Clugston in County Antrim

AntrimBallylinny (Antrim)

Hello,

I am searching for information about the Clugston family/surname in County Antrim. The family I am descended from was active in the Ballylinny Presbyterian Church. My great grandfather was Robert Clugston, b. about 1847 in Ballyclare. He married in Belfast in 1867 Mary McCausland, b.about 1849 in Belfast. Robert and many of his siblings left Northern Ireland in the mid to late 1860's for the USA and Canada. Robert Clugston's parents were Robert Clugston (Sr.) and Eliza McBride who were married 23 Oct 1838 in Ballylinny Presb. Church. Robert Sr.'s parents were Hugh Clugston (b. about 1790, d. about 1865) and Sarah McBride. Apparently, there were three Hugh Clugstons in County Antrim at that time. I'm not sure which Hugh Clugston is our ancestor. I would appreciate any information you might have about the Clugston and McBride families.

srdyck@gmail.com

11 years ago

14 replies

I'll have a look and see what I can find for you about these families. Ballylinny records only start in 1837 so there may not be too much to find on earlier generations.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

11 years ago

My name is Brendan Clugstom and a descendant of Samuel Clugston who left Ballylinny in 1870's and came to America through Philadelphia. He resided in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania until his death in 1881. He was murdered during a home invasion. He built a Presbyterian Church in Valley Forge. I know he was the son of Hugh I believe. I know his son John was my great great grandfather.

Bclugston@gmail.com

7 years ago

Hello Brendan. It is great to hear from you. We would be cousins of some kind because we are both part of the same extended Clugston family. My great great grandfather, Robert Clugston Sr., was an older brother of the Samuel who settled in Valley Forge. I have been to Valley Forge and seen where Samuel's house and mill were. As I understand it, your gggrandfather, John Clugston, died in a tragic accident in a papermill in Maryland. Do you have any information about the Clugston's or the McBride's in County Antrim, N. Ireland? My name is Suzanne Dyck.

srdyck@gmail.com

7 years ago

How are you and I'm glad you responded. Yes John Clugston was my great grandfathers father. In fact my father was named after him. I e had pretty good research even down to the boat they came over on and even the captain. However,once I get back to Ireland the records stop. I do know we originated in Scotland. I'm hoping to get over there. I tried to buy a program from Samuels funeral from 1881 but the individual wouldn't sell it. Wasn't even family. I hope to get it one day.

Bclugston@gmail.com

7 years ago

Hi All

I am actually from New South Wales in Australia.

I am also a Clugston descendant. The names Robert and Samuel appear in my line as well.

Robert (1830-1879) immigrated to Australia with his wife, Sarah (nee Castles) (1831-1912) and his18 year old little sister, Jane (1838-1914), arriving in NSW August 22, 1856. The were followed by Samuel (1835-1915) (the middle child of the three) who immigrated to Australia arriving in NSW June 23, 1858. They all became what is known as Monaro Pioneers.

There father was Thomas (c1787-1872) and mother was Jane Martin (dates unknown). I believe, though not certain that Thomas' brothers were Robert and James.

I am a descendant of Samuel, the middle child. He was my Great-Great Grandfather. He and his brother Robert both continued the names of Robert, Samuel and Thomas through their many children, and so did many of those children.

As far as I know, the family was from Newtownhamilton, County Armagh. So not County Antrim, and a good 60 miles or so away.

I would love to know if there is any connection - I am sure their must be.

Thanks and regards

Kathy Lawson

Newcastle, NSW, Australia.

Katy53Did

7 years ago

I realise that the original 2015 message didn’t get a reply. I have overlooked it. Sorry.

You mention Hugh Clugston born 1790 who married Sarah McBride and died c 1865. There was a death for a Hugh Clugston registered in Antrim town on 16.1.1865 aged 77. You might want to look at that to see where he lived, who the informant was etc. You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2.50 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

Griffiths Valuation for 1862 has a Hugh Clugston in a small house and garden in Ballygallagh townland (plot 9b), parish of Rashee. That would be a labourer’s house. I wonder if that’s the same person?

A Robert Clugston died in Dunamoy, Rashee on 6.12.1898 aged 52. He was a widower. The informant was his son Hugh. I wonder if that was Hugh’s son who married Mary McCausland.

