Welcome

Antrim Coast

Do you know your heritage? What have you heard from parents and grandparents? What has been passed down in your immediate family? Many people only know what they were told… Some people don’t care about where they come from… why should you? Why is heritage and geneology important? We need to respect and remember those who went before! Our ancestors are kept alive in the hearts of the future generations! Geneology research is fun! Meeting relatives and making connections is wonderful!

Some of the things we know... Our Aiken’s and Montgomery’s are Scot’s Irish They hail from Northern Ireland, County Antrim… a place called Ballyvaddy Many from our direct line migrated to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s Many stayed in Ireland They had a lot of children! Most of the families had a lot of children to perpetuate the line and to help with the work! Also, the mortality rate was high! Many GIVEN names were passed down from generation to generation… (Esther, Andrew, Alexander, James, John, William, Agnes, Elizabeth etc.) SURNAMES (Aiken, Montgomery, McKay, Alexander, McCambridge, McKillop, McKeown, Reiling) change as people get married. Surnames have very interesting histories...

Where did Surnames come from? Occupation (ex. Miller, Carpenter, Taylor…) Location (Hill, Mountain, Ford, Wood…) Patronymic (father’s name)[Mac, Son, Ian, Poulos, Weicz…) –Most Irish and Scottish names are patronymic signified by “O” or “Mac” or “Mc” –“O” stands for “Ua” an old Gaelic term meaning “decended from –“Mac” means “son” Characteristic (Small, Short, Little, Long….) Surnames were 1st used in Ireland in the 10th Century and became more widely used in the 12th century.

Who Are the Scots Irish? How did they end up in Ireland? The Plantation of Ulster in is when many Scottish Settlers came to Ireland According to history books, The Scots Irish are Scots whose families imigrated to Ireland fromm Scotland The Scots Irish quickly identified themselves as Irish When the Scots Irish imigrated to the US and other places they identified themselves as Irish

Aiken name history The Aiken’s were a Border Clan and imigrated from Scotland to Northern Ireland between 1650 and 1750… History records report that they were “transfered” and granted large parcels of land with the understanding that they would remain Protestent. According to the history records, “They became proudly Irish!” The first place the name Aiken is found is in lowland Scotland and Northern England. [Lancashire, Stirling, Strathclyde…..]

The Aikens are a SEPT of the Scottish Clan Gordon

Gordon Tartan Aiken’s may wear the Gordon Tartan

Those decended from a Montgomery may wear the Montgomery Tartan Montgomery Tartan

Montgomery Migrations

How are we related? Esther Montgomery married Andrew Aiken We are decendents of the 12 children of this union 1) Margaret 2)Jane(Jenny) 3) Agnes 4) Mary 5) Andrew 6) Rose 7) Esther 8)James 9) Elizabeth (Lizzie) 10) Martha 11) Thomas 12) Sara 1) MCKILLOP 2) MCCREA 3) ALEXANDER 4) MCKAY 5) AIKEN 6) MCKEOWN 7) MCCAMBRIDGE 8) AIKEN 9)MCVEIGH 10)******************** 11) AIKEN 12) MILLS

Esther Montgomery Aiken

Buckna Presbyterian Church Picture and note from Jean Ludlow

Northern Ireland shaded pink…. The Aiken and Montgomery families settled near the areas of Glenarm, Carnlough, Larne, Ballyvadddy…. Northern Ireland

Antrim Parishes

Boyne River

Carnlough Beach

Carnlough Harbor

Glenarm Bay

Picture Post Card from Jean Ludlow

Carnlough Harbor

Picture Post Card from Jean Ludlow

Carnlough Harbor Entrance

Carnlough Harbor Looking North