THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN | 1 - NI Archive · 1911 CENSUS 160 1911 CENSUS FOR DERVOCK TOWN 196...

THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN | 1

2 | THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN

THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN A rammel through North Antrim - the who, the what, the where.

Edited by J Honeyford.

© 2019 Dervock & District Community Association and Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council Museum Services.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without permission of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Museum Services.

Printed in Northern Ireland.

ISBN 978-1-9161494-6-5

Cover design and book layout by White Arc Design.

Front cover image: Dervock Bridge. Courtesy of Ballymoney Museum.

This book was produced with the generous financial support of the Special EU Programmes Body as part of the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme.


THE PARISH OFDERRYKEIGHANA RAMMEL THROUGH NORTH ANTRIM THE WHO, THE WHAT, THE WHERE

Dedicated to the memory ofMr William Peden

(July 1926 - January 2020)Honorary President of

Dervock & District Community Association


Dervock Market House. Courtesy of Ballymoney Museum.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 04

INTRODUCTION 05

THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN 07

THE TOWNLANDS 11

DERVOCK VILLAGE 47

STORIES OF THE PEOPLE 53

APPENDICES

1669 HEARTH MONEY ROLLS 60

1796 FLAX GROWERS IN DERRYKEIGHAN 64

1803 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS 65

1827 TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS 77

1858 BELFAST & PROVINCE OF ULSTER DIRECTORY - DERVOCK 95

1861 GRIFFITH’S VALUATION FOR DERRYKEIGHAN 97

1897 BELFAST & PROVINCE OF ULSTER DIRECTORY - DERVOCK 106

1901 CENSUS 109

1901 CENSUS FOR DERVOCK VILLAGE 148

1909 O’FRIEL’S ALMANAC - DERVOCK 158

1911 CENSUS 160

1911 CENSUS FOR DERVOCK TOWN 196

1915 WW1 ROLL OF HONOUR FOR DERVOCK DISTRICT 204

TOWNLANDS WRITTEN PHONETICS AND PRONOUNCIATION 210

CONTENTS


Dervock & District Community Association would like to thank everyone whose support has made this book possible.

• Peace IV; • CCGBC Museum Services; • Carol Hunter who assisted us with the orthographic spelling and phonetic transcription of townland names;• David Kane for his assistance with the audio recording of the townland names;• Nevin Taggart and Charlie Gillen for submitting articles for inclusion.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Welcome to the enchanted lands of the Scotti and their mythical friends from the underworld, the Good People - the Neighbours - or as we now call them, the Fairies. The townland names and the people who inhabited them are a clear indication of the building block of society of then and now. The pointers contained in this book will leave a clear trail for those who wish to investigate further; unfortunately, we just do not have the time or the space.

The generations from early times rubbed uneasily with so called progress as they saw long held beliefs scattered, long established social structures eroded and life, in general, as they knew it mocked and discarded. In common with other societies there was the inherent belief that human existence, which had taken thousands of years to build and establish, was in the space of 50 or 60 years debunked, ridiculed and nearly forgotten.

The gigantic scientific advancement of the human race from the Second World War is mind boggling. However, people should, and must, realise that the older people got us to where we are today. Funny old world isn’t it... Read on and enjoy...

After the ice retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, the first people arrived in Ireland about 10,000 years ago. These hunter-gatherers lived a nomadic life, depending on the landscape to provide them with animals and plants to forge an existence, and evidence shows some of them were living in the Dervock area. Stone Age man was busy shaping and chipping his weapons and tools on the very ground we now walk on. Various finds, including porcellanite, greenstone and mudstone axe heads, arrow heads and other implements, confirm that our hardy ancestors were indeed an industrious bunch of early entrepreneurs.

Hard volcanic granite and basalt rock pushes up through our ancient bogs to make the Antrim Plateau the shape that it is today. Limestone cliffs, sandpits and flint deposits mark the time when the sea covered most of the land mass. Old writings referred to the very ancient history of the high blue Antrim hills, where the people called the Scotti lived.

The people who went on to inhabit what is now Scotland, formerly Albany, forever linking, both by blood and family, two parts of these islands, only thirteen miles apart at their closest point. The clan, sept and family names, having crossed the stormy sea back and forth many times, and having changed alliances many times in the process, remain in the sinew and bone of us all - all the one children of the mists of time.

This is the land that forged our people into a hardy race of determined and resourceful folk. Dervock, like so many other clachans, has the river to thank for early and continued colonisation. The rivers, and now drained and forgotten lakes, of the area also provided for transport and security, while the heavily wooded land gave fuel and shelter. Wild game and fish were noted for their plenteousness.

The old tongue and the old ways, though burned by fire and sword, whether you are mindful of this or not, still remain, hence, the curious mixture of language that is now called, somewhat loosely, Ulster-Scots.

INTRODUCTION


The old townlands and tribal boundaries are still here, and every effort must be made to record these, and whether practical or not, they should still be used. Look for a moment at some of the old words, scunnered, sheugh, wersh, hullabaloo, and many more; where would you find words so descriptive in any other language? Townlands, with names so romantic and descriptive, that sound so natural to the soul, names that leave you wondering who, in those so-called primitive times, had the ability to come up with names which sound so right.

Some early family names recorded in the area are heard no longer, with some being lost to the scourge of emigration, some others dying out through entirely natural causes while others now found have been added through inter-marriage with folk from other areas.

Townland names on the other hand are thankfully documented, although, thanks supposedly to better postal systems, nearly all are not spoken of as they used to be; and therein lies a great shame. When one talked of a Grey, a Simpson, a Hamilton, a Huey, or a Jameson, to help the folk to understand just who you were referring to, the townland name was often added. For example, a Simpson of say Mosside, though maybe genetically the same breeding, was not the Simpson’s o’ Chathamhall, or o’ the Cloontys. Townland names, combined with surnames, linked that family to a particular place in people’s minds, and in the local infrastructure of the area plan. Just as importantly, they also built a family tree of kinsfolk and relations, or if you like, a collection o’ connections, which was handed down orally through the ages - for future generations to add to, or subtract from, as conditions dictated.

While the ‘great and the good’ had the means, and the scribes on hand, to write down history as they saw it, the history of the common people was recorded orally, and nearly every village had their local sage “who minded the time well.” Though, it would be very wrong to believe their version any more than that of their masters, or the ministers and priests who did little to change what pleased their respective landlords when collating the passing times. Whilst remaining mindful of all these pitfalls, there is still a fantastic and colourful history about our areas and people to be recorded. Organisations, such as the B.B.C. with their Storytellers initiative, have started to do what should have been done years ago, while the old folk, with their stories, were plentiful. They have provided the training, and the means, for teams to collect, and record for posterity, the people’s own stories.

Dervock and District Community Association, set up in 1984, has through the years, with the help of many volunteers, worked tirelessly to make their area a cleaner, happier place in which families can raise children and the older generation can live their well-earned rest in peace. This book is not intended to be an academic publication, but rather, a repository of names associated with the area over the years, snippets of history, a flavour of the language and a smattering of North Antrim humour.

We have drawn heavily on the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Volume 16, written in the 1830s to accompany the 6” Ordnance Survey. The Memoirs provide us with an amazing insight into the history of the area, in addition to being an additional source of local people’s names. We have drawn names from various sources and have collated them into one publication and it is our hope that this booklet will provide a useful resource for anyone interested in the parish of Derrykeighan and the people who have lived here.


CHAPTER 1THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN


Baronies, Parishes and Townlands, are divisions of land often referred to in Ireland’s history. Baronies are sub-divided into smaller areas known as Parishes, which are further broken down into Townlands.

The largest of these, baronies, were created during the Tudor period in the 16th century and replaced the earlier system of cantreds formed in the 12th century by the Anglo-Normans. Civil parishes are units of land that have their origins in the old Gaelic territorial divisions of land. They were adopted by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century and were formalised as land divisions in the 16th century. Civil parishes no longer correspond to the religious parishes, which are usually larger. Their use was gradually replaced by Poor Law Divisions in the 19th century, although they were not formally abolished.

A civil parish is sub-divided into smaller geographical divisions called townlands; typically, there are about 30 townlands in each parish. The use of townland names, once an important part of everyday life, has diminished in recent years and the names of our local townlands are in danger of being lost. In the not too distant past, the townland a person came from was often used to differentiate him from someone else with the same name.

The number of townlands in the parish of Derrykeighan varies from 31 to 38 depending on where you look or who you talk to. For the purpose of this publication we have taken it to include the 34 listed on page 9.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs for the Parish of Derrykeighan not only describe the location of the parish, but give an interesting insight into the author’s opinion of the local inhabitants. In September 1832, Lieutenant John Chaytor wrote:-

THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN

“It is situated in the barony of Lower Dunluce, near the northern extremity of the county of Antrim. It is bounded on the north by the parish of Billy and grange of Drumtullagh, on the east by the parish of Armoy, on the south east and south by the parishes of Loughguile and Ballymoney and on the west by the parish of Dunluce…

“The Bush is the most considerable [river] in this neighbourhood … It bounds the parish on the south and west … The Blackwater river forms the northern boundary from the north east extremity of the parish to Dervock, when it passes through the town and joins the Bush … Both of these rivers abound with salmon and trout…”

“The small town of Dervock, consisting of about 80 dwelling houses, is the principal in and situated near the centre of the parish … About 1 and a half miles north west of Dervock, on the road to Bushmills, is situated a small village called Derrykeighan.”

“The population of this parish is very considerable in proportion to its size. The greater part are said to be the descendants of Scottish settlers. They are an industrious and peaceable people, almost all Presbyterians. They speak the English language, but the dialect of the peasantry bears a great resemblance to that of the Scotch.”


THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN

AGHANCROSSYBALLYDIVITYBALLYHIBISTOCKBALLYNAFEIGHBALLYNARRY UPPERBALLYRATAHANBEERHILLBELLISLECARNAFFCARNCOGGYCARNCULLAGH LOWERCARNCULLAGH MIDDLE

CARNCULLAGH UPPERCARNFEOGUECARRACLOGHYCHATHAMHALLCOOLEDEEPSTOWNDERRYKEIGHANDERVOCKDRUMCROTTAGHGLEBEGRACEHILLISLANDAHOE

The parish of Derrykeighan lies in the Barony of Dunluce Lower and has an area of 161 acres, sub-divided into 34 townlands, each of which has its own story to tell. Much of the boundary of the parish is formed by the River Bush, the Stracam River and the Doughery Water.

