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Drumadarragh Townland: Looking for Kielt Surname

AntrimBallymoney (Antrim)

My great-grandfather Hugh Dinsmore of Ballinaloob left 5 pounds in his will for his nephew Hugh Kielt "who now lives in America." I have found the will of James Kielt who died on 25 May 1867 in Drumadarragh, Antrim and had Hugh Dinsmore of Ballinaloob as his first-sworn executor. I found in the Brooklyn, NY Directory of 1885, a Hugh Kielt who lived on the same street as my great-grandparents Joseph and Rose (Gorman) Dinsmore. Is Drumadarragh part of Ballymoney? Does anyone know of any records of Kielts there? I'm wondering if James Kielt may have married a Dinsmore, making Hugh Kielt the nephew of Hugh Dinsmore. Any information about the Kielts, Dinsmores or Drumadarragh would be appreciated. Thanks. Christine Dinsmore

ChristineDinsmore

4 replies

Judging by his death certificate, James Kielt was born c 1811. He is listed in Griffiths Valuation for Drumadarragh in 1861 as having plot 5 which was a 13 acres farm. His was the only Kielt farm in the townland. That farm today is on the modern Lisboy Rd. Drumadarragh townland is immediately adjacent to Ballyloob. Both are a few miles south east of Ballymoney.

Statutory marriage registration started in 1845. If he was born c 1811, James Kielt probably married before that in which case you need to search church records. To do that you need to know the family’s denomination and which church they attended. That probably involves a visit to PRONI in Belfast to search the relevant church records.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much. If he wee the same religion as Hugh Dinsmore, he would have been Catholic. Are there records online for Catholic marriages prior to 1845? Again, thanks for getting back so quickly and so thoroughly. That's the reason I tell everyone doing Irish genealogy that Ireland Reaching Out is the best.

Christine

ChristineDinsmore

Drumadarragh is in the RC parish of Dunloy. The sources I use say the parish has no marriage records earlier than 1877.

I had a look at the tithe applotment records for Drumadarragh in 1832. There were no Kielt farms in the townland (or anywhere in the surrounding area) at that time. So possibly your ancestors arrived there after 1832. They certainly appear to have acquired their farms after that year. That’s what the records indicate.

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/killagan-parish.php#.VrEQxFJ2ug0

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you. I now have more information to check out and hopefully lead to the answer of the question, how is Hugh Kielt related to Hugh Dinsmore?

I did get another bit of information that Hugh Kielt married Rose (didn't list her maiden name) in Greenlough RC Church, 15 Feb 1852. Not sure if that's my Hugh Kielt, but the surname doesn't seem that common. Again, many thanks.

Christine

ChristineDinsmore

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