Dinsmore
I've posted this email message on the general Antrim County Page, but I'm posting it here because my great-grandfather, Joseph Dinsmore, lived in Antrim and his father, Hugh Dinsmore, was a farmer in the Killagan Parish, the Townland of Ballynaloop in Ballymoney in the Barrony of Dunnluce Upper. My great-grandfather, Joseph, married my great-grandmother, Rose Gorman, in Feburary 1870, one year after his first wife, Jane Laverty, died. My great-grandparents -- either together or separately emmigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, NY. According to family legend, Joseph abandoned his wife and son, but according to official U.S. census records, he died prior to the 1890 US Census, leaving my great-grandmother a widow. We have insurance policies signed by both my great-grandfather and great-grandmother for land and a cow in Brooklyn, NY up until 1888. After 1888, we have no records of my great-grandfather, which leads me to believe that he did in fact die somewhere between 1888 and 1890. On the outside chance that my great-grandfather either returned to Ireland or was buried in Ireland, I am reaching out to the folks of Parish Killagan in Antrim for any information they may provide. Are any of Hugh Dinsmore's descendents still living there? Hugh Dinsmore had at least seven children -- James born in 1842 (out of wedlock with Anne Martin), Mary Anne in 1842 (marriage of Hugh and Margaret), Hannah Jane in 1846 (marriage of Hugh and Margaret), Margaret in 1849 (marriage of Hugh and Margaret), Matilda in 1852 (marriage of Hugh and Margaret), William John in 1854 (marriage of Hugh and Margaret -- and the person listed on Griffith's Valuation after Hugh Dinsmore died). My great-grandfather, Joseph, who listed Hugh Dinsmore as his father on both his marriages is not listed among the baptismal records nor his possible sister, Elizabeth Dinsmore who married James McKeever.
As you can see, we have lots of verified information on the family, but are missing important pieces--particularly the death and baptismal records of my great-grandfater, Joseph Dinsmore. I would love to communicate with anyone who knows anything about Hugh Dinsmore, family members, descendents and especially my great-grandfather. If anyone there is related to this wing of the Dinsmore family, I'd be happy to share information about the United States descendents. Thank you.