been recorded in the registers. (I have seen plenty of blank spaces where Ministers have forgotton the child's name eg "A male child to John & Mary Smith"). 

You may need to employ a local researcher to go through the church records for you. They will also be able to get copies of the wills and any other documents PRONI may have eg leases, and other papers relating to the family.

 

Elwyn

 

 

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

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