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McFaddens & Montgomerys of Park Townland, Dunluce Parish

AntrimDunluce (Antrim)

My great-great-grandparents were James McFadden, born 5th June 1841, and Peggy Montgomery (dates unknown) who both lived in the Park townland in Dunluce Parish. James was the son of John McFadden (c.1809-1885) and Hester Reid (c.1801-1894). I believe that Peggy was the daughter of David Montgomery and Sarah - no specific dates but apparently also of Park townland. Both families are mentioned there in Griffith's Evaluation c.1860.

No trace can be found of James and Peggy after the birth of their daughter,my great-grandmother, Hester Jane McFadden on 4th July 1863. Hester/ Esther Jane McFadden married my great-grandfather, Campbell McFall (1864-1932) on 4th January 1886in Dunluce Parish Church of Ireland, Bushmills. Shedied on 1st November 1932 at Revallagh (borders on Park)near Priestland in Dunluce Parish. McFaddens were still in Park townland until fairly recent times, probably into the 1940s/1950s. They are all gone now. Montgomerys did have connections to nearby Priestland.

I have been unable to find any recordof James McFadden or Peggy Montgomery after theChristening of daughter Hester Jane on 12th November 1863 in Dunluce Parish Church. I have traced siblings of James to the Carolinas in the USA so James and Peggymay have emigrated also but their daughter apparently remained in Irelandand subsequently raised her own large family in Dunluce Parish. I do not know if shehad any siblings.

If anybody is able to offer any information on these McFaddensor Montgomerys or suggestions as to what happened to James and Peggy and any other children they may have had, it would be very much appreciated. I have searched for them for many years without success.

Thank you.

MontyMcF

8 replies

Here’s John McFadden’s probate abstract:

The Will of John M'Fadden late of Park County Antrim Farmer who died 14 April 1885 at same place was proved at Belfast by Thomas Ramsay and Thomas Stewart both of Priestland in said County Farmers the Executors.

The will itself is on the PRONI wills site and it mentions him having 2 farms, one in Park and the other in Ballytober. These were left to his 2 sons Alexander & Hugh.

Judging by the 1901 census the family were Presbyterian. Have you checked the local Presbyterian records for other childrens baptisms?

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Beardiville/Park_East/943243/

I had a look in the stat records for children born to parents named McFadden & Montgomery from 1.1.1864 up to 1873. The only one I found was Anna born 4.8.1872 in Magherafelt registration area (Co. Derry). Some distance from Dunluce so may be a different family.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwyn,

Many thanks for your response.   You and I have been in contact in the past and I value your feedback.

I do have that will information already, thank you.   Yes, they were Presbyterians and I have found several baptism records.   Interestingly, my James and his siblings were found in the baptismal records for Bushmills Presbyterian Church, Billy Parish, although the children were shown as born at The Park in Dunluce Parish.   This suggests to me that the family may originally have come from Billy Parish to Dunluce but maintained their ties to their former parish.    They also buried in Old Billy Burying Ground in Bushmills.   I have traced numerous McFadden families originating in the Bushmills area but can find no link to my own branch at The Park.

Thank you for the information re Anna McFadden born 1872 in Magherafelt.   i have checked the birth registration and her parents are shown as William John McFadden and Martha Montgomery.   So, alas, not mine.

Best wishes.

 

MontyMcF

Presbyterians in Ireland don’t use the parish system and so which church to attend is a matter of personal preference and, as you have probably found, not necessarily the closest to where you live. Their choice of Bushmills could certainly indicate they originated there, or it might be that they just liked the Minister. I note that there are no McFaddens in Park in the 1803 Agricultural census (on Bill McAfee’s site) or in the 1828 tithes so moving into the area, post 1828, may be the explanation.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks again, Elwyn.   I agree that the McFaddens at The Park must have arrived some time after 1828 and before their first (known) child was born there in 1834.   There were also other McFaddens not too far away at Outhill in Ballyrashane Parish and a James McFadden is recorded in the Tithes of 1832.   However, that line may have originated in Dervock.   Regardless, I can find not connection to my own branch.

As always, your interested is appreciated.

MontyMcF

Hello Monty,

 

 My name is Steve Thomas and I am assisting my wife Colleen McFaull with her family history.

Her grandfather was William James McFaul 1884 - 1974 he was the eldest son of Campbell and Hester (Essie) McFall.

I was wondering if you could possibly share any information of the siblings of William James since we are having such a hard time with our research.

I am on MyHertiage  https://www.myheritage.com/site-228554541/thomas

Ironicly we are having a McFaull family reunion the fall here in Alberta, Canada where they first settled in 1928.

It would be great to hear from you!

 

Steve

 

IrelandXO member

Hello Steve,

Very nice to hear from you. I was in contact with Colleen many years ago but we lost touch. Her William James was a brother to my grandfather Daniel Hugh.

I have done a lot of research on the McFalls and, after eventually tracking down your branch,.have been in touch for many years with Stan and Pat. In. fact we have met often in Arizona. I have received already an invitation to the reunion and hope to be able to get there. Maybe see you and Colleen there?

Nice to hear from you. Keep in touch.

I will try to access your MyHeritage link when I can but at the moment I am in Puerto Rico with no computer.

MontyMcF

Steve,

Sorry but I have been unable to access your file on MyHeritage.   Do you have a file elsewhere?  Do you perhaps have a link to Ancestry.com?  

MontyMcF

Hello Again Monty,

 

 Please send me an email to esksrock@hotmail.ca and I will send you an invite directly from the website.

 

Thanks!

 

Steve

IrelandXO member

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