Good evening—
My name is Elizabeth, and I am a U.S. citizen living in Dublin. I am in search of the remains of my great-great-grandfather's house. His name was John Ballentine, and he was born in 1848 near Ballymena to parents John and Hanna Ballentine. I have variously heard Randalstown and Ballyscullion Grange as birth/residence locations. My great-great-grandfather emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16 and spent the rest of his life in Pennsylvania.
About thirty years ago, my father traveled to Ireland with his mother—granddafughter of John Ballentine—and through random acts of kindness on the part of locals was able to locate my great-great-grandfather's old house.The cottage's stone walls by that point were in poor repair, and it was being used as a chicken coop (recalls my father). I do have a photo of it. My father does not recall where the house was located, and I am trying now to retrace his steps.
I would be incredibly grateful for any assistance in locating John Ballentine's house as well as the gravesites of possible Ballentine relatives.
Thank you in advance for your help—
Kind regards,
Elizabeth
EOinIreland
Saturday 5th Feb 2022, 08:47PMMessage Board Replies
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Attached Files
Elizabeth,
I found this death for a Hannah Ballentine in Feb 1901 aged 89. She was the widow of John Ballantine, a farmer. They lived in Gillistown which is about 4 miles north of Randalstown (and not too far from Ballymena). It’s in the parish of Ballyscullion Grange. So that all seems to fit with your information:
John had died the year before:
Probate of the Will of John Ballentine late of Gillistown Toomebridge County Antrim Farmer who died 10 November 1900 granted at Belfast to William H. Keilty and William Ballentine Farmers.
The above will is on-line on the PRONI wills site. Very short he just leaves everything to his son William.
This looks to be their son William in the 1901 census:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Ballyscullion/Gillistown/941372/
William’s marriage to Mary McMullen in 1878 (at Grange Presbyterian).
John Ballantine is listed in Griffiths Valuation. He had plot 31 which was a 4 acre farm. Today that will be somewhere near the Largy Rd or the Gillistown Road.
I’d suspect they attended Grange Presbyterian church in Taylorstown but can’t say for certain. They may well be buried there but I don’t see any gravestones listed there for them so they may be in an unmarked grave. Presbyterians don’t generally keep burial records, so if there’s no gravestone, then it’s hard to know where they are buried. Photo of the church attached.
Here’s another probate abstract which names John:
The Will of Robert Ballintine late of Ardnaglass County Antrim Farmer who died 2 April 1880 at same place was proved at Belfast by John Ballintine of Gillistown and Robert Storey of Ballybollan both in said County Farmers the Executors.
Looks to me as though Robert of Ardnaglass (very close to Gillistown) was a relation. A brother perhaps?
The on-line Griffiths maps don’t show precisely where plot 31 in Gillistown was. There are copies of those maps that do. One set is held in Ballymena Library (local studies section). Upstairs. Ask for Enda. A good man. He’ll help you find the right map. Gillistown is very fiddly. It's spread across about 3 maps and the plot numbers are quite hard to make out due to fading & over-writing. Or an alternatove option might be to knock on a few doors on Largy Rd or Gillistown Rd to see if anyone knows the family. (Someone obviously did 30 years ago when your father went there). The family were still at the same location in 1930 according to the Valuation revision records on the PRONI website (copy attached).
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Saturday 5th Feb 2022, 09:45PM -
Dear Elwyn,
Yes, these details definitely match up, and I am incredibly grateful for all of this information you have taken the time to provide. It means a lot to me, and I know it will mean a lot to my father when I share the information with him. I have just reached out to Enda at Ballymena Library. Once Plot 31 has been located, I plan on taking the train up and hopefully visiting the site in person.
Thank you again. When I posted my message yesterday, I never expected to receive so much support, and so quickly. I will certainly tell others I know about IrelandXO!
Kindest regards,
ElizabethEOinIreland
Sunday 6th Feb 2022, 02:14PM -
Can you suggest any interior design remodelling firms? We have only ever done renovations with this company 123, but we are open to new suggestions as well. We have already done renovations throughout the house, which we loved because the home now looks very fashionable and creative. However, my husband and I have decided to replace the roof next year and are looking forward to your advice.
ross rewerty
Saturday 7th Jan 2023, 10:06AM -
Can you suggest any interior design remodelling firms? We have only ever done renovations with this company see here , but we are open to new suggestions as well. We have already done renovations throughout the house, which we loved because the home now looks very fashionable and creative. However, my husband and I have decided to replace the roof next year and are looking forward to your advice.
ross rewerty
Saturday 7th Jan 2023, 10:07AM -
Can you suggest any interior design remodelling firms? We have only ever done renovations with this company see here , but we are open to new suggestions as well. We have already done renovations throughout the house, which we loved because the home now looks very fashionable and creative. However, my husband and I have decided to replace the roof next year and are looking forward to your advice.
ross rewerty
Saturday 7th Jan 2023, 10:09AM
