William McMullan and Catherine Devlin

At rootsireland.ie, there's a transcription of the baptism of a Catherine Devlin of Broughshane, Ballymena, in the RC parish of
BALLYMENA (KIRKINRIOLA), Co. Antrim, on 6 Sept. 1836, parents Patrick Devlin, Mary Collins. Sponsor: William Agnew. This might be your Catherine, but it is not proved that it is.

I see from Thomas’s baptism record that he married Mary Ann Walsh in 1915:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1915/09816/5564385.pdf

That marriage gives me his townland as Drumraymond, near Toome. Here he is working on the Devlin farm in 1901, listed as a nephew to Laurence Devlin:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Toome_Upper/Drumraymond/942030/

And in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Toome/Drumraymond/125133/

Laurence’s probate from the PRONI wills site, which includes the helpful information that he had at one time been a police officer:

Probate of the Will of Laurence Devlin late of Drumraymond, Co. Antrim, Retired Police Constable and Farmer, who died 4 August 1920 granted at Belfast 20 December 1920 to Daniel O'Donnell and Joseph O'Donnell, Farmers. Effects: £177 0s 0d.

The will itself is not on-line but should be in PRONI in paper format.

The Will of Luke Devlin late of Drumraymond County Antrim Farmer deceased who died 29 July 1879 at same place was proved at Belfast by the oaths of Felix M'Ilherron and Hugh Donnell both of Gortgill County Antrim Farmers the Executors.

The above will is on-line and mentions sons Lawrence, Luke, Hugh & Patrick Devlin, and daughters Mary & Nancy, plus step-daughter Elizabeth McDonnell. The will makes provision for the farmhouse to be split to provide a separate entrance for Lawrence. The door that opens into the kitchen is to be blocked off. (Not an uncommon arrangement).

Administration of the estate of Luke Devlin late of Drumraymond County Antrim Farmer who died 19 October 1898 granted at Belfast to Luke Devlin of Drumraymond Farmer the Son.

Devlin Mary of Drumraymond Toomebridge county Antrim spinster died 22 May 1955 Probate Belfast 18 August to Hugh O'Donnell and Henry O'Donnell farmers. Effects £345 16s. 3d.

The Valuation revision records for Drumraymond show Laurence Devlin on plot 16 which was a farm, outbuildings and 7 acres. He also held plot 14 which was just under 3 acres. That’s near the modern Loughbeg Rd.

This looks like Nathaniel McMullan’s death in Moneyglass in 1913. Informant was his sister Mary McClenaghan.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1913/05345/4488789.pdf

Nathaniel & mother Kate in 1901 in Millquarter:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballyscullion/M…

Same family in 1911 by which time they had moved to Moneyglass:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Toome/Moneyglass/125228/

Kate died in 1918, in Moneyglass. Her daughter Mary was the informant (you don’t have a Mary in your list of children but it looks as though there was one):

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1918/05181/4430459.pdf

William McMullan died in 1886 in Muckrim. Nathaniel was the informant:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

Mary McMullan in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Ballyscullion/Mill_Quarter/124654/

Family in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballyscullion/Millquarter/941475/

Can’t see Lawrence & Mary’s marriage but here’s daughter Sarah’s birth in Kilvillis (next to Mill Quarter) which shows the mother’s maiden name was McMullan. Probably a second marriage for Lawrence as the 1911 census says they were only married 14 years.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1897/02142/1813159.pdf

Thanks very much for that Elwyn.  That has helped me join up a lot of the dots.

I have just found a baptism record for Catherine Devlin "of" Francis or possibly Thomas and Mary the sponsors being James Armstrong and Ann Devlin dated 27/10/1836  in Duneane on Catholic parish registers at NLI.  Could this be William McMullans wife although this makes her about 5 years younger than the census ?

I find the hand writind difficult to make out though she did name her eldest son Thomas.

Have you any idea where the grave is of William and Catherine ? 

Thanks again.  

Regarding the Catherine born in 1836, I think the correct date of baptism is 27th September, rather than October. I think the father’s name is Francis. Whether that’s your Catherine I can’t say. There’s no townland or father’s occupation and I can’t see any easy way of establishing who she was. She doesn’t seem to be in any trees on Ancestry.

I should think the most likely graveyard for someone living in or near Drumraymond would be Moneyglass (beside the chapel there). There is also a small graveyard by the old Ballyscullion chapel on Loughbeg Rd. That’s another possibility.

I know a couple of families who live around Milltown (Millquarter) and they are buried in Moneyglass.

There is also a chapel at Cargin (in the parish of Duneane). It has a graveyard too, but I’d say it less likely that they are there. The parish is awash with Devlins and it can be tricky sorting the different families out at times.

If Thomas McMullan is the nephew of Lawrence Devlin, then Lawrence and Thomas's mother Kate/ Catherine would be brother and sister yet there is no mention of Kate in Luke Devlins will? Seems a bit strange when even the step daughter is mentioned in the will.

Just a thought.

Thanks again, Gus.

Gus,

There are no rules about inheritance that apply perfectly to every family but as a general rule when a daughter was married off, she got her “portion” then, and in any event was regarded as her new husband’s responsibility. So fathers often didn’t leave anything to a married daughter but did make some provision for unmarried ones. Married (or widowed) sisters would likewise often be considered to have been someone else’s responsibility. Bear in mind that the will was signed in 1879 and Kate’s husband William was still alive then. So Luke would likely have viewed it as William’s responsibility to take care of her.

Thanks Elwyn, that makes sense. 
I will take a trip to the graveyard at Moneyglass and the old Ballyscullion graveyard.  I'll take a walk around and I'll let you know if I find anything.

Thanks Gus.

Elwyn,

I visited the graveyard in Moneyglass last Thursday and found the grave for Laurence and Mary McClenaghan.  Laurence died (what looks like) 19th April 1929 and Mary 15th January 1952. The headstone is a small stone cross about 4ft tall and is next to the first entrance in the hedge from the carpark lane. 

I also found a grave for the McMullan family.  It has an older sorround which has had the headstone replaced with black polished stone and is situated near the old chapel ruins.  The individuals are not named on the headstone, it just states for the McMullan family.

Is there any way of identifying the individuals within this grave ?

Gus.