Gribben and Donegan in Aghagallon

Peter,

Aghagallon RC parish records start in 1828. Tracing earlier than that may be very difficult.

Though most Irish censuses pre 1901 have been destroyed, part of the 1851 for Co Antrim has survived and includes Aghagallon and Ballinderry. One Gribben in 1851 in the parish, on a farm in Tamnyvane:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Upper_Massereene/Aghagallon/Tamnyvane/21/

George Donegan, the only Donegan in the parishes had been living nearby in the townland of Montiaghs but had died in 1850 of old age, aged 83:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1851/Antrim/Upper_Massereene/Aghagallon/Montiaghs/50/

Given that there appears to be the only one example of the Donegan surname, it’s possible the Montiagh family might be related to your ancestors who left in 1829.

The tithe applotment records for 1834 list George Donegan in Montiaghs. He was the only Donegan household listed in the parish. There were 5 Gribben households though:

Gribben, Francis Townland: Derrycloan Year: 1834

Gribben, Hugh Townland: Derrycloan Year: 1834

Gribben, John Townland: Derrymore Year: 1834

Gribben, Owen Townland: Ballykeel Year: 1834

Gribben, Widow Townland: Derrymore Year: 1834

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/

Looking at Griffiths Valuation for 1862, I see James Brankin (son in law of George Donegan) listed on plots 21 & 22. 2 Separate pieces of land, on either side of the modern Boghead Bridge Rd, they totalled just under 7 acres.

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

Hi Elwyn,

Thank you very much for your information and suggestions.  The possibility that George Donegan was the father of Mary is something I will pursue.  Mary named her second son George, which provides support for that hypothesis assuming that she and Charles followed the conventional naming system.  I'm looking now through the Aghagallon RC parish records to see if I can find anything else that would help.

The first son of Mary and Charles was named John, which suggests that Charles' father was John Gribben.  There is a John Gribben in the Aghagallon RC records who was buried on 25 June 1829 at age 60.  That was only three months before Charles and Mary were married and emigrated to the United States.  So it's possible he was Charles' father and that his death was somehow a factor in the decision of Charles and Mary to marry and emigrate. 

What a shame that the Aghagallon marriage records don't give the parents of the bride and groom!

Thanks again.  Peter

Hello Peter,

I was curious to come across your post the other day when hunting information on the Gribben family of Aghagallon.  I had been prompted by a record that came to light in an old ledger held at a small church in Glenavy Parish, Antrim.  The record stated that on 29 August 1819, Sarah Gribben of Aghagallon Parish had licence to marry Abraham Totten of Glenavy Parish.  (This was a fortuitous find as it proved my ancestor's brother, Abraham, likely had an earlier marriage, and that Charles Totten, who I previously couldn't place in my family, was likely to be a son of this couple, Abraham and Sarah Gribben.  Charles was not a common Christian name in my Totten clan, and the name made me wonder as to the family origins.)  There is an old tombstone at nearby Ballinderry, in the old Moravian Churchyard erected by the son, Charles Totten and his wife, to the memory of their daughter who died young.  I know we are mixing denominations here, but it looks as if several folk in my Totten family, who were Protestant, married into local Catholic familes.  Sarah Gribben, who married Abraham Totten, would be about the right age to be a cousin or even a sister to your gtgt Grandfather, Charles Gribben.  I don't know if this is a help to you at all, but wish you luck with your ongoing research.  It is food for thought at least.

Regards,

Rosemary Totton (Auckland, new Zealand)