Antrim Notes & Photos

Antrim | Drummadoon House | Peter's Notes | 1850 Mill Val/Kilraughts | John Cathcart

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Registry of Deeds
Names Index - MIC 7/16 (covering 1708-c.1740)

Grantor                               Grantee          Vol.    Page    Number
McNeale     Bay Neale?              ?              96       13     21374
                   John               Cathcart             86       39     59192
(http://www.ancestryireland.com/McneilReport.htm)

Peter's Notes

The book 'Cathcart in Australia' by Robert Bruce (Bob) Cathcart, includes the following: 'the Hearth Money Rolls for 1666 and Hearth Money Rolls for 1669 shows a concentration of the name in just three Townlands in the Parish of Ballyclug which appears to be the same general location as the Parish of Connor of the 1800s. These Townlands were: BALLEE where William Kithcart was recorded in 1666 and William Cathcart in 1669. SLAGHT (spelt Slatt in some records) where James Kircart appeared in 1669. TULLAGHGARLEY where John Cithcart was shown in 1666 and as John Cathcart in 1669. Keeping in mind the pronunciation and probable illiteracy of the times there can be little doubt that these are one and the same man in each Townland.' It goes on to point out that the differences in spelling after an interval of only three years would suggest a different scribe in each case. Bob suggests that with the spelling in Tullaghgarley and Ballee being very similar in each of two records, the original plantation families were as yet localised in the place where they first settled. Note that a William Cathcart was still in BALLEE in 1790 (Deputy Court Election).

I think if we could find a bit more information, we might establish that our lot were a branch of the Tullaghgarley/Ballee/Slaght group. They only need to move a few miles north in the late 16th century or early 18th century. I suppose there is also the possibility that they were migrants from Scotland c1700-1730, who were related to the group already established. JAMES and JOHN are the common names in our family with the odd WILLIAM. Certainly there is that early William at Clogh Mills and Dublin in 1790, who must be in our group. As you know, the pedigree chart drawn up by Robert Spann Cathcart shows that JOHN CATHCART of Clogh Mills, Innkeeper at Drumadoon, brother of JAMES CATHCART of Lavin, had two sons, WILLIAM CATHCART 'of Dublin' and JOHN CATHCART. On another sheet, which I presume comes from Robert, it shows WILLIAM CATHCART of Dublin as dying in 1808 (Will) and then lists children: John, Hugh, William, David, Mary, Elizabeth and Joseph. Looking at your ROOTSWEB chart I see you now have all your thoughts on the possibilities recorded there. This area needs a lot more thought and research work.

I grabbed some time at our main regional library today and checked the indexes for the Tithe Applotment Books and Griffith's Valuation for County Antrim. I was interested to find the following:

John Cathcart, Townland of Lavin, Parish of Loughguile 1832. This is very interesting in that it puts a Cathcart still in Lavin almost 100 years after James Cathcart is recorded as leasing land there from William Hamilton (1740). I recently found a record of a John Cathcart born circa 1800 at Loughguile, whose daughter Ann married Robert P. Adams at Ballymoney 25th October 1847. The IGI entry suggested that John was married circa 1821 at Loughguile and that his daughter Ann was born 1822 in Ballymoney.

When it comes to Griffith's Primary Valuation 1848-1864, the only John Cathcart in the area is at Craigs in the Parish of Craigs. This is south of Lavin, towards Ballymena and close to Cullybackey. The question is, do we have a 'spare' John Cathcart in our lot who is still in Antrim in the mid 19th century. There may be no relationship with my Matthew or any of our 'Big Four', but the Lavin and the Ballymoney link is something to keep in mind. The Tithe Applotment includes: Matthew Cathcart, Townland of Topp, Parish of Ballymoney 1825. Also listed is: Samuel Cathcart, Townland of Ballynaris, Parish of Billy 1824. Griffith's has, Samuel Cathcart, Parish of Billy, Location Ballynarry Lower. I think Ballynarry is a variation on Ballynaris.

It is good to see the Carson family listed in Griffith's: William Carson, Parish of Loughguile, location Castlequarter; William Carson, Parish of Loughguile, location Lavin Upper; William Carson, Parish of Loughguile, location Tobernagola. Remember that Ellen Morrison says her family were at Tober 'close beside Loughgiel'. A John Carson was also at Tobernagola.

We need some old maps including parishes and townlands to draw up clear locations for our Cathcarts and their relatives. According to Joan Phillipson at Historical Research Associates in Belfast, she checked the death registers for Ballymoney from 1864 to 1894 and only found two entries. Marian Cathcart, widow aged 88 of Moneycannon, died 22nd January 1872, informant Samuel Fleming nephew. This gives a birth of circa 1784. I wonder whose wife she was? The second one is: Elizabeth Cathcart, widow aged 77 of Cortereghy? Widow of William Cathcart, died 21st August 1891, informant James Miller nephew. This one was born circa 1824.

John,

This reply was very kindly sent by Keith Beattie, the Curator of the Ballymoney Museum. You will note that one record shows that in 1818, John Cathcart subscribed one pound two shillings and nine pence for the rebuilding of Kilraughts Presbyterian Church. That church was rebuilt in 1819-20, during the ministry of the Rev. Matthew Elder. In its modern form it is the First Kilraughts Presbyterian Church, as distinct from the Reformed Presbyterian Church on the Kilraughts Road, close to Lower Topp and about four and a half miles east of Ballymoney. I'm not sure which graveyard has the gravestone of Matthew Cathcart 1811-1863. It would be interesting to place the John Cathcart recorded in 1818 in the overall picture. The First Kilraughts Presbyterian Church is only about a mile and a half from 'Lavin Cottage' on the 1867 Ordnance Survey map. A submitted entry to the IGI has a John Cathcart born c1800 Loughguile whose daughter Ann was born 1822 at Ballymoney. She marries Robert P. Adams 25th October 1847. I have looked at all the Johns in your database, but cannot find one who could have been in the Loughguile, Kilraughts, Ballymoney area at that time. Keith has forwarded my E-mail on to Derek Torrens a local genealogist. Perhaps Derek could help us on a wider search. I will let you know if I hear from him.

