Connolly Family of Ballymoney, Antrim

[idyia14]

Hi, I have traced the Connolly family (who immigrated to New Zealand in 1874) back to the marriage of Thomas John Connolly to Martha Martin in Ballymoney in 1847. The marriage entry says that Thomas John's father was John Connolly. I have also found a tree on FamilySearch that has Thomas' parents as being John Connolly and Martha Sullivan, but the evidence given to support this does not quite "jell" for me (there are 4 baptism records for children of a John and Martha (one of which is a Thomas Connolly) but they are Catholic records of a church in County Cork.) Can anybody provide any clarity? Did Thomas John Connolly indeed move from the south to Northern Ireland before his marriage in 1847? Or are there earlier Connolly records to be found in Ballymoney? Any help would be appreciated.

[scotmum]

You are right to be cautious. There was a civil parish named Ballymoney in County Cork, which could have given rise to confusion when the owner of the tree you have found was doing their research.

Certainly, there was a John Connolly at Castle Street, Townparks, Ballymoney, County Antrim on the 19th December 1832, according to valuation records. This may be at least a starting point for checking further, even if not 'your' John.

[Kiltaglassan]

Please note that you've posted in Antrim Resources & Offers board which is for resources & offers not queries.

You can ask the moderator to move your post to the Antrim sub-Board by using the ‘Report to Moderator’ function.

Good luck.

[aghadowey]

Marriage took place at Ballymoney Registry Office. Thomas John Connolly, a weaver, gave his residence as Fernalisey-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1847/09322/5375723.pdf

Sullivan isn't a surname commonly found in North Antrim.

[aghadowey]

Have sent a link for this thread to a Connolly researcher but meanwhile-

Possible brother for Thomas John Connolly- a James Conley was witness at the 1847 marriage and a Thomas John witness at John's marriage-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1854/09463/5428898.pdf

Possible father for Thomas John Connolly- John Conley age 91 so born c1798. Note residence given as Ballaghmore (Balnamore) which is James' residence in 1854 and not far from Fernalisy-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1889/06144/4755170.pdf

[aghadowey]

Possible child of James & Nancy-
Elizabeth bapt.1860
  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5PN-XJF

[Kiltaglassan]

Thomas John Connolly, a weaver, gave his residence as Fernalisey-

Do others think that this was the townland of Farranalessary in the civil parish of Ballymoney?
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/dunluce-upper/ballymoney/stranocum/farranalessary/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2919769#map=13/55.0761/-6.4885

Martha Martin gave her residence as Cummingstown townland-
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/dunluce-upper/ballymoney/enagh/ballynamenagh-north-or-cummingstown/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4123931#map=14/55.0779/-6.4967

The townlands not far apart.

[idyia14]

Thanks for the help! I definitely think the reference to the Cork records (in the FamilySearch tree) is incorrect as there were obviously John Connollys in the Ballymoney area in the right time frame.

Another question. When I access the Irish Genealogy site directly by clicking on the links provided by you, I can see the records. However, when I do my own search, unless I use the exact spelling (eg Connelly on the 1847 marriage), the records do not come up despite me NOT checking the "exact matches only" box. How can I do a more general search (eg on Connolly) and have it find the spelling variations? Or do I need to think of all possibilities and try each one?

[aghadowey]

Most databases have their own quirks. Usually Irish Genealogy is quite easy to get results from but once in a while it's a bit trickier like Connolly/Conley. etc.

I didn't use exact spellings but several variations with wildcards- Con*ly (which doesn't pick up Conley) and Conl*y.

Con*y should pick up everyone but will include surnames like Conway as well.