Houston

Anthony,

There is a marriage on 9th Dec 1846 in Annahilt Church of Ireland (Co Down) between a William Houston & Mary Jane Spence. Both lived in Annahilt, Co Down. William’s father was Wm a labourer. Mary Jane’s was Henry Spence (no occupation recorded),

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…

However this couple both lived 40 miles or more from Cullybackey and Slemish which is where you have said they lived or were born. That’s not very likely. Plus as you’ll see Mary Jane’s father’s name doesn’t match your information. How sure are you that your information is accurate?

It looks to me as though, in an area where some of these names are pretty common, different families may have been mixed up. Before I do any more research, can you tell me the source(s) of your information?

Hi Elwyn

I'm not 100% on every detail. Some of the information was taken from other family trees. I believe that the marriage details are correct.
I know two of their children were born in Ireland before they moved to Scotland.
William's parents names are 100% correct.

Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church, so Annahilt Church of Ireland could be where Mary Jane Spence was baptised. Unfortunately save for some fragments, that church’s early records were lost in the 1922 fire. The fragments that survive are: Baptisms, 1784-91; marriages, 1777; burials, 1784. They can be viewed in PRONI.

Griffiths Valuation for 1863 lists 2 Henry Spence households in the parish of Annahilt. One in Ballylintagh was a labourers cottage, as was the other in Carcagreevy.

No Henry Spences farming in Annahilt in the tithes for 1829:

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/down/tithe-applotment-books/annahilt-p…

I also searched for William Houston farming near Slemish. All I could find in the tithes was a John Houston farming in Carnstrone & Douglas in 1825 (More commonly called Carnstroan):

http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/antrim/tithe-applotments/skerry-parish…

That Houston family had left or died out by the time of Griffiths Valuation in 1862. Carnstroan is right beside Slemish. It’s in Carnstroan townland. (The road up to the public car park is Carnstroan Lane).

There are several Houston gravestones in Broughshane 1st Presbyterian graveyard and Racavan, both in Broughshane town. None has the names associated with your family. No Houstons stones in either of the Buckna graveyards.

Likely churches for the Houston family if they lived beside Slemish are Buckna Presbyterian, Broughshane 1st Presbyterian & perhaps Glenwhirry. Unfortunately none has records for someone born c 1826. Jane Devlin’s name suggests she may have been RC. If so Glenravel’s parish records start in 1825, which again is not early enough.

I can assist with the ancestry of the Houston family associated with Back Park Farm adjacent to Slemish.

My Great Great Grandfather was William Houston 1802-1847 whose Memorial Gravestone is in Racavan Graveyard.He married Margaret Moorhead.

This Houston family vacated Back Park Farm and eventually settled in Broughshane which is not far from Slemish through one Son, John Houston 1836-1916, who married Margaret Mahood.

We believe that this Houston ancestry was originally from Argyllshire Scotland.probably arriving in Co Antrim in the early 1700's.

Several sons of William Houston 1802-1847 emigrated - to New Zealand and Australia. Also one son went to Glasgow Scotland.

A connection with this Houston family can be seen in Broughshane as Houston's Mill which used to be a Linen Mill and is now a Community Centre.

A fuller family tree can be seen on My Heritage and Family Tree DNA genealogy sites.

Hi James

Thank you for the information, it would appear that we are related. William Houston 1802-1847 was my 5 x great grandfather.

His son William 1826-1880 is my 4 x great grandfather, he moved to Scotland.

I have William Sr marrying a Jane Devlin. Did he have two wives do you know?

Cheers

Anthony

James,

We spoke today in C4 and I mentioned that Houston can also be MacQuiston.  You hoped that wasn’t the case as it complicates your research!

I had a look at MacLysaght’s “The Surnames of Ireland.” Of Houston he says: “ A well known Scottish name very numerous in Ulster. It is sometimes a synonym of MacQuiston, and in Donegal MacTaghlin.”

Elwyn

Many thanks for the information. I was pleased to be able to meet you in person at C4 and look forward to keeping in contact through NIFHS related activities.

James