This looks to be Robert’s son Hugh (informant at his death) with his family in the 1901 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Kilbride/Drumadarragh/919009/

Robert married Agnes Todd on 15.10.1888 at Ballymena Registry Office, at which time they both lived in Glenwherry.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

7 years ago

My great grandmother was Margaret Clugston...
In her death cert..father Robert Clugston ( steam engine keeper) and Mother Elizabeth McBride..
Margaret was born circa 1862 in Ireland..
First record was staying in Chapel St Maryhill Glasgow with Peter and Sarah Forrest...Sarah was her sister, Margaret was only 20 yrs of age in this cencus and was a domestic worker...Married Angus Stewart in 1882, she worked in a paper mill and marriage cert says both parents deceased!...
Now the question...I am trying to find more about my great grandfather and mother, as not sure where they came from or where they died..any help appreciated... sandy299@hotmail.co.uk

sandy299@hotma…

6 years ago

Sandy,

Statutory records for marriage start in Ireland in 1845. Births & deaths start in 1864. I searched the marriage records 1845 – 1865 but did not find a marriage for Robert & Elizabeth. That suggests they married before 1845, in which case you need to search church records. To do that you really need to know which church. Not all churches have records pre 1845 and of those that do, not all are on-line. The records that do exist are mostly in PRONI in Belfast but a personal visit is required to view them.

Sarah’s marriage in 1876 tells you Robert was dead by that date but Elizabeth was alive, so that narrows her date of death down a bit.

I searched for deaths in Ireland for Elizabeth 1876 to 1882. There were none.

There were 3 Roberts 1864 - 1876, one aged 83 (died in Belfast 1868), plus 2 aged 23. So none seems likely to fit.

Have you searched for them in Scotland?

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

6 years ago

sandy299@hotma…

6 years ago

Thanks

sandy299@hotma…

6 years ago

Hi Elwyn..just found from previous posts and other sites...Robert Clugston circa 1817(son of Hugh Clugston and Sarah McBride)..was from Ballyhone, Carmoney.
Married Eliza McBride in Ballylinny Presbyterian Church on 23/10/1838..
He was a eng/ cart maker working for a Mr.Fleming on Antrim road and sadly was killed in a works accident in 1863 ..age 46.
Leaving Eliza to bring up children( how many and names yet to find out)..my great grandmother ,Margaret was born in 1862, so was only a baby when this sad event took place...
Also mentioned was that his father Hugh may have been involved in the instigation of Ballylinny Presbyterian church?

sandy299@hotma…

6 years ago

sandy299@hotma…

6 years ago

Sandy,

If Robert died in 1863, then sadly that’s the year before death registration started in Ireland (1.1.1864). So you won’t get a death certificate for him. He may have a gravestone in a local churchyard but Presbyterians generally don’t keep burial records so Ballylinney church won’t have a record either. I searched the British Newspapers archive for his death in 1863 but did not find any mention of it.

There’s a little history on Ballyinney Pres church here:

https://www.ballylinneypc.co.uk/our-history

The church appears to have a graveyard so that’s the obvious place to look for gravestones (1836 onwards). Prior to that they may have used the Old graveyard. But there are others in the area. I note you say he came from Carnmoney, so earlier Clugston graves may be in one of the numerous graveyards there.

There’s a tree on Ancestry which shows a further daughter to Robert & Elizabeth, ie Elizabeth b c 1859 who married Robert Rollo in Greenock on 30.6.1896. This is that couple in Tipperary in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tipperary/Clonmel_East_Urban/O_Connell_Street/1710521/

And in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tipperary/Clonmel_East…

Both censuses have Elizabeth’s place of birth as Scotland so did the McBride family live in Scotland at one time ie c 1859?

Robert died in Tipperary in 1932 and Elizabeth in 1936.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1932/04869/4316729.pdf

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1936/04793/4288880.pdf

If you are looking for details of other siblings, all the children were born before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864) and so you will have to rely on church records. Ballylinny Presbyterian records are not on-line but there is a copy in PRONI, so you would need to get someone to look them up there for you. The records contain: Baptisms, 1837-1922; marriages, 1837-1900; marriage notices, 1938-61.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

6 years ago

Sandy,

I found another likely member of Robert & Elizabeth’s family. Son John Clugston married Isabella Scott in 1863 at Ballylinney Presbyterian.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1863/09641/5496276.pdf

A witness was a Thomas Clugston. Presumably a relation.

This couple appear to have had the following children, all registered in Belfast save for the first which was registered in Antrim:

William 5.5.1864

Elizabeth 1.10.1866

Robert 1.5.1869

Catherine 15.9.1871

David 27.3.1874