Allan & Giffin Families, Ballymena, Co Antrim

[datawise]

Hi Alistair, I came across this post looking for information regarding my Given roots in Cullybackey. I've got back as far as James Given, b. 1807 to John (and, I think, Rebecca Mark), but the early history is still unclear.

Your comment about the family coming from Scotland matches some of the stories I have about Ayrshire roots. Do you have any more information, or sources for this piece of information?

Any help would be very much appreciated

Peter

[Jabble]

I have just started, in 2016, to research my connections with the Allan/Allen Family from Ballymena. My starting point was information from my father that my Great Grandmother Frances {Fanny} Elizabeth Allen's (b. 1859) father was John Allen and that she also had a relative named Mrs Burns, Mountjoy Road, Ballymena. I have discovered that witness to Fanny's marriage in 1877 were a Thomas & Agnes Allen and a Nancy Allen registered the birth of her first child in 1879 at Creebilly, Ballymena. The child (surname McCullough) only lived for 3 days. Is there any known connection to my Great Grandmother Allen with Isabella Burns (nee Allan), whose husband was a draper in Church Street, Ballymena and John Allan, Seed Merchant, Church Street, Ballymena, who died in 1909. John Allen also listed in 1901 Irish Census but not in 1911 Irish Census.

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat 

she also had a relative named Mrs Burns, Mountjoy Road, Ballymena
Do you have any idea of when Mrs. Burns would have lived there?

[Jabble]

As my Great Grandmother Frances (Fanny) McCullough (nee Allen) died in Belfast during 1934 I suspect Mrs Burns lived in Mountjoy Road, Ballymena around that time.

[aghadowey]

Can't find a Mountjoy Road in Ballymena  there is one in Omagh, along with Mountjoy Streets in Belfast & Londonderry.

So trying another tack. Here's Thomas (draper) & Isabella Burns in 1911- she's born Co. Armagh:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ballymena__No__2__Urban__In_34_files_/Church_Street/117384

However, 1901 says Isabella born County Down:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballymena_and_Town_and_Urban_District_of_Ballymena/Church_Street/925846
Husband Thomas born in County Tyrone (according to both census) so wondering if 'Mountjoy' could be the name of their house rather than a street name?
Thomas Burns, son of William, married (1870 Co. Antrim) Isabella Allen, daughter of Robert

[aghadowey]

Thomas Burns died 1920- address still Church St.-
Probate of the Will of Thomas Burns late of Church Street, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Draper and J.P., who died 4 April 1920 granted at Belfast 17 May 1920 to Robert MacDonnell, Manager and Henry O'Hara, Clerk and Robert Allan Burns, Draper. Effects: £5051 14s 0d.

Burns Eleanor of Church Street Ballymena county Antrim spinster died 10 December 1954 Probate Belfast 15 July to James Eric Whiteside Adams draper and James Henry Bamber solicitor. Effects £2615 17s.

Burns Robert Allan of Church Street Ballymena county Antrim retired draper died 7 November 1945 Probate Belfast 29 January to Eleanor Burns spinster and James Whiteside Adams draper. Effects £356 5s. 3d.

[aghadowey]

I have discovered that witness to Fanny's marriage in 1877 were a Thomas & Agnes Allen and a Nancy Allen registered the birth of her first child in 1879 at Creebilly, Ballymena.

William Allen, son of John, married Agnes/Nancy Cunning
Fanny (1879) m.(1904) George Campbell
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1879/02899/2062037.pdf
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1904/10204/5713547.pdf
Agnes Skelly (1882)
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1882/02763/2014605.pdf

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballyclug/Crebilly/938928

Administration of the Estate of William Allen late of Crebilly County Antrim Gentleman who died 7 December 1907 granted at Belfast to William J. Allen Farmer.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1907/05516/4545833.pdf

Sounds like you might not have looked at this Will on PRONI's site?
Probate of the Will of James Allen late of Crebilly County Antrim Farmer who died 5 June 1895 at Ballymena County Antrim granted at Belfast to Robert Greer of Ballykeel County Antrim Farmer.

Can't find a John Allen, seed merchant, who died in 1909 

[Jabble]

Thanks for your latest post. I believe one of my problems (which has plagued me all my life!) is the spelling of the name Allen/Allan/Alan. The Allan name has been a family Christian Name since 1917 but it seems from my research, and your valued contributions, that I need to concentrate on the Allen spelling. I say that because I know that my Great Grandmother had a family link with "Craig Billy Bog" now known as Crebilly. A family story also suggests links with a relative who was a Coachman to the Auld family (who were allegedly Titled), from Carncastle near Larne who "ran off" and married the Auld's daughter! There is an Allen family listed there in the 1841 Irish Census.
Yes I have been searching at PRONI and did find Probate granted on 8 Oct 1910 for John Allen, late of Church Street, Ballymena, Seed Merchant, died 1 Dec 1909, to James Richardson, Commercial Traveller, and Robert A Burns, Draper. Effects £3,244 16s 4d. Again the record shows Allen but should probably have been Allan?

[aghadowey]

Yes I have been searching at PRONI and did find Probate granted on 8 Oct 1910 for John Allen, late of Church Street, Ballymena, Seed Merchant, died 1 Dec 1909, to James Richardson, Commercial Traveller, and Robert A Burns, Draper. Effects £3,244 16s 4d. Again the record shows Allen but should probably have been Allan?

This is the Will Extract- Probate of the Will of John Allan late of Church Street Ballymena County Antrim Seed Merchant who died 1 December 1909 granted at Belfast to James Richardson Commercial Traveller and Robert A. Burns Draper
Death certificate shows Robert Giffin, Ballee as informant-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1910/05438/4520989.pdf
John Allan & family in 1901-
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballymena_and_Town_and_Urban_District_of_Ballymena/Church_Street/925813

You don't need to worry about exact spelling of names until fairly recent times but when quoting a record you do need to quote the name in that record.