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Adams (Rathkeel)/White (Roughan)

AntrimRacavan (Antrim)

My Ancestor Hugh ADAMS (1819-1899) was one of three sons of Hugh ADAMS (c1781-1849) & Margaret CARLETON (c1780-1857) who left Ireland and settled in Victoria Australia. Histwo brothers were John (1813-1897) and Samuel (1822-1909). Only his sister Martha(1815-1895) stayed in Ireland and she married Robert ESLER (1806-1884).

Hugh travelled to Australia on the ship 'Courier' in 1849. Hisfuture wife Jane WHITE (1819-1888) and her brother John WHITE (18231886) were also on board.

Jane was the daughter of John WHITE & Margaret McCLURE.

John WHITE married a cousin - Barbara McCLURE in Australia but after Barbara's death John seems to have gone back to Ireland and married Maria ESLER (18431919).

I have a collection of letters from the Irish family. One letter from Margaret ADAMS (nee CARLETON) to her son John in 1855.

A few from Martha ESLER (nee ADAMS) to her brother John in 1883 & 1884

then some more from Maria WHITE (nee ESLER) to her cousins from 1902 to 1918.

It seems from all Maria's children - John, Robert, James, Samuel, Margretta & Martha, only James had family and in 1918 James house on the old homestead of the Whites for many generations was nearly finished.

There are no more letters after 1918 so the whereabouts of the old white homestead is unknown but if James and his wife Agnes Jane MEBAN could be located after 1918 that question could be answered.

The three generations - Margaret ADAMS (nee CARLETON), Martha ESLER (nee ADAMS) & Maria WHITE (nee ESLER) are all buried in the cemetary of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Broughshane. A number of WHITE's also seem to be buried in the Racavan burial ground but I haven't been able to find anything for James and Agnes or their children Margretta, Francis & Maria.

I would love to connect with anyone who might have a connection to these families and would be interested in copies of the letters.

Mary

Melbourne, Australia

marycs

19 replies

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your message. I hope that someone with a connection to the family contacts you and helps you to further your research.

In the meantime, here are some websites that may be helpful:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm

Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/

Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/antrim/index.html

Irish TImes Graveyards: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/counties/index.cfm?fuseaction=graveyards&CityCounty=Antrim#Antrim

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

IrelandXO member

Hello Mary

 

Mention of the McClure name and Buckna drew your post to my attention, as this surname appears in two separate lines I have in the area - both females, so difficult to be certain exactly which of the various McClure families they connect with.

 

Anyhow, regarding White of Roughan, have you checked the Wills Index on PRONI website?

It has:

 

Thomas White d1883, with John White on of the executors

John White d 1886, husband of Maria

Maria White d1919, with a Samuel Esler being one of those whom probate was granted to

Robert White d1958, with a James Esler     "      "    "        "         "           "        "         "        "

 

 

 

 

scotmum

Hi Mary,

I saw your message today.

I am the great granddaughter of John White and Maria White (nee Esler). My grandparents were James White and Agnes Jane Meban.

It would be so interesting for me to read copies of the letters which my great grandmother sent to her cousins in Australia.

I will be able to give you much more information on the White family after 1918.

Kind Regards

 

IrelandXO member

Hi Mary from Melbourne et al, I realise I'm a few years behind but I'm excited today (in Covid lockdown) to solve a problem that has annoyed me for years. I have been looking for Hugh Adams, parent of my ancestor Martha Adams, as resident of Rokeel. Which hasn't made sense in an Antrim context. I read something about recorders copying down whatn they have erroneously misheard and I tried some variations on a theme and this all fell into place. Rathkeel - not Rokeel!!

I've done a little chasing of Hugh Adams and family as they established themselves at Wangoom in Western Victoria. My Esler forebears, including Hugh Esler (my great great grandfather) spent time at Wangoom before moving to the Bendigo diggings and eventually to Gippsland (from whence I now write). 

I would prize copies of the letters from Margaret and Martha and happy to share anything I have which might be of interest, though I suspect you have most of it already. I've also done a bit on the Eslers going back quite a few generations.

Mark from Gippsland

 

 

Deaks

Hi Mark,
I'm nice to hear from you.  My email is mary.cs@bigpond.com if you would like to send me an email and I can share lots of information.
I grew up as an Adams in Wangoom so know all about that branch of the family.and still own part of the land they bought there in 1854..

Regarding Rathkeel/Rokeel.  My Hugh Adams was recorded on his Australian marriage as being born in Rock Hill (Rokeel)
From what I understand the area was originally called Rokeel but seems to have transitioned to Rathkeel.
Also on the proni historical maps viewer (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-proni-historical-maps-viewer) , search for RATHKEEL (Racavan)  and zoom in and the little settlement which I presume was once Rathkeel shows up as being named Adamstown.