The following maps and statistics are from www.townlands.ie

KNOCKANBOYKNOCKAVALLANLISCONNANLISNABRAUGHLIVERYMOSTRAGEEMULLAGHDUFFSTROAN LOWERSTROAN UPPERTULLYBANE


CHAPTER 2THE TOWNLANDS


AGHANCROSSY Area: 0.09 Square miles, 57.15 AcresOrigin: Irish achadh na croise, meaning ‘field of the cross’c1659 census – Aughnicrosie

Bordered by Ballyratahan Lower to the north west, Carncullagh Lower to the south east, Dervock to the south west and Urbal to the north east. Urbal lies in the parish of Billy.

The Liggots, a farming family, lived here for over one hundred years - Griffith’s Valuation records the tenant as William Leggatt, and the landlord as George Macartney. Near the Liggot farm was a stone called the Gartan Stone. Gartan is an old Norse word for meeting place, and it was here the first Presbyterian Church was built.

It was at the top of Liggot’s lane that Lord Macartney, Viscount Dervock, built the first boys’ school and a number of years later his wife started a girls’ school beside it.

In the small field beside the school lies the springs that once fed all the water pumps in Dervock. To carry the white bucket with its blue rim from the pump to your mother’s or granny’s house was a chore not loved by many. Many a young lad, with the help of a friend to carry and keep the bucket steady, earned a penny each or indeed a whole thrupenny bit.

The old Reformed Presbyterian manse, known as Fair View Cottage, stood on what was previously known as the Ballymoney Road, now named Knock Road.

The water pumps, commonly called cow tail pumps, were sited at the junction of Knowe Head Street and Church Street, Miller Avenue, the Loop Lane, and one at Ivy Cottage. There was also one on O‘Brien’s Green, beside Maggie Jane’s public house, fronting onto Knowe Head Street, while the pump on Main Street was a lion turn handle.

The water pump located at the junction of the Loop Lane and the Ballymoney Road.


BALLYDIVITYArea: 0.71 square miles, 453.79 acresOrigin: Irish Baile Mhic Duibheidigh meaning ‘Duibheidigh’s townland’ or ‘McDevitt’s town’ c1659 Census spelling Ballydimdy1669 Hearth Money Rolls spelling Ballyginity

Bordered by Ballyhibistock Lower to the south, Ballynarry Lower and Upper to the west, Islandahoe to the east, Cloonty to the east and Castlecat to the north. Cloonty and Castlecat lie in the parish of Billy.

Dating from 1760, Ballydivity House is one of the oldest gentleman’s houses in the parish. The Moore family were early settlers at Ballydivity, the last of whom, James Moore, died in 1788, leaving no male heir. The estate passed to his nephew, James Stewart, grandson of Andrew Stewart who came to Ireland after the battle of Culloden in 1746, and the family name became Stewart-Moore. The Stewart-Moore family featured prominently in the history of County Antrim, with several serving as High Sheriff of the county. The OS Memoirs give the following description of Ballydivity House:- “Ballydivity, the seat of Stewart Moore Esquire is situated in the townland of the same name and on the road from Dervock to Bushmills. The house is not modern, but it is roomy, comfortable, 2-storey … It is perfectly plain in its architecture…”

Moore vault. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.

Moore vault. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


BALLYHIBISTOCK LOWER (Ballyhivistock)Area: 0.24 square miles, 155.7 acresOrigin: Irish Baile Thiobadoig meaning ‘Tibistock’s townland’1669 Hearth Money Rolls spelling Ballyhibidoge

Bordered by Ballydivity to the north, Ballyhibistock Lower to the south, Ballynarry Upper to the west and Derrykeighan and Islandahoe to the east.

BALLYHIBISTOCK UPPERArea: 0.21 square miles, 133.55 acres

Bordered by Ballyhibistock Lower to the north, Ballynarry Upper and Deepstown to the west, Derrykeighan and Islandahoe to the east and Carncoggy to the south.

Coleraine Chronicle, 5th May 1894, carried a story under the headline “Terrible Domestic Tragedy Near Dervock – A Farmer Shot Dead at His Own Fireside.” Mr Lyle Gardiner, “an aged and highly-respected farmer,” was killed when a gunshot was fired through the kitchen window. A local man, John Gilmore, “alleged to have been keeping company with the deceased’s daughter,” was arrested, and subsequently charged. Gilmore was described as belonging to “a most respectable family … well brought up … a well-behaved lad of good character.” The jury recommended the lad to mercy and Coleraine Chronicle of 4th August 1894, reported “some influential signatures have been appended to the petition in favour of a reprieve for the condemned man … The condemned man’s father brought it to the widow of the murdered man and asked her to sign it, and she did so.” However, the Lord Lieutenant decided that the law must take its course and John Gilmore was executed in Belfast Jail on the 17th August 1894.

Extracts from Fair Sheets on Ancient Topography by Thomas Fagan, written in May and June 1838, in Volume 16 of the OS Memoirs tell us about some of the finds made throughout the parish.

“James Moore, farmer in Ballyhibistock, found a most curious brass arrowhead about 6 inches in length, much smaller than the smallest brass spearhead, having four very sharp wings or edges, and in a very good state of preservation. It was found one foot underneath the surface in the earth in the same townland, on his farm about 12 years ago, but sold it long since.”

Ballyhibistock House. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


BALLYNAFEIGHArea: 0.38 square miles, 242.34 acresOrigin: Irish Baile na Faithche meaning ‘townland of the green’1669 Hearth Money Rolls spelling Ballynefaith

Bordered by Mostragee to the north, Livery Upper to the east, Livery Lower to the south, and Carncullagh Upper and Stranocum to the west. Stranocum lies in the parish of Ballymoney.

Ballynafeigh, colloquially know as Bel-na-fie, straddles the Ballinlea Road as it rises from Stranocum. Stranocum railway station, which served the Ballymoney to Ballycastle narrow gauage railway, once stood along the Mostragee Road. Just south of the station there was a railway bridge. The Ballymoney to Ballycastle railway service opened in 1880 and was discontinued in 1950.

The OS Memoirs leave an invaluable record for anyone with an interest in local history and also give a snapshot of some of the people living in the area.

“The 2 stone hatches were found in 1837 by Robert Craig, Ballynafeigh, on his farm, see specimen. From Robert Craig, farmer. 27th February 1838.”

“In 1837 Hugh Craig found the oar of a boat 2 feet 7 inches long by 5 inches broad at the paddle,ofoak;foundinaflowbogonhisfarm,townlandBallynafeigh,4feetunderthe surface, see specimen. 12th March 1838.”

Ballycastle Railway Map. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.

THE BALLYCASTLE RAILWAY The Ballymoney to Ballycastle narrow gauge railway, opened in 1880, carried passengers and goods through the North Antrim countryside, with the seventeen-mile journey, passing through stations at Dervock, Stranocum, Gracehill, Armoy and Capecastle, taking upwards of an hour. Plans in the 1880s to extend the Portrush to Bushmills railway to Dervock never materialised. The Ballycastle railway, which at one time carried over 85,000 passengers annually, suffered from the decline in rail traffic in the 1940s, eventually closing in July 1950.


BALLYNARRY UPPERArea: 0.3 square miles, 191.0 acresOrigin: Irish Baile na Righ meaning ‘town of the kings’Baile an Airimh – ‘town of the ploughman’ (1832 John O’Donovan OSNB)

Bordered by Ballydivity and Ballyhibistock Lower to the east, Ballyhibistock Upper and Deepstown to the south, Ballynarry Lower to the north, Ballyhunsley North to the west and Seneirl to the west. Ballynarry Lower is in the Parish of Billy, and Ballyhunsley North and Seneirl are in the Parish of Dunluce.

The stretch of the River Bush accessed from Denny’s Road produced many fine fish - to local anglers a fish meant a salmon, while a trout was a “troot”. There was no finer fish than one caught by the late Alec Horner, an expert angler. Many of Alec’s brother anglers had encountered this leviathan and had lost lures of various type, size and hue when this “baste o’ a thing” had “wrecked” them.

Getting wrecked was a local term for losing fish, tackle and a good deal of river credibility in one fell swoop. Such was the reputation of this fish as a wrecker that Alec felt he had better show his contemporaries how to deal with him. So Alec went straight to where the last encounter with this fish had taken place, – “he tain me on the third throw, an’ he tain monies a kersheer I run the brews wae ‘im for a guid wee, he tain rips at it an’ then he lay quate but he tired at the finish an’ I finally got ‘is heid up, an whun I sliped ‘im ontae the brew he minded me on the tinker Sweeney, they wur that much tin-weer strung roon ‘im.”

For those not familiar with ‘local speak’ the story loosely translates as “the fish took the lure on the third cast over the river, and many a run for freedom the fish took as he and Alex ran up and down the banks of the river for some length of time. The fish then lay quiet until it finally tired, and Alex got the fish to raise its head in surrender. When he took the fish from the water there hanging on its body were spoons, flies, and hooks of every description. So much so, that Alex thought the fish resembled a traveller’s accoutrements jacket.

The River Bush. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


BALLYRATAHAN LOWERArea: 0.21 square miles, 133.78 acresOrigin: Irish Baile Ui Raiteachain meaning ‘O’Rattaghan’s townland’c1659 Census spelling Ballyratachan

Bordered by Dervock to the south, Ballyratahan Upper and Carnaff to the west, Knockanvallan to the north, and Aghancrossy and Urbal to the east. Urbal lies in the parish of Billy.

At the top of Knowe Head Street stood the Laurels, where the Bleach Green used to be, known locally as ‘The Walls’ due to the two stout walls on either side to prevent the surrounding soil from flooding the road.

