Thread: DOWNEY family of Carncoagh, Skerry, County Antrim (Ballymena)

I'm searching for my Downey family, originally from Carncoagh and then Ballymena. Randall Downey (farmer) and Jane Elliot married and had at least 5 children.

I know, John (b.1827) and Randall (b. 1834) immigrated to Australia. Bernard (b. 1829) stayed and farmed just north of Ballymena.

If anyone has any information on this family, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks...

I assume you have checked Griffiths Valuation (1862), but in case you haven’t, there’s a record of William Downey having a house, offices & a half share in 30 acres of land in Elginny townland. Plus he rented the whole mountain top (154 acres) in common with 8 others.

Also Randal Downey having a house, offices & 37 acres in Carncoagh.

Also Bernard Downey having a house, offices and a share of 45 acres with 8 others in Rathkenny townland.

There are no Downey families in any of these 3 townlands in Skerry by the 1901 census.

Dear Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your help. Great!

Randal Downey is my direct ancestor, I did have the basic info from the Griffith's Valuation, but your info puts a better light on the family.

Bernard is his son and brother to my ancestor John who immigrated to Australia.

I see Elginny is in the same area as Carncoagh, so maybe we is also related. By 1901 I guess the families moved into Ballymena?

I have been unable to find any other info on the family, I even visited the local Catholic church and graveyard, (Martinstown) but no luck!
My ancestor who came to Australia was a Catholic, but now that I see his father owned more land than I previously thought, maybe he converted to keep his land?
I should now broadened my search to cover Protestant records as well.

Cheers,
Terry

Terry,

You could be right about where the family went by 1901. There are 328 DOWNEY entries for Co. Antrim in the 1901 census. If you haven't been through it you might want to do so, in case you spot any familiar names.

The land in Griffiths that your ancestors held was rented, not owned. Their landlords are shown in one of the columns in the Griffiths information. In any event I doubt that they would have changed religion for land ownership reasons by the late 1800s. My understanding is that those penal laws affecting land ownership had been repealed by then (or were certainly not enforced). I see you visited Martinstown RC church. However have you looked at the parish records? They might hold a few births and marriages for your family?

I had a quick glance at the LDS statutory BDM site and I see a Bernard Downey death that might be your ancestor. Registered Ballymena Oct - Dec 1879, born 1787, Volume 1 page 88. Cheapest option for getting the details is a photocopy from GRO Roscommon which should cost you €4 plus postage.


Elwyn

Hello Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your kind help.
When I visited the Martinstown RC Church and Cemetery, I spoke with a friendly Gentleman who produced a book/folder that he claimed contained the names of all buried in the cemetery. My excitement soon changed when he said there were no Downey's. I planned on speaking with the Parish Priest, but this same man told me I was wasting my time as the new Parish Priest has no time for family history!
I should have persisted, I agree the parish records might hold births and marriages.

I will go through the 1901 census tonight... thanks for the tip. Yes, you are right, I jumped to fast in reference to the changing religion bit.
This Bernard Downey is more than likely one of my family, if not a direct ancestor, a blood relation, as the name Bernard is common in the family. I'll follow up the death certificate photocopy.

Cheers,
Terry

Terry,

The problem with the PP at Martinstown not being interested in genealogy is quite common. A PP near here commented that his focus was on his live parishioners, not the dead ones. The interest in genealogy is such that many churches in Ireland are getting 20 letters or e-mails a week with requests for look-ups. Some churches have appointed a volunteer to deal with them. Others just ignore them.

However there is a way around the problem. The parish records should all have been copied and are kept in PRONI. That parish has records from 1825 but there are gaps. See www.proni.gov.uk/index/research_and_records_held/catalogues_guides_indexes_and_leaflets/online_guides_and_indexes.htm

The parish is Racavan or Glenravel. PRONI won’t do general searches for you and you need to get someone to check the records for you, or I believe you can order copies in to the nearest LDS library to where you live.

As far as burial records are concerned, most RC parishes didn’t keep any. The book that you were shown is probably a fairly recent introduction and it could be that it doesn’t go back far enough to cover your family’s deaths. Local undertakers did keep records (because they had to know where to dig, where not to dig, and where certain family plots were). Just what records they have and how far back they go, I don’t know, but I have seen others have some success by contacting undertakers and asking them if they had any records of burying X.

Dear Elwyn,

Sorry for the big lapse in replying, I've been working away, then I got badly hurt.

I'll try and follow up your suggestions.

There is a new interesting twist with this family.
My Aunt has, let's say, Olive/tanned skin, dark hair and dark eyes, (so has one of her daughters) and her daughters asked if we had some dark skinned ancestors.
Maori, Aboriginal etc. So I've looked for all options, photos and so.

Anyway, I've traced the darker skin, hair and eyes to this Downey family of Ireland.

Two brothers came out to Australia, John (b.1827) and Randall (b.1834) and both have descendants with the dark features.

The big question is where did the dark influence come from??
Randall Downey and Jane Elliot sound pretty normal Irish names!

I'd like to know your thoughts on this.

Cheers,
Terry

Terry,

I am not sure I can really answer your question.

You say: “I've traced the darker skin, hair and eyes to this Downey family of Ireland”. What firm proof do you have? There must be 6 generations or more between John & Randall’s emigration in the 1850s/60s and your aunt. That would surely dilute or lose any significant genetic influence brought from Ireland.

They do say it is a wise man or woman who knows their own father. I’d focus on the documentary trail myself.





Elwyn