Ballynacoy - Glenavy Parish
Freehold Registration
The following extract is from the Belfast Newsletter dated Tuesday 30th June, 1829 and is reproduced with permission of the Belfast News Letter.
County of Antrim
List of persons applying to Register their Freeholds at the next General Quarter Session of the Peace, to be held at Belfast, for the Division of Carrickfergus, in the said County pursuant to the Act of 10th George the Fourth, Cap.8, entered by the Clerk of the Peace.
No: 52
Name and Residence of Applicant: Israel Durham, Ballynecoy
Description of Freehold: House and land Ballynecoy
Yearly Value to be registered: £10
Freehold Registrations, 1831
The following is an extract from The Belfast Newsletter dated 30th September 1831 and is used with permission of The Belfast Newsletter.
The following names are taken from a list of persons applying to register their Freeholds at a General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held in Belfast on the 24th October, 1831.
No. 145
Name and Residence of Applicant: John Gracey, Ballypitmeve
Description of Freehold, with the names of Barony and Townland in which situated: House and land, Upper Massereene, town land of Tullynewbane & Ballymineymore
Yearly Value to be registered: £10
Birth Notice — Murray
The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated Friday 11th January 1861 and is reproduced with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.
Births:
January 6th at Ballinacoy, Lisburn - the wife of John G. Murray Esq., a son.
Killultagh Harriers
The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated Saturday 26th January 1861 and is reproduced with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.
Brilliant Run with the Killultagh Harriers
Mr Editor - On Wednesday I met this celebrated pack at Killultagh House; we immediately found in a grass field on the west side of the lane; went away at racing pace, our hare pointing towards Ballynacoy; crossing the Glenavy Road, the hounds were at fault for a few seconds, but soon hit it off again; a little cold hunting here set in, but we soon got on better terms with puss, the hounds pressing her warmly across the fine valley lying between the Green Mount and Glenavy, and rattling her along the beautiful river, which owes its name to the latter town; at a point some 100 yards from Ballydonaghy Bridge, she took the soil; the hounds dwelt not a moment, but dashed across, racing her up the steep. Her line was now evidently for Gobrana; you would have sworn the pack knew she had set her hope of refuge on Captain Dowglass’s snug plantations; for scarcely a hound threw his tongue, with such dash and mettle did they drive her up to and through the demesne - four good Irish miles from the field we found in - a momentary pause - here a hound spoke, there another - the woods echoed to the rattling cry - such music, such "concord of sweet sounds." Some beautiful hunting followed: Pat Deasy - more jealous of the credit og his hounds than anxious to exhibit his well-known talents as a huntsman - left them entirely to themselves; not a cast was made, and the dashing style in which they swept round and retrieved the wavering line, was a pleasure which formed no trifling feature in the charms of this brilliant run. A fine country now opened before us - the town of Crumlin was closely skirted - the large grass fields adjoining flew quickly by - the hounds intent on blood, and showing a determination to kill, a special "modus operandi" which the initiated well understand, and which the sportsman’s eye cannot mistake - streaming along in a direction, as if "homeward bound," and turning towards Ballydonaghy (this fortunate incident enabled some of the second flight to drop in at this point), the pace improves, a peal bursts from the pack - from scent to view they madly press her - the gallant hare must die in the next field, "Whoo-Whoop" sounds her requiem.
Now, Mr. Editor, we hear a good deal about distance, that such a run was so many miles, and so forth; on this occasion, I appeal to our county surveyor: "From Killultagh House to Crumlin, by Gobrana," five Irish miles at least; two miles further to the finish; seven as the crow flies.
I make no mention of the horses or "colors of the riders;" it is enough to say "The right men were in the right place." No more at present. Whoo-Whoop.