There were four houses there and one of them was occupied by the McArthur family. Kennedy Kane McArthur was the local postman before he emigrated to South Africa, at the age of 20, in 1901, where he joined the police force. Kennedy had developed a love for running as a youth, but he did not take up professional sport until he arrived in South Africa. Described as the “golden boy” of the 1912 Olympics, McArthur won his first, and only, gold medal in the marathon run, setting a new world record. His sporting career was brought to an abrupt end the following year when he was involved in an accident, when his foot was crushed under a cart wheel when he was alongside it speaking to the driver. At the top of Church Street stands St Colman’s Church of Ireland built in 1831 and named after St Colman who is supposed to have founded the ancient church at Derrykeighan. The church was built on an Irish acre of land provided by George Macartney, who was pleased that the church had been moved from Derrykeighan to his village of Dervock, which he was developing at the time. For some years only those granted permission by Macartney could be buried in the churchyard. The builder, Hans Wood, is said to have fallen to his death from the tower just before the church was completed.

Kennedy Kane McArthur. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.

St Colman’s Parish Church. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


BALLYRATAHAN UPPERArea: 0.34 square miles, 214.82 acresOrigin: Irish Baile Ui Raiteachain meaing ‘O’Rattaghan’s townland’1669 Hearth Money Rolls spelling Ballavafagan

Bordered by Ballyratahan Lower and Dervock to the east, Stroan Upper to the south, and Knockanboy and Carnaff to the west.

Amongst the wealth of information included in the OS Memoirs we get an insight into the industry in the parish in the 19th century.

“Brick-making has lately commenced in the townland of Ballyratahan Upper. The understratum of the bog is found to be a clay well adapted for this purpose, and the discovery is likely to be of vast utility to the neighbourhood.”

Along the Knock Road, previously known as the Ballymoney Road, stands the William Pinkerton School, which opened in 1953. Reverend Hugh McNeill, M.A., gave us an insight into local education in his book The Annals of the Parish of Derrykeighan, published in 1910, some 17 years after his death. Rev. McNeill was the rector of Derrykeighan Church of Ireland from 1876 until 1893.

“About 1810 Mrs Quigg had a school in Dervock, near the old market-house, and another school was held in Carncullagh session-house, taught in succession by Mr Macarthur, Mr JohnHenry(in1814),MrMorning,andMrHunter.ThisschoolceasedwhenDervock schoolhouse was built in 1828.”

Dervock National School. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


BEERHILLArea: 0.10 square miles, 62.77 acresOrigin: UNCERTAIN c1657 reference Carncoge in Hibernia Regnum barony maps but may reference the English surname ‘Beer’

Bordered by Carncoggy to the west, Derrykeighan to the east and Lisconnan to the south.

Causeway Safari Park was a unique attraction in Northern Ireland, drawing visitors from across the province and further afield. The Safari Park opened about 1970 and was home to lions, tigers, chimpanzees and many other animals - where else in Ulster could folk settle down at night with the cries of the African jungle resounding through the darkness. Its most famous resident was Peter, the smoking chimp. He was also quite an accomplished escape artist who managed to escape from his cage not once, but twice! The park employed three full-time staff and about 40 workers during the summer season; Davy Liggett worked as a keeper there for 26 years and showed no fear when working with the big cats and other dangerous animals. However, he was incredibly brave when a young lad Murphy, from Ballybogey, who worked at the Safari Park was attacked by a lion. As the lion was closing its mouth round young Murphy’s head, Davy jumped out of his Land Rover, kicked the lion and shouted at the rest of the pride, which were coming running over. In the split seconds lent to him, Davy scooped the young lad into his vehicle and took him to safety.

By the mid-1990s the park was in serious financial difficulty and faced closure. The site was taken over by the U.S.P.C.A. and the animals were rehomed.

Safari Park Brochure. Courtesy of Ballymoney Museum.


BELLISLEArea: 0.44 square miles, 280.7 acresOrigin: English ‘Beautiful Island’1669 Hearth Money Rolls - Inchgrane

Bordered by Carncullagh Lower to the west, Carncullagh Middle to the north, Carncullagh Upper to the east, Sloan Upper to the west, Ballyrobin and Cubbindal to the east, Kirkhills to the west and Roseyards to the south. Ballyrobin, Cubbindal, Kirkhills and Roseyards are in the parish of Ballymoney.

We again return to the OS Memoirs compiled in the 1830s:-

“There is a tract of bog in Belleisle townland which is particularly deserving of notice for its great depth,… and the more remarkable circumstances of there being a Danish rath or fort on it… “James Mitchell, farmer, Belish townland, 2 years ago found a gold ornament like the handle of a door or the hilt of sword, but sold it for 6 guineas.”

The memoirs tell of a “very curious stone jar or bottle” James Anderson, a farmer in Carnaff townland had in his possession.

“James Martin of Islandhoe townland has a most perfect one of similar shape and dimensionswhichwasfound40yearsago,4andahalffeetdeepintheflowboginBelisle townland. The man’s face on it is very perfect, with a very long beard and dated 1661. From James Martin and Robert McCleland.”

Bellisle Bridge near the Causey Heed sandpits. Will Millar, of Irish Rovers fame, used to live just round the corner from the bridge before he went to

Canada.Photo©KennethAllen(cc-by-sa/2.0).


CARNAFFArea: 0.42 square miles, 271 acresOrigin: Irish Carn Damh ‘cairn of the oxen’

Bordered by Ballyratahan Lower and Knockavallan to the east, Coole and Glebe to the north, Derrykeighan and Lisconnan to the west and Ballyratahan Upper and Knockanboy to the south.

From the OS Memoirs: Carnaff School: “50 Protestants, total 50, all females; this is a female school under the London Hibernian Society, who occasionally grant it 1 pound; the scholars pay 2s 6d per quarter;established1834.”

“TherewasafortofearthonthefarmofRobertNevininthetownlandofCarnaff,nearthe Covenanting meeting house, but all demolished. A cove was also in the fort, but dug away, inthediggingofwhich4silvercoinsofEdwardIVwasfound,butalllost,5yearsago.”

Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church sits on the ‘Croft Heed’, near the boundary between Carnaff and Knockavallan. A strong oral history tradition within the church remembered the suffering, both in Scotland and Ulster, that people were subjected to for their faith. One of Dervock’s best-known personalities was the Rev R J McIlmoyle, M.B.E. Rev McIlmoyle, who was the minister from August 1904 until his retirement in May 1964, was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to agriculture. He was famous for his flock of pedigree Border Leicester sheep, which won prizes all over the British Isles. Because of his ready wit and amazing skills at giving talks at soirees in church halls and the like, his fame as an after-dinner speaker spread all over Northern Ireland. Indeed, when a local parishioner told him of a dead donkey left by the travelling people on the Old Stroan Road he promptly rang the council in Ballymoney to have it lifted. Someone there, who knew no better, tried to bandy words with his Reverence by saying “I thought, your Reverence that was more in your department.” Without missing a beat Rev McIlmoyle replied, “Well you know, it is also part of my calling to inform the next of kin.”

Rev McIlmoyle with a few of his sheep. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


CARNCOGGYArea: 0.30 Square Miles, 190.29 Acres Origin: Irish Carn Cogadh ‘cairn of the war’1669 Hearth Money Rolls - Corcagy

Bordered by Ballyhibistock Upper and Derrykeighan to the east, Beerhill and Lisconnan to the south, and Benvardin, Deepstown and Shellfield to the west. Shellfield lies in the parish of Dunluce.

From the OS Memoirs: “The Fairy hill is a small hill or mound about 50 perches south west of the line of road from Coleraine to Derrykeighan old church in the townland of Carncoggy, on the property of John Montgomery Esquire, but nothing remarkable about [it], as part appears to have been dug away. It was called the Fairy hill from its verdant appearance.

“A celebrated battle is said to have been fought on this hill or near it, but is not known by whom or when. Large quantities of human bones have been found here. From John Lyle, farmer.”

A family by the name of Carson had their house burned down by the crown forces because of their support of the 1798 United Irishmen Rebellion - it was said that the meal and other foodstuffs smouldered for weeks in these covenanting houses. Many other Covenanting Presbyterian families suffered the same fate. These times were not based on the pure definition of Christian fortitude, or indeed forgiveness.

Coleraine Chronicle carried a report that on the 31st August 1940, “Mr George McKelvie, Main Street, Dervock, set up a fine record for flax pulling on the farm of a Mr James Millar, Carncoggy, Dervock. In nine hours he pulled forty-one stooks of flax. In the past four weeks – he has pulled nearly 500 stooks.” [A stook consisted of a number of sheaves set upright in a field to dry with their heads together]. George was known to use his skill charitably, at times stepping in to help older people and women, thereby ‘pulling them out’ and protecting their meagre earnings.

Stooksinafield.CourtesyoftheSamHenryCollection.


CARNCULLAGH LOWERArea: 0.30 square miles, 193.16 acres

Bordered by Aghancrossy and Urbal to the north, Dervock and Sloan Upper to the west, Bellisle to the south, and Carncullagh Middle and Ballynagor to the east. Urbal and Ballynagor lie in the parish of Billy.

CARNCULLAGH MIDDLEArea: 0.17 square miles, 106.75 acres

Bordered by Carncullagh Lower to the west, Bellisle to the south, Carncullagh Upper to the east and Ballynagor to the north. Ballynagor lies in the parish of Billy.

CARNCULLAGH UPPERArea: 0.67 square miles, 431.35 acresOrigin: Irish Carn Colla – Colla may be interpreted as ‘great lord, chief’ and the name survived in Antrim down to the late 19th century, especially among the MacDonnells

Bordered by the Ballynafeigh, Mostragee, Moycraig Lower and Stranocum to the east, Ballynagor to the north, Bellisle and Carncullagh Middle to the west, and Ballyrobin to the south. Ballynagor and Moycraig Lower lie in the Parish of Billy and Ballyrobin and Stranocum in the parish of Ballymoney.

A tombstone was raised from the floor of the old church at Derrykeighan after it was pulled down in 1831, inscribed “Heir lyeth the corpis of ane faithful sister in the Lord calid Margrat Boyd, dochter to Archibald Boyd of Carncolach and sumtym wyf to William Huchsoun of Stronocum, who desist the 01 of June 1625.”