Re-reading my original message, since then I now believe Hugh's wife was Margaret Barber rather than Margaret Carleton.  Carleton was the information my father had and everyone who has that as her surname got their information from my dad the death certificates for her children show her surname was Barber. There is a Carleton connection but I think it might be from Hugh's mother rather than wife. 

Regards
Mary
 

marycs

Townland names in Ireland were often spelled differently all the time. So Rathkeel and Rokeel are the same place. The original Irish gaelic meant a “narrow fort”.  (A Rath’s a Bronze or Iron age fort). It can be anglicised in various different ways:

http://www.placenamesni.org/resultdetails.php?entry=17084

Rathkeel is 519 acres of agricultural land. In the 1901 census there were 34 houses there and a population of 136. There’s a few more houses today but it remains largely agricultural plus folk commuting to work in Broughshane, Ballymena etc. 2 Adams houses in the townland in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Broughshane/Rathkeel/

The name Adamstown is a localized name. If a lot of people of the same name lived near each other that area might acquire their name. 

Most of the population in that general area are descendants of Scots who settled there in the 1600s. Hence the Scottish surnames and Presbyterian religion.

James White & Agnes Meban marriage:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1904/10211/5716909.pdf

1911 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Slemish/Rooghan…

They also look to have had a daughter Ester born 21.7.1914. 

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

The Valuation revision records on the PRONI site show John White taking over plot 9 in Roughan/Rooghan in 1867. That was a 20 acre farm.  By 1929 it was still in James White’s name.  By then the family had purchased the freehold under the Land Act (ie with a government mortgage). There are maps in Ballymena Library (local studies section) which show where the individual properties were within those townlands, so if you ever want to locate the property today, that can be done with a little patience. It’ll be off the Lisnamurrican Rd somewhere.

Broughshane 1st graveyard:

Erected,in loving memory of, John White of Roughan who died 23rd April 1886 aged 63 years Also his daughter, Martha died 25th Jany 1888 aged 4 years, and 3 months Also his daughter, Margretta died 17th Feb 1910 aged 30 years 'Blessed are the dead which died in the Lord' Rev XIV. 13 Also Martha Adams, wife of Robert Esler, of L.Murrican who died, 27th November 1895, aged 80 years 'to die is gain' Phil 1.21 Also his wife Maria White, died 1st Oct 1919 aged 76 years Also his sons John White died 16th Feb 1858 aged 83 years Robert White died 12th Oct 1958 aged 82 years Samual White died 5th Oct 1963 at Auckland, New Zealand

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn,
Thank you for the follow up and helping me understand the Rokeel/Rathkeel vs Adamstown names.  I have looked at the Adams families there in 1901 & 1911 and have not been able to connect them up to my Adams but I know they must be.  Mine are property nbr 1 & nbr 2 on the 1850 Landed Estate Court records for Rokeel along with a number of other Adams in properties 3, 10 & 14 (14 could be mine too but not sure).  Adams also get a mention in the lives for the tenure in properties 5,6 & 12 so in 1850 out of 18 properties, Adams are involved with 8 of them.

Regarding the White's I have made great progress since my original post 6 years ago and know much more about that branch of the family. Seeing the headstone in Broughshane was a lightbulb moment for me as I had been looking for a John White for a long time as his 1st wife/cousin had died in Australia and was buried with my GG Grandparents (my GG Grandmother was his siter Jane White) and then he had disappeared.  It turns out he had returned to Ireland and married a neice of my GG Grandfather and all the people on the headstone are mentioned in the leters.

I do know the location of the White property but I'd love to be able to pinpoint where all the Adams lived in relation to each other.  It's likely to be a long time before I'll be travelling anywhere from Australia so do you know if it's possible to have copies of the maps made?  I have seen the ones on the askaboutireland.ie website but there are no property numbers detailed on the maps.
Regards
Mary 

marycs

Marycs,

Regarding the 2 Adams families in Rathkeel in 1901, the one headed by Mary Adams seems to be as follows:

Mary McCracken married Hugh Adams on 4.10.1867 at Buckna Presbyterian (so that’s probably the McCracken family church).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1867/11508/8232287.pdf

Their daughter Rachel was born 27.6.1868 which is where I got the couples names. Hugh’s father was Thomas Adams. Thomas appears in Griffiths (the askabout Ireland site) for Rathkeel on plots 9 & 10b. The farmhouse was on 9, 10b was just extra land. The Valuation revision records show the farm passing to Robert in 1879 (suggesting Thomas had died) and then to Hugh in 1889 (suggesting Robert had died or moved away).  By 1903 it was reps of Hugh Adams and in 1905 Robert Kernohan took over.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/searching-valuation-revision-books

Hugh Adams looks to have died in 1901 aged 65. (His death cert isn’t showing on the irishgenealogy site but it’s in the indexes). Thomas Adams died 12.2.1889 aged 72.

