McConnell, Farr, Higginson of Dundrod, Tullyrusk, Glenavy Co. Antrim area.

Hi Sylvia,

Thank you very much for your message and your kind offer to share information. I hope that someone researching the same family makes a connection with you.

In the meantime have you tried searching for some record of the family name in Griffith?s Valuation? This is a property valuation survey that was carried out in Ireland 1848-1864. It doesn't offer any genealogical information but it may give you an idea of what McConnells, if any were still in the area at the time. You can search these online at:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

You could also search in church records for information. Presbyterian registers are held in three main locations:

• in local custody
• in the Public Records of Northern Ireland (PRONI) http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
• at the Presbyterian Historical Society http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com in Belfast.

PRONI has microfilm copies of almost all registers in Northern Ireland and also lists of records held by the Presbyterian Historical Society.

For any births, marriages, deaths after 1864 there should be a civil record of it as civil registration only became mandatory at this time. Civil records are available from the General Register?s Office in Dublin. Here is their website:

http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm

You can search the indexes to these records online at:

https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408347

Some other websites that you may find useful are:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

The US National Archives: http://www.archives.gov/

The Library & Archives of Canada - http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html

Genealogy Links:  http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/antrim/index.html

Family Search: www.familysearch.org

Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm

Alternatively you could contact the Ulster Historical Foundation for assistance, however a fee may apply. Here is their email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

I hope that some of these links are helpful. Please be patient - as our programme has only begun to rollout across the island of Ireland and volunteers in some areas may not yet be organized.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

Hello Sylvia,

I am also looking for information on William John McConnell.  The information you shared is wonderful.  My Grandmother was a McConnell.  Elizabeth and David McConnell are my  GGGreatgrandparents on my Father's side.  

GGreatgrandparents:  Edward McConnell and Harriet Brown

Great Grandparents :  Clara M Reeves and James E. McConnell

Grandparents:  Grace Mae McConnell and Edward Rezin Day

My parent:  Cecil Edward Day and Lenora Day

My boother:  Charles Kent Day, born March 5, 1950

Myself:  Dolores Marie Day, born January 20, 1953

My sister:  Vicki Ann Day, born August 7, 1954

My Father's first wife was Myrtle Patterson and there were two children:  Geraldine Elene and Jackie Ray Day

Jack (Jackie):  Born December 14, 1932 and died April 22, 1993

Geraldine (Geri):  Born June 28, 1931 and died July 28, 2020

Brenna, my youngest daughter and I visited Ireland in October of 2018 and I plan on returning for another visit at some point.

Dolores (Dodie) Day