My great grandfather John Devlin was baptised at the Aghoghill RC Church on 28th April 1833. He was the son of John Devlin and Eliza nee French. His siblings and their year of birth were - Anne 1836, Patrick 1838, William 1842-1917, and James 1846
Eliza appears as a widow on the Griffith Valuation of 1862, so her husbandJohn died between 1846 and 1862. I have found Eliza's will of 1874, where she mentions only William and Patrick so perhaps Ann and James were also deceased by this time. Eliza died in 1876, William her son, of Casheltown, registered the death.
I found William on the 1901 and 1911 Census records. He married Ann/Nancy Darragh, daughter of Roger, on 15th August 1874. They had 8 children, one of whom had died before 1911 [Census record]. I believe the children are James 1875, Annie 1877, Mary Jane 1879, John 1881, Elizabeth [Lizzie 1884], Roger 1886, William 1889 and Bridget 1893. His son William of Casheltown signed his father's death certificate.
I am interested generally in any history of the Devlin family, and the French family who possibly came from Randalstown. I would like to discover where my great, great grandparents, or other family members are buried. I would also love to share our joint history with any present day members of these families.
Regards,
Helen
Helen15551
Tuesday 3rd Sep 2013, 09:54AMMessage Board Replies
-
With regard to the likely place of burial, if the family were settled in Casheltown for half a century or longer, then I?d expect them to be buried either in Ahoghill St Mary?s RC graveyard or Portglenone, Aughnahoy graveyard. Graves with stones in both those graveyards are on the Braid website and I can see that your family is not listed. I suspect therefore that they were probably buried without a gravestone (as was the norm) and so it may now be difficult to trace where the grave is. I?d be very surprised if any graveyard plans that may exist go back to the mid 1800s, though there would be no harm in asking the parish priests).
http://www.thebraid.com/genealogy.aspx
http://www.downandconnor.org/parishes-ministries/country-parishes
Though RC churches generally don?t keep burial records, Ahoghill did for the years 1833 ? 1847. You might want to investigate those. There?s a copy of their baptism and marriage records 1833 ? 1881, including the deaths I have mentioned, in PRONI, Belfast. MIC1D/68 Later records should still be with the parish priest.
The Casheltown farm was still in William?s name in 1929 according to the revaluation records. (There are later revaluation record sup to about 1960 in PRONI but they are not on-line). Have you checked to see who lives there today?
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/val12b.htm
Elwyn
Ahoghill Antrim
Tuesday 3rd Sep 2013, 12:39PM