Ive put together this blog to encourage other Coulter family descendants to contribute information and to try and link the families from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. If you have family bibles, old stories passed down or have DNA tested we may be able to use the information to triangulate more conclusive about our ancestors.
My Coulter family begins with Hester (Hessie) Coulter marring William Spence around 1835 in County Antrim and having multiple children over the next 20 years. Until recently we didn’t know all of the Spence children born to the couple but DNA testing through Ancestry, Family Tree DNA and My Heritage has definitely linked more children to the couple and more siblings to William Spence.
We still do not know who Hessies parents were nor if she had siblings although it is very likely that she did. Hessie died 23 October 1882 at Carmacmoin, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Hessie was born around 1811. Her husband William Spence died 13 August 1863 at Carmacmoin, Ahoghill, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. William was born around 1808.
Their children were:
- Thomas Spence 1837-1875
- James Spence 1840-1924
- William Robert Spence 1845-1934
- Dora Spence 1851-1930
- Mary Jane Spence 1852-1935
- Courtney Spence 1855-1934
- Sarah McCord Spence -1855-1943
Some of the descendant lines stayed in Ireland, some moved to Canada, some to Australia and some to New Zealand.
Its difficult to say if they followed Irish naming traditions as I do not know if records exist for the time period or if they were destroyed in the great fire in 1922. If William Spences parents were William Spence 1770-1833 and Nancy 1775-1837 there may have been other children born who died young or who never had families of their own and who have left no record that we can link them to us.
If you have anything you could contribute please use the Contact me form at the bottom of this page.
The following are burial records for Coulters in Ahoghill but the families may have been more widespread
COULTER |
Ahoghill CI |
Ahoghill |
Carmacmoin |
Antrim |
Erected by Lizzie Coulter of Ballybollin, in memory of her father, William John Coulter who died 4th June 1911, aged 87 years. Also her mother, Catherine Coulter who died 5th November 1919, aged 86 years. Also her sister, Mary Ann, who died June 1883, aged 23 years. Also two children who died in infancy. Mary Ann Coulter died June 1883. NT. |
COULTER |
Brookside Pres |
Ahoghill |
Ahoghill |
Antrim |
Gravestone Inscription |
Erected by Robert Coulter late of Ballymuckilroy, in memory of his daughter Margaret who died 23rd December 1879, aged 17 months, also his son who died 24th July 1888, in infancy, and his daughter Sarah who died 11th October 1899, aged 25 years, also his son Huston Coulter, who died 18th August 1910, aged 28 years, also the above named Robert Coulter who died 21st April 1914, aged 64 years, |
Comment |
[Limestone Headstone] Sarah Coulter died 24th July 1899, No trace] |
COULTER |
Brookside Pres |
Ahoghill |
Ahoghill |
Antrim |
Gravestone Inscription |
Erected by Mary Jane Coulter of Ballymuckilroy, in memory of her husband William John Coulter, who departed this life 1st September 1895, aged 71 years, also her son Samuel Coulter, who departed this life 22nd November 1867, aged 5 years, |
Comment |
[Sandstone Headstone] John Coulter died 1st September 1895, No trace] |
COULTER |
Ahoghill Old |
Ahoghill |
Ahoghill |
Antrim |
Gravestone Inscription |
Here lieth the body of Ester, late wife of Alexander Coulter, with three of her children, she died 21 June 1874, aged 38 |
Comment |
[Sandstone Headstone] Ester Coulter 21/06/1874, No will |
COULTER/LOGAN |
Trinity Pres |
Ahoghill |
Ahoghill |
Antrim |
Gravestone Inscription |
Erected by James Coulter of Ballymackilroy, in memory of Elizabeth Logan, who died 1858, aged 65 years. Also her beloved husband James Logan, who died 1863, aged 75 years. Also the above named James Coulter died 27th Decr 1893, aged 73 years. Elizabeth Logan 1858. No will 1858-59. James Logan 1863. No will 1863-64. James Coulter 27/12/1893. No will 1893-94. |
Comment |
[Sandstone Headstone] |