On Saturday 2 February 2013 the society launched ‘ Ballintoy’s Hidden History’ funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s All Our Stories programme to explore and tell the story of three less well-known sites in the Ballintoy area, namely Templastragh Church, Ballintoy Castle and an eighteenth-century school at White Park Bay.
On Friday 24th October 2014, Project Coordinator Robert Corbett will give a talk on the challenges and outcomes of the ‘Ballintoy Hidden History’ project to The Glens of Antrim Historical Society at 8. 30pm in the Parish Centre Cushendall.
Ballintoy’s Hidden History Project
Robert Corbett, project co-ordinator
Robert is originally from Seskinore, near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. He graduated from the University of Ulster at Coleraine in 1985 with a BA Honours degree in History.
Currently employed by Belfast City Council as its Records Manager, he previously worked as an archivist in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
Robert is an active member of the Information and Records Management Society and in 2011 he was made an Honorary Life Member.
Robert is a keen local historian and plays a leading role in Ballintoy Archaeological and Historical Society.
Good evening Robert,
I am trying to locate any living members of the Stewart’s of Ballintoy, who can link themselves to the original family from circa 1800.
My Stewart family is from Argyll and we have recently discovered an Irish link in a yDNA result.
Any help,would be highly appreciated.
Slainte,
Charles G. MacLeod Stuart
http://Www.stewartsofcampbeltown.com
Hello Charles (and Robert Corbett), I am trying to also locate any living members of the Stewarts of Ballintoy who can link themselves to the original family. We descend from William Stewart Sr, 1785-1879, born in Ballintoy who emigrated to Ontario Canada. He married in Ballintoy in 1817, to Elizabeth “Betty” Logan, 1792-1887, who may be related to the Logans of Bushmills. They had four children, all born in Ballintoy. As they all emigrated to St. Catharines, Ontario Canada between 184 and 1852, they shared an oral history of their birthplace and each large headstone in Canada proclaims they are natives of Ballintoy. Our struggle is in linking William Stewart Sr. to his parents in Ballintoy, whose name we do not know. We have a DNA link to the 6th Sherriff of Bute, descended from Sir John Stewart; we hope to find a tie from Ninian Stewart to our William Stewart. If you have any pedigree information which might help us, we’d be so grateful.
Greetings! I’ve been researching my McCurdy lineage and legend is that the MacCuoredys (sp) were refugees from the Isle of Butte, Scotland having escaped religious persecution and annihilation. Three brothers escaped in a boat, which they took to Ballintoy and began a new life. According to what I’ve found, one of the brothers, Petheric (1640-1700) married Margaret Stewart (1644-17–) Margaret was the child of Charles Stewart, (1618-1670) I believe they are my 8th great grandparents. It is believed that most McCurdy descendants in the U.S. are from this union. My DNA links me to their 2nd great grandson, David McCurdy, who arrived in Boothbay, Maine sometime in the mid-late 1700’s. I hope this is helpful to you. Dan Kieffer
Hi Dan, I am interested in the history of Ballintoy as well. (I have come across the ‘fact’ that some Dunlops came ashore there in the early 17th century, having left Scotland). Did you have any luck in your quest? Do you know the source or cause of the religious persecution you mention? What was your source for this information? There are certainly plenty of McCurdys still aound north Antrim.
Best regards,
David Dunlop
dadunlop50@gmail.com
Email for Dan Kieffer is dbkieffer@yahoo.com
All my research has confirmed to my satisfaction that the McCurdy and Stewart clans went to from the Isle of Bute to Ballintoy.
In answer to your question about religious persecution in Scotland in the 1600’s basically the Church of England was forcing Presbyterians to convert or lose wealth or die. The McCurdy’s chose to flea as did some of the Stewart Clan. Coming from the Isle of Butte, Ballintoy was likely the easiest location to get to if you were in a small boat.
I live in southeastern Ohio. There was a lot of coal mining in this region, which was a magnet for Scotch and Irish immigrants.
Greetings! I am a descendant of William Stewart Sr (1785-1879) and Elizabeth Logan (1792-1887). Both were born in Ballintoy and we believe they are direct or linked descendants of the first Stewarts to settle and build the Castle of Ballintoy, according to family lore. They emigrated to St. Catharines, Lincoln, Ontario, Canada in 1852. (Their oldest son, William Stewart Jr, b. 1825 in Ballintoy had emigrated in 1847 and brought his parents and siblings Eliza, Alexander, and Andrew Stewart in 1852. Another daughter, Mary Ann Stewart Scullens may have stayed in Ballintoy). My grandfather William Stewart recounted that his father, John Stewart, could recall his grandfather William Stewart Sr proudly saying that they were of the Stewarts of Ballintoy; this name is on each of the headstones of those born in Ballintoy. However, Wm Sr. did not recount the name of his parents, at least that memory could provide. We are intent on finding their family relations in Ballintoy. I would sincerely love to learn more of this hidden history locale. Could you send me information? — Maryanne Stewart Andrus
I am interested in information on the Castle of Ballintoy, why the Stewart family sold it in 1760 and why it was dismantled in 1795? If anyone has a contact with Robert Corbett, who conducted a Hidden History project on this castle in 2014, I’d be so grateful to make a connection with him. Thank you! Maryanne Stewart Andrus