Search suggestions: Bankheads in County Antrim 1748

[ki4asq]

I am looking for further information on my ancestor, James Bankhead, born in 1748 in County Antrim.  I have not been able to discover his parents or more specific birth place--although it may have been in Ahoghill parish, as I am finding references to the Bankhead surname being found in that parish.  He sailed to South Carolina, U.S.A. on October 21, 1767.

What would be the next logical step in locating more about this ancestor?

Thanks!

[Elwyn Soutter]

James birth is well before the start of statutory registration of births in Ireland. Generally speaking to trace back prior to that you need to use church records, where they exist.

I had a look at the 1901 census for Bankhead in Co Antrim. There were 92 entries, most Presbyterian but a few Church of Ireland.  I agree there are a lot around Ahoghill but there are plenty in other parts too. You really need more information before you can say where he came from. Usual sources are obituaries, wills or gravestones but I assume you have already tried those.

There are or were 3 Presbyterian congregations and one Church of Ireland in Ahoghill. The earliest Presbyterian baptism records start in 1835 and 1811 for COI. So even if he does come from there, it doesn’t appear you’ll get anywhere with baptism records.

[ki4asq]

Thanks for the information!  I was afraid it wouldn't be easy to locate James Bankhead's (1748) birthplace.  The only location for his place of birth I have been able to find so far is County Antrim--which I just recently found.  Now I am starting to look to see if I can find out what his parents' names are and what part of County Antrim he was born in (neither bit of information was included with his date of birth).

Thanks again!

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Consider THE BELFAST NEWSLETTER INDEX, 1737-1800
Compiled by John C. Greene and online at
http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/cgi-bin/belfst/Search.cgi
I did a last name Wildcard Query for Bankhead
The results included search strings as follows in their quantities
130 xBANKHEAD
    2 x BANKHEAD EMERSON AND THOBURN
    3 x PATTON AND BANKHEAD
its difficult to use but surely interesting
Jim

[ki4asq]

Thanks for the tip about the Belfast Newsletter Index, 1737-1800.  Yes, it is very interesting.  It contains Bankheads that I will need to research to see where they fit in my family history.  The earliest  news items listed are 1784--1800, so I will need to keep looking for information on James Bankhead, born in 1748 in County Antrim, N. Ireland.  Thanks for the reference, though.  I do appreciate it.

[bloodties]

try a name search on www.proni.gov.uk religious census 1766 brings up a james bankhead of ahoghill
antrim also a robert bankhead there is also a hugh bankhead 1740 prostestant householder from ahogill

    regards

[ki4asq]

I looked at the Bankhead entries in the PRONI website.  With James Bankhead (my ancestor) being born in 1748, it is possible that he is the James Bankhead listed in the Ahoghill 1766 Religion Census.  He would have been 18 years old by then (he sailed for South Carolina the next year).  It also seems probable that the Hugh Bankhead mentioned in the 1740 Protestant Householder listing, was James Bankhead's father--Hugh was the only Bankhead listed in that list. 

Thanks for the tip! 

[mattfrombann]

Hi again

I should explain that I have been researching the Bankhead family history for over 25 years and my write up is now over 100 pages long (available in soft copy). The Bankhead/Hatfield/Antrim 1748 mystery is a very difficult one and has perplexed many researchers including myself. The likelyhood of finding answer is exceedingly low. There are an awful lot of S Carolina Bankhead descendants who would love to know the answer too. My notes sum it up. I attach two sections of it in reverse order in an attempt to make it easier to follow. The "Westward from S Carolina " referred to is an (unpublished) immense history of the American Bankheads of which I have an incomplete hard copy (long story)

" The records for 18th Century Antrim are very bleak indeed but the religious census of 1766 for Ahoghill survives.  It throws up James #5 and Robert #1 Bankhead, dissenters.  Robert has not previously appeared in Ulster as a family name but it was quite common in contemporary Ayrshire families.  One wonders, albeit tentatively,if this is evidence of a fresh migration.
The family tree really begins to blossom in Ahoghill from 1800 onwards but there is an agonising generation gap between 1766 and that date.  One odd occurrence is the will in 1795, recorded but again destroyed of a James #6 Bankhead in Tamnabroke.  There are at least two possibilities here, is it near Kilrea on the east bank of the Bann or the quarterland near Glenarm ?

In "Westward from S Carolina" - the American family history, we find the following reference "James Bankhead spouse of Mary Hatfield, sailed from Belfast October 21 1767 for Charleston on board the Betty Gregg".
This James (#3 in Westward from S. Carolina) we shall designate #7.  He was born in Ireland c 1748, or so the story goes.  It is impossible to pin him down - is he a son of Hugh #3 or James #4 or even another appearance of James #5/"

and

"                     Towards Ahoghill
 
By 1740 however a Hugh #3 Bankhead was resident in Ahoghill Parish and James #4 Bankhead plus Samuel #1 Bankhead in the adjoining parish of Drummaul.  James #4 appears in the minutes of the Ulster Synod of 1738 when as one of 30 heads of families and 12 young men they asked for and were granted disannexation from Drummaul and transference to Ahoghill.  Quite why this happened is not revealed in the minutes.  The name Samuel is largely peculiar to later families living at Ballybollen which is straddled by these two parishes and this would appear to be when the split occurred.
A very curious entry occurs in the Register of Death for Derry Cathedral:-
"Mr William Bankhead buried 15th November 1740".  The Mr may suggest someone of substance as it was not used as freely in 1740 as it is today.
In about 1738 the birth occurred of the one Bankhead whom most family members have heard of regardless of any interest in genealogy.  His birthplace and parentage remain pure speculation but the Rev John Bankhead who for some seventy years was associated with the parish of Ballycarry or Broadisland is a genealogists delight, having produced it is said some 22 children of whom 19 survived.  Such a family deserves special treatment and is examined separately in Chapter --."

The earliest extant Bankhead family document dates from 1550s and is held by the National Archives here in Edinburgh

Regards

Matt

 

[ki4asq]

Mattfrombann,

Thank you so much for the very helpful information you have given me.  I would be very interested in getting a copy of the 100 pages of information you have found.  I admire your research into the Bankhead family and am fascinated. 

With friendship and respect,
ki4asq