Ballymartin Civil Parish, County Antrim, Northern Ireland Genealogy

The following information is a starting point for records about the civil parish of Ballymartin. The information is based on locations and records before 1922.

History
Ballymartin is a parish located partly within the barony of Lower Belfast, but mostly it lies with the barony of Upper Belfast. The parish belongs to the union of Antrim. It is a rectory in the diocese of Connor and is part of the union of Carnmoney. There is neither church nor any other place of worship within the parish. Most of the local population are Presbyterians and attend places of worship of that denomination in the neighborhood. The ruins of the church remain and the churchyard is used as a burial ground by most of the inhabitants.

Localities
To obtain a list of town-lands in this civil parish visit website: List of townland in the County Antrim. Surrounding parishes are: Ballylinny, Carnmoney, Grange of Doagh, Grange of Nilton, Kilbride, and Templepatrick.

Maps and gazetteers
Read more about maps and gazetteers.

Cemeteries
As mentioned above, the churchyard next to the old church ruins is still used as the local graveyard.

Census
The purpose of a census was to gather information about people who lived in an area. While the government began census taking in 1821, only fragments exist before 1901. Censuses for 1901 and 1911 are available. Read more about the records in the Ireland Census article.

Church records
Read general information about church records.

Catholic
Roman Catholic parishes are located in Antrim and Ballyclare. Both parishes are part of the diocese of Connor.

Ballyclare has church registers that begin July 1869 for baptisms, and marriages that start February 1870.

Antrim registers of baptism begin January 1874.

The original registers for both parishes are kept in local custody, but microfilmed copies are available at the National Library of Ireland and both registers have been indexed by the Ulster Historical Foundation.

Church of Ireland
Ballymartin has no local church for Church of Ireland members, People go to neighboring parishes to attend church.

Presbyterian
Name(s) of ecclesiastical parish, records, availability, archive, online indexes, notes.

Methodist
Name(s) of ecclesiastical parish, records, availability, archive, online indexes, notes.

Society of Friends
To discover what is available on the Quaker population in County Antrim contact: Religious Society of Friends, 4 Magheralave Road, Lisburn BT28 3BD. Also County Antrim Internet: http://www.quakers-in-ireland.org.

E-mail: [mailto:qhist@eircom.net qhist@eircom.net].

Others
Name(s) of ecclesiastical parish, records, availability, archive, online indexes, notes.

Civil Registration
Government registration of births and deaths began in 1864. Registration of Protestant marriages began in 1845, with all marriages being registered by 1864. Go to the Ireland Civil Registration article to read more about these records.

Land records
The Registry of Deeds started in 1708. Land transactions were recorded, including immovable property passed on in a will and property given to a daughter at her marriage. Read more about these records in the Ireland Land and Property article.

Probate records
Probate dealt with the property of a deceased person. Read more about these records in the Ireland Probate Records article.

School records
Read more about these records in the Ireland Schools article.

Tax records
The valuation of property for tax purposes was started in the 1840s by Richard Griffith. A tax paid to the church, call Tithe Applotments, began in the 1820s. Read about these records in the Ireland Taxation and Ireland Land and Property articles.