Bartholomew McNaughten/MacNaghten, born about 1724 Antrim

Glenys,

Firstly, I think you may have got a little confused about where the places you have mentioned are located. You have mentioned the “Londonderry and Strabane areas of Antrim.”  Neither Londonderry nor Strabane are in Antrim. Londonderry is in the county of the same name (aka Derry) and Strabane is in the adjacent County of Tyrone. Co Antrim is a separate county altogether, to the east of Co Londonderry/Derry.

I very much doubt there are any official records recording where Bartholomew was born or attended school. Very few churches in Ireland have records for the 1720s, and I have never heard of any school records from that era surviving.

Death registration was only introduced in 1864. Prior to that normally only the Church of Ireland (ie Anglican) kept any burial records, so the first question is what precise denomination was Bartholomew? If he wasn’t Church of Ireland then its unlikely any official record exists of his death, and in the 1790s it was very rare for deaths to be mentioned in the newspapers, save for royalty or very famous people. So if he doesn’t have a gravestone, then there may be no record of his death. Coleraine Church of Ireland’s burial records start in 1769. There’s a copy in PRONI in Belfast. (Personal visit required to view them).

22 January, 2024

Good morning Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your very detailed reply to my queries. 

Yes, my McNaghten ancestors did belong to the Church of Ireland.

I have personally previously visited Coleraine and even found the St. Patrick's church records for Bartholomew's marriage in about 1769,

as well as the baptism of some of his children etc.  However, the original document has been damaged by water; and the relevant pages

for the baptism records of some of his children (especially my 4xgreat-grandmother) as well as Bartholomew and his wife's presumed

burial records, would have appeared on the exact pages that have been water damaged. 

I have also sited the relevant microfilmed records in Coleraine's public library, but they were obviously copied AFTER the water damage,

because again, the relevant pages are water damaged.  I live in Australia, and now have significant health issues, so it is very difficult

/impossible for me to return to Ireland. I have previously also visited Belfast's PRONI and spent several days researching their

files.

I believe Bartholomew's grave does exist somewhere (probably in/near Coleraine), because I recall seeing a note online about it,

(his name details must still be readable) but the writer, who did not leave his/her name or contact details' nor did they include the

details of where abouts the grave was sited.  I know he died between 1780 and 1795 - presumably in/near Coleraine.  But his

wife, Charlotte (nee Giveen/Given) was probably buried in/near Dublin, as she apparently moved to Dublin in around 1798.  One of

her sons (Robert Cary Hamilton McNaghten) was a solicitor there.  

I have already searched all the Church of Ireland records that are on their website, without positive results.  I have also found out

the exact school where Bartholomew's brother (1/2 hanged John McNaghten) went to school in/near Raphoe, and have contacted

that school, but they do not hold records back to the 1720s.  So secondary sources might be as good as I can get.  

 If my line of McNaghtens (especially Bartholomew junior and senior) were buried in the family plot, that could also mean Bartholomew

(junior, born around 1720) might have been buried in/near Billy, as that was where the old family church was. 

If you could reflect on the above, suggesting places where I could find the grave site and any of my other sought missing information,

I would be so grateful. 

Many thanks and 

Kind regards,

Glenys Bolland

Aspley, 4034, Brisbane, Australia

email: glenysbolland@gmail.com

Glenys,

The Ulster Historical Foundation has a list of all known graveyards in Ulster. You can search their database free, by townland or parish, and identify those that might help you. Search “Graveyards in Ulster.”  4 are shown for Billy parish – Billy CI, Dunseverick CI, Mosside Presbyterian & Toberdoney Presbyterian.

https://www.ancestryireland.com

The Causeway Coast & Glens Branch of the North of Ireland FHS have transcribed the legible stones in quite a few local graveyards, and the transcriptions can be found on their website. You need to join to access the records.

http://colerainefhs.org.uk

St Patrick’s in Coleraine has this gravestone:

In memory of / James McNaghten Esq, late of Coleraine/ eho departed this life 3rd Dec 1828 / aged 59 years / also / Annie McNaghten his wife / died 26th Jan 1830 / aged 68 years / BARTHOLOMEW McNaghten / of Ballyboggey / son-in-law of th above / who died January 1st 1832 / in the 46th year of his age / also of Catherine / wife of Bartholmew / died at Portstewart 26th March 1867

Is that your family? (A later generation or so obviously, but Bartholomew is a fairly unusual name and perhaps there is a connection?)

I know you visited PRONI so you may have seen these already:

D2977/3A/3/1/75 26 Oct 1736

Copy conveyance from the Rt. Hon. Alexander, Earl of Antrim, to Bartholomew McNaghten Esq., of Benvarden, Co. Antrim, of the two quarters of Ballytaggart, quarter of Carnageeragh, quarter of Toberbilly, quarter of Killymagighy, quarter of Ballylosh, quarter of Drumnabrasly, quarter of Legacurry, half quarter of Feltin [?], quarter of Altarichard, quarter of Knockavrinnan, quarterland of Tullycapple and the quarterland of Ballybogy in consideration of the sum of £1100 sterling. Yearly rent £54.5s.0d. sterling.

D2977/3A/3/1/76 23 Nov 1736

Rt. Hon. Alexander, Earl of Antrim to Bartholomew McNaghten, Benvardin, Co. Antrim. Copy counterpart fee farm deed forever of 2 quarters of Knockanboy and 2 quarters of Conogher, Co. Antrim. Consideration £400. Rent £30. Receiver's Fees 6d per pound. Suit and Service at Manor Courts and Mills. Distrain and Distress.

