Aughnahoy
Ray McWilliams
We then visited
the graveyard around the old chapel just down the road at Aughnahoy, which
was apparently the Portglenone parish church before 1870. In the graveyard
we talked to Jim Gaul, a stonecutter who was doing some restoration work there.
Jim helped us find some graves. He believes that the early Hamills might be
buried in the churchyard at Ahoghill. He also said
that the Aughnahoy graveyard once included the area where a road now cuts
through and some land beyond the road. Venturing across the road and through
a big old rusty iron gate, we entered the weed-choked "Protestant"
graveyard on the remains of the Alexander estate. Some very old graves there
are
completely hidden in underbrush and debris. One of the newer graves was that
of Wilson Sibbett, whom I had met at a bus stop in Ballymena in 1954 and who
had recommended people to contact in Portglenone. We retraced our steps across
the road and copied some seemingly relevant tombstone inscriptions, as
shown hereinafter.
(TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS -- No known links to our family history)
I H S
ERECTED by
Henry Hamill in memory of his Father
Patrick Hamill, who depd this life 11 July 1812 Aged 82 years.
Also his son, Thomas, 19th Dec. 1820 Aged 26.
Likewise his son Henry, 4th Feb. 1822 Aged 33.
And his son Patrick, 27th Oct. 1823 Aged 30.
Also his son James, 10th Sept. 1827 Aged 24
and his son John, 11th Oct. 1827 Aged 32.
Likewise the first named Henry Hamill,
who depd this life 15th March 1836 aged 75.
I H S
Erected by Henry McClenaghan of Carmegrim
in memory of his father John McClenaghan
who died 22nd October 1849 aged 45 years.
Also his Mother Anne who died 29 March 1873, Aged 63 yrs.
Henry McClenaghan died 29 September 1906 Aged 73 yr
Esther King died 16 June 1909, Aged 63 yr.
Sarah McClenaghan, Died 20th February 1922 aged 80 yr.
Charles McClenaghan died 30 Dec. 1922 Aged 33 yr
AND Maria McClenaghan, who died 25 Dec 1925 Aged 73 yrs.
R. I. P.
Paul Hamill of Kilcurry
who departed this life
25th September 1813
Aged 71 Years.
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