Old Families of Larne and District: Old Families of Larne and District: Old Families of Larne and District: 4 - Softcover

Rutherford, George

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1903688191 ISBN 13: 9781903688199

Publisher: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2004

Synopsis

Larne and district can claim to be the cradle of the Ulster-Scots connection. It has been for centuries a main arrival point for immigrants from Scotland and a port of departure for emigrants, particularly transatlantic migrants. Its strong links with the sea-going trade are clearly reflected in the prominent families represented in Larne's graveyards. The most notable include the Chaines, Dixons, McGarels and Smileys who were not only successful merchants but were also generous benefactors of the town of Larne.

One of the features of East Antrim graveyards that illustrates the Ulster-Scots interest is the remarkable collection of coats of arms on the headstones. St Cedma's in Larne has about 40 of these, most of which had rubbings taken around 1900 when they were sharper, and which are reproduced in this volume. They are not official and registered armorial bearings, but rather arms which the Scottish families who settled in the vicinity have claimed and used down the centuries.

In addition to the various graveyards of Larne itself, this volume includes Old Kilwaughter and the newer cemetery there. Old Kilwaughter is not only difficult to find, hidden as it is behind the half-ruined Kilwaughter Castle but even when found, the gravestones are hard to identify among the long grass and nettles. In fact, the laborious work of transcribing such stones exemplifies why this series of gravestone inscription volumes in general is so valuable to the genealogist. This is particularly true in the case of Larne gravestones.

In addition to the gravestone inscriptions, Old Families of Larne and District includes records of nineteenth century wills and biographical notes on the prominent figures, as well as a general guide to sources. Each of these will be equally valuable for the research of family and local historians.

About this title

From the Publisher

This is the fourth volume for County Antrim in our Gravestone
Inscription Series and our thirty-first overall. This volume covers the
following burial grounds: Dromain, Kilwaughter, Kilwaughter Old, Larne and
Inver Old (St Cedma's), Larne and Kilwaughter Non-Subscribing Presbyterian,
Larne First Presbyterian, McGarel and St McNissi`s Roman Catholic.
Additional information is supplied on families using will abstracts and
biographical notes. The book also includes a detailed bibliography of the
area and a summary guide to sources for local and family history for the
Larne district.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ulster Historical Foundation
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1903688191
• ISBN 13: 9781903688199
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240