In 1642, Dervock was a military station in charge of a Scottish regiment, whose chaplain ministered to the Presbyterian settlers round about. It was in this way the congregation was formed. In 1646 the first Presbyterian church in North Antrim was established here and the Reverend John Baird, who was the chaplain to the Earl of Argyll’s regiment, was installed as the first minister. At first the congregation met for worship in the Parish church, but being deprived after some time of the use of the building, worship was held in a very humble house of mud and stones situated near the Stracam River, about a mile due north of where the church is now built. Reverend Baird was succeeded by Reverend Robert Stirling, who was in turn succeeded by his son, Reverend Thomas Stirling, who ministered from 1703 – 1719. It was during this period, that the church was moved from its site by the riverside to the field opposite, where it now stands. The church was renovated and rebuilt over the years and a church hall, one of the first in the Presbytery, was erected in 1888.


Dervock Presbyterian Church and Church Hall. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.

Jim(Jamesy)JohnstonfishingontheStrahamRiver.IncludedonhorsebackisDavyMcAllister,whobrought his cowboy saddle and guns home when he returned from Wyoming.

“There is a Presbyterian meeting house now building on the site of the former one in the townland of Carncullagh … It will probably accommodate 800 persons … It will cost about 800 pounds.”

“William McFadden of Carncullagh Lower townland has an ancient prayer-book, which is interleavedwithmanuscriptwritteninacurioushand,printedin1574,authorThomas Vantrollerius,seespecimen.1stMarch1838.” OS Memoirs


CARNFEOGUEArea: 0.46 square miles, 297.59 acresOrigin: Irish Carn Fiog ‘cairn of the rushes’ (it is also possible that feogue refers to a personal name)1669 Hearth Money Rolls - Carnfioge

Bordered by Carracloghy to the north, Iderown and Moycraig Lower to the west, Drumcrottagh to the south, and Tullybane and Clontyfinnan West to the east. Clontyfinnan West lies in the parish of Loughguile, Moycraig Lower in the parish of Billy, and Iderown in the Grange of Drumtullagh.

From the OS Memoirs: “There is a standing stone on the farm of John Jameson in the townland of Carnfeogue, ... Itis4feethighby1foot7inchesbroadand1footthick.Itwasmuchhigher,butsome yearsagoabout4feetwasbrokenoffthetop.FromJohnJamesonandJamesBoyland.”

“Ephraim McMullin of Carnfeogue townland about 20 years ago found 5 sticks like the oars ofboats,eachabout4feetinlength,allpiledtogether,standingupright2feetdeepina flowboginthesametownland,butalllost.FromEphraimMcMullin,farmer.”

Carnfeogue Standing Stone. Courtesy of Dick Glasgow.


CARRACLOGHYArea: 0.24 square miles, 154.23 acresOrigin: Irish Cora Cloiche ‘weir of the stone or stony weir’1669 Hearth Money Rolls - Carrologhly

Bordered by Carnfeogue and Iderown to the west, Tullybane to the south, and Clontyfinnan East and Gracehill to the east. Iderown lies in the Grange of Drumtullagh, and Clontyfinnan East in the parish of Loughguile.

The OS Memoirs not only give us a glimpse of the people they also show how the spelling of the names of the townlands varied.

“ThereisalsoacovewithroomsturningoffatrightanglesonthefarmofWilliam McConaghy, townland Carrackoghy, but closed up. From William McConaghy, farmer.”

MapandextractfromGriffith’sValuation.CourtesyofAskAboutIrelandandtheCulturalHeritageProject.


CHATHAMHALLArea: 0.30 square miles, 189.59 acresOrigin: of uncertain origin. The earliest form appears as Balliloshe in the Hibernia Regnum, a set of barony maps of Ireland dating to 1655-59. The English name Chathamhall first appears in the Ordnance Survey Name-books compiled during the Ordnance Survey in 1827-35.

Bordered by Carnkirn to the north, Gracehill to the west, Ballybregagh to the south, and Mullaghduff and Knocknahinch to the east. Carnkirn lies in the parish of Grange of Drumtullagh; Ballybregagh and Knocknahinch are in the parish of Loughguile.

Chathamhall also gives its name to a Masonic Lodge in the townland. Chatham Hall Masonic Lodge No. 152 was granted a warrant on the 7th June 1810. The present hall was built in 1933 and an old foundation stone built into the present building has on it Chattim Hall. Sam Henry’s Songs of the People includes Mullaghdoo which tells of Hugh Fulton who emigrated to Nova Scotia finishes -

The night he took his last farewellOf Chatham boys, his favoured few -Our master’s name was Dan McKay -

He says, ‘A charge I leave wi’ you:Now, brave McKay, as you pass by

Wi’fifesanddrumsandcoloursblue,The more my face you ne’er shall see;Play “Auld Lang Syne” for Mullaghdoo.

ChathamhallMasonicHall.Photo©WillieDuffin(cc-by-sa/2.0). AcertificateissuedbyMasonicLodgeNo. 229 meeting at Dervock in 1876.


COOLEArea: 0.36 square miles, 230.39 acresOrigin: Irish An Chuil ‘the corner/angle’c1659 Census - Cull

Bordered by Carnaff, Glebe and Islandhoe to the west, and Lisnabraugh and Toberdoney to the east. Toberdoney lies in the parish of Billy.

Local historian, the late Alex Blair, noted that the congregation of Toberdoney Presbyterian Church was one of the last two Seceeder congregations in the United Kingdom, only joining the Presbyterian General Assembly in June 1956. The church was built at the Cross Roads of Toberdoney in 1813, by Rev. James Bryce of Killaig, Coleraine, who was an “Auld Licht” Anti-Burger Seceder minister. It belonged to the Scottish Synod of Protesters, before joining the Original Session Synod, being part of the Presbytery of Ayr.

A tablet above the door of Toberdoney Presbyterian Church states: The Foundation of the church was laid in the Year of our Lord 1813, for which R Tenant, M.D., of Belfast, gave £10. Dr Tenant’s father was the Rev John Tenant, first Seceder minister in North Antrim, ordained at Roseyards on the 15th May 1751.

Toberdoney Presbyterian Church. Photo©KennethAllen(cc-by-sa/2.0).

Commemorative Plaque on Toberdoney PresbyterianChurch.Photo©WillieDuffin

(cc-by-sa/2.0).


DEEPSTOWNArea: 0.13 square miles, 80.30 acresOrigin: uncertain – likely of English origin. The name first appears in Lendrick’s map of County Antrim in 1780.

Bordered by Ballyhibistock Upper to the east, Carncoggy to the south, Ballynarry Upper, Ballyhunsley South and Shellfield to the west. Ballyhunsley South and Shellfield lie in the parish of Dunluce.

In the early part of the 19th century John Millar of Deepstown worked for Mr Samuel Allen of Lisconnan House. He summed up his son Willie’s occupation by saying “nae work and plenty o’ money,” and when he told his employer that Willie was away to learn “a powerful trade,” little did either of them know that Wee Willie’s occupation was going to be a highwayman. It is believed that Willie went off to join a gang which was terrorising North Antrim at that time. There were three tests for a highwayman in those days – firstly, to steal a horse out of a stable with the stableman present, secondly to take a horse from the plough while the ploughman was in charge of it and thirdly to remove a sheet from a bed in which a couple had been sleeping.

Wee Willie had the audacity to test his skills at Lisconnan where his father worked. He bought a bottle of whiskey in Ballymoney which he then shared with the stableman, meaning he had little trouble in taking away the horse. For his second test Willie had a number of accomplices ready to release some rabbits in a field which was being ploughed. When the ploughman saw the rabbits, he took off after them and returned to find one of his horses missing. In preparation for the third task Willie stole the corpse of an old man who died near Dervock which he then used in an elaborate plot to successfully acquire the final proof of his ability as a robber.

It is said that Willie Millar went on to accumulate a vast amount of money before he was finally “run down” by the authorities, hiding in a turf stack in the Garry Bog. He’s supposed to have buried his treasure there – “AtnoonyouwillfindatreeintheGarryBogwhoseshadowpointsstraight to the lime quarry on the slopes of Knocklayde at Capecastle. Then twelve steps behind that tree is Millar’s crock of gold.”

Bringing home the turf from the Garry Bog. Published in the Belfast Telegraph 16 September 1930. Courtesy of

Ballymoney Museum.

A turf stack.


DERRYKEIGHANArea: 0.25 square miles, 161.44 acresOrigin: Irish Doire Chaochain ‘Coachan’s oak-wood’

Bordered by Ballyhibistock Lower, Ballyhibistock Upper and Glebe to the north, Beerhill and Carncoggy to the west, Lisconnan to the south, and Carnaff to the east.

Derrykeighan has associations with the United Irishmen. It was here that John Nevin, of Kilmoyle, a member of the Ballymoney Volunteer Company raised in 1784, by John Leslie of Leslie Hill, drilled his insurgents in a field known as “the Drilly Knowe.”

Private John Meeke M.M. is interred in the old graveyard in Derrykeighan. John Meeke, an Orangeman belonging to Benvarden L.O.L. No. 1001, was a stretcher bearer in the 36th Ulster Division. He was awarded the Military Medal for treating and rescuing the wounded Major Willie Redmond, of the 16th Irish Division, at Messines Ridge. Major Redmond’s brother was John Redmond, the Home Rule advocate.

Derrykeighan has been the site of an ecclesiastical settlement since the 5th century when a church was founded by St Colman. The OS Memoirs give a description of the old church in 1831 and tell the story of the controversy surrounding the removal of the church to Dervock.