Cheers

Peter
Sent: Tuesday, 3 June 2003 7:25 PM
Subject: RE: Cathcart, Ballymoney.

Dear Peter,

Apologies for the delay in replying, I have been on leave. I have forwarded your inquiry to a local genealogist, Derek Torrens, who may be able to help further. Lower Topp is a townland near Ballymoney. Your descendants may have gone to some of the rural congregations in the area and may be buried in one their churchyards. The following details are all I can find relating to Cathcart.

1825 Applotment for Ballymoney

Cathcart, Matthew listed as living in Topp

1850 Mill Valuations

Parish of Ballymoney, Topp Lower, Cathcart, Matthew

House, offices, land and Flax mill. 57 acres 0 reeds 5 perches Value £71-5s

1818 Kilraughts Presbyterian Church,
list of subscriptions for rebuilding the meeting house

John Cathcart £1 2s 9d

1830 Mills recorded in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (no owners named)

Wheel size

Ballymoney Topp Lower flax dia 12'0" breadth 1'6" 10' fall of water

Ballymoney Topp Lower flax dia. 11'4" breadth 1'6" 8' fall of water
breast wheel

Hope this is of use. Good luck with your search.

Regards,
Keith Beattie
Museum Manager

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 12:38 AM
Subject: Cathcart, Ballymoney.

Dear Sir,

My Cathcart ancestors were farmers and millers at Lower Topp, Ballymoney. Matthew Cathcart the elder is listed as being at Topp in the the Tithe Applotment book of 1825. His son Mathew Cathcart 1811-1863, is in Griffith's Valuation as leasing a house, offices and 20 acres 2 roods 35 perches, annual valuation 18 pounds 5 shillings. He also leases a house offices and flax mill and 36 acres 1 rood 10 perches, annual valuation 53 pounds. When Matthew died on the 6th of February 1863, his son David Reid Cathcart (my great great grandfather), took over the leases. His name remains on the valuation until 1870 and is replaced by John Armour. David married Mary Moody on the 23rd of June 1868 at the Meetinghouse of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the parish of Craigs, Cullybackey. Mary was the daughter of John Moody and Jane Cathcart of Townparks, Ballymoney. They decided to emigrate to Victoria, Australia with David sailing from Greenock, 27th November 1869 on the 'Loch Tay'. Mary sailed on the 'Cospatrick' from Greenock 10th December 1870. David's Aunt, Ann Thompson (Cathcart) 1808-1896, had sailed to Victoria with her husband Samuel Thompson and their two sons in 1841. Ann was the daughter of Matthew Cathcart and Matilda Henry and Samuel was the son of William Thompson and Rose Tweed (all of Ballymoney).

I wonder if you could tell me what constituted a 'Flax Mill'? Would there be any other records of the mill at Lower Topp? I have a copy of a letter written by distant relatives in America in which they mention visiting 'The Topp' in August 1964. They also saw 'Matthew Cathcart's gravestone'. I presume they mean Matthew Junior who died in 1863. I have a copy of the Ordinance Survey map of 1867, which is quite detailed, but there is no indication of the location of Lower Topp. I gather it is near Stranocum.

Would your museum be interested in genealogical and historical material relating to Cathcart and connected families from the Ballymoney area? I would be happy to send anything that might be suitable for your records. I recently visited the Thompson family at Maude, near Geelong, Victoria. They descend from Samuel Thompson and Ann Cathcart and live on the farm property taken up in the early 1850s. It was my first visit and one thing that really delighted me, was to find their old farmhouse still standing. It was so like a photograph of an old Ballymoney house seen on the Internet (Website - 'Mathew family Ballymoney'), I couldn't believe it. Even the basalt stone was the same. I have written books on domestic architecture, pioneer furniture and household gardens in Australia. As you can imagine, much was carried over to this country from the British Isles.

I am exchanging Cathcart material with John Thomas Cathcart of Florida, USA. We are gradually sorting out our Cathcart family in County Antrim, as well as the many descendants in Australia and America. Some of the lines are very interesting. For example, John Cathcart 1812-1861, son of Matthew Cathcart Senior of Lower Topp, settled in Monroe County, Indiana. Four of his great grandsons became notable musicians, mostly working in Hollywood. One actually married Sue Garland ( Mary Jane Gumm), the sister of Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm). Two of the brothers married the Wilde Twins, well known in the 1940s. See: http://www.zianet.com/jjohnson/wt2.htm

Looking forward to your reply

Yours sincerely

Peter Cuffley

I found the Cathcart news update really interesting. I agree that it needs a complete survey of all available early evidence to help sort out the Cathcarts in Antrim and their migration to America. You have transcribed an amazing amount of material. I will soon send you my re-types (some with added notes) of the letters you have scanned relating to the descendants of Matthew Sr. and Matthew Jr.

John Cathcart of Lavin

John Cathcart of Lavin is showing up in enough records to be one to find a link for:

1818 John Cathcart subscribes to the rebuilding of the Kilraughts Presbyterian Church (Rebuilt 1819-1820).

1832 John Cathcart, Lavin Townland, Parish of Loughguile in Tithe Applotment records (Just south of Kilraughts Church).

1862 Ann Cathcart daughter of John marries Robert P. Adams at Ballymoney.

The big question is, who was John's father? He seems to be the last Cathcart at Lavin.