Extract from Griffith Valuation 1862 - Union of Lisburn (Part of)
County of Antrim — Barony of Massereene — Parish of Lisburn
| Column 1 : | Number and letters of Reference to map |
| Column 2 : | Occupiers |
| Column 3 : | Immediate Lessors |
| Column 4 : | Description of Tenement |
| Column 5 : | Area |
| Not included - | Rateable Annual Valuation of land and buildings and Total Annual Valuation of Rateable property |
| Townland: Ballynacoy Ordnance Survey map number: 59 & 63 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel Denham | Marquis of Hertford | House,Offices,Land | 56 02 32 |
| 2 | John McElroy | George Tute | House,Office,Land | 24 01 35 |
| 3 | William Greene | Marquis of Hertford | House,Offices,Land | 21 01 33 |
| 4 | Samuel Baird | same | House,Offices, Land | 04 00 02 |
| 5 | same | same | same | 21 00 13 |
| 6 | Thomas Thompson (Arthur) | same | House,Offices,Land | 13 02 06 |
| 7 | Joseph H. Steele | same | House,Office,Land | 08 00 35 |
| 8 | John Curry | same | Land | 12 03 17 |
| 8a | John McKernan | John Corry | House,Office,Garden | 00 00 20 |
| 8b | Eliza Courtney | same | House | - |
| 9 | William Smyth | Marquis of Hertford | House,Office,Land | 07 00 04 |
| 10Aa | John Smyth | same | House,Office,Land | 02 00 21 |
| 10B | same | same | same | 04 03 33 |
| 11 | Richard Smyth | same | House,Land | 01 01 11 |
| 12 | Samuel Lowry | same | House,Office,Land | 08 00 25 |
| 13 | John Garland | same | House,Office,Land | 07 00 14 |
| 14 | John Colburn | same | House,Offices,Land | 25 01 25 |
| 15 | James Steed | James Colburn | House,Land | 14 02 06 |
| 16 | Samuel Greene | Marquis of Hertford | House,Office,Land | 14 00 10 |
| 17 | Michael Collier | same | House,Offices,Land | 19 03 00 |
| 18a | David Grey | same | House, Land | 13 01 27 |
| 18b | Isaac Grey | same | same | same |
| 19 | Benjamin Adams | same | Land | 15 02 10 |
| 20 | same | John G. Murray | Land | 11 01 16 |
| 21 | James Witherupp | same | Land | 06 00 03 |
| 22 | William Greene | same | Land | 04 00 12 |
| 23a | James Lowry | same | House,Office,Land | 15 03 38 |
| 23b | Thomas Neill | same | House,Land | 00 01 32 |
| 24 | same | same | same | 03 00 32 |
| 25 | James Wilson | same | Land | 04 01 12 |
| 26 | George Thompson | same | Land | 03 00 12 |
| 27a | John G. Murray | Marquis of Hertford | House,Office,Land | 169 01 15 |
| 27b | James McDonald | John G. Murray | House | - |
| 27c | William Christy | same | House,Gardens | 01 00 20 |
| 27d | Robert Hillen | Marquis of Hertford | House,Office,Garden | 00 00 15 |
| 28 | Robert Lewis | same | House,Land | 05 01 33 |
| 29 | Robert Adams | same | House,Office,Land | 04 03 32 |
| 30 | same | same | same | 08 01 35 |
| 31 | James Larmon | same | House,Office,Land | 05 02 13 |
| 32 | Patrick McGrady | same | Land | 01 02 32 |
| 33 | Archibald Crawford | same | House,Office,Land | 10 01 36 |
| 34 | William Crawford | same | House,Office,Land | 12 00 16 |
| 35 | Edward Thompson | same | House,Land | 05 00 02 |
| 36 | Jn. Thompson (English) | same | House,Office,Land | 10 01 05 |
| 37 | John Thompson (Irish) | same | House,Land | 05 00 02 |
| 38 | William J. Branagh | same | House,Office,Land | 15 03 08 |
| 39 | Robert Elwood | same | House,Land | 14 02 28 |
| 40Aa | Thomas Thompson | same | House,Office,Land | 14 03 08 |
| 40B | (Abraham) | same | same | 06 00 03 |
| 41 | same | same | same | 09 00 15 |
| 40ab | William Bell | same | House,Office,Garden | 00 01 00 |
| 41a | Anne Peel | Thomas Thompson (Abraham) | House,Garden | 00 00 15 |
| 41b | Thomas Hill | same | House,Garden | 00 00 15 |
| 42 | James Elwood | Marquis of Hertford | House,Land | 03 02 12 |
| 43 | William Fleeton | same | House,Office,Land | 23 03 12 |
| 44 | George McKnight | same | House,Land | 22 02 12 |
| Total | 694 03 00 | |||
"History of Methodism in Ireland"
The following extract is from "History of Methodism in Ireland, Volume 1, Wesley and his time" by C H Crookshank, M.A. 1885
Page 460
Chapter XL - "1789"
At Lisburn the evangelist preached in what he calls the new chapel, but in reality was the old one which had been enlarged and improved through the liberality of Mr. Johnson. It is described by Wesley as the largest and best furnished preaching-house in the north of Ireland. Amongst those present at the service was Mr. Thomas Collier(*) Who was then to give his heart to God. He afterwards settled in Ballynacoy, where his house became a centre of religious light in what was then a very dark and benighted district of country.