“The old church [of Derrykeighan] … stands nearly east and west … lit by a large Gothic windowontheeastgableand3flat,archwindowsonthesouthside.Thewallsareofland andquarrystoneandvaryinthickness…Thesewallswereunroofed,1831…Variationin their thickness is accounted for by remodelling the walls of the original church on the site at some former period … The original church is said to have been roofed with oak timbers … of the date of its erection or destruction no accurate detail at present can be obtained…

“After the completion of the new church at Dervock, 1831, the former was pulled down and the roof and furniture sold by auction. The removal of the church to Dervock was many years in contemplation … many full and troublesome meetings of the parishioners … in consequence of the parishioners being divided into 2 parties, one of which was for the erection of the new church at Dervock and the other for retaining it on the old ground in Derrykeighan … altercations on the subject ran so high that in order to destroy the old one altogether, some party unknown, about 12 years back, laid a match of powder beneath the flooringwhich,ifignited,accordingtodesign,wouldhaveblowntheroofaltogetheroffthe church, together with destroying the furniture, but the match being laid in a damp passage leadingtoavaultbeneaththefloor,togetherwithsomebrokenpanesinthewindows, preventeditshavingthedesignedeffect.However,itblewupandotherwiseinjuredsome of the pews…”

A version of where the townland got its name is told in the memoirs:

“Doratha Keighan, whose grave is said to be in the graveyard, was a rich, old lady and made a present of the glebe land and churchyard to the parish of Derrykeighan. Doratha is said to havebeenthefirstpersonburiedinthegraveyard,butitisnotknownwherehergraveis in the yard. Information obtained from Samuel Simpson and Dr Wilson. 19th March 1838.”


Derrykeighan Old Church. Courtesy of Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council.

The Derrykeighan Stone. Photo © Kenneth Allen (cc-by-sa/2.0).

The headstones of Pte. John Meeke M.M. and his brother Pte. Samuel Meeke. Courtesy of Causeway

Coast & Glens Borough Council.


DERVOCKArea: 0.17 square miles, 111.71 acresOrigin: Irish Dairbheog [daravog] ‘oak plantation’

Bordered by Aghancrossy and Ballyratahan Lower to the north, Ballyratahan Upper to the west, Sloan Upper to the south, and Carncullagh Lower to the east.

Knocklayde mountain can be seen from across the parish and in Seward’s Topography of Ireland there is an “accurate description” of an eruption said to have occurred in May 1788. ‘This remarkable phenomenon was preceded by a noise resembling a continued crash of thunder, and a column of fire and smoke burst forth and ascended about 60 yards into the air, followed by a shower of ashes and stones which extended a quarter of a mile round the hill. In about 45 minutes after the first shock a stream of lava poured out and rushed in a sheet of liquid fire about 60 yards in breadth down the fields …’ The story is also referenced in the poem ‘Rathlin’ by Thomas Beggs, where he describes how Dubh ni Valone (Sheelah Dubh ni Valone, the black nun of Bonamargy) uttered disturbing prophecies including, “Lands o’erwhelmed with watery peat, from black Knocklaida’s bursting breast.”

Knocklayde, from Sam Henry’s Songs of the People.


DRUMCROTTAGHArea: 0.39 square miles, 250.57 acresOrigin: Irish Droim Crotach ‘hump-shaped ridge’1669 Hearth Money Rolls - Drumrottogh

Bordered by Carnfeogue, Mostragee and Clontyfinnan West to the east, and Moycraig Lower to the west. Clontyfinnan West lies in the parish of Loughguile and Moycraig Lower is in the parish of Billy.

From the OS Memoirs: “A curious stone, like crystal, nearly round and marked, about the size of a large nut, was found by Daniel McMullan, Drumcrottagh townland, on his farm in 1837.

“Robert McCauly, Drumcrottagh, found a most curious brass hatchet in the ruins of a lime kiln on his farm in 1837. 2nd March 1838.”

Griffith’sValuation5a occupied by Martha Patrick; 5b occupied by James Douglas; 5c occupied by Mary Darragh; 5d unoccupied; 5e occupied by Jane Catherwood and 5f occupied by John Holmes. Courtesy of AskAboutIreland and the Cultural Heritage Project.

Griffith’sValuationmapofDrumcrottagh.CourtesyofAskAboutIrelandandtheCulturalHeritageProject.


GLEBEArea: 0.06 square miles, 37.69 acresOrigin: English ‘land belonging to/yielding revenue to a church’c1659 Census - Maghereboy is likely derived from the Irish Machaire Bui ‘yellow plain’

The term glebe refers to land set aside for the upkeep of the clergyman of a parish.

Bordered by Derrykeighan to the south, Carnaff and Coole to the east, and Islandahoe to the north.

Not a lot is known about the Craig of Vengence mentioned in the OS Memoirs. “ThereisaspotcalledtheCraigofVengencedirectlyoppositetheGlebeHouseandonthe west side of the road from Bushmills to Dervock. It is on the farm of William Colvin. The Cross hill is directly opposite the above and on the other side of the road. There is no distinct tradition as to what was the origin of the names of these places. It is believed they werefromsomebloodybattleormassacre.TheCraigofVengenceisnothingmorethana ploughedfield.”

The Glebe House. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


GRACEHILLArea: 0.27 square miles, 170.83 acresOrigin: English Grace (a personal name) + Hill – two early forms before Gracehill in 1827c1659 Census - Carnanboy is likely derived from the Irish An Carnan Bui ‘the yellow hillock’

Bordered by Carnkirn to the north, Chathamhall, Contyfinnan East and Ballybregagh to the east, Carracloghy to the south, and Iderown to the west. Carnkirn and Iderown lie in the Grange of Drumtullagh, Clontyfinnan East and Ballybregagh are in the parish of Loughguile.

The OS Memoirs tell of an ancient burial ground which was found in this townland.

“About 30 perches east of Gracehill House, in the same townland, a few perches from the stream which divides Carnkeeran from Gracehill and opposite the conspicuous fort in Carnkeeran, there was a remarkable keile or burial ground, but all demolished. Also 3 remarkablecoves,convenienttothekeileinthesamefield,withroomsturningoffatright angles, but all closed up. From John Campbell, farmer.”

Gracehill House. Courtesy of Ballymoney Museum.


ISLANDAHOEArea: 0.43 square miles, 276.64 acresOrigin: Irish Oilean na hUamha ‘island of the cave/souterrain’

Bordered by Coole, Islandrose and Toberdoney to the east, Glebe to the south, Ballydivity and Cloonty to the north, Ballyhibistock Lower, Ballyhibistock Upper and Derrykeighan to the west, and Glebe to the south. Islandrose, Toberdoney and Cloonty lie in the parish of Billy.

The Simpson brothers who bred very notable coursing greyhounds lived on a farm in the townland of Islandahoe. The most famous of these was a bitch called Sylvianna, winner of the Irish Cup in the 1907/8 coursing season. A photograph of this famous bitch hung in Paddy McCann’s bar in Dervock for a long time. Robert and Thomas Simpson also bred a dog called Something Similar, reputedly the fastest greyhound ever bred in Ireland.

The OS Memoirs recorded on the “holding of Archibald McAlester stands a hill locally called Ranold’s Hill, on top of which stands the ruins of a cairn or mound of earth & stones, which seem to haveformedacircle28feetindiameter,butnowmuchdisfigured.” The memoirs went on to say that in this cairn “stood a cave,” this may have been the chamber of a megalithic tomb.

The Simpson brothers pictured with Sylvianna, winner of the Irish Cup. Courtesy of Johnny Sharpe.


KNOCKANBOYArea: 0.55 square miles, 349.45 acresOrigin: Irish Cnocan Bui ‘Small Yellow Hill’

Bordered by Ballyratahan Upper; and Sloan Upper to the east, Sloan Lower to the south, Conagher and Lisconnan to the west, and Carnaff to the north. Conagher lies in the parish of Ballymoney.

Rev J O’Laverty, in his book An Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern, published in Dublin in 1878, said that before the Roman Catholic church was erected in Dervock “mass was celebrated in private houses in the town, but the landlord, George Macartney, threatened to evict any of his tenants who would permit mass to be celebrated in their houses. Samuel Allen, of Lisconnan, indignant at the bigotry of Macartney, sent for Father Denvir and gave to him a grant of the ground on which the church is now erected, at a nominal rent of 1 shilling a year for 999 years.” The lease was executed in September 1835 shortly before the death of Mr Allen. Funds to build Our Lady and St John the Evangelist’s Church were raised locally and in Liverpool.

John McNicholl was a local blind poet who lived in Knockanboy.

The Dervock Private Still by John McNicholl.


KNOCKAVALLANArea: 0.32 square miles, 204.3 acresOrigin: Irish Cnoc an Mheallain ‘hill of the little lump or heap’

Bordered by Ballyratahan Lower to the south, Urbal, Deffrick, Five Acres and Toberdoney to the east, Lisnabraugh to the north and Carnaff to the west. Urbal, Deffrick, Five Acres and Toberdoney lie in the parish of Billy.

Many of those living in the parish of Derrykeighan were of Scottish Presbyterian stock and their religion was important to them.

“The Covenanters’ meeting house in Knockavallan is a very plain building … It was erected about50yearsagoandisthatched.Itisinbadrepairinternallyandnotsufficiently commodious for the congregation. The sacrament is usually administered in the open field.Itisintendedtothrowitdownandrebuilditonalargerscalesosoonasfundscanbe obtained for that purpose. It would accommodate about 300 persons.” OS Memoirs

Dervock Reformed Presbyterian Church. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


LISCONNANArea: 0.77 square miles, 494.07 acresOrigin: Irish Lios Conain ‘Conan’s fort’

Bordered by Carnaff and Knockanboy to the east, Conogher to the south, Carncoggy and Benvardin to the west, and Beerhill to the north. Conogher lies in the parish of Ballymoney and Benvardin is in the parish of Dunluce.

From the OS Memoirs:

“There is an ancient iron pot 9 inches in diameter at the mouth by 3 feet in circumference round the widest part outside, and 8 inches deep. The feet, 3 in number, are each 3 inches long.ItwasfoundbyAlexanderChristyin1837intheflowbogintownlandofLisconnan,1 and a half feet deep, and is in his possession in the above townland but nearly all mouldered away.”

SchoolsLisconan; master Samuel Smith, an old man of 75 years of age, teaches 8 or 9 children in his own house.

Lisconan; master M Crum, Methodist; free or pay school: not stated; number of pupils by the Protestant return: 3 other denominations, 9 Roman Catholics, 12 males; associations none.

The present Lisconnan House probably dates from the second half of the 18th century, although a building has stood on this site since the early 17th century, when the land was granted by the Earl of Antrim to Robert Fairlie. It was purchased by Samuel Allen in 1778, and the Allen family lived there until 1977. The family were generous benefactors; they built the Allen and Adair Hall and the rectory for St Colman’s Church and also contributed to the building of the local Roman Catholic Church.

