McElheran

Judyk,

I checked rootsireland for children to James and Jane born pre 1840 but did not find any. You haven’t said what denomination the McClarty & McElheran families were. I had a look at the 1901 census for the Layd area and both surnames were a mix of Church of Ireland and RC, plus 1 Presbyterian McElheran. The Church of Ireland records start in 1826, and RC in 1838, Presbyterian (Cushendun & Cushendall) in 1854. All are too late for someone born in 1782. They would have surely have married and had their children before 1826.

I think you may struggle to find anything on the McElheran family without some additional information to identify precisely where they lived. Without her parents names you would never be sure if you had found the right Jane. The area was fairly compact, especially in the 1700s and late 1800s. You’ll likely get there by driving up the scenic Antrim coast road, but that hadn’t been built  when your ancestors lived in Layd (the road was completed in the 1840s), and the area was largely cut off from the rest of Ireland. Folk could get to Scotland much more easily than over the hills to Ballymena. Supplies often came from Campbeltown not Belfast. And of course many of the folk around Layd originated in Scotland  anyway on the MacDonald estates there, having come over in the 1400s and 1500s. So the historical links were always strong. Except perhaps for sailors, folk around Layd nearly all married locally.  Courting was done on foot and so you married someone who lived nearby. But nearby could be several miles, as well as the girl next door. There was a hint in the McClarty research that they came from either Layd townland or Tavnagharry. So, if correct, the McElherans were probably from within a few miles of that. But that’s a large area with a lot of families. (The spelling will vary so always check McIlheran as well as McElheran).

Be sure to take the minor road from Cushendun around Torr Head for the views. Hope you enjoy your visit.

Brief history and photos of the coast road: https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/what-do-civil-engineer…

Thanks once again Elywn. I didn't think there was much of a chance.

hi Judy, I'm aoife Mcelheran originally from cushendun but living in Belfast. my family on my father's side still live in cushnedun. here's my email aoifemurraymcelheran@outlook.com of tou would like more information x there's not many mcelherans 

Hi Judy,

We also descend from the McElherans near Cushendall. They lived until the early 1900s at Falinlea in the townland of Glasmullen, The nearest town would be Cushendall. I've done a lot of research on this family. Many went to Canada, the US and Australia. We could check DNA if you've done testing. I also have photos of several of them I can share.

If the McClartys were COI then they might be on the Layde Parish Census of 1823. This census lists birth and marriage dates as well as maiden names of wives.

Aoife - I'd love to connect if you are open to that.

Lisa

Hi Alice,

Thanks for your response. I somehow missed your previous message in April. You included your email in that message.  I will email you with details I know about my great great grandmother Jane McElheran once I gather my materials together.

Judy

Oops, autocorrect changed your name.

I’ve emailed from my email g_jkushnir@outlook.com.

Hi Lisa, thanks for your response. I have done DNA testing on Ancestry, 23andme, and My Heritage and would like to check DNA matches. My great great grandmother who was a McElheran was COI. Her daughter Mary also married a MeElherhan in Ireland before emigrating to Canada. Please let me know your last name to check.

thanks once again for getting in touch.

Judy

Judy

I sent you email. I will also share my Ancestry tree

Lisa