Hi all, After many years of trying to figure out where my Irish ancestors came from in County Antrim, I finally have a marriage record that tells me exactly where. The bride was Martha ROBINSON, daughter of Samuel ROBINSON, weaver. She was a resident of Rokeel (I believe it's known as Rathkeel now). The groom was John McKENDRY (which later evolved to McHENRY in Australia), weaver. He was the son of William McKENDRY, weaver and a resident of Carniny. Both townlands are only a few miles from Ballymena, apparently. They married at Broughshane 1st Presbyterian (Ballymena, Racavan) on 17 November 1856. No ages were given but I know Martha was born in 1833 and John was about the same age. They had one son in Ireland in about 1857/8 and migrated to Australia the following year. Does anyone know these families in this area? Most of the McKENDRY/McHENRY families I've come across were Cathoilcs, but this lot were very definitely Presbyterian. Are there any leads I can follow about the weaving industry in Ballymena? Thanks, Loretta

Loretta, You family research sounds very similar to mine. My mother's McWilliams family came from the same area, Ballymena, Ahoghill and were involved in the weaving industry. I am most interested in knowing how you found the the marriage? My g grandfather John McWilliams was born in Ahoghill 13th February 1826 and his brother James was born in Ballymena c1846. I know there parents were John and Jane nee Bailey/Baillie but I have no idea how to find where they married and what other children were in the family. Any thoughts on this? Oh, and they were Presbyterians too. Colin in sunny Queensland ----- Original Message ----- From: Loretta Thomas To: IRL-ANTRIM-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 6:27 PM Subject: [Antrim] McKENDRY/McHENRY and ROBINSON of Ballymena Hi all, After many years of trying to figure out where my Irish ancestors came from in County Antrim, I finally have a marriage record that tells me exactly where. The bride was Martha ROBINSON, daughter of Samuel ROBINSON, weaver. She was a resident of Rokeel (I believe it's known as Rathkeel now). The groom was John McKENDRY (which later evolved to McHENRY in Australia), weaver. He was the son of William McKENDRY, weaver and a resident of Carniny. Both townlands are only a few miles from Ballymena, apparently. They married at Broughshane 1st Presbyterian (Ballymena, Racavan) on 17 November 1856. No ages were given but I know Martha was born in 1833 and John was about the same age. They had one son in Ireland in about 1857/8 and migrated to Australia the following year. Does anyone know these families in this area? Most of the McKENDRY/McHENRY families I've come across were Cathoilcs, but this lot were very definitely Presbyterian. Are there any leads I can follow about the weaving industry in Ballymena? Thanks, Loretta