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Looking for McElherans in Cushendall

AntrimLayd (Antrim)

I'm looking for any information on the McElherans, with particular interest in Mary McElheran born in Layd parish, in Cushendall in 1875, daughter of David McElheran and Bessie (Elizabeth) Bell. Their address on all the children's birth records was Glasmullen. She had two sisters Anne and Margaret, and three brothers Alexander, John and Robert. Alexander and John stayed in NI and married there. John died in 1909. Annie married James Atkins and had several children. The last record we have is the 1911 census where they are in Wales. Margaret married David Pritchard and, along with Robert and Mary, went to America and Margaret and Mary appear on the 1901 census in New York. Robert appears on the 1905 New York census.

We can find civil birth records for all the children via the GRONI site except Mary. The online baptism records stop at 1873 for Layd parish. I also can't find a marriage record for David and Bessie, but again, there aren't any online church marriage records that I can find for Layd parish. We've found a Griffiths records for David in Glasmullen. The Antrim census records for 1901/1911 aren't helpful because the children are gone by then with one exception. I've tried contacting the church directly but haven't gotten a response. Any help is greatly appreciated.

rootslb

7 replies

Lisa:

I located a civil marriage index record for a David McElhearn in 1866 in Dublin. One of the possible spouses listed was an Elizabeth Bell. Not sure if this is the record for your couple but I wanted to make you aware of the record. You can get a copy of this record from the General Register Office for around 4 euros. If you want to get a copy of this record let me know, and I will forward instructions. A copy costs around 4 euros.

Roger McDonnell

 

 

First name(s) David
Last name M'Elhearn
Registration District Dublin South
Registration year 1866
Registered Quarter/Year 1866
Volume 2
Page 767
County -
 

MarriageFinder?

 David M'Elhearn married one of these people
Henrietta Fullam, Ellen Byrne, Henrietta Cannon, Elizabeth Bell
Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

PRONI have copies of the births and baptism records for Layd RC up to 1881. (They are not on-line though). After that date, the only copies are held by the parish priest. Parish priests in Ireland rend to receive rather more genealogical requests than they can cope with and it?s not unusual for letters to be ignored. You really need to go in person, or get a researcher to do it for you. Some persistence may be required to get an appointment. Their priority is their living parishioners, not the dead ones.

Don?t know if these probate files relate to your family. The documents are in PRONI (in paper format). All died intestate.

Administration of the estate of David M'Elheran late of Cushendall County Antrim Carpenter who died 30 June 1904 granted at Belfast to Elizabeth M'Elheran Spinster

Administration of the Estate of the late Margaret McElheran, Mill Street, Cushendall, Co. Antrim, Spinster, who died 29 June 1919, granted at Belfast 13 October 1919 to Elizabeth McElheran, Spinster, the sister. Effects: ?150 17s.

McElheran Elizabeth of Mill Street Cushendall county Antrim spinster died 24 December 1935 Administration Belfast 19 February to Robert McElheran farmer. Effects ?829 11s.

The revaluation records show David McElheran with 2 farms in Glasmullen till 1898 when it changes to ?reps of? indicating he died. Alex succeeds him. The second farm (plot 16 was disposed of in 1908) but the other farm (plots 8 & 9) remain in Alexander?s name till the late 1920s, when those records finish.

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

This is fantasic information. Thank you very much. I will see if someone from the Ulster Historical Foundation can do the research at PRONI on Mary. This is so very interesting.

rootslb

That's amazing - thank you. The dates are smack on and there are so few McElherans around that it is probably correct, but the location of Dublin is a mystery. I think I'll go ahead and pull it. Thanks again.
Lisa

rootslb

Your information was so helpful - thank you. I don't know if you still have access to the revaluation records but if you do can you tell me and if they show who was in possession of the farm at Glasmullen before 1861? I pulled the marriage certificate from the information in the first reply and it shows some very interesting data, but I can't tell if this is the same David McElheran. David McElheran is listed in Giffiths Valuation as at this location in 1861, but he is also listed as a widower on the marriage certificate. The father is listed as Archibald, and his IS a farmer, but it doesn't list his address. David's address at that point is in Dublin, but on a street that according to Wikipedia wasn't built and named until 1868 - confusing.
Thanks again.

 

rootslb

Griffiths only starts in 1861 for the parish of Layd so there are no earlier records of who tenanted the farm from that source. However your best bet would be to search the Antrim estates records (which are lodged in PRONI, Belfast). The records are excellent and record every tenant by townland. Rents were collected twice a year (on gale days), so two records per year, and the records are pretty complete back to the 1820s. They are not on-line and a visit to PRONI is required to access them. They should show who was the previous occupant of the farm in Glasmullan back to at least the 1820s.

Your other option is the tithe applotment records for Layd. They?ll also show who was the tenant in the 1820s/1830s. Again those for Co. Antrim are in PRONI (and are not on-line).

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Here is a photo of Alexander McElheran. His father David willed him the land in Glasmullen at his death "should he choose to undertake it within the next year." However, Alexander was an engineer in the British Merchant Navy. He married Elizabeth Darragh and installed his wife on on the property, but he never appears on the census records, only she does.

I've also included a photo of his sister Mary with her first child. Just wondering if either of these people look familiar to anyone.

 

rootslb

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