Bennett Family Drumbroneth, Down

Darlene,

There’s a whole page of Bennetts from Dromore on the Rosdavies site, including William Bennett’s 6 children. (There were 2 Georges so the first will have died young).

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/genealogy/SURNAMES/B/Bennett.htm

The church in question is Dromore Cathedral. (Church of Ireland). It’s records start in 1784. Is your information that the Bennett family lived in Drumbroneth? If so the only Bennett there in Griffiths Valuation in 1863 was a George.  So that could be William’s son. The farm was plot 79, just under 8 acres, which is on the moderns Barronstown Rd just outside Dromore. Judging by Google Earth it’s still a farm today.

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

I looked for Jane Agnew’s father George in Griffiths Valuation for 1862 in Ballylummin. There were 3. One had plot 25b which was a  weaver/labourer’s cottage that he rented from John Agnew senior. The second was a farmer on plot 65. Also on that farm was plot 65b with George Agnew jr who rented a weaver’s cottage from George. So since we know Jane’s father was a farmer, I’d guess that her home was plot 65.

You can use the Valuation Revision records to follow through and see what happened to those properties up to 1930 (eg changes of occupant). They are on the PRONI site.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/search-archives-online/valuation-revision-books

There were 3 Agnew households in Ballylummin in the 1901 census. All Presbyterian. (Agnew is a very common surname in the area. Most are descended from families who moved to Ireland from SW Scotland in the 1600s). You say that William & Jane married in the parish church in Ahoghill. That’s not quite correct. The parish church was Church of Ireland.  Jane married in Ahoghill 3rd Presbyterian church (also known as Brookside). Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so you can safely assume she was Presbyterian (confirming Scottish heritage) and that’s possibly where her family attended.

There are many Agnew graves around Ahoghill. Not all give townlands (addresses).  You can view them on the Braid site:

http://www.thebraid.com/explore-your-roots.aspx

I see two gravestones in Brookside Presbyterian graveyard which mention Ballylummin:

Erected by James Agnew, Ballylummin, in memory of his uncle Alexander Agnew who died 8th January 1946 aged 66 years

Erected by J and J.R. Agnew of Ballylumin In memory of their father John Agnew who died 8th Decr 1885 aged 89 years Also their mother Jane who died 10th Sept 1887 aged 89 years Jane Agnew died 23rd Feby 1894 aged 21 years James R Agnew died 23rd March 1900 aged 60 years Also Amelia Agnew who died 23rd Aug 1914 aged 73 years Also his son Joseph Agnew died 27th July 1930 aged 65 years Mary Agnew, wife of Joseph died 4th Sept 1929 aged 67 years

Erected by David Agnew of Ballylummin In memory of his beloved wife Sarah Jane who died 10th September 1893 aged 84 years Also his son Hugh who died in infancy. His brother Alexander died 7th Decr 1848 aged 3 years

Another 2 in Ahoghill 1st:

Erected by John Agnew, Ballylummin, in memory of his beloved wife Margaret Ann Agnew who died 21st May 1913 aged 68 years Also the above named John Agnew who died 15th September 1914 aged 66 years Also his son Thomas W Agnew and his wife who perished on the 'Luissitania' 7th May 1915

Erected by Jane Agnew, Ballylummin, died 28th October 1961 aged 79 years

There are details of 7 probate files for Agnews of Ballylummin on the PRONI wills site including this one:

Probate of the Will of George Agnew late of Ballylummin County Antrim Farmer who died 5 December 1896 granted at Belfast to David Agnew of Ballyummin Farmer and Alexander Luke of Ahoghill Grocer both said County.

George was 73, a widower and left his farm to son David.  I see 2 possible probates for David:

Probate of the Will of David Agnew late of Ballylummin County Antrim Farmer who died 31 March 1910 granted at Belfast to William Kerr and William Kennedy Farmers.

Agnew (senior) David of Ballylummin county Antrim farmer died 19 October 1934 Probate Belfast 19 December to David Agnew (junior) and John Thompson (junior) farmers. Effects £326 17s.

Unfortunately Ahoghill 3rd’s baptism records don’t start till 1859 and their marriages only start in 1845, so tracing the family backwards will be challenging.

George Bennett’s marriage to Eliza Nicholl was in Ahoghill 1st Presbyterian so that’s probably the Nicholl family church.

Elwyn, I am so very thankfull for your great work on  this information on my families. Its amazing what  have achieved in one sitting. Thank you so much cheers Darlene