Lisconnan House. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


LISNABRAUGHArea: 0.3 square miles, 191.39 acresOrigin: Irish Lios na Braiche ‘fort of the malt’

Bordered by Carnaff and Coole to the west, Knockavallan to the south, and Toberdoney to the east. Toberdoney lies in the parish of Billy.

A circular crop mark indicates archaeological features which are most likely a ring-fort from which the townland got its name. In the 1832 OS Name-books, John O’Donovan, suggested the name may derive from Lios Albanach meaning ‘fort of the Scotsmen’


“There is also a number of coves on the farm of James Woodside, townland of Lisnabragh, withroomsturningoffatrightangles,butclosedup.FromRobertNevinandJames Woodside, farmers.”

Working still captured by police near Dervock. Belfast Telegraph, 13 April 1937.


LIVERY LOWERArea: 0.39 square miles, 248.99 acreOrigin: English refers to freehold land

Bordered by Livery Upper and Drumnafivey to the east, Ballynafeigh to the north, and Stranocum to the west. Drumnafivey lies in the parish of Loughguile and Stranocum is in the parish of Ballymoney.

LIVERY UPPERArea: 0.4 square miles, 256.56 acres

Bordered by Clontyfinnan West, Kingarriff and Mostragee to the east, Ballycregagh Lower and Drumnafivey to the south, Livery Lower to the west, and Ballynafeigh to the north. Clontyfinnan West, Kingarriff, Ballycregagh Lower and Drumnafivey lie in the Parish of Loughguile.


“There is a giant’s grave in townland Livery Lower, on the property of James Hutchinson Esquire ... The grave runs east and is 19 feet long by 3 feet wide and 3 feet high, is of earth with a few stones, in the planting called Andrews Grove. From Robert Stewart and David Davison. 16th March 1838.

“DanielCrawfordofBallymacfinfoundanancientwoodenvesselhollowedoutofasolid piece of timber in a bog in the last mentioned townland [Livery Lower] about 18 years back. Itapproachedtoovalshapeandwouldcontainabove4bushels,butquitedecayedwhen lifted. Informants John Wright, John Bullion and others. 31st May 1838.

“An ancient castle is said to have stood in the townland of Livery Lower, a short distance nearly south of Bushbank House, on the property of James Hutchinson Esquire. Stones and mortar is said to have been found on the bank where it stood, but not a trace of it remains now to be seen.”

“In 1832 Lawrence McGarry of the townland of Livery Upper found a wind musical instrument of wood, in shape like the tin hornsnowinuseinfarmhousestocallhomethelabourers…4of them have been found in the same place at the same time … The 2 smaller ones are supposed to have been joined together and anciently called musical pipes, and was used as such for 2 years after they were found by the boys near Stranocum, but are now all lost.Theywerefound4feetdeepinaflowbog...Eachofthe2 long ones was 2 feet long. From Lawrence McGarry, rope maker. 13th March 1838.” Bog butter vessel.


MOSTRAGEEArea: 0.47 square miles, 301.33 acresOrigin: Irish Maistreadh Gaoithe ‘swirling of the wind’

Bordered by Ballynafeigh, Carncullagh Upper and Moycraig Lower to the west, Drumcrottagh, Livery Upper, Clontyfinnan West and Kingarriff to the east. Moycraig Lower lies in the parish of Billy, Clontyfinnan West and Kingarriff are in the parish of Loughguile.


“Mr Robert Haltridge, gentleman farmer, Mostragee townland, has a very large and perfect sword of bronze, 2 feet long by 1 and a half inches broad in the broadest part of the blade, found in the townland of [Mostragee?].

“There was an old graveyard or keile on the farm of Robert Haltridge, Mostragee townland, inwhichaquantityofcoffinsandhumanskullsandboneswerefound,andoldcoins;but not a trace of it remains to be seen now.

About 15 years ago Robert Haltridge of Mostragee found a stone jug containing the bones of an infant, near the old graveyard on his farm, but the jug is lost. From Mr Robert Haltridge.”

Tractor and binder. Courtesy of Maurice Bradley.


MULLAGHDUFFArea: 0.23 square miles, 144.66 acresOrigin: Irish An Mullach Dubh ‘the black hilltop’

Bordered by Chathamhall, Carnkirn and Lismorrity to the west, Knocknahinch to the south and Mullaghduff (Little) to the east. Carnkirn and Lismorrity lie in the Grange of Drumtullagh, Knocknahinch is in the parish of Loughguile and Mullaghduff (Little) is in the parish of Armoy.


“MaryMcNeelyinMullaghdufftownland,in1837discoveredinabankinthesame townland 25 silver coins of shilling magnitude, all of Elizabeth and Philip and Mary. Found all lyinginaheapintheground(seespecimenswithMaryMcNeely),ontheroadleadingfrom Stranocum to Armoy. From Mary McNeely. 6th March 1838.”

MickeyDorangrubbin’(grubbin’wastheprocessofbreakingupthesoilpriortosowingofcrops).


STROAN LOWERArea: 0.24 square miles, 154.77 acresOrigin: Irish An Sruthan ‘the stream’

Bordered by Conogher to the west, Kirkhills to the south, Sloan Upper to the east and Knockanboy to the north. Conogher and Kirkhills lie in the Parish of Ballymoney.

STROAN UPPERArea: 0.4 square miles 256.27 acres

Bordered by Dervock and Bellisle to the east, Ballyratahan Upper to the north, Knockanboy and Sloan Lower to the west, and Kirkhills to the south. Kirkhills lies in the parish of Ballymoney.

The southern boundary of Stroan Lower and Stroan Upper is marked by the River Bush which is likely to be the river referenced in the townland names.


“Another remarkable vessel of wood, like a meddar, containing old butter, was found 16 yearsagoinaflowboginStroanetownlandbyJamesDabin,butlost.Alsoawoodencan was found 20 years ago near the fort on his farm in the same townland, but also lost.”

“Aremarkablylargeflintarrowhead,5andahalfinchesinlength(supposedtohavebeen2 incheslonger)by3inchesbroadatthewing,isinthepossessionofWilliamSmith,farmer, inthetownlandofStroane,andwasfoundbyhiminafieldnearthefortonhisfarmabout 40yearsago.FromWilliamSmith.5thMarch1838.”

Ploughing at Stroan.


TULLYBANEArea: 0.18 square miles, 115.36 acresOrigin: Irish An Tulaigh Bhan ‘the white hillock’

Bordered by Carracloughy, Clontyfinnan East and Clontyfinnan West to the east, and Carnfeogue to the west. Clontyfinnan East and Clontyfinnan West lie in the parish of Loughguile.


“The fort locally called Carnrig is conspicuously situated on a hill of the same name about 30 yards south of the road leading from Ballymoney to Ballycastle and Armoy, in the townland of Tullybane, on the farm of James Knox.Itiscircular,52feetindiameter.Theparapetsareofstone,[?recently]madeand4 feet high. 8th March 1838.”

Carnrig Fort. Courtesy of Dick Glasgow.

Willie Colgan at Tullybane School, 1928.


CHAPTER 3DERVOCK VILLAGE


DERVOCK VILLAGEArea: 0.18 square miles, 115.36 acresOrigin: Irish An Tulaigh Bhan ‘the white hillock’

The village takes in parts of several townlands, including Ballyratahan Upper and Lower, Dervock and Knockanboy. Straddling the Straham River, also known as the Black Water River and the Dervock River, the area has been a place of occupation since early times. The first hunter-gatherers possibly crossed the river here, on the stepping stones nature provided at the ford in the river, as they moved through the bog lands and heavily wooded areas in search of food. When travelling through Dervock, sometimes noted as Aberdoey, Richard Dobs, in his account of the roads of the County Antrim, written in 1683, mentions a road from “Clogh Mills by a little town called Dervoge, with a fair stone bridge over Dervoge water, by Derrykyghan, and so to Bushmills …” he commented on an “old, high arched, good stone bridge” across the river. The original “old, high arched, good stone bridge” was replaced in 1840. The river contains many fishing holes with names such as the Plum, the Loops, Kilpot, the Thorny hole, McKeeman’s Block, Kelly’s Ford, Liggot’s Hole and Martha’s Puddle being just a few.

Earl George Macartney bought Lissanoure estate, including the village of Dervock in 1741. He desired to make Dervock the major market town in the area, and when he rebuilt much of the village many of the old buildings were demolished. In days gone by Dervock had five very successful fairs per year and was renowned for the horses, which formed the main part of the livestock sales. The linen industry was important in the area and during the flax season sales were held every fortnight. However, it never caught its nearest neighbour, Ballymoney, to become the main market town. The work undertaken by Macartney to improve the lives of his tenants by building houses and slating them with Scottish slate meant that many of those old houses lasted well into the 20th century.

DervockVillage.


Know Head Street, Dervock.

A memorial fountain to a later Macartney stands in the middle of the village suitably inscribed “in memory of George Travers Macartney by a tenantry who deeply deplore his loss to them as an indulgent landlord and a kind friend.”

Horse racing, the training of greyhounds for coursing and racing, and dog fighting were common pastimes in the past. Many famous dogs that went on to bigger and better things were reared here. The Route Hunt harriers were quartered in the village until the 1840s with Billy Faddis the huntsman.

The Old Bridge.


John Boreland with father and son, George and Ben Small.

A police station was introduced in Dervock in 1824, supplemented by a revenue officer or gauger. Around this time Dervock boasted ten public houses and numerous shebeens, a brewery and two distilleries – all of which were monitored by the ‘Blue Ribbon Temperance Society’ who made their appearance in the parish around that time. Indeed, these worthy ladies had the “airt o their trade” to control alcohol consumption as the men in the village could disappear as quickly as any game fowl that was foolish enough to break cover. A malt house was also established, so whiskey selling at eight pence per pint, and ale and beer as cheap as water, was a good incentive to be happy and content. As a local was to say at a much later date when first drawn to the sweet taste, “I wish mae thrapple wis a mile an’ a half lang soes I could taste it the whole wye doon.” When the dreaded gauger eventually caught up with them and prohibited the production of their own fairy moonshine and it went scarce, they had no other option but to pay up and suffer. The same gentleman was again heard to say, “Boys, I dinnae min the price as lang as it disnae get scarce.”