Possible marriage for Robert Adams here:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1896/10504/5825678.pdf

The Samuel who is a ”nephew” in the 1901 census looks to be daughter Rachel’s illegitimate child:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1892/02339/1874787.pdf

The other farm in Rathkeel in 1901 is headed by Ellen Adams born c 1832. Her father was Thomas Adams who died in 1845 aged 62. That’s plot 19 in Griffiths (43 acres). In Griffiths the occupant is Mathew Adams who was Ellen’s brother. He died 1873 aged 45. The farm then passed to Ann Adams who was Ellen’s mother. She died in 1883 aged 81 (so born c 1802) and Ellen was the informant.  The property then passed to Ellen.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1883/06378/4830467.pdf

1st Broughshane graveyard:

Erected, by, Ellen Adams, of Rokeel, in memory of, her father Thomas Adams died 26th April 1845 aged 62 years also her mother Anne Adams died 10th March 1892 aged 82 years her sister Margaret Adams died 24th April 1854 aged 21 years her brother Matthew Adams died 5th October 1873 aged 45 years Also the above named Ellen Adams who died 19th Oct 1907 aged 75 years 'blessed are the dead which die in the Lord' Rev XIV. 13.

The date of death for Anne Adams on the gravestone does not match that on the death certificate. So presumably the gravestone is wrong. Not uncommon, for inscriptions that were often added years after the death.

Don’t know if the above information on these 2 families helps you place them in your tree. The family seem to have attended 1st Broughshane. It’s baptisms start in 1827 but they are very patchy. The early ones are just a few bits of loose paper. Lots of gaps till they start properly in 1836. The marriages don’t start till 1845, so researching earlier than that is pretty tricky.

Locating the various farms in Rathkeel is pretty straightforward though you need a bit of patience with the maps as they can be hard to read. In general the maps on Griffiths show where the properties were. However in some places those maps were not available when the records were put on-line and that’s the case for Rathkeel and surrounding townlands. However as I say there are copies that do show where the properties are. They can be hard to make out because they have been over-written quite a lot by the Griffiths clerks. However with patience you can see the plot numbers. As I say they are in the local studies section of Ballymena Library. It’s closed at present (Covid) and there’s no immediate prospect of it re-opening.  PRONI should also have a copy. It is open by appointment to people who have an existing readers ticket. You might be able to get a researcher to look the maps up for you. (And they can usually get them scanned). The maps themselves are A1 or A0 size and PRONI will scan them. An A0 sheet costs £27.80. A1 is £17.90. Alternatively if a researcher has a camera or hand scanner they may be able to scan the townland for less than that.

Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Elwyn,  I will see if I can get copies of the maps.

one question - where did you see the death for Thomas Adams Thomas Adams who died 12.2.1889 as I have been unable to find it.

Robert Adams who you listed the marriage for, was the illegitimate son of Mary Robinson and his birth was registered as Robert Adams Robinson.
- https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1867/03501/2286610.pdf
he is mentioned in the 1872 will of James Robinson as follows:- ‘If my son Alexander and his mother live together he is to give his sister Mary’s son Robert James some education and a trade. If the do not live together my wife is to take charge of Robert James and give him a trade if she survives that time if not Alexander is to get our portion of ground and stock and is to give Robert James a trade' 
From Y-DNA we know that the father of Robert James was an Adams and one who was related to my Adams but the exact connection hasn't yet been worked out.   

Regards
Mary

marycs

Mary,

I got Thomas Adams date of death from this gravestone in 1st Broughshane:

Sacred to the memory of Thomas Adams of Rokeel who departed this life on the 12th day of March 1889, aged 72 years 

(Note: My error I gave the month of death previously as February, it was actually March).

I agree that there’s no sign of it in the Irish statutory death records.  Either the death wasn’t registered or perhaps he died outside Ireland. The wording on the gravestone doesn’t say he’s actually buried there. Eg “Here lies…..” He may well be buried somewhere else eg perhaps he died in Scotland, and the stone is just a memorial to him.

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Elwyn,

There is Thomas Adams who died 18 Mar 1889 - https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…
a 19 year old and son of Thomas Hugh Adams & Isabella Fleck
this one matches the first headstone picture I have attached.

