Information on Mcauley & Mcmasterson

Randalstown is in the RC parish of Drummaul. If both Charles & Sarah came from Donegore, then chances are they were baptised in that parish, as well as married there in 1841.  Unfortunately Drummaul?s baptisms only start in 1825, so I suspect you won?t find their baptisms, or parents names from church sources.

I had a look at Griffiths Valuation for Donegore in 1862 but didn?t see any MacAuley or McMasterson families listed there then. Also checked the 1901 census and none there then either. (In fact no-one who was RC there at all. All 121 residents were Protestant of one denomination or another).

No McMastersons in Co Antrim in the 1901 census. There were however numerous Mastersons. The Mc & O? prefixes in Irish names are detachable and I suspect in your family?s case the normal spelling may have been Masterson. Quite a few RC. All in Belfast in 1901 though.

1267 McAuleys in the 1901 census for Co. Antrim, 850 of whom were RC. This was the only one I could see who lived near Donegore:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Antrim/Donegore/Parkgate_Village/1008663/

For information, the RC parish of Drummaul was split in half in 1874 due to population growth. So today Donegore townland is in the RC parish of Antrim, with it?s parish church in Antrim town. However prior to 1874 Donegore was in Drummaul, and the parish church where the 1841 took place was in Randalstown, which remains the parish church for Drummaul.  (The 1800s church is still standing though only in use as a church hall today, as there is a more modern church next door).

Randalstown RC church does have a graveyard attached. I am not aware of the gravestones are on-line but it?s possible there might be family graves there. RC churches in Ireland unfortunately generally don?t keep burial records. However in Randalstown?s case, there are burial records for the years 1837 ? 1848 only. (Presumably one priest decided to keep them for a few years). There?s a copy in PRONI (the public record office in Belfast (MIC1D/70 & 71) but I don?t think they are on-line anywhere. 

Antrim RC church doesn?t have a graveyard and so RC families there either use family plots in Randalstown or elsewhere, or the municipal graveyards in and around Antrim town.

Elwyn

Thank you Elwyn for your comprehensive information.  Looks like I will have to resign not finding baptism records.

Is there any source to check out Blacksmiths in Antrim.?

On 1901 Census in Parkgate Village (Donegore Antrim) there is a John McCauly a 57 a Master Blacksmith, Sons Thomas & James also Master Blacksmiths & daughter Sarah.

In 1911 they are in Moyadam Donegore Antrim

I am wondering could there be a connection to my Charles Mcauley.?

Regards Frances

There could certainly be a connection. I note that the family were RC and obviously the occupation fits. Parkgate Village and Moyadam are effectively the same place. (The village is partially in the townland of Moyadam). That?s about half a mile from Donegore. Perhaps less. So it?d be quite a coincidence if there were two McAuley blacksmiths operating in the same area. At the same time Both RC.  So I?d suspect this may be your family.

Griffiths Valuation lists a James McAuley on plot 3Bh in 1862. That was a house, forge, yard & small garden. It appears to have been on the south side of the Main Street in the village, nowadays known as Burn Rd.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

You can follow those records forwards using the revaluation records. They show plot 3Bh remaining in James? name until 1897 when John replaces him. (To confuse things slightly, the property was also renumbered as 3Be in 1880). That property remains in John?s name till 1929 when that series of records finishes. (Though I think he actually died in 1916). Thomas McAuly appears on 3Bc in 1885 and remains there till 1904. John is shown on 3Bi from 1880 to 1904.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/dcal_proni_val12b/RelatedVolume.aspx?3916

I found this probate abstract for the James who disappears from the forge on 3Bh/3Be.

The Will of James M'Auley late of Parkgate County Antrim Blacksmith who died 15 February 1896 was proved at Belfast by Thomas John M'Connell of Ballywee said County Farmer the surviving Executor

The will itself is on-line on the PRONI site.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/WillsSearchImage.aspx?id=214315

Looking at the GRONI deaths index, I see that James was 94 when he died, so born c 1804. So he was doing well to have fathered Sarah c 1878- 1885. Presumably a second marriage, unless he married very late in life.

James? will leaves his farm to his unmarried daughter Margaret. She got a life interest, until either she married or died, after which it was to pass to son Thomas (so keeping the farm on the male side of the family, as was traditional). Son John got left the forge and workshop. No mention of any wife, so James was likely to be a widower at the time he signed his will. There?s no farm in the M?Auley name in Parkgate village, so evidently James had a farm in a nearby townland, as well as his forge. I note that he left money to the parish priest in Ballyclare as well as to the one in Antrim. That suggests the family might have been attending church in Ballyclare some of the time. Probably worth bearing in mind if you decide to check graveyards in the area. The RC church in Ballyclare seems to have originally been part of Larne & Carrickfergus parish before becoming a parish in it?s own right around 1869. (Presumably some boundaries were re-drawn when the RC church authorities created Antrim parish). Larne RC records start in 1821, so they might be worth checking for this family, just in case.

Margaret evidently never did marry and died in Antrim Workhouse. She had probably gone there for medical treatment at the infirmary, since she obviously wasn?t a pauper.

Probate of the Will of Margaret McCauley formerly of The Antrim Workhouse and late of Parkgate both County Antrim Spinster who died 18 March 1914 at latter place granted at Belfast to John McCauley Farmer and Samuel McLarnon Clerk. Effects ?260 18s. 7d

The above will is not on-line but there should be a copy in PRONI in paper format. It may tell you where the family farm was located.

Her brother pre-deceased her by a couple of months:

Administration (with the Will) of the Estate of John McCauley late of Parkgate County Antrim Blacksmith who died 24 January 1916 granted at Belfast to James McCauley Blacksmith. Effects ?54

Again the above probate file is not on-line but should be in PRONI.

Your Charles who married in 1841 would probably have been born c 1815 (assuming it was his first marriage). That age makes him a possible brother to James M?Auley who died in 1896. He couldn?t be a son. James would have been too young.

You ask about records of Blacksmiths in the Antrim area. I don?t know of any that exist. You could search the PRONI e-catalogue to see if they have anything. I searched on the word ?Blacksmith? and got 181 matches. You might want to work through them to see if any relate to your family:

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/LL_DCAL_PRONI_ECATNI/SearchPage.aspx

Thank you again Alwyn for all the information very much appreciated. Rgds Frances