Northern Ireland ancestors

[Restalrig]

I have been searching for my Great Grandmother's family for a very long time. Her name was Jessie Hannah Horner b. Drumadarragh in 1845. Her marriage Certificate states she was 21 when she married in 1866, at Stockyard Hill, Victoria, Australia. Her father was John Horner, Farmer, and her mother Rachel McCallum. Jessie married David Martin b. 1842 in Drumaheglis, Ballymoney, Father, John Martin b. 1811, Farmer, and Mother, Martha Moore b. 1813.  Jessie and David came to Australia in 1865 on board the "Thunderbolt", it is not known if they knew each other prior to leaving N Ireland. I have found a family connection with Alexander Hanna from NI  and his wife Jane McCallum who is thought to be an aunt of Jessie, when David and Jessie arrived in Australia they lived with the Hannas who had emigrated a few years earlier.  If anyone can help with this I would be most grateful, many thanks.

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[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat  If you click on 'report to moderator' as hallmark suggested this post can be moved to the ANTRIM board. (See that this thread has now been moved)

Meanwhile, starting with some general information, Drumaghelis townland is in Ballymoney Civil Parish and not far from the town of Ballymoney- it marches the River Bann which forms the boundary with Co. Londonderry and there was always much coming a going between that area and Aghadowey & Agivey Parishes across the Bann.
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/dunluce-upper/ballymoney/drumaheglis/

Do you know what religion they would have been?

Drumadarragh, however, is not in this area (there is one near Ballyclare in County Antrim which is a considerable distance from Ballymoney). This is a list of townlands in the same civil parish-
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/ballymoney/

[aghadowey]

Jessie married David Martin b. 1842 in Drumaheglis, Ballymoney, Father, John Martin b. 1811, Farmer, and Mother, Martha Moore b. 1813.
Where did you get dates for parents from?

Possible death- Martha Martin, wife of John Martin, died 7 Nov.1882 "Ballnamoney," age 70-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1882/06387/4833656.pdf

John Martin died 1887- a grand-daughter Martha Martin was the informant-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1888/06190/4769904.pdf

Likely this is young Martha-
marriage (1903) to John Thompson McCracken- her father also called John Martin-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1903/10220/5720309.pdf

Looks like Martha's father died before 1901- www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Enagh/Ballynamoney/942514

Ballynamoney townland is south of Ballymoney town-
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/dunluce-upper/ballymoney/ballynamoney/

Martha born 1873-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1873/03213/2178189.pdf

Since the Martins were Presbyterian there are numerous churches in the area they might have attended but most Presbyterian records are not online.

There is, however, lots more available online.

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately, Martha's father, John Martin, didn't leave a Will but this extract from PRONI gives date of death-
Letters of Administration of the personal estate of John Martin late of Ballinamoney County Antrim Farmer who died 7 September 1888 at same place were granted [1890] at Belfast to Margaret Martin of Ballinmoney the Widow. Effects £472 2s.
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearch.aspx

Informant was a 'cousin' Samuel Cochrane who could have been related to either John or his wife (or both)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1888/06170/4763522.pdf

www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Enagh/Ballynamoney/942514

John's widow did leave a Will which will be deposited at PRONI, Belfast: Martin Margaret of Ballynamoney and of Ballymoney and of Claughey all in county Antrim widow died 22 February 1936 at latter place Probate Belfast 31 March to John Graham farmer and John McMaster retired merchant. Effects £103 2s. 9d.

[aghadowey]

Back to the elder John Martin who died in 1887- he did leave a Will. The actual Will itself doesn't survive but the wording was recorded in the Will Books and is on PRONI's site-
The Will of John Martin late of Ballinamoney County Antrim Farmer who died 30 December 1887 at same place was proved at Belfast by Samuel Nevin of Claughey said County Farmer and James Finlay of Glasgort County Londonderry Farmer the Executors. Effects £528 18s. 9d.
Will dated 21 Nov.1882 mentions 2 farms (at Ballinamoney & Lislagan), daughter Letitia Hennessey, daughter Matilda Mathews, son David, daughter Mary Moore Leese, son William, son John.

The Will gives lots more to explore on the Martin side of the house. Do you want to do the searching yourself or would you like more details on the relatives in Ireland?

[Restalrig]

This is really great, thank you, and my apologies for posting in the wrong place. I had some information on John and Martha Martin but you have given me much more to work with, I have a copy of John Sr's Will. This family is buried in the First Ballymoney Presbyterian Churchyard. My greatest problem is trying to find John Horner and his wife Rachel McCallum (my GGGparents),I found the Griffith's Valuations for the Parish of Antrim very interesting as there is a John Horner in No 2 Adair's entry, and in No 3 there is John McCollum. I am now thinking that my Rachel McCallum is actually McCollum. I don't fully understand the Griffith's Valuation, is it like a Census return. The information that I have is from other family members as well as Death Certificates and Marriage Certs, I am aware that errors are often made in these, and these were completed in Australia so more possibility of mistakes.  Thank you again, I am delighted.

[hallmark]

It is not a big problem!

Just a matter of   Mod moving it...

[hallmark]

This is really great, thank you, and my apologies for posting in the wrong place. I had some information on John and Martha Martin but you have given me much more to work with, I have a copy of John Sr's Will. This family is buried in the First Ballymoney Presbyterian Churchyard. My greatest problem is trying to find John Horner and his wife Rachel McCallum (my GGGparents),I found the Griffith's Valuations for the Parish of Antrim very interesting as there is a John Horner in No 2 Adair's entry, and in No 3 there is John McCollum. I am now thinking that my Rachel McCallum is actually McCollum. I don't fully understand the Griffith's Valuation, is it like a Census return. The information that I have is from other family members as well as Death Certificates and Marriage Certs, I am aware that errors are often made in these, and these were completed in Australia so more possibility of mistakes.  Thank you again, I am delighted.

https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/


https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Ireland-genealogy.html