the sentry hill that features as one part in this research was the home of eminent presbyterian gentleman-farming stock. its name given to it as it sits upon the geographic feature of sentry hill, which is just above glengormley and corr’s corner near carnmoney, co antrim, just to the north of the city of belfast.

the early 19th-century farmhouse onsite was the home of the mckinney family who were descended from scottish presbyterians who fled to ireland after the battle of sherrifmuir of 1716, with some of the family out with united irishmen of 1798. in the 1700s there was a thatched cottage onsite and then from the 1830s, once the mckinney family had purchased the land, a collection of larger house and farm buildings.

one family member at sentry hill from  was william fee mckinney (1835 – 1917),  a prosperous farmer and meticulous collector of farming, church and other records and artefacts, and a keen amateur photographer. he was a member of the linen hall library and the belfast natural history and philosophical society. he was secretary of carnmoney presbyterian church for 62 years.