Hamilton, Meneilly Marriage in Drumgath

George,

According to the transcript on rootsireland, the marriage took place in Rathfriland 3rd Presbyterian church. Fanny’s father Matthew was a weaver and she lived in Ballinagappog at the time of the marriage. Andrew  lived in Drumnascamp, he was a reed maker, and his father Samuel was a mason.

Tradition was normally to marry in the bride’s church. Rathfriland 3rds records start in 1834 and are on the rootsireland site. However there’s no sign of Fanny’s baptism there nor of any other children to father Matthew, so perhaps she was not born in that area.  I also looked for Andrew’s baptism but didn’t find it either.

Andrew’s father was a mason. They often moved around the country to follow the available work so again it’s difficult to be certain where he originated. I searched Griffiths Valuation in 1863 for Drumnascamph (parish of Clonduff). There were no Hamiltons living there then.

I also searched Ballynagappoge in Griffiths. (It’s just a short distance from Drumnascamph). Likewise there were no Meneilly/McNeilly households there. Weavers also moved around a lot and can be very tricky to trace.

However I did find some children born to the couple, all baptised at Rathfriland 3rd.

Samuel Hamilton born 17.7.1855 at Moneygore

William Hamilton 10.8.1857 Moneygore

Thomas Duke Hamilton 17.10.1861 Moneygore

Bessie Hamilton 20.10.1864 at Moneygore

William James Hamilton 29.6.1866 Moneygore

Mary Martin Hamilton 18.4.1869 at Rathfriland

Matthew Menielly Hamilton 23.10.1871 at Rathfriland

The 4 births from 1864 also feature in the civil birth records. I checked Mary’s in 1869 and her father Andrew was still a reedmaker at that date.

Thank You Elwin.. much obliged.. I'm getting ready to dive into the DNA pool and I would kike to go as far as possible with documenting through historical records the family tree. If I can return the favor by looking up anything in Massachusetts close to the Boston area for you just ask.. hamboneflstc13@yahoo.com

Hi Elwyn..

I have  a DNA match that I have tracked back to a Margaret Hamilton..

Thomas Hamilton married Susannah/Hannah Shannon and had 4 daughters,

26 Nov 1804 Margaret Hamilton (Ringclare) (must have died in infancy)

3 Jan 1807 Margaret Hamilton (Ringclare) (Our Margaret Hamilton)  married John Jackson 

Baptismal Register of Donaghmore Presbyterian Church

Margaret F- John Jackson- Margaret Hamilton- Farmer.. 16/5/1845- Ringclare – 2/2/1846

24 June 1809 Mary Hamilton  (Loeka)

5 Dec 1811 Jane Hamilton (Cocks)  

The Ros Davies site makes mention of a Samuel Hamilton living in Ring Clare but he is not mentioned after about 1829..  I was hoping you might be able to advise me as to how I might tie my Samuel to Thomas as I have been unsuccessful so far in this endeavor.. I have a strange feeling that the Samuel from Ring Clare is one and the same as my Samuel who ended up in Rathfriland..

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

Thank You,

George Hamilton