T1638/30/1 23 Nov 1736

Earl of Antrim to Bartholomew McNaghten, Benvarden, Co. Antrim.
Lease; term forever; yearly rent of £30. Consideration £400.
Two quarterlands of Knockanboy and two quarterlands of Conogher, Co. Antrim.

D282/20 30 July 1762

Mortgage. Bartholomew McNaghten, Carnglass, Co. Antrim and Sarah Steele, Dublin. Consideration £300. Lands at Carnaglass Beg, Lisnagot [Lisnagat] and two quarters of land in Ballywatt, all in the barony of Dunluce, Co. Antrim

D971/42/B/9 17 Dec 1782

Lease for three lives or 11 years, Bartholomew McNaghten of Coleraine, esq., to James Young of East Ballywatt, farmer: property in East Ballywatt, parish of Ballyrashane.

The above 3 lives lease is probably worth looking at as it may name some relatives (ie the other 2 lives) and give their ages. 

A colleague has  suggested that the McNaghten family originally lived in Benvarden townland which is in Dunluce parish, so there might be graves around there. I think the first McNaghten to settle in Ireland was a cousin of the 1^stEarl of Antrim and managed part of the Antrim estate. The McNaghtens originated in Scotland and presumably arrived in the late 1500s/early 1600s, along with the McDonnells.

A genealogist from that area is Dorothy Arthur. She has published a number of books on graveyards in North Antrim, available on Amazon and other similar sources. She has considerable knowledge of the local families and might be able to assist you in your research.

https://www.facebook.com/dorothyaarthur/

24 January, 2024 re McNaghten/McNaughten/MacNaghtan/McNaghtin

Good morning Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your very prompt and helpful, follow-up reply to my questions regarding the McNaghten/McNaughten/MacNaghtan/McNaghtin family, who lived mostly in the counties of Londonderry and Antrim. 

I have now followed-up every lead you provided.  Sadly, I still cannot locate some important Information, such as the burial/death details of my 4 x g-grandfather, Bartholomew McNaghten/McNaughten/MacNaghtan/McNaghtin, who was possibly buried in Coleraine, county of Londonderry; or at the family’s cemetery plots at Billy church. 

There were at that time, surprisingly, several Bartholomews who had some connection with my family, and included my Bartholomew’s father, nephews, cousins etc., but the James McNaghten whom you kindly noted was found buried at St. Patrick’s church, Coleraine, is unfortunately, not one of my Bartholomew’s siblings or children. 

May I ask two further questions please?

1.     I have found the attached 1766 deeds information from your Deeds website about Bartholomew’s 2^nd marriage to Sarah Johnston.  Unfortunately, I do not understand the significance of the information.  For example: Is it simply a declaration by him of his land holdings, in anticipation of his marriage to Sarah Johnston?  They were supposed to have been married on 7 February 1766 at Newry or Dublin, yet this Deed document is dated 14 February, and suggests that the marriage had not yet occurred.  Or is it some sort of dowry statement by her?

2.    According to Beetham’s abstracts, Bartholomew’s Will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Armagh in 1787, at which time, the surname spelling was listed as McNaghtin.  I am unable to locate this document [the Will] anywhere.  Have you any suggestions as to where it could be, please? The Prerogative Court of Armagh seemed to ignore several emails I sent them a couple of years ago, asking about this information.  They did not even acknowledge their receipt. 

Again, any help you offer would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Glenys

24 January, 2024

Hi Elwyn, 

Attached documents do not appear to have been sent with my previous reply. 

Will try to attach again to this reply.  So sorry.

Glenys

Glenys,

Until the Married Women’s Property Act 1882, a married woman’s assets were deemed to be her husband’s. She couldn’t own property in her own right, and any money she had was regarded as his. With poor families this was of little consequence but for wealthier families it left the wife in a very vulnerable provision. She could be left penniless. And if she had brought money to the marriage, her husband could just take it off her.

There were ways around that, and so to ensure she was provided for, the usual method was to set up a trust whereby the trustees held assets on the wife’s behalf, and pay her monies according to the terms of the trust. I think that this deed (159035) is setting up such a trust, or at least stating Bartholomew’s intention to do so within 1 year of the date on the deed.  So it looks as though Bartholomew was placing the various lands/townlands (and their income) in trust, for Sarah’s benefit. The trustees appear to be Robert Meares of the City of Dublin and John Boyes. The memorial is what was called a marriage settlement and was the groom/husband’s way of formally indicating what provision he had made for his bride/wife. Enforceable in a court if necessary.

Regarding Bartholomew’s will, until 1858 the Church of Ireland processed all probate cases on behalf of the Government (regardless of what denomination you were). So that’s why the Church Court in Armagh was involved. It was responsible for all cases in Ulster. The original wills were sent to the Public Record Office in Dublin for safe keeping. Unfortunately during the 1922 civil war the PRO was blown up and all the records destroyed. So the original will no longer exists. Occasionally duplicate copies survived (held by solicitors, family or sometimes by early genealogical researchers) and some of them have made their way into either the National Archives in Dublin or PRONI in Belfast. What did survive was an index book held in Armagh which listed all the files and the year probate was granted. But the probate files and their wills are mostly lost.

27 January, 2024

Good afternoon Elwyn,

Thank you soooo much for all your helpful advice.  You and your group are contributing so much information / knowledge

to the world wide diaspora of Irish descendants for which descendants like myself and we are so grateful.  

Even though on this occasion, I did not end up finding my Bartholomew McNaghten's birth/death/burial/ Will details, I appreciate

so much all the information you relayed to me.  It was so helpful.  I have made a donation to your "Reaching Out" group.  

Kindest regards and many thanks,

Glenys