I had a lightbulb moment. If you can get sight of a hefty volume called "
Ordnance Survey, Memoirs of Ireland, Index of People and Places" ISBN 0 85389 812 X (paperback) or 8 (Hardback) you may find it illuminating. You will find a considerable no of McMullens/McMullans/Mcmullins in the index, although you will have to further consult the individual volume to find out more details. The memoirs mention people for all sorts of reasons , including if you are very very lucky , people who emigrated in the past year or so. Vol 23 (compiled April 1833) covers Ahoghill and mentions a solitary Alexander
Mcmullan . He is described as a farmer who along with Ennis McDonald is said to have placed 3 standing stones on a hill called Cloughcurragh in Tullynahuncon townland, on farm of Robert Hilton (Mcdonald is clearly still alive, but not obvious if Mcmullan is).
Vol 35 (which I don't have) covers nearby Killead parish and clearly mentions one or more
McMullin families. There are Agnes, Alexander, Anna , Jane, Mary, and Thomas all on on the same page and "man named mcMullen"in Muckamore on another. Oh, and a "Mcmullen family" in Carmavy
Not much I know, but it might keep you occupied for a wee while
. Tullynahuncon may be Tullynahinion (see Ahoghill Folk, ISBN 0 9509265-1-5 for map of Ahoghill townlands). you could also (if not already tried) post a query on the Ahoghill page of
Ireland Reaching OutRegards
Matt