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Hello: McLaughlin's - Garryduff

AntrimBallymoney (Antrim)

Dear Friends,

This is a new site for me - it appears to be built on the good will of those who may read these posts, which I find to be far the friendliest way to go about all this. So I'll give a full introduction. It will seem unlikely that any Fallin [ Faolin courtesy of DNA analysis] would wind up in County Antrim, so it's not my own surname I'm searching for [it's a much longer reach since my first Fallin was in Virginia prior to 1671]. Rather I'm looking for links with one my maternal Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Rodgers McLaughlin's, family. Our generations were close enough that I knew her quite well;she lived well into my teenage years.

Elizabeth was the daughter of James R. McLaughlin, born in County Antrim in 1845 and apparently coming to America as a young child (James R. died in 1913) and his wife Lydia Lamont, also born in Ireland, but we're not sure where, in 1848 (she died in 1816). They appear to have lived first in or near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (James R. served about a year in a Pennsylvania unit of the Union Army in the Civil War) and then moved to a permanent home/farm in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

James R. McLaughlin was the son of James McLaughlin(born about 1793 in County Antrim and dying in 1859 in Gloucester County, New Jersey) and Elizabeth Rodgers (born about 1896, died in 1871 in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

All of the above information can be confirmed from gravestones found in Williamstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

Quite Recently a 2d or 3d cousin has written that James McLaughlin's father was a Robert McLaughlin and that they were from Garryduff, Ballymoney Parish, County Antrim. She based that information on material she found at the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) library in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has promised to send confiming information, but this is exciting enoughthat I've decided to reach out now.

It appears that her evidence is drawn from a little book, apparently now out of print, called: "The Banner of the Blue in Auld Garrydoo:A History of Garryduff Presbyterian Church by S. Alexander Blair and published in 2010." At this point, I'm not sure exactly what, beside the name Robert McLaughlin, may have been drawn from the book, but she has his son James McLaughlin and his wife Elizabeth Rodgers having the following children - all apparently born in County Antrim:

"My" James R. McLaughlin (1845-1913)

Robert McLaughlin (1839-1906)

Mary Ann McLaughlin (1836-1892

Nancy McLaughlin (b. abt 1830- )[a little less sure because apparentlydrawn from a C of I record]

In all the lines I'm researching (many of which reach back to Ireland;my wife's maiden name, Finley, from County Down; and her mother's maiden name, Elliott, from County Fermanagh), this is the first and only time that I've seen apossibility of contacting family still living. There is a family tradition that someone, perhaps my GGrandmother was still communicating with family in Ireland into the 1950s.

Thanks so much for wading through this note and, believe me, I will be most grateful for any assistance.

Jack Fallin

Walnut Creek, CA, USA

jakff@astound.net

7 replies

 

Dear marysym,

Thanks very much - first for noticing my post so quickly and second for the link to the review of the book I mentioned.  The reviewer gives quite a few names, but unfortunately no McLaughlins, so it's tantalizingly close.  It's seems from the discussion that the book was distributed to the bulk of the Garryduff congregation, so perhaps someone still has their copy.  My next step may be to try reaching out to the author himself.  Again, in this family history business it's a great pleasure just to be heard!

Thanks again,

Jack

 

jakff@astound.net

The Rev Park compiled a census of Ballymoney parish in 1817. You can view it on Bill McAfee’s site:

http://billmacafee.com

There were 2 McLaughlin households in Carnany townland and 1 in Dunaverney. There was a James Alexander McL in one of the Carnany households.

The 1851 census for Garryduff townland has survived and there was one McL household in it, headed by Rodger.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Kilconway/Ballymoney/Garryduff/11/

They had gone by the time of Griffiths Valuation in 1861.

Kate Connolly at the Causeway Coast & Glens Branch of the North of Ireland Family History Society has a great knowledge of the Ballymoney area and local fmailies. You might want to contact her for assistance.

https://www.facebook.com/colerainenifhs

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Causeway Coast and Glens Branch of the North of Ireland Family History Society are hosting a Family History Conference -

"RETURN TO THE CAUSEWAY - A Journey Into The Past"

Dates: 25th - 29th September 2017

Based in The Atlantic Hotel, Portrush, Co Antrim

Includes Talks, Discussions and Tours

(With access to over 100,000 transcribed and Indexed Church records)

For further information, please visit the webpage at: returntothecauseway.org.uk

 

or email: return2causeway@gmail.com

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

 

Dear Elwyn,

I now think of Ballymoney Parish as family history heaven.  With about 20 years of research behind me, I can't ever remember quicker and more helpful responses.  I've made good use of the links you provided, downloading and highlighting the names of greatest interest.  It's clear that McLaughlin, Lamont and Rodgers/Rogers feel at home in County Antrim. Now I just have to pick my way through all these relevant threads.  I thank you for the reference to Kate Connolly, but through a completely different route I just met her online this week.  Kate and I, according to our "autosomal" DNA, are something between 2nd and 4th cousins!  So we now know there's a real connection and the puzzle lies in trying to find a surname we share [a task made easier by our newly established geographic connection, but still not easy].  At this point, all the omens seem good.

Thanks again,

Jack

 

 

jakff@astound.net

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