Is Ballycreag a town?

[clairhaines]

Hi All,

After much research I have finally tracked down my ancestor John McMullin/McMullen.

I have him being born in July 1815 in Ballycreag co. Derry.

Only problem is I can't find this town anywhere on maps??

The town name is transcribed from his court martial records so I hope I got it right??

Can any experience Derry reseachers help me?

Thanks

Clair

p.s this is my first time in the Derry board - you have some great resources available to you!!!

[aghadowey]

Ballycreag is probably supposed to be the townland (not town). However, there is no townland named Ballycreag in County Londonderry (only one beginning with 'ballycr' is Ballycrum). There is a Ballyreagh townland in the Parish of Ballywillin (North Coast).
There's also Ballycraig Upper and Lower in Dunluce Parish, County Antrim (as this area borders on Co. Londonderry it's certainly a possibilty and there are lots of McMullin/ McMillan, etc. families in the area.
See www.thecore.com/seanruad to find information on townlands and parishes in Ireland (be sure to change default setting from exact match to find part of a word).

[clairhaines]

Thanks Aghadowey for those tips, much appreciated.

Just a quick question. What's the difference between a townland and a town?


Clair

[Trees]

Hi can anyone tell me where Bally Creag is and how far is it from Bellaghy?
I researcher has contacted me to see if our ancestors could be brothers or cousins each from the mentioned towns/villages
Trees

[Trees]

Hello Clair,
 Thank you for your message via  the web site  ages ago I asked about my McMullin of Bellaghy (I've just put a post here asking where the two are in relation to each other then found this post I'll ask the mods to merge ) I had this useful link that time its got a lot of McMullin etc http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/csi/csi_birth.cfm?
Lets hope we get some where Which regiment did John serve in? Henry was with the 91st he too was involved in a court martial but came out of it with honour and went on to be promoted Where did John serve? Henry was in the Kaffir war S Africa. Henry remained a military man all his working life You should have John's father's name from his military papers let me know what you have and we may be able to point you to more military records
Trees

[clairhaines]

Hi Trees,

You have a great family website.

My ancestor served as a Private in the 2nd Batt. The Royal Regt.

He served in Ireland (Castlewellan, Shannon Bridge, Cavan, Enniskillan) between 1833 and 1836. His regiment them moved to Canada - in particular Quebec and Montreal.

Unfortunately he was court martialed 5 times. For desertion, drunkness etc. I think in the end they were sick of him so sent him to Van Diemans Land (Tasmania, Australia). He was sent over to Australia in 1838.

As I am in Australia, I hired a private researcher to find his court martial records (which I have) which led to his regiment, and then I have his muster and pay roll information. On these it does not state a next of kin. Though it does say that he enlisted when he just turned 18 from Cohaine District (could be Coleraine)

[aghadowey]

Clair- 'Cohaine' could certainly be Coleraine which makes Ballyreagh or Ballycraig (Dunluce Parish Co. Antrim) both possibilities.
Townland system is uniue to Ireland. See these for more information:
www.ulsterancestry.com/ulster_townlands_by_county.html
www.ulsterplacenames.org/celebrating_ulster's_townlands_exhibition.htm
www.ancestryireland.com/database.php?filename=townlands

[aghadowey]

Already established there is no such townland as 'Ballycreag' in County Londonderry. See here for other thread:
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,282858.msg1662645.html#msg1662645
As a rough guide Coleraine to Bellaghy is probably about 30 miles.

Two topics now seem to have been merged to avoid confusion and duplication of research.

[Trees]

Hi Clair,
Did they not find his Atestation papers for you? They are great tell you his height colour of eyes as well as father and place of birth etc.
 I have had problems with other military records with birth places My John NEEDLE from Tadmarton was enlisted as John NEADLE of STAGMARTIN.I think aghadowey suggested Ballyreagh is worth a second look
There are an awful lot of McMullin families in N Ireland and also Scotland We were told the name is scots and means son of the tonsured one  (Like a monks hair do) just think of Eric's photo from the web   well named or what! We are busy getting Henry's story together for the web his court Martial was for allowing a prisoner to escape! but as I say he was found not guilty He was involved in a ship wreck too. When they came back from S Africa he was barracked in Berwick on Tweed where he married.
Trees