We are coming to visit Ireland and hope we might reconnect with some distant relatives while there. Here's a synopsis. My grandmother was born in the U.S. but her parents were born in Northern Ireland. Mother, Jane Holden-Montford, in Carnkerren in County of Antrim, and Father William Montford in Ballymena, County of Antrim. We've been able to determine that, even though both William Montford and Jane Holden-Montford migrated to the U.S. at a young age (25 and 17) their parents stayed in Ireland as did most of their siblings. We are hoping some of the great-grandchildren (perhaps?) of Andrew, Hugh, Margaret Jane, or James Montford might still live in the Ballymena area? Anyway, we would love to connect and the first round is on us! Thanks so much for any info you can provide!
Jane
Monday 21st Mar 2022, 03:00AMMessage Board Replies
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Jane,
You haven’t said who Jane Holden’s father was but I did find a Holden family in Carnkeeran (spelling varies).
Letters of Administration of the personal estate of Margaret Holden late of Carncairn County Antrim Widow who died 24 August 1891 at same place were granted at Belfast to Hamilton Holden of Carncairn Farmer a Son.
The 1901 census lists Hamilton Holden farming in Carnkeeran:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Broughshane/Carnkeeran/928127/
His first wife was Mary Johnston that he married in 18909:
She died and then he married Lizzie McClure in 1895:
Both marriages were in the West Presbyterian Church in Ballymena (beside the courthouse).
Family in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Broughshane/Carnkeeran/119360/
Still farming there in the 1940s:
Holden Janie Acheson of Carncairn Broughshane county Antrim died 10 March 1942 Administration Belfast 7 June to Samuel Holden farmer the husband. Effects £603 12s. 6d.
The family appear to have had plots 9 & 10 in Carnkeeran (in Griffiths Valuation). Still farmland today. Access from the Ballylig Rd just to the east of Broughshane on the Carnlough Rd.
Family probably attended Broughshane 1st Presbyterian church. It has 3 Holden graves. Here’s one that would appear to relate to your family:
Holden In loving memory of The Holden Family of Appletee and Carncairn
You haven’t given me enough information about the Montford family to trace them but chances are they also attended that church. 4 Montford gravestones in Broughshane 1st:
Erected, by, John Montford, Little Ballymena In memory of his beloved wife Sarah McAllister who died 18th Oct 1899, aged 74 years Also his son Hugh who died 17th Jan 1900, aged 42 years Also the above-named John Montford who died 31st Jan 1909 aged 80 years Andrew who died 18th Sep 1943 aged 85 years Margaret Jane who died 20th Jan 1951 aged 90 years James who died 21st June 1951 aged 88 years Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
In memory of his father, John Montford, who died 1st March 1864, aged 70 years, And his mother, Anne Montford who died 3rd November 1880, aged 82 years. And his brother, Archy Montford who died 31st March 1873, Aged 40 years Also Margaret Montford who died 15th July 1917, aged 57 years Also Robert B Montford, who died 18th November 1922, aged 66 years Also Elziabeth Mc M. Montford who died 16th May 1926 Also Jan Montford who died 21st June 1958 also John Alexander Montford who died 14th July 1969 Erected by John Montford, Lisnamurrican, 1881
The above named John Montford who died 13th December 1897 aged 74 years Also his wife Elizabeth who died 15th December 1899 aged 78 years Also his son John Montford who died 3rd April 1948 aged 83 years His loving wife Mary Montford who died 21st April 1950 aged 81 years Erected by John Montford Lisnamurrican 1881
Erected by Martha Monford in memory of her beloved husband James Montford who died 29th December 1903 aged 75 years Also the above named Martha Montford who died 29th March 1908
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 21st Mar 2022, 09:52AM -
Further to the above, there’s some trees on Ancestry with your couple and this may be your Montford family in the townland of Little Ballymena, parish of Skerry (not to be confused with the town of Ballymena which is 6 miles away).
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Longmore/Ballymena/928618/
1911 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Longmore/Ballym…
The Little Ballymena where the Montfords lived is just north of Carnkeeran. The modern Clonetrace & Ballylig Rds both run through it.
The Valuation revision records show the Montfords on plot 10, a 48 acre farm. It appears to still be a farm today and can be accessed either from the Clonetrace Rd or the Ballylig Rd.
I think your Montford & Holden couple were both born before 1864 which is when birth registration started in Ireland, so you won’t get birth certificates for them. You may find their baptisms in church records. I’d start with Broughshane 1st Presbyterian. Their records go back to the 1830s. There’s a copy in PRONI in Belfast. (Personal visit required to view them).
Probate of the Will of John Montford late of Little Ballymena County Antrim Farmer who died 31 January 1909 granted at Belfast to Andrew Montford James Montford and Charles McAllister Farmers.
Above will is on the PRONI wills site. John leaces the farm between his sons Andrew & James, but with provision for unmarried daughter Margaret.
Montford Andrew of Little Ballymena county Antrim farmer died 18 September 1943 Probate Belfast 11 September to James Montford farmer and Margaret Jane Montford spinster. Effects £21 17s. 6d.
Montford Margaret Jane of Little Ballymena Broughshane county Antrim spinster died 20 January 1951 Probate Belfast 18 October to John Moffett George McAllister Samuel McAllister and Alexander McAllister farmers and James Erwin auctioneer. Effects £66 19s. 8d.
Montford James of Little Ballymena Broughshane county Antrim farmer died 21 June 1951 Probate Belfast 13 November to George McAllister and Samuel McAllister and Alexander McAllister farmers. Effects £13213 14s. 8d.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 21st Mar 2022, 06:26PM -
Wow! The names match up so that must be them! I'm sorry I didn't supply enough information, but you sure did find some valuable family history for us! Thanks so much Elwyn!
Just in case it's not too late, the parents are as follows:
William Montford - Parents John Montford (B: 1824 D: Jan 31, 1909) and Sarah McAllister (B: 1825; D: Oct 16, 1899)
Jane Holden-Montford - Parents William Holden (B: 1823; D. Before 1862) and Margaret Crawford (B: 1822; D: August 24, 1891)
Thank you SO much!
Jane
Jane
Tuesday 22nd Mar 2022, 03:13PM -
Jane,
The parents baptisms won’t be on-line anywhere. And if they attended Broughshane 1st – as I think they probably did – then their records only start in the 1830s so you may not find anything on the ones born in the 1820s, but they should have William & Jane’s own baptisms in the 1850s. But you’ll need to go to PRONI in Belfast to look them up.
It’s not IRO policy to give out living people’s contact details but it’s possible that there are living descendants on both properties today. I don’t know. Easy enough for you to find out when you are over.
Broughshane 1st Presbyterian church & graveyard is in the Main St in Broughshane. Impossible to miss it. And remember that the Montfords lived in Little Ballymena. That’s a completely separate place from the large town of Ballymena a few miles away.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 22nd Mar 2022, 04:38PM -
Elwyn,
I can't thank you enough for all your help Elwyn! My sister and I are really excited to see the Montford monument you found. We will make time to go by and try to get more information at PRONI as well. It's amazing how much information you were able to find from the little that I gave you. I am extremely grateful for your time and for the invaluable info about our family. We thank you and may God bless you!
Jane
Jane
Wednesday 23rd Mar 2022, 11:59PM -
Glad to have helped.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Thursday 24th Mar 2022, 12:35AM