Alexander and the Demesne

There are a couple of new articles up about Henry (next post). There's this useful quote though

Henry McNeill was born on February 14, 1836, in his father's house in Deerpark, Glenarm. For several generations the McNeill family had resided on this part of the Earl of Antrim's estate and were reputed to be honest, kind and thrifty folk.

It probably wasn't the Deerpark, but actually Glenarm Demesne, where he was one of three residents, including the Earl of Antrim himself in Glenarm Castle. Alexander is listed in the Griffith's valuation for 1861, the PRONI valuation book for 1862-4, and as the first tenant in 1864-1880. The tanancy was assumed by a (as yet untraceable) Thomas McNeill, presumably after Alexander's death in 1874, and then by the Earl himself. It lists 1 acre of land and 12 of water. The water must be the Glenarm River; possibly Alexander had leased the fishing rights. I can't locate the land or residence, but Alexander may have been employed by the Earl, and lodged in one of his buildings. Further information will probably require a visit to the records office in Belfast, which houses the Earl of Antrim's papers. But this probably puts the family in Glenarm back into the first half of the 18th century.