Ballynure Old Graveyard Stephen Bell & Richard T Wallace Ballynure Historical Group was formed in 1997 by Ballynure and District Community Association with the purpose of researching and preserving the village history. Part of the group's work has entailed the mapping and recording of the headstone inscriptions in the local graveyard with periodic updating. Members have also advised and worked with the local Council in various preservation, environmental and tourism projects associated with the graveyard. The latest project has culminated in the photographing and placing of the headstone inscriptions in a searchable database to facilitate those interested in genealogical research. We also record our thanks to the Ulster Historical Foundation for allowing us to include the data from the small number of headstones that are no longer visible in the graveyard. In the new map, the plot numbers go in bands from left to right and top to bottom but the grid lines are no longer present. An archaeological survey in connection with the recent A8 road bypass to the village has dated the site of the graveyard to Early Christian times. Little now remains of the old church that once stood within the graveyard next to which are the vaults of the landed gentry. One vault, with a steeply pitched stone roof, belongs to the Dobbs family, the earlier two are barrel vaulted, one belonging to the Dobbs family and the other to the Ellis family of Straid and Prospect. There is a corpse house at the entrance to the graveyard dating back to the days of the body snatchers. Jonathan Swift who wrote Gulliver's Travels was once rector for Ballynure and is said to have preached at this location. There are over 400 plots within the graveyard with the earliest headstone being 1628 for Ellinor Clements, a supposed ancestor of Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain. Other notable graves include those of the Rev Adam Hill, the Presbyterian Minister who was sympathetic to the United Irishmen as well as the ancestors of General Alexander Macomb the famous American hero from the war of 1812. Page 1 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map A16 23 AJWH AJWH K22 316 H W H W K22 318 H W H W B14 40 J + MC J + MC L22 394 IW IW G19 184a WJ WJ Page 2 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map H7 202a ALK ALK C6 59 RH Small headstone with letters RH N5 398a AT AT F5 132 JMC Small stone marked JMC O15 439 W_SIM 1873 W + S (reverse S) IM J19 277A JM J M Page 3 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map O17 413c JMcA J McA 1857 J21 280 AM A M J15 268 Adair W Adair RUR Erected by...(m) Adamson of Castletown in memory of his father (Ro)bert Adamson who died 23rd December 1848 aged (5)9 years. I18 245 Adamson Also his mother Jane Adamson who died 13th December 18(5)8 aged 70 years. Erected by William Adamson of Castletown in memory of his mother Ann Simms who died 21st October 1904. Also his father William Adamson who died 6th April 1906. Also his sister Jenny who died 8th January 1921. Also his brother Samuel H. who died 6th February 1897. His sisters: Jean died 29th March 1923 aged 75 years; Margaret I18 220 Adamson died 3rd June 1936 aged 78 years. Also his brother James died 1st November 1937 aged 68 years. Also his wife Annie Scott died 18th November 1952 aged 75 years. Also their infant son William Scott died 13th September 1905 aged 10 weeks. And the above William Adamson died 29th September 1947 aged 84 years. Page 4 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map In loving memory of John Adrain died 26th Oct 1918. His wife Jinney I7 229 Adrain Park died 18th Aug 1940. H7 202 Adrain John Adrain, Ballynure Erected to the memory of John Adrain who died 2nd Oct 1892 aged 82 years. His wife Mary Adrain who died 19th Nov 1865 aged 49 years. Their eldest daughter Margaret who died 2nd Oct 1897 aged 50 years. And three of their children, Susanna, John, and Hugh, who died in infancy. Also of Robert Adrain who died 13th Jan 1902 aged 62 years, son of John and Mary Adrain. Also their sons William Adrain who died on board the troopship 'Nankin' 8th Aug 1878 aged 39 B11 37b Adrain years, and was buried at sea. Hugh C. Adrain, master mariner, who died at Mackay, Queensland, 11th September 1903 aged 51 years. William Kearns Adrain, 2nd lieut. 