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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: A Whiteford on Monday 30 April 18 14:07 BST (UK)
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James Whiteford was baptised in Culfeightrin Parish in May 1826. No record of his mother but his father was Alic Whiteford. A couple of weeks later he is listed on the Scottish OPRs for Campbeltown Argyll with parents, Alexander Whiteford and Margaret Kane/Cain. In January 1852 he's again on the OPRs being baptised in Campbeltown with his daughter Mary Reid Whiteford immediately prior to emigration to Melbourne Australia. His death record in Australia also confirms his parents and that he was born in Ireland.
A researcher of Whiteford families in Antrim believes there were a number of Whiteford families from Cross Townland in the Fair Head area, close to Ballycastle (Culfeightrin Parish). He's posted that "I know there were Whitefords in that area as early as 1740 when John Whiteford was listed in Culfeightrin in the Protestant Householders' Returns. There is a headstone in the Culfeightrin Church of Ireland Cemetery for Alexander Whiteford of Cross (1745-1821) and another in the Bonamargy Old Friary Cemetery (Culfeightrin) for Archibald Whiteford of Gartalorkan (1760-1809). It is quite likely that Alexander and Archibald are sons of John. Alexander (1745-1821) was the father of a Robert Whiteford (from the headstone) and also Alexander Whiteford (c1790-1867) who married Isabella Mathers about 1818 (2nd marriage) and migrated with his family to St John's in Newfoundland in 1850. Information I have found about the Newfoundland family says that Alexander (1745-1821) "had been among the first adherents of the Church of Ireland to open their doors to the celebrated Methodist evangelist Gideon Ouseley", and Alexander (1790-1867) "was engaged wholly to the work of the Methodist church in a lay capacity as circuit steward and trustee" and his family was described as a "close-knit Ulster and Wesleyan Methodist family".
There was also a Mary Whiteford (c1775) who married John McBride in the Fair Head area about 1800, and this Mary may have also been a daughter of Alexander (1745-1821). A number of the children of their son John migrated to New Zealand and were all said to be from the Fair Head area."
My James Whiteford born May 1826 whose father was Alexander Whiteford had a brother named Archibald who I have not been able to trace in Ireland. Lots of the same first names in this group from Fair Head. I have records of Archibald's family living on Skye and Raasay from the 1840s on. James is also listed on the 1841 Census with his mother and sister Catherine and Margaret. Catherine married Donald Galbreath of Gigha and Margaret never married. They died in Argyll. I have not been successful in finding Alexander or Margaret Kane/Cain's death records in Scotland.
I am interested in finding anything out about the Whitefords of Fair Head to see if my Alexander, his sons Archibald and James fit into this family. I am also interested in finding out about the family Kane/Cain in Antrim.
Thanks for any help.
Anne
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Has anyone looked to see who the Landlord was for Cross??
The look for any Leases, Deeds etc registered....
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSMQ-29KV-Y?i=18&cat=185720
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have you seen this simple one liner record
1823-1837 Tithes Applotment Books based upon the index work of the Irish Genealogy Hub’s
listing for each parish in Northern Ireland, which are quicker to lookup if you know the parish!
The relevant original books are in the
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) Belfast
Whiteford, Andw. Townland: Seskin Year: 1816 Carrickfergus Antrim
Whiteford, Hugh Townland: Ballylaggan Year: 1816 Carrickfergus Antrim
Whiteford, Thos. Townland: Ballylaggan Year: 1816 Carrickfergus Antrim
Whiteford, Dr. Hugh Townland: Lisburn Year: 1827 Derryaghy Antrim
Whiteford, John Townland : Ballycreagath Year: 1825 Dunaghy Antrim
Whiteford, Alexr. Townland: Killughag Year: 1826 Layd Antrim
Whiteford, William Townland: Carnanee Year: 1826 Layd Antrim
Whiteford, Willm. Townland: Red Bay Year: 1826 Layd Antrim
Whiteford, Willm. Townland: Straid Year: 1826 Layd Antrim
Whiteford, John Townland : Mullinasilly Year : 1828 Loughgall Armagh
Whiteford, Arch. Townland: Rathkenny Year: 1825 Skerry Antrim
Whiteford, Widow Townland: Rathkenny Year: 1825 Skerry Antrim
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Hi
I am interested in Alexander Whiteford, the watchmaker, who emigrated from Fair Head / Ballycastle Co Antrim to St Johns, Newfoundland. My interest is in him as a watchmaker, rather than as a family member.
Fair Head is an isolated place for a watchmaker to be based. I presume he operated out of Ballycastle.
His wife's name is Isabella Mathers. She is noted in places as having been married twice. It is not clear if Mathers is her maiden name, or the name from her first marriage.
The interesting bit (for me) is that Mathers is a recognised family of watchmakers in Ballycastle. A William Mathers worked there around 1760. Samuel Mathers worked there from at least as early as his marriage in 1837 to his death in 1858.
My questions are:-
Is Isabella Mathers related to the Mathers who were watchmakers?
