Mundell family in Co. Antrim

Mundell is not a very common name in Ireland. In the 1901 census there were just 65 people acorss all of Ireland, and nearly all lived in Co Antrim. With the exception of a couple born in Scotland and one in America, nearly all were born in Co Antrim too. And, in effect, all were Presbyterian, so that tells you with some certainty that they are of Ulster Scots origins. Probably settled in Antrim in the 1600s.

Griffiths Valuation for 1864 only has 8 Mundell households in Ireland. All were in Co. Antrim.

No Mundells in the 1831 census for Co Derry. which seems to place your family in Co Antrim. There were 11 Gilmour households in Co. Derry in 1831. In Macosquin, Templemore and Faughanvale parishes.

The problem you face is that William & Susanna?s births and marriage were well before the start of civil registration (1864 for births and 1845 for Presbyterian marriages). So finding them may be rather tricky.  Prior to those dates you need to rely on church records but not all the relevant records have survived. (For example, I notice that several of the families in the 1901 census lived in Randalstown, and I know that none of the 3 Presbyterian churches there has any records earlier than 1845. The churches existed from the 1700s but their early records have been lost for one reason or another).

If you have no other leads, all I can suggest is that you look at the locations of those families in the 1901 census and then search the relevant Presbyterian church records in those areas. However few are on-line, so you would really need to look them up in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. I?d say there?s a fair amount of work involved in doing that. (There are quite a lot of Presbyterian churches in Co Antrim).

Tradition was to marry in the bride?s church, and thereafter she?d attend her husband?s church. So if Susanna came from Co Derry, they may have married there. However if they subsequently lived in Co Antrim, you would expect the children to be baptised there.

Ancestry has the Belfast Newsletter on-line. You could try searching it for a mention of William?s death or his funeral arrangements.

PRONI have a record of a William Mundell dying around 1765, and having his will probated that year. He live din the townland of Duneane (parish of Duneane).

There?s 2 Mundells listed in the current N. Ireland phone book. Both live in Larne. (ukphonebook.com)