where to get best info

[shyann]

Hello this is my first message so be patient. 
With my husband I am visiting the area at beginning of October staying at Ballymoney for a few days. I am looking at family history as well as exploring on our first visit to Ireland. Where is the best place to see old records in that area? Cheers Shyann

 








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[aghadowey]

First of all, welcome to Rootschat.
Ballymoney area is lovely (although I may be biased). Ballymoney Museum is closed at the moment for refurbishment as far as I know although they don't really have much in the way of family records. What they do have is online at www.ballymoneyancestry.com although the site can be difficult to navigate.
Coleraine Library, Queen Street, has microfilmed copies of many Co. Londonderry and Co. Antrim church records- purchased from PRONI by Coleraine branch of North of Ireland Family History Society several years ago. Church records may not be photocopied. There are a few microfilm readers and usually at least one broken so it's best to ring ahead to reserved one if you know when you will be there. The staff are very pleasant but unfortunately have little or no knowledge/training of research and all the records they do and don't have.
I have a list of the church records Coleraine does hold so if you know which ones you are interested in let me know and I'll check for you.
Coleraine Library also has microfilmed copies of loccal newspapers, including Ballymoney Free Press. You can photocopy them.
I have BMD index for Coleraine Chronicle (1844-1869) and Londonderry Sentinel (1829-1869), along with other local records.
Also various things like Griffith's Valuation (although one volume seemed to be missing last time I we to look for it).
If you are looking for 1901 census you have to go to Ballymena Library to look at that (they have Co. Antrim and Co. Londonderry reels).
1911 census for Co. Antrim is supposed to be coming online in October from National Archives, Dublin site.

For tourist suggestions- Giants' Causeway and along North Coast, Bushmills Distillery if you want to tour the brewery .

If there's any particular information you are looking for let me know and I'll try to help.

[Christopher]

Hello shyann,

Welcome to RootsChat.

The Area Local Studies Collection of the North East Education and Library Board is located at 5, Pat's Brae, Ballymena. The staff in the Library should be able to give you quite a lot of assistance. www.ni-libraries.net/libraries/neelb/local-studies-service--neelb

Des Blackadder, the Editor of the Ballymena Times, is a RootsChatter and very keen on family history. Here's the first of a new video series he's introducing It's about Joseph Dyas. Des feels that Joseph's tombstone deserves more recognition and should be a part of the Ballymena History trail.  http://tinyurl.com/3fe5dn

Christopher

[shyann]

Many thanks for all the info I will try and follow it all up,we only have four days in the area. I heard many stories in my young days about the beautiful land of my grandmothers birth, have waited over sixty years to see it. My grandmother was Rachel Anne Hamilton born around 1892  parents William John Hamilton and Mary Jane McGoogan or McGougan were married 1887 Drumtullagh Church of Ireland in Antrim. I have not managed to find Rachel's birth on any of the usual sites but I understand that a lot of records were lost from around this time ? My ggrandfather was from Dervock and I know that relatives lived around there in the 1960's and latter as my late mother exchanged letters with them.
cheers from Shyann in Scotland

[aghadowey]

Many census records were lost but not any of the civil birth, marriage and death records.

Drumtallagh Church of Ireland- this article is from last year but mentions graveyard there and name of Rector:
http://prod.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/grave-issue-at-drumtullagh-13423026.html

Details from Church of Ireland website, including address of rector:
www.ireland.anglican.org/index.php?do=information.dioceses&page=showparish&id=12740

Location maps here:
www.historyfromheadstones.com/index.php?antrim&denomination=CI

PRONI and Coleraine Library have records for Armoy Church of Ireland (Drumtullagh) on 2 microfilms:
Baptisms 1826-1830; 1830-1854; 1854-1891
Marriages 1827-1829; 1831-1845; 1845-1910; 1913-1935; 1936-1982
Burials 1827-1830; 1830-1854; 1854-1893
Vestry Minute Book 1758-1893; 1894-1930
also Preacher's book and accounts

The weather was nice all week until rain came in today. The days are cooler and daylight hours shorter but hope you will enjoy your visit to the area.

[shyann]

hello aghadowey have just returned from holiday and visit to Dervock, Ballymoney everyone very helpful managed to meet distant relations still in area. Have some answers but many more questions now!
Many thanks for your help most useful.
cheers Shyann

[aghadowey]

Glad you enjoyed our bit of Northern Ireland (sorry about the weather).