I can see now the http://www.thebraid.com/ has a listing for Thomas Adams with age 72 and death year 1889.
I'm pretty sure this is Thomas Adams who died in 1839 as per 2nd attached photo and thebraid has the wrong year on their transcription.

Thomas who died in 1839 is next to my GGG Grandfather Hugh and is his brother - from the 1850 Landed Estate Court Rentals, their father was John.

I don't know for sure the connection with the Adams detailed in the two headstones clustered with Hugh & Thomas.
These are the ones erected by
Ellen Adams that has her family (father Thomas, mother Ann, sister Margaret & brother Matthew)  who were still at Rokeel in the 1901 census

and 

William Adams of Ballygelly which mentions father James , mother Grace, brother Robert  and children Annie & James - this family was still represented at Rokeel in 1901 & 1911 by Robert Adams, a son of William.

because of how they are clustered, I'm sure they are the same family.

Ellen's father Thomas b.1783 & William's father James b.1778, I suspect are brothers and that their father was a brother of Thomas & Hugh's father John - maybe Samuel Adams the Tenant from the Landed Court Estate Rentals of 1850 who's record lists a son James who was deceased by 1850?

 

marycs

Thanks again Elwyn,

I understand.  Going back in time becomes more difficult and will probably rely on someone with a family connection to know more.

I did find mention in a diary of a great Aunt who visited in 1955. She says she walked up the road past the house of Maria Knox (nee Esler) and the old Adams homestead.

Maria appears with her family in the 1911 census - http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Broughshane/Lis…

she married William Hugh Knox in 1937
he appears with his family in the 1911 census
-http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Broughshane/Rat…

It's quite likely in 1955 that Maria was living in the property the Knox family were at in 1911 as from the Valuation Books, this property seems to have gone from William Adams to the grandfather of William Hugh Knox - John Knox,  then to William Hugh but I don't know if this was Senior or Junior.   Maria's husband William Hugh Knox died in 1942 and his father with the same name in 1950 - they are both in the first Presbyterian Broughshane cemetery.

If I can place where Maria Knox was living in 1955, this would help place the original Adams property.

I think I need the numbered maps.....

marycs

marycs,

There is a further series of records in PRONI that take the revaluation records forwards to the 1960s. They are in the VAL 3 reference series of records. They are not on-line. They are paper and you need to order them up in PRONI. They  should confirm whether the 1955 property was the same one as in the 1911 census. They normally use the same plot numbers as appear in Griffiths. As you say you need the numbered maps. But there weren’t that many farms in Rathkeel. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find, even without the maps, if the family lived there 100 years or more. Someone's likely to remember them. In the 1911 census there were only 30 homes in Rathkeel. About 20 farms, the rest were labourers cottages.

William who died in 1942 left a will that’s in PRONI. You mind it helpful. The will itself is not on-line. PRONI will copy it for you for a fee or you could get a researcher to do that too. Here’s the abstract: 

Knox William Hugh of Rathkeel Broughshane county Antrim farmer died 28 May 1942 at Musgrave Clinic Belfast Probate Belfast 14 August to Alexander McMaster farmer and George B. Caruth solicitor. Effects £1128 16s. 1d.

I also noted this Maria Knox. Not sure of there is any connection: Knox Maria of Drummack Broughshane county Antrim married woman died 27 May 1948 Probate Belfast 11 November to John Knox farmer. Effects £493 6s. 5d.

 

 

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thannks Elwyn

marycs

According to newspaper entries, Maria Knox was letting lands in Rathkeel and Roughan in 1955 etc., for cutting, grazing, crops and suchlike. The entries mentioned the "dwelling house on the Rathkeel Farm" as being where the sale of the lots would take place.

scotmum

I also noted this Maria Knox. Not sure of there is any connection: Knox Maria of Drummack Broughshane county Antrim married woman died 27 May 1948 Probate Belfast 11 November to John Knox farmer. Effects £493 6s. 5d.

 

This Maria was a Dickey to her maiden name. 

scotmum

Thanks scotmum,

We now believe the house near Maria Knox my great Aunt went past was the ESLER homestead rather than an ADAMS one.
There is an Esler family history abstracted here:- https://www.traralgonhistory.asn.au/miscellaneous/esler.htm, where the last line reads '"the old house at home" still stands and has been kept in good order. There is a stone in the house with the cutting: "BUILT BY ROBERT ESLER 1804".'  

So I'm still on the search for the actual location of the original Adams properties.

I haven't come across Maria Knox who died 1948 before but Dickey is a name used in the family. The mother of the Maria Knox (Esler) I have been investigating was Jenny Dickey Esler b.1862.  Her parents were both Eslers and are back from the time where records are scarce, but to have been given a middle name of Dickey, it would seem somewhere there was a connection.

marycs

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