Antrim / Rasharkin / BallyDonelly researching CHARLES CONNOLLY

[sdodge186]

I am researching family of Charles Connolly, found in Griffiths Valuation in Bally Donnelly. one son, Stuart Boyd Connolly, moved to UK and is well documented in UK after his marriage in 1875 (my great grandfather). Another son, William John Connolly migrated to NZ in 1862 (aka CONLEY, CONLAY, CONELLY).  Charles's wife may have been Mary Stuart (from WJC's death cert in NZ).  I am trying to learn of other family members, and possible grave location in Antrim, and other info regarding Bally Donnelly. I have photo of WJC about 1902 in NZ.  WJC birth year documented as 1844; SBC's birth year estimated mid 1830's (age on UK census records very inconsistent)

[Kiltaglassan]

one son, Stuart Boyd Connolly, moved to UK and is well documented in UK after his marriage in 1875 (my great grandfather).

This was presumably his marriage via FreeBMD   https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl
Marriage Jul-Sep 1875   
CONNOLLY    Stuart Boyd        Fylde    8e   870
Spouse either-
CADMAN    Ada        Fylde    8e   870
GOODWIN    Matilda        Fylde    8e   870

Note that in the late 1800's Ireland was still part of the UK.

Griffiths Valuation (1861) - Ballydonnelly townland, Rasharkin civil parish
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01tk7/

***Edited to Add***
https://www.townlands.ie/antrim/kilconway/rasharkin/killoquin-upper/ballydonnelly/
https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/4431111#map=12/54.9636/-6.4555

[aghadowey]

A Charles Conelly of Ballydonnelly died in 1876 aged 82- informant was a Margaret Ann Conelly-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1876/020598/7227325.pdf

You haven't mentioned what religion the family might have been so difficult to make any guesses as to lace of burial, church records, etc.

[Jon_ni]

indeed N.I still is part of the UK ...he moved to Lancashire, England. WJC emigrated from Antrim?

His religious denomination per his or children's marriages or cemetery section would be a determining factor on what might be available and were you would look for additional info.

Given the age and spelling variations what leads you to connect SBC or WJC to the Charles Connolly found in Ballydonnelly rather than a Charles elsewhere in Co. Antrim or Ireland. Link to one of the 'well documented' trees or a record may be the easiest to illustrate. Pre-civil registration there are many gaps in parish records online and what survives offline.
Burial places are notoriously difficult to find as most were interred in unmarked graves and generally only the Church of Ireland maintained burial registers until the 20thC.

[sdodge186]

Indeed, yes the 1875 marriage in Blackpool was to Ada Cadman (I have a photo of her if anyone is interested). Their children and grandchildren are well known; again I have info on that.

Religion: Not sure which, if any, church they attended in BallyDonelly, but not Catholic - there was rather strong anti-Catholic sentiment from what I can tell. Son William John attended protestant church in NZ.

Here is what is making me connect Stuart Boyd Connolly to Charles:
1875 marriage cert listed father as Charles, a Farmer.
Family oral history indicated he was born in Ireland, and there was a brother "John" who moved to Australasia.
AT this point, we had no connection to BAllyDonnelly. I think I found 25+ Charles Connolly in Griffiths valuation at that time.
I am great grandson of Stuart Boyd Connolly; In 2024 I had many DNA matches to NZ descendants of William John Conelly .
a 1902 document of NZ settlers listed William John Conelly and included:
name of his brother "Stewart", businessman of Manchester
place and year of birth in Ireland as BallyDonelly, Antrim 1844.
Fresh search of Griffiths showed the 1 Charles COnnolly .

link to cyclopedia article
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc02Cycl-t1-body1-d1-d61-d15.html#name-425220-mention

[aghadowey]

There were other Charles Connellys in the Rasharkin area including one at Drumack around the same timeframe.
There was a Church of Ireland in Rasharkin (St. Andrew's). I've been to funerals there in the last 15 years of so.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Andrews_COI_Rasharkin.jpg
There's also a Presbyterian Church nearby.

However, Ballydonnelly isn't that far from Kilrea which has a Parish (Church of Ireland) Church as well as two Presbyterian ones.

[aghadowey]

A Charles Conelly of Ballydonnelly died in 1876 aged 82- informant was a Margaret Ann Conelly-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1876/020598/7227325.pdf 

Just had a look at the Valuation Revision Books (on PRNI's side) and see that Charles Conolly at property #16 in 1877- house and land (only 4 acres 1 rood 4 perches so a small place). In 1878 his name was crossed out and Widow Anne written in but in 1880 changed to a James Elder.

[Jon_ni]

trees for SBC with census & marriage https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/1030/?name=Stuart+Boyd_Connolly&birth=1835&birth_x=5-0-0&keyword=lancashire&keyword_x=1&name_x=1

Church of England Marriage at Christ Church, Blackpool 1875. Children baptised C of E.
Buried All Saints Churchyard (Church of England) Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153369345/stuart-boyd-connolly

Plenty of references to him in Lancashire & Cheshire newspapers
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01tk8/

William John also interred Anglican churchyard in N.Z.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/598059/person/432217702579/facts
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/175578203/person/372550827105/facts

Have you had any success/DNA with following up on the Sarah Connolly who was a witness at Stuarts marriage?

[sdodge186]

RE: Sarah Connolly (witness at marriage of Stuart Boyd Connolly to Ada Cadman).  No luck so far.
 There was no family oral history regarding her.  and brief searches on Ancestry find a plethora of Sarah Connollys'.  With no other information such as her age or relationship to Stuart Boyd, I have little to go on.