Annaghmore Townland, Magherafelt Parish, County Londonderry

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Annaghmore, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Ireland

Contents 1 Annaghmore Townland, Magherafelt Parish, County Londonderry 2 In censuses and substitutes 2.1 1831 census 2.2 Griffith's Valuation 3 Bell's Hill 4 Further Research 5 Sources

Annaghmore Townland, Magherafelt Parish, County Londonderry

The townland is east of Magherafelt and on the south side of Castledawson. The modern-day extent of Castledawson urban area covers part of Annaghmore.

Some of its residents were buried at Christ Church Cemetery, Castledawson, Londonderry category.

In censuses and substitutes

1831 census

There were 95 heads of household recorded in the 1831 census for the townland; spelt as "Anaghmore". They included:

• 8: Joseph Bell (1 family, 6 male, 2 female, all Established Church)
• 17: William Bell (1 family, 3 males, 2 females, all Established Church)
• 23: Joseph Bell (1 family, 5 males, 6 females, all Established Church)
• 24: Walter Bell (1 family, 3 males, 3 females, all Established Church)
• 25: Thomas Mawheny (1 family, 3 males, 6 females, all Presbyterian)
• 15: Gardner Pepper (1 family, 5 males, 7 females, all Established Church)

See Joseph Bell (abt.1772-abt.1857) for some discussion; this profile may conflate both of the two Josephs. There is also a marriage given for a Joseph son of William, presumably the William from the census.

Griffith's Valuation

The townland was divided into 58 numbered lots, many with subdivisions. The valuation was completed 16 July 1859. ^[1] Selected lots: ^[2]

• 36a: John Bell (house, sublet from Sarah Johnson)
• 36c: Joseph Bell (house and office, freehold)
• 43: Thomas Pepper (house, office and land, sublet from John Graham)
• 44: Jane Bell + Dotorhea Bell (house, office and land)
• 46a: John Bell (house, office and land, sublet from Gilliland)
• 46b: James Bell (house and land, sublet from Gilliland)
• 46c: Joseph Bell (land, 1 acre)
• 46d: Joseph Bell (house and garden, sublet from John Bell)
• 46e: Gardner Bell (house and small garden, sublet from John Bell)
• 48A+B: Gardner Pepper (house, office and land, sublet from Gilliland & Reps + William Graves)

Bell's Hill

There was a farm of about 8 acres known as "Bell's Hill". In 1898 it was put up for sale. ^[3] The sale notice said it was "in and adjacent to" the town of Castledawson, and in the townland of Annaghmore; held by lease for 909 years from 1 November 1762. The lot included three houses in the town of Castledrawson whose rent nearly covered the annual lease of the lot. One end of the farm abutted the River Moyola; the other the country road from Castledawson to Ballyronan. It was about 2 miles from Magherafelt.

Other references to the name "Bell's Hill" :

• Residence on marriage of John Bell jun (abt.1842-1878).
• Residence on memorial notice of John Bell (abt.1879-1905)
• Death place of Mary Elizabeth Bell (1870-1934)

Further Research

PRONI microfilm MIC1/1A has the baptism register from the 1700s to 1895 for Magherafelt CoI, which should help to sort out these families.

Sources

1. ↑ "Griffith's Valuation Completion Dates", IREDATA rootsweb page, accessed 17 Dec 2023
2. ↑ Griffith's Valuation place search, accessed 17 Dec 2023
3. ↑ "Leasehold Property for Sale", Belfast News-Letter - Wednesday 23 March 1898