(*) grandfather of the Rev S James and Robert Collier
Death Notice — Belshaw
The following is an extract from The Lisburn Standard - Saturday, February 15th 1890
Deaths
Belshaw - February 9th, at the residence of her father, Ballinacoy, Stoneyford, Mary Jane, the only daughter of James and Eliza Waters.
J.D. Martin & Co.
The following is an extract from the Lisburn Standard - Saturday July 13th 1901.
J.D. Martin & Co.'s Auction Sales.
15th - Hay, Ballynacoy. Hugh Branagh, 1.
Court Case
Extract from The Lisburn Herald, October 21 1905
Carlisle V Cushenan
Samuel Carlisle, farmer, Ballynacoy, Glenavy, processed Edward Cushenan, farmer, Ballymacward Lower, Belfast for £8 10s, stones sold and delivered to plaintiff to defendant.
Mr. G.B. Wilkins, solicitor, appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. W.G. Maginess, solicitor for the defendant. His Honour gave a decree for £3.
Erskine vs Crawford
The following is an extract from The Lisburn herald, Saturday March 2nd, 1929
"No Jurisdiction"
Mary Erskine, Ballynacoy, summoned William Crawford, Ballypitmave, for, as alleged, allowing his greyhounds to kill 8 head of fowl, her property, value £2.
Mr. Joseph Lockhart, solicitor, appeared for the complainant; and Dr. H.A. Maginness, solicitor, for the defence.
Dr. Maginness raised the point that the Court had no jurisdiction, and the Chairman concurred, remarking that it was a case for another court.
Mr. Lockhart agreed, and said he had been trying to impress that on his client.
The case was accordingly ruled "no jurisdiction," and no order made in regard to costs.
Green Mount
To the east of Ballynacoy town land there is a mound known locally as the Green Mount, Green Mound, or Durham’s Mount. There are also variants of those names. The mound is on private property and is marked on all Ordnance Survey maps as an antiquity.
See the Environment and Heritage Service for a description of Green Mound.
There are a total of 6 raths and enclosures in the town land of Ballynacoy mentioned in the Environment and Heritage Service website in their Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record
The following extracts are from "Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland - Parishes of County Antrim VII 1832 - 1838". Thanks to the Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen’s University of Belfast for permission to use this extract.
There are no very remarkable antiquities within this parish except some ancient forts which remain in a good state of preservation, the most remarkable of which is that called the Great Mound, situated in the town land of Ballynacoy, around 1 and three-quarter miles east o the village of Glenavy, Its elevation being 514 feet above the sea.
In "Glenavy Past and Present" by Charles Watson in 1892 he makes the following reference to Greenmount when writing about the comfortable homes of the parish
"Greenmount of Miss Durham."
I visited this mound with permission of the land-owner in April 2008. The nettles, brambles, whins and thorns have taken over this feature now, encapsulated with bird-song. It was possible to walk into the ditches and up the bank to the summit. The view from the summit is now obscured by shrubs and trees, but it is possible to peer through some of the gaps, and very quickly realise why our ancestors had settled in this part of the district.
Views of and from the Green Mound, Ballnacoy
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PRONI Will Calendars
The following information is taken from the will calendars in the PRONI and are reproduced with kind permission of Deputy Keeper of the Records, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
Robert Adams
Date of Death 27/06/1871
Date of Grant 08/01/1877
Effect under £300
Registry: Belfast
Full Abstract:
The Will of Robert Adams late of Ballymacward County Antrim Farmer deceased who died 27 June 1871 at same place was proved at Belfast by the oaths of Thomas Thompson of Ballinacoy and Edward Magee of Ballymacward both in same County Farmers the Executors.
James Thompson
Date of Death 09 12 1891
Date of Grant 215 02 1892
Effects £214 10s
Registry: Belfast
Full Abstract:
The Will of James Thompson late of Ballynacoy County Antrim Farmer who died 9 December 1891 at same place was proved at Belfast by John Hunter of Bovolgan and Alexander Larmour of Kilultagh both in said County Farmers the Executors.
Hugh Kelly Branagh
Date of Death 11 08 1902
Date of Grant 20 07 1903
Effects £13
Registry: Belfast
Full Abstract:
Probate of the Will of Hugh Kelly Branagh late of Ballynacoy Stoneyford Lisburn County Antrim Farmer who died 11 August 1902 granted at Belfast to Edward H. Branagh Designer and James Thompson Farmer.





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