The bridge in Dervock, over the Straham River, was described in the early 19th century as “shaped like a rainbow, its arches being very much higher than the road at each side of it,” by the Rev Hugh McNeill in The Annals of Derrykeighan (1910). It was lowered in 1840 to look much as it is today.

Dervock also had a working man’s open-air ‘university’ - namely the “Brig.” Gentlemen of the Brig, both first and second class, took their places from the Co-op corner right up to the Post Office corner, which was just at the top of the Mill Row.

Dervock Co-op & Agricutural Society & Egg Producers. Courtesy of

Ballymoney Museum.

Ashville, Dervock. Courtesy of Ballymoney Museum.


Dervock Police Station. The Brig. Courtesy of the Alex Blair Collection.


CHAPTER 4STORIES OF THE PEOPLE


ULSTER SCOTS – LANGUAGE & HUMOUR

The following article has been submitted by local poet, author, storyteller and advocate for the Ulster-Scots leid (language), Charlie Gillen.

Might I share with you one of my earliest memories of working for a living, and believe me, this encompassed quite a few diverse functions mainly due to my inability to settle at anything for long. That coupled with a naturally occurring flaw in me which hated taking orders, meant I was never far away from my P45.

Onyhoo, bak tae the wee lorry, a wee flet Commer wae a frame on hir an a cover drew ower hir tae keep the cargo dry. Me an the oul Commer lifted an laid, I’ll explain, I lifted eggs fae wee ferms al ower the place an delivered meal forbye, whiles the yin wus subtracted fae the ither. An oul biskit tin lay in a holla on tap o the gearbox this hel the ‘rid book’ an whiles a brave 44elp o poun, an it joost lay there, fae dey tae dey, nether it nor the oul lorry had ony wye o lockin, they wur nae need.

As I sey, this ‘run’ wus tae wee ferms, up oul roddens intae the heart o the moss or the mountain, the customers, ticht, healthy, hard wrocht country folk, me bein young thocht they wur anshient. Noo, on the doonhill side o fifty, I see them wae a diff’rent eye.

Twa o these dacent country folk wur the Misses McDermott, spinster sisters, for whutiver rayson they had niver tane the plunge intae matrimony. Yin – Cissy – a wee bar’l, the ither – Jane – as thin as the brander, wae personalities tae match. The wee pachel, rid face shinin, dane the bulk o the talking, ’the lang sombre craytur noddin whiles tae emphasise a point made bae hir sister.

Yin dey I land’t in the yerd, an Miss Cissy, as I toul ye yin o them wus cried, ax’t, “wud ye hae a pickle o Layers Mash on sin”, sez I, “hoo much dae ye want?” “Hoo mony burds hae ye? Seys I. “C’mere tae I show ye,” seys she, leadin the wye tae a hoose made fae Gallagher I wae azinc for a roof, an there wus twa dizzen wee pullets joost at point o lay. “Ir’nt they wee darlins,” seys she, “I got them at Killygullib Seterdey by, dear eneuch, heth, but the picter o health,” seys she.“Aye so!” seys I, “Whut aboot the male?” She left me tae cerry in the rest o the male an gane tae consult Miss Jane. She alloo’t she wud start wae twa stane tae try them, so bae wye o’ an anshent set o scales, she got hir twa stane, thoor usual order forbye an I bid guid dey tae Cissy an Jane.

Lo an behoul ye! Whun I appear’t geen a fortnicht, Miss Cissy land’t oot as cross as the divil, an wae a face on hir lake thunner, sez she, “your oul male’s fer nathin mae boy.”

Noo, I had niver sa’ the wee wummin cross afore an wus kinna threw aff mae pad. “Ach! Noo, come come, Miss Cissy,” sez I, “the male’s the best whuts wrang onywye.” Sez she, “Them pullets knocked it in them lake sugar an naw an egg ootae yin o them, whut hell sort o sawdust is’t I’m pyin for?” sez she, the wee rid face a brichter shade o rid than iver.

“It’s naw the male Miss Cissy,” seys I, “I doot ye wud need a rooster.” “Whut for wud I want a rooster?” seys she, “they’re eneuch nebs in that oul trash ye cry male as it is.” I sa the falt strect awa but noo I wus in a corner, for it’s ill for a grawl o a chap tae come oot wae some


things in front o twa oul spinsters, but I sez, “noo them pullets is o the female gender,” sez I, “an they need a rooster, for them an the rooster haes tae dae things, lake ye know, for them tae produce.” Wae this Miss Jane cut in an sez she, “Cissy, Aw! Gochins Cissy!, he manes lake a bull or a boar or that.” Weel the licht shone bricht, an Cissy blush’t, or at laste I think she blushed, for hir face had tane on the luk o a weel skelp’t erse an it wus ill tae see ony difference.

“Och! Young Gillyin ye’ll think is quore oul fools,” sez Miss Jane, “mae sister dinnae mean tae be ill bred wae ye, it’s naw lake hir, sure ye’ll naw tak tent o it, ach ye’ll naw, yer a guid weechel. We’ll see ye geen a fortnicht,” an wae hir erim roon me usher’t me bae the oul Commer.Honest tae God, I dinnae know whether tae lach or greet, but I thocht personalities again, the talker scowl’t an the thinker thocht, an wha won the dey, ye see, noo I hae nae room tae talk.But think lang an sey little seem’t tae sum up the quate reserved Miss Jane. Weel, I land’t whun the fortnicht had gane by, an afore I wus richt in the yerd I betae see a dizzen an a half roosters, they wur in rows on the midden, on the cert shafts, on a wee low wa fornenst the byre. In fect they wur iverywhur, crowin an boxin wae ither an streetchin their necks tae gar them luk as big as they cud.

Here twa oul dolls cam ootae the wee hoose an Cissy seys, “Ir ye still big wae me sin?” Seys I, “An why wud I naw be?” She gruppit me bae the sleeve, “c’mere tae I show ye this young Gillyin,” still pooin me bae the sleeve intae the wee spotless kitchen, “there,” seys she, “is that naw a picter?”

An she set forrit a big delph boul rim’fu’ o’ wee pullets eggs, seys she, “them roosters dane the trick.” I seys, “heth they did, but less o them wud hae dane, a couple o roosters wud’ve been ony amount for twa dizzen pullets.” At this Miss Jane cut in an seys, “sin, wait tae I tell ye a thing,” an she smile’t an wink’t ahint hir sisters bak, “the mair me an oor Cissy neglect’t oorsels that wye, we ir boun tae sey them wee pullets will naw suffer the same fate as is.”

Flight of Fancy by Charlie Gillen.


LOCAL NAMES

Throughout this book we’ve tried to include the names of as many people as possible from a variety of sources. The following article by Nevin Taggart is included here to show how names in North Antrim change between Gaelic, Latin and Middle English.

The ‘Census of part of the parish of Billey, 1734’ lists a Dan’l McCavish, a Dissenter, in one of the Moycraig townlands, probably Moycraig Upper. I asked my father if he’d ever heard that surname and he said that the late Vincent Thompson of Moycraig Upper was known as McCavish. There are several Thompsons in the parish in 1734 but just the one McCavish. It turns out that the name change is quite a simple one. McCavish comes from Mac Tavish which derives from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Tamhais, ‘son of Thomas’.

The change from McQuilkin to Wilkinson is a similar one. The ‘qu’ changes to ‘w’ and the ‘mac’ moves to the right where it becomes ‘son’.

The 18th century McCaigs of the Islands of Carnmoon are still represented in that townland but now use the McKaig form. This derives from the Gaelic Mac Thaidhg (Scottish Gaelic Mac Thaoig), ‘son of Tadhg’, a name meaning ‘poet’, ‘philosopher’. McKaig brothers of the Islands were publishing poems a century ago so they were maintaining a family tradition.

The Irvines from the same townland changed their name to Irwin. When I saw the name Robert Irvin McKaig in a US family tree I immediately thought of the Islands of Carnmoon. It turned out that he was from just across the fields in Araboy Isle.

Hoggarts of Croaghbeg and Castlecatt became Howard. Mary Hoggart shares a burial plot in the old burying ground at Billy Parish Church with Thomas, Samuel and other Howards. The descendants of the McDuffee family in the same graveyard have switched their surname to McAfee.

Some folk will still refer to the Pollocks as Polk and to the Gaults as Gatt.

The variant spellings of the descendants of emigrants will sometimes give an indication of the era that they departed this northern shore.


A BIT O’ NORTH ANTRIM WISDOM

SAYIN’ MEANING

A creakin’ gate hings lang Those who complain last longer

A rollin’ stane gethers nae moss A person who never stays long enough in one place to form attachments

Tha Lord sens claith accordin’ tae tha coul The Lord provides enough to keep you warm

Ye cannae sell the coo an’ sup tha milk You can’t have your cake and eat it

Ye cannae sell the coo an’ sup tha milk You can’t have your cake and eat it

Jump tha river whun it’s yit a burn Do what you have to do as soon as you can – in most instances it’s usually easier

Whun sorra sleeps dinnae wauken hir Don’t go looking for trouble

Dae nathin’ in haste bar catch flays Take your time making important deci-sions

It’s a lang lane wae nae turnin’ Wait long enough and you will get your revenge

Ne’er cast a cloot tae May is oot Beware of false summers

There’s mare than yin wye tae skin a cat There is usually more than one way to do a job Better an oul man’s pet than a young man’s slave

Age can be more thoughtful and consid-erate

Want o’ wit is worse than the want o’ wealth The lack of common sense is worse than being poor

A fool may give a wise man counsel There is no-one so stupid that a person can’t learn something from them

He’s naw worth twa bols a blue A worthless fellow

Ye can paint a crow ony colour yae want tae but it’s still a crow

A change of appearance doesn’t change what you are

There’ll come a day whun ye’ll lick where it lay You may think the food offered not good enough for you but some day you may be glad of the same

Dinnae rouse what ye cannae settle Beware of the anger of a quiet man

Tha wolf micht loas his teeth but naw his natureSomeone may have lost the ability to hurt you but it doesn’t mean they no longer want to

