A bit more Detail

In July 2011 I paid my second visit to PRONI having drawn a blank the year before and checked out the following records without success:

• Presbyterian Church Bellaghy
• Church of Ireland Drummaul Parish
• Hearth Money Roll and Poll Tax records for Co Antrim
• O'Neill rentals for Moneravady Estate including 1826 maps
• Index to pre-1858 wills and administrations
• Taylorstown school records
• Tithe applotment books of 1834 for Drummaul parish

I also got part way through the 1669 HMR for Drummaul Parish but still need to check item T307/2

Checking of the microfilmed records of Grange Presbyterian church produced baptisms of the children of David Johnston and Elizabeth Speedie.

I also found the transcription from the will of Henry Jnr.

So as things stand I still havent discovered further info about the three key people:

Henry Speedie Snr

Thomas Speedie

John Speedie

We know that all three were present in the area in the latter half of the 19th century and yet no trace has been found in the O'Neill etate records of circa 1826, the 1834 tithe books, the pre-1840 freeholder lists or the pre-1858 wills index!

I still need to finish checking the HMR for Drummaul parish of 1669 and various estate records including the 1835 valuation books and maps. If this turns up nothing it would tend to suggest these people having moved to Co Antrim (perhaps from Scotland) some time between 1834 and 1865. We have firm evidence of a Speedy family in the Dungannon area from the 17th century through to the 19th century and there is a possibility of a link with them.

It would be great to discover a will or marriage records relating directly to the three men. Nothing is known about Thomas but we do know that Henry and John were married. I will now take a look at the PRONI marriage license bonds for the diocese of Connor and Dromore which cover the period 1721 to 1845.