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Hi

i'm wondering if anyone has any information on a Mary Campbell b. 1820 and baptised in Donegore - her parents were Presbyterian and I think her father was John.  She married Robert Steele and later lived in Randalstown. She died in 1905 and as far as i understand is buried at Randalstown Presbyterian Church cemetery in New St. I would like to find her parents' marriage record but unsure if this is possible.  

Thanks in advance 

Cathy 

 

CathyB

Sunday 26th Sep 2021, 03:16AM

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    CathyB,

    Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church, after which she’d attend her husband’s. So though Mary may be buried in the Presbyterian church in Main St Randalstown, if she was from Donegore, and if she was also Presbyterian then she’d likely have been married in either Donegore 1st or Donegore 2nd. If she was Church of Ireland then their early records for Donegore were destroyed in the 1922 fire. 

    Statutory recording of marriages started in Ireland in April 1845. Mary’s marriage to Robert Steele isn’t in them so it seems likely she married before 1845. Donegore 1st’s records start in 1806 (2nd’s in 1848). I have access to a copy of the 1st church’s marriage records and searched them 1835 – 1845 but did not find a marriage to Robert Steele. (There were 2 Robert Steele marriages in 1839 but to different women).

    I do see a baptism in Donegore 1st on 8th December 1820 for a Mary Campbell, daughter of John Campbell of Loughermore. (Born 5th December). Copy attached. That fits with the information you have given but I have no definite way of knowing whether it is the right lady. I searched that church’s marriages 1808 to 1820 for a possible marriage of John Campbell, but without success. However there is a note in the registers written by the Kirk Session Clerk explaining that the Minister (Rev Henry Cooke) had failed to keep any marriage records from 1812 to 1818 when he resigned. So there’s a 6 year gap in the records there. 

    Loughermore is in Grange of Nilteen parish (adjacent to Donegore) which was originally church land and so exempt from tithes, so there are no tithe records c 1832 to see if that John was listed as a farmer.  No Campbells in Loughermore in Griffiths in 1862 though.

    There are 3 Presbyterian churches in Randalstown. The one in New St is Randalstown 1st congregation.  It has no baptism records for the 1800s. It’s marriage records start in 1845. Link to church FB page here:

    https://en-gb.facebook.com/1st-Randalstown-Presbyterian-Church-71731205…

    Can’t suggest anywhere else you might usefully search.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 26th Sep 2021, 10:15AM

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