Put a beggar man on horseback an’ he’ll ride tae hell

Some people who fall into better fortune quickly forget when they had less


APPENDICES

1669 HEARTH MONEY ROLLS 60

1796 FLAX GROWERS IN DERRYKEIGHAN 64

1803 AGRICULTURAL CENSUS 65

1827 TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS 77

1858 BELFAST & PROVINCE OF ULSTER DIRECTORY FOR DERVOCK 95

1861 GRIFFITH’S VALUATION FOR DERRYKEIGHAN 97

1897 BELFAST & PROVINCE OF ULSTER DIRECTORY FOR DERVOCK 106

1901 CENSUS INCLUDING DERVOCK VILLAGE 109

1909 O’FRIELS ALMANAC 158

1911 CENSUS INCLUDING DERVOCK TOWN 160

1915 WWI ROLL OF HONOUR FOR DERVOCK DISTRICT 204

PHONETIC TRANSCRIPTIONS OF TOWNLAND NAMES 210


1669 HEARTH MONEY ROLLS FOR DERRYKEIGHAN PARISHThe following information has been taken from the databases compiled by Bill Macafee on his excellent website, www.billmacafee.com. The table below gives the spelling of surnames in the Hearth Money Rolls. Bill Macafee has listed one possible spelling of the modern version of the surname on his website, however, this is not definitive and there may well have been other derivatives of the name. The spelling of some of the townland names recorded in the Hearth Money Rolls varied from the modern spelling and the original recorded spelling is given below:

MODERN SPELLING ORIGINAL SPELLINGBallydivity Ballyhibistock Ballynafeigh Ballyratahan Bellisle Carnaff Carncoggy Carncullagh Lower Carncullagh Middle Carncullagh Upper Carnfeogue Carracloghy Chathamhall CooleDerrykeighanDervock Drumcottagh Gracehill Islandahoe Knockanboy Knockavallan LisconnanLiveryMostrageeMullaghduffStroan LowerStroan UpperTullybane Ballynarry Upper

BallyginityBallyhibidogeBallynefaithBallavafaganInchgraneCarnaffeCorcagyNewbuildingKiltecarmclaghCarncolloghCranfiogeCarrologhlyCarroceeleCaleyMagheraboyAberdny DrumrottoghCarrocarrEllennachoKnockboyKnockvallan LisconnansLineryMoscegeeMullagduffeLower StroanUpper StroanTullybaneUnnamed


SURNAME FORENAME MODERN TOWNLANDCarginie William BallydivityLucke Thos BallydivityMcColman John Jun. BallydivityMcColman John Sen. BallydivityMcNeale Neale BallydivityBrowne Hugh BallyhibistockPriblees Mr John BallyhibistockPibles Widow BallyhibistockRadman Hugh BallyhibistockO’Boylan Patrick BallynafeighGibsone Thomas BallynafeighRosse George Ballynafeighffulerton John Ballynarry UpperMcWilliam Robert Ballynarry UpperTempletone William Ballynarry UpperBoyd Robt BallyratahanFidler James BallyratahanMcNeile Gary BallyratahanMonfed Robert BallyratahanPrentice Robert BallyratahanTempleton Adam BellisleBoyd Stephen CarnaffMcCallister Sorly CarnaffMcIlgreear Dermod CarnaffMiller Gowen CarnaffBleare James CarncoggyBoyd Thomas CarncoggyPoake Wm CarncoggyPutt Robert CarncoggySmith John CarncoggyThompson Mr CarncoggyCambell Mrs Carncullagh LowerGamell Peter Carncullagh LowerMcCaine Thomas Carncullagh LowerBleare Hugh Carncullagh MiddleDyall William Carncullagh MiddleSpeare John Carncullagh MiddleBoyd Arch Carncullagh UpperBoyd Widow Carncullagh UpperBoyd William Carncullagh UpperKinkin Wm Carncullagh UpperNinch Daniell Carnfeogue


SURNAME FORENAME MODERN TOWNLANDMcConnoghy Daniell CarnfeogueMcMurchy Daniell Carnfeogueffulton George CarracloghyMcIlpatricke Duncan CarracloghySteward Arch CarracloghySteward Wm CarracloghyMcKinly Mulcollom ChathamhallStewart Daniel ChathamhallBoyd Robert CooleKererane Robert CooleWilson Widow CooleAdeare Andr DerrykeighanAllin John DerrykeighanBoyd George DerrykeighanDunlapp Arch DerrykeighanDunlapp Hugh DerrykeighanKennedy Lt Conall DerrykeighanBoyd Arch DervockCarsone John DervockCochran Robert DervockEdiorke Anthony DervockGibsone Andrew DervockGilmor Wm DervockGorden Thomas DervockGray James DervockGreere Wm DervockHamill John DervockLyne Walter DervockMcKally Arch DervockMcCally Ninian DervockYounge Mary DervockAllon John DrumcottaghAnderson James DrumcottaghMcConoghy Daniell DrumcottaghWyer William DrumcottaghO’Kelly Daniel GracehillO’Mulvany Brian GracehillO’Mulvany Pat oge GracehillClerke Lawrence IslandahoeWadman Hugh Islandahoeffultonn Peter KnockanboyWilloughby Mr Knockanboy


SURNAME FORENAME MODERN TOWNLANDBoyd John KnockavallanCarsell James KnockavallanGillaspy Quinton KnockavallanMcMillan Duncan KnockavallanMortland John KnockavallanMortland Robert KnockavallanBreed John LisconnanSalt Adam LisconnanMcCally Thomas LisconnanWatt James LisconnanCrafford Robert LiveryCrafford Thomas LiveryCrookes Robert LiveryMcCart Daniell LiveryMcCollom Allexander LiveryMoore Thomas LiveryMoet William LiverySteele John LiveryDugell James MostrageeMcCooke Robert MostrageeMcWhitty Wm MostrageeMcIltosh Mulcolom MostrageeMcCormicke Neale MullaghduffCrosey Aghin Stroan LowerGalt William Stroan LowerKennedy Anthony Stroan LowerMoore Robert Stroan LowerTomb John Stroan LowerWily John Stroan LowerGarre Widow Stroan UpperParkes Robert Stroan UpperWily John Stroan UpperBoyd Christoll TullybaneNeale John TullybaneTomsone John Tullybane


John AdamsJohn BoydJoseph BoydBarnaby CampbellMary CampbellDaniel ChesnutSamuel ChesnutMalcolm ConnollyArchibald CurryPatrick CurrySamuel DinsmooreJohn DouglasRev Charles DouglasJohn FarrelJames FergusonJohn FergusonMargaret FergusonLeonard FitzpatrickMargaret FultonWilliam GambleJohn GeorgeJames GillinJohn GillinSamuel GilmorArchibald GrayJames GrayJames HamiltonAlan HannahDavid HannahJames HodgesJames HucyJohn HucyJohn KennedyJames KilpatrickJohn KilpatrickJohn LavertyRobert LindsayAndrew Loughlin

Samuel LukeCharles LylePeter LyleThomas LyleJames LyonsAlexander McAllisterPatrick McAllisterRandle McAllisterWilliam McAllisterArchibald McCambridgeAlexander McCaughenJohn McCaughenDaniel McCayJames McCloyHugh McCollumRobert McCombFrancis McConochyWilliam McConochyAlexander McCormickCharles McCormickPatrick McCormickWilliam McFaddinJohn McIlfatrickBenjamin McIlhoseThomas McIlhoseAlexander McKayArchibald McKenonJohn McKinlayJohn McKinneyRobert McKinneyJohn McKownWilliam McKownArchibald McLaneThomas McLeeseJohn McLysterEphraim McMullanDaniel McNeilDaniel McNeill

Robert McVeyGabriel MaxwellRobert MaxwellJohn MillerSamuel MontgomeryJames MooreAlexander MurphyArchibald MurphyAndrew NeillSamuel NeillThomas NeillCharles PattersonWilliam RankinJohn ReynoldsWilliam ReynoldsJane RobinsonRobert RossWilliam RossAlexander ScotJames ScotDavid SimpsonSamuel SimpsonLilly SmythRichard SmythSamuel SmythWilliam SmythJames St. MooreCharles StewartDaniel StewartRobert StewartJames StuartWilliam ThompsonJohn ToshRobert WallacePatrick WattJohn WoodsideRobert WoodsideWilliam Young

FLAX GROWERS IN DERRYKEIGHAN, 1796These lists were compiled as part of an initiative to encourage the linen industry. Spinning wheels and looms were awarded to people planting areas of flax, with people sowing at least one acre receiving four spinning wheels while those planting five acres were awarded a loom.The names for the parish of Derrykeighan have been transcribed from the information for County Antrim available on Bill Macafee’s website (www.billmacafee.com).


1803 AGRICULTURAL CENSUSThese records were created after a planned insurrection in Ireland was aborted in 1803 and due to a possible threat of invasion by Napoleonic France. The following information is among 19th century records available on Bill Macafee’s website (www.billmacafee.com).

SURNAME FORENAME TOWNLANDAtchon William LiscononsAdams Henry CarnfuogeAdams James CarnfuogeAdams John CarnfuogeAdams John CarnfuogeAdams Mary CarnfuogeDrain Charles CarncogyEken Abel CarnaffAllen Samuel BellisleAllen Samuel Jun. BellisleAnderson Joseph BallenaresAndrew James BallydivityArter Joseph DervockBaird Robert ChathamhallBar Widow LisenabraughBerry Andy DervockBlack Daniel CarnfuogeBlear Samuel BallehebestockBlear John CarncullaghBobbs Robert CloverhillBoyd Alexander BallyraticharBoyd Alexander CarncullaghBoyd Nathaniel CarncullaghBoyd Adam ChathamhallBoyd Alexander DervockBoyd James DervockBoyd Joseph DervockBoyd Samuel DervockBoyd William DervockBoyd William LiscononsBoyd John LiveryBoyd Edward StroanBoyd Joseph StroanBoyland James BalinafeeBoyland Patrick CarncullaghBoyland Ezekiel MostrageeBoyland John MostrageeBoyl Richard Dervock


SURNAME FORENAME T

THE PARISH OF DERRYKEIGHAN | 1 - NI Archive · 1911 CENSUS 160 1911 CENSUS FOR DERVOCK TOWN 196...

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