We first should clarify what is meant by the term 'Townland'- as it has generally fallen out of usage in recent times, remembered perhaps only in placenames of 'Big Houses' or street addresses. Townlands were a uniquely Irish (and sometimes Scottish) division of land representing the smallest territory of civil administration. They were used as early as medieval times to denote a specific area of land on a local level. In the sixteenth/seventeenth centuries, townlands were used during the plantation to work out exactly what townland each landowner lay claim to/was granted. Thus, in contemporary records including maps, rents, leases and other documents relating to land ownership the townland is very often recorded.
While mostly fallen out of usage today, for the researcher or genealogist they are still of importance, particularly if trying to identify specific branches of families etc. For instance, while researching your ancestors there may be 4/5 James McCullough's in the lease documents of an estate, but perhaps only one in the townland that you know the family came from.
There are over 60'000 townlands recorded within Ireland, with 16'000 in Ulster alone and 1'245 in County Down. Comber Parish (one of 76 in Co. Down), has 46 recorded townlands. These townlands vary in size and population, with the parish stretching from the foot of Scrabo skirting the shore of Strangford Lough to Comber town then on to Ballygowan. Where we then turn towards Belfast, continuing over Moneyreagh until the village of Crossnacreevy where we turn again across the Dundonald Hills until we meet the Dundonald Road to Comber.
Every Tuesday to mark #TownlandTuesday we'll be sharing another of Comber's townlands detailing their size, history as well as any sites of historic or archaeological significance within their boundaries.
What townland do you/your Comber ancestors come from?
Ballyalloly
Ballyaltikilligan
Ballyalton
Ballybeen
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