5th Batt. Royal Irish Regiment, killed in action in France, 24th Aug 1916 aged 20 years, third son of Robert Adrain. Jane, wife of Robert Adrain, died 10th Apr 1931 aged 74 years. John Adrain, eldest son of Robert and Jane Adrain, died 4th Nov 1942. Robert Adrain died 30th August 1976. B11 37a Adrain Adrain Margaret Adrain Born 17th July 1897. Died 25th June 1986 J15 269 Adrain (Headstone missing) Page 5 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map Erected by Ann Agnew of Belfast in memory of her beloved husband William Agnew who departed this life 9th January 1888 aged 54 years. Also Agnes Agnew, youngest child, who departed this life 22nd F21 159 Agnew November 1883 aged 4 years. Also the above-named Ann Agnew who died 20th Nov 1916 aged 80 years. Also Margaret Agnew died 12th Jul 1(921). "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." F10 143 Alcorn Alcorn 1869. Erected by Ann Jane Alcorn in memory of... in 1846 In loving memory of John Allen who died 24th June 1943. And his mother Jane Allen who died 21st January 1915. Also his father G20 188 Allen George Allen who died 7th January 1916. "He that liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." H19 221 Allen Stone marked TA Sacred to the memory of a beloved father and mother Samuel and I20 248 Allen Mary Allen of Ardboley. Also two daughters Martha and Maryann. Page 6 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map Erected by William Allen, Ballyfore, in memory of his son Samuel Allen who died the 12th February 1871 aged 33 years. "In full I10 247 Allen assurance and blessed hope of a glorious resurrection."Also his two daughters Sarah and Jane who died in infancy. 4 graves north. Erected by Thomas A. Allen, Ardboley in loving memory of his wife G19 184 Allen Essie B Kirk died 3rd April 1917 aged 32 years. Erected by Thomas Anderson to the memory of his beloved daughter Alice Jane who departed this life August 11th 1858 aged 19 years. Also his beloved daughter Susan who departed this life July 20th 1862 H9 205 Anderson aged 27 years. The above-named Thomas Anderson died at Ballynure on 17th Sept 1883 aged 75 years. Also his wife Jane Anderson who died 7th March 1888 aged 80 years. Erected by John Auld in memory of his wife Matilda Auld who died 28th Sep 1913 aged 59 years. The above-named John Auld who died A22 27 Auld 7th Jan 1926 aged 83 years. Also their son Samuel who died 21st Jan 1898 aged 19 years. In loving memory of Alexander W Baird who died 31st January 1941. Also his wife Charlotte Baird who died 30th June 1942. Their daughter H3 197 Baird Mabel died 4th January 1955. Also her brother William died 29th January 1993. "Until the day break and the shadows flee away" Page 7 Grid Grave Ref from Surname Ballynure Old Graveyard Headstones Picture the original no map Erected by J. & E. Wilson in affectionate remembrance of their niece Eliza Baird who died 23rd March 1862 aged 36 years. Also her three I3 225 Baird children: Margaret Wilson Baird died 1850 aged 2 years, Huston Wilson Baird died 1859 aged 14 months, Ann Baird died 1861 aged 13 months. Also R. T. W. Baird, M. J. Baird, and E. Straight (nee Baird). H17 219 Barclay Marked on map, no headstone. (Possibly now used by Forsythe, 218a) No picture In memory of James Barklie, of Lismenary who died 29th Aug 1904, aged 81 years and his wife Ellen McCreary who died 11th Aug 1904, aged 75 years. Also their children Alex Hay, Lizzie and Ellen who died F18 153 Barklie in infancy. Their son William McCreary Barklie who died 19th Jan. 1923, aged 65 years and his wife Mary Helen Barklie, died 5th July 1947. Erected by James Barklie of Lismenary in memory of his uncle Jas. Barklie who departed this life in the year 1818 aged 68 years. And his wife Nancy Jamfrey who died in the year 1843 aged 84 years. And also of my own beloved wife Elizabeth Hay who died 15th July 1852 M10 374 Barklie aged 59 years. Likewise the above-named James Barklie who died 8th July 1873 aged 89 years. Also his daughters Elia who died 31st July 1905 aged 71 years. And Isabella who died 10th July 1912 aged 75 years. Erected by Hugh B. Semple of Thornfield in memory of his aunt Mary Barklimore who departed this life 23rd Jan 1855 aged 84 years. Also his aunt Elizabeth Barklimore who departed this life 29th of April 1859 aged 70 years and his mother Jane Semple who departed this M14 378 Barklimore life 7th Feby 1864 aged 90 years.