Did Alexander Whiteford work for the Mathers watchmakers as an apprentice or a journeyman (employee) and is that where he met Isabella Mathers?
Many thanks
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Cross townland includes Fairhead. It is the most northerly townland in Culfeightrin civil parish. Several maps are available https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/search-proni-historical-maps-viewer . if you haven’t used it before, learn to use the sandwich shaped icon top right corner. The end of Fairhead road[ about the centre of Cross townland] is 4.4 miles from Ballycastle. The maps show the building outlines are few and wellspaced
1803 Names listed in the 1803 Agricultural Census for some Parishes in North Antrim.
from http://www.billmacafee.com/19centurydatabases.htm
Whiteford Whiteford Robert Cary Culfeightrin Ballyreagh Ballyreagh
Whiteford Whiteford Alexander Cary Culfeightrin Cross Cross
Whiteford Whiteford John Cary Culfeightrin Cross Cross
Whiteford Whiteford Archibald Cary Culfeightrin Knockbrack Nuckbrack
Whiteford Whitefor Margaret Cary Culfeightrin Tervillin Torvilin
Whiteford Whitford David Dunluce Lower Billy Cloonty Clontis
Whiteford Whiteford Robert Dunluce Upper Ballymoney Seacon Seconn
Whiteford Whiteford Widow Dunluce Upper Ballymoney Seacon Seconn
Tithes Applotment Books 1823-1838 Culfeightrin Parish see http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/culfeightrin-parish.php
Butler, James Townland: Cross Year: 1831
Butler, John Townland: Cross Year: 1831
Jamison, Pat. Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McAleese, James Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McAleese, John Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McBride, Hu. Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McGraw, Fras. Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McKinlay, Denis Townland: Cross Year: 1831
McNeill, John Townland: Cross Year: 1831
no Mathers Whitefords
note The Tithes created division as the bias is for Church of Ireland occupants to pay less tax than others, it was collected not for state but for Church of Ireland using the state..
Griffiths Valuation of Ireland Culfeightrin Parish
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/griffiths-valuation/parish-of-culfeightrin.php
note no Mathers Whitefords
Tithes Applotment Books 1823-1838 Ramoan Parish
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/ramoan-parish.php
Ballycastle is in Ramoan civil parish
note no Mathers Whitefords
Griffiths Valuation of Ireland Ramoan Parish 1861
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/griffiths-valuation/parish-of-ramoan.php
Mathers, Mary Anne L: T: Ballycastle – [No 14] Anne Street She lives in one of fifteen houses valued at over £10pa amongst many much smaller houses her landlord was the executors of Hugh Boyd.
Whitefords none
1798 Flaxgrowers of ireland
Mathers is close to sound of Mathies/Mothies
Surname [Standardised] Surname as spelt in source
street directories lennonwylie has
http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/1852PD1.htm#Ballycastle
1852 Mathers, Samuel, clock and watch maker
other research
PRONI WILLS
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearchImage.aspx?id=153537
this has Samuel of Ballycastle died 1858 leaving all to his son Hugh Samuel Mathers who is in his minority however Samuel sisters Olivia Mathers, Mary Ann Mathers and Jane Lucas (widow) are to be looked after in the premises so will join the exececutors looking after him. This explains the Griffiths valuation is in the name Mary Anne, the valuation books continue and are online at PRONI
eg
PRONI Reference: VAL/12/B/2/3C (1876 - 1884)
its still in her name Mary A Mathers see real page 50 of 112
you can follow on if interested
Genes Reunited I don’t think the Mathers are the Ballycastle family
ancestryireland has
Mary Ann Mathers birth 1833 father Samuel Antrim
i have not sought Cain/Kane but would use same resources as above
I stop now hoping something is of use
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Many thanks for the useful information.
My original query was - Is Isabella Whiteford and Samuel Mathers related.
The starting point was the will of Samuel Mathers. He appointed as Executrices to his will his sisters Olivia Mathers, Mary Ann Mathers and Jane Lucas. No mention of Isabella.
However the will of Jane Lucas appoints as the executor 'my beloved nephew James Alexander Whiteford'. This is the son of Isabelle and Alexander Whiteford. The only way James Alexander Whiteford can be a nephew of Jane Lucas is if Jane and Isabella are sister.
So Isabella Whiteford and Samuel Mathers are brother and sister.
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more power to the watchmakers, thanks for the reply
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Hi
I am interested in Alexander Whiteford, the watchmaker, who emigrated from Fair Head / Ballycastle Co Antrim to St Johns, Newfoundland. My interest is in him as a watchmaker, rather than as a family member.
Fair Head is an isolated place for a watchmaker to be based. I presume he operated out of Ballycastle.
His wife's name is Isabella Mathers. She is noted in places as having been married twice. It is not clear if Mathers is her maiden name, or the name from her first marriage.
The interesting bit (for me) is that Mathers is a recognised family of watchmakers in Ballycastle. A William Mathers worked there around 1760. Samuel Mathers worked there from at least as early as his marriage in 1837 to his death in 1858.
My questions are:-
Is Isabella Mathers related to the Mathers who were watchmakers?
