The Barr family, Kilrea

[aghadowey]

Another little bit which might belong to your Barr family puzzle:
Slater's Directory- 1870- Kilrea- Blacksmiths:
Barr Benjamin Coleraine Street
Barr Joseph Maghera Street

Wonder if Margaret Barr's father Joseph was a blacksmith and that's how she and Daniel McNerlin met? Will check Griffith's when I get to the library to see what's listed there.
 

[OllieH]

Thanks, though Daniel and Margaret's wedding cert says her father, Joseph, was a farmer.
By the way, I have emailed the Articlave Flute Band who have promised to investigate the Tom McNerlin link in the New Year.

[OllieH]

I might be wrong! Having re-inspected the marriage cert, Joseph could have been a farrier, rather than a farmer - the writing is not that good.

[aghadowey]

Husband checked through some of our books and found poem last night about Articlave Flute band which I will send in a pm.

[OllieH]

Thanks. I've seen their website and sent them an email asking about Joe and Tom. They said that they will investigate in the new year.
hope you're having a good day.

[aghadowey]

Just got back from Ballymena Library and was able to get Griffith's Valuation for Kilrea.

Kilrea townland:
12c Joseph Barr, Worshipful Company of Mercers (landlord), house office forge & yard, annual rent £13 10s 0d.

New Row:
8c Joseph Barr, house office & yard, £3.20.0

 

[OllieH]

Many thanks Aghadowey. But can you help me interpret it please?
Were there two Joseph Barrs ( as there were houses on both plots)? What was/were the date(s)? (ie could it be the same man occupying 2 premises at different times?). What do "8c" and "12c" refer to? Can the plots be identified? Is New Row still in existence?

[aghadowey]

8c + 12c are 'no. and letters of reference to map' next column is occupiers. It's impossible to tell from this whether there were 1 or 2 Joseph Barrs in Kilrea at the time. The Valuation for this area was 1859. 'Worshipful Company of Mercers', known locally as Mercers Co. was the landlord (one of the London Companies granted lands in Ulster. 'Description of tenement' tells what sort of property it is. In the case of 12c Kilrea townland Joseph Barr, the tenant, had a house office (singular meaning only 1), forge and yard. The figures for annual rents are given separately for land & buildings but in both these cases the tenants had no land so the rent was for the value of the buildings.
If you had the Valuation map that goes with Griffith's Valuation you could identify the location of the property and figure whether or not it still exists. New Row is still there (went by it today) and head out of Kilrea off the present Garvagh Road.

[OllieH]

Many thanks.