Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Looking for Connor's from Portrush & Coleraine area in Antrim

AntrimDunluce (Antrim)

Hello, I am looking for Information on my family that came from the Portrush/Coleraine area in Antrim. My Great Grandfather was

William John Conner (Connor) He was born 10 Feb 1868 He married Esther Mary Sinclair in Jul of 1887. They had 7 children between 1888 and 1902. Esther Mary, William James, Finlay Sinclair, Margaret (Maggie) David, Elizabeth, and Sarah Florence. In 1905 William John passed away. Ether then remarried a man named William J Watton. They had one son named James. William Watton also had another child later with his second wife. Their daughter was named May.

In the 1091 Census the last name is spelled Conner, in 1911 it is spelt Connor.

Sometime after 1991 and before the start of World War 1, William James, Finlay Sinclair, and David Connor all immigrated to Canada after the 1911 Census. They were here by 1914 as they all joined the Canadian army in that year. Their sister Ester Mary also came to Canada to work as a domestic.

I am also interested in my great grandmothers family the Sinclairs. Her father was Finlay Sinclair b. 1840 d. 1908, and her mother was Catherine June Martin b. 1846 d. 1910.

Any information that people could pass on would be great.

IrelandXO member

3 replies

The revaluation records show the Sinclair farm to have been in John Sinclair?s name in 1864. It passed to Finlay in 1892. It was plot 16a which was a famrhouse, outbuildings and 34 acres.

This looks to be Finlay in Ballymagarry townland in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Portrush_Rural/Ballymagarry/943736/

Probate abstract (full will is on the PRONI site):

Probate of the Will of Finlay Sinclair late of Ballymagarry County Antrim Farmer who died 31 January 1908 granted at Belfast to Hugh Hunter Retired Farmer. Effects ?198 6s. 3d

 

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello jace76,

I have just read your message which you posted in August 2014 and would like to know if you are still searching for information on the Sinclairs of Ballymagarry.   This family is distantly connected to me via complicated marriages and I have quite a lot of information on them.   Your great-grandmother, Esther Mary Sinclair, came from a family of 13 children of whom I am aware.   Several emigrated but others remained in Ireland.

Please let me know if you are still looking for this family and I will be happy to share with you what I have.   I have the family back to a John Sinclair born about 1800 who was your Esther Mary's grandfather.    I have sent a message to cousins in Ireland to confirm that there are still Sinclairs at Ballymagarry.

MontyMcF

Hello MontyMcF,

Thanks for replying to my post. I amalways looking for information, especially since info for Irish ancestors is hard to come by. I have talked to one cousin in the past who's father was Esthers brother, she was born and lives in the Uninted States. If you would like to send me any information you can send it to jeconnor@hotmail.com I can also then send you the info that I have on her children that came over to Canada (3 boys and 1 Girls). 

 

Thanks

Janet

IrelandXO member

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.