Did Alexander Whiteford work for the Mathers watchmakers as an apprentice or a journeyman (employee) and is that where he met Isabella Mathers?
Many thanks
On the contrary, it's more likely that Alexander Whiteford, like most watchmakers in rural Ireland, worked from home. If he also repaired and cleaned grandfather clocks then he likely visited local families or travelled around a wider area of the countryside.
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Posting these extracts in case you haven't seen them-
Coleraine Chronicle, 21 Jan.1888: … from the Toronto Christian Guardian of the 16th Nov. last, relative to the death of a native of Ballycastle—Mr. James Alexander Whiteford:—" The name of Whiteford has been for forty years associated with St. John's Methodism, and those conversant with it …
[same issue] Whiteford—At Dunluce Cottage, St. John's, Newfoundland, on the 24th September last, James Alexander Whiteford, aged 65 years, a native of Ballycastle.
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I was delighted to find this site by Googling, and hope it will help me with one of my stickiest genealogy problems, involving a potential Whiteford ancestor.
I'm looking for information about my maternal ancestry line, the Ginn family of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, possibly from the Ballynure Parish area, and it may involve a Whiteford 2nd great-grandmother.
According to my family's oral history, my second great-grandfather was George Ginn born around 1810. His first wife, name unknown, died not long therafter, leaving him with a 5 yr. old boy, my great-grandfather William Ginn (1833-1895). George Ginn remarried and emigrated to Australia, never to be heard from again. Son William was left in care of a family by the name of Whiteford, and a Hugh Whiteford brought him to America at the age of 8 (around 1841). They settled in the town of DeKalb in St. Lawrence County, New York and William lived with the Whiteford family and also with a family named Jenkins until he married Finetta Burton, from England, in 1857 and founded a robust dynasty of Ginns.
The Whiteford family who raised my great-grandfather is known to be from the Ballynure vicinity, as was the Jenkins family. There apparently was a history of families from the immediate Ballynure environs emigrating to the same area of St. Lawrence County, New York, particularly the DeKalb/Kendrew Corners/Rensselaer Falls area. In addition to Whiteford and Jenkins, other family names apparently in this migration were Clements, Kirk, Ballantine, Dollar, Scott, McAllister, McAdoo, Moore, McCullough, and Weatherup. However, I have not found any other references to Ginn families from this area.
I am almost convinced that that George Ginn's first wife may have been a Whiteford, but I have no direct nformation to support this supposition, other than the fact that he was raised by a family of that name. However, my DNA matches for from Ancestry.com include quite a number of distant relatives with Whiteford ancesrors, with several traceable to Hugh Whiteford.
I posted a query on an Irish genealogy board and was informed that "Ginn" there was likely to be shortened from McGinn, and my DNA admixture shows me to considerably more Scottish and less Irish than I suspected. Then there's the fact of my 2nd GGF migrating to Australia, which apparently he had in common with some other Whitefords.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Gary Stevens, San Francisco, California
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Do you know the name of Hugh Whiteford's wife? perhaps the Whitford connection comes in through marriage rather than blood.
Have you done DNA yet? in addition to finding possible connections there's also a Ballycarry DNA project through FTDNA-
https://www.larnetimes.co.uk/news/people/world-stage-potential-ballycarry-family-history-dna-project-925712
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Thanks for the quick reply!
As I mentioned in my query, I have done DNA testing through Ancestry.com. Hugh Whiteford's wife was an Elizabeth Sloan, and I can find no Sloan conneticoms. I also think my connection may be a generatiom more remote, possibly through Hugh's mother, but alas I do not have her maiden name. Hugh Whiteford's forebears did, in fact hail from Kilbirnie in Scotland, and further back there are Houston and Kerr females.
Thanks for the Ballycarry Project tip. I'll check it out.
Gary
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Hello Gary,
My maternal grandmother was a Whiteford (Beverly Whiteford), and she was born in De Kalb, New York. She was born to Bernice O'Brien Whiteford and Lynnley Whiteford. My husband and I have an extensive tree on Ancestry.com. If you'd like, we could share our tree with you. The Whitefords I'm related to also came from Ballynure, Antrim, Ireland. I'm also a descendent of a Hugh Whiteford (1793 to 1880). My husband enjoys doing ancestry research, and he'll try to make a connection regarding the Ginn family. I do recognize some of the other names you have listed as being DNA matches and from our family tree. Hopefully, we'll be able to help you with your search. I am originally from the NNY area but am now in Ohio.
Best regards,
Cassi Jesmer
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THanks, Cassi. I would love a link to your tree. Your Hugh Whiteford ancestor appears to be the same person who was in care of my GGF William Ginn when he arrive at DeKalb as an immigrant.
I am originally from Massena but have lived in San Francisco since 1962.
Gary
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Welcome to RootsChat, Cassi :)
If you make at least one more post, then you can use the PM (Personal Message) system to contact GaryStevens and exchange e-mail addresses and information about your tree on Ancestry.
Good luck!
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Thank you. I'll send you a PM with an invitation to view my tree.