Michelle, If the only information you have on the location of your Rice family is that they "came from Ballynahinch, baptised in Loughinisland RC Church in County Down", then it is very likely they came from somewhere close to Loughinisland RC Church in County Down. The fact that they "came from Ballynahinch" can mean three things. It can mean that they came from either: Ballynahinch Town Ballynahinch townland Or (more likely) Somewhere near Ballynahinch (probably a townland somewhere between Ballynahinch town and Loughinisland RC Church). A quick look at the appropriate Griffiths maps on the website "Ask About Ireland" shows that there are probably around 15 townlands which could be said to lie between Ballynahinch town and Loughinisland RC Church. If you are very lucky then they will have come from either Ballynahinch townland or Ballynahinch town. However, you cannot rule the third possibility out. When answering the question "Where are you from" people would often have given the official the name of the nearest town rather than give the name of their townland whose Irish-sounding name the official most likely would have been unfamiliar with. Fortunately, we now have an excellent online mapping resource (see below) which, along with a search of names in Griffiths Valuation (1863 for Ballynahinch area) will allow you to search for all mentions of Rices in the townlands around Ballynahinch (especially those closer to Loughinisland Church, which is in Tevenadarragh townland - see "Ask About Ireland" website below). Loughinisland RC Church is located close to the southern edge of Tevenadarragh townland. To get a good idea of the layout of the broader area in which your Rices lived you should check out the Ask About Ireland website. Here are instructions showing how to find the 1850s map of Ballynahinch (townland and town). You can find Tevenadarragh townland and other places by following the same steps. Go to the "Ask About Ireland" website http://griffiths.askaboutireland.ie/gv4/gv_place_search_form.php In "Enter a Placename" type "Ballynahinch" Below that, in "County" Select "Down". Then click on "Start Searching". On the new web page which comes up: on the first of the rows of placenames (Row: Ballynahinch, Down, Kinelarty etc.) click on the 1850s map picture. A map of the area which includes Ballynahinch townland and other surrounding townlands comes up. Zoom in on Ballynahinch townland (the name of the townland is easy to spot). The townland boundaries are thick red lines (as opposed to thinner red lines which show individual farm/property boundaries). When you look more closely at the townland you will see Ballynahinch town also. The numbers relate to Griffiths Valuation 1863. In Griffiths Lists (for Ballynahinch etc.) you find the Rice surname and note the number (sometimes 2 numbers) on the left-most column. These numbers also appear on the "Ask About Ireland" Griffiths maps and show you exactly where those Rices lived and the boundaries of their farm/property (or town house etc.). Below are the few Rices who appear in Griffiths for Ballynahinch and Ballynahinch town in 1863. Griffiths Valuation 1863 Ballynahinch town lies mostly within Ballynahinch townland. However, a small part of the town also lies within the upper part of Ballymaglave North Townland which itself lies just below Ballynahinch Townland on the map. In the portion of Ballynahinch town which lies within Ballymaglave townland the following Rice is listed. The numbers can be seen both on the left column of Griffiths Valuation lists and on the "Ask About Ireland" Griffiths map. Gas Works Road: 25 (property?) 39 (House Number?) Catherine Rice. David S Ker is the estate landlord. In Ballynahinch townland no Rices are listed. In the portion of Ballynahinch town which lies within Ballynahinch townland the following Rice is listed. High Street 78 (property?) 1 (House number?) Charlotte Rice. The landlord or persons who rented the property to Charlotte were James Ritchie and another. As another person has hinted at, I would guess that there are far more Rices in the townlands between Loughinisland Church/Tevenadarragh townland and Ballynahinch town. If you can get access to the names listed in Griffiths Valuation ("Downpatrick Union" is the section you need) then you can check them all out yourself. At least then you will know better what you are dealing with. If you could get a definite name of a townland you would be in a much better position (or confirmation that it is Ballynahinch town they came from. I might be wrong, but it is more likely your Rices came from a townland. PS: When you need to know what any word means (e.g. Barony) just search for the word in Google or whatever search engine you use on your computer. Now that genealogy is so popular, you can be certain that all those words are explained very clearly on the internet somewhere. Best of luck. Billy. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michelle Roberts" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 8:27 AM Subject: [NIR-DOWN] Ballynahinch > > > Thanks, I think :-) > So what is a barony? > My Rice family came from Ballynahinch, baptised in Loughinisland RC > Church in County Down. So I am to assume we are talking the town > Ballynahinch? > > Regards > Michelle >