My oldest known male relative is Thompson Smith, born about 1745. He had an older sister, Mary Smith. In the Peden family Bible, her birth date is listed as 1734 in Ballymena (Ballymoney???). We suspect that her father's name may have Eleazer as that name was given several times to first born male sons in the mid-to-late 1700s. We also think that there may be a link to the Thompson family on the maternal side, due to the use of that name as a given name.
Mary was in Virginia in 1756 when she married John Peden of Montgomery county. Thompson, her younger brother was in Oxford Township, Sussex County, New Jersey in 1773.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Wednesday 9th Jan 2013, 10:29PM
Message Board Replies
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Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Unfortunately there are numerous townlands called Ballymena and Ballymoney in Ireland. There is also a Ballymena town and a Ballymoney town. You can see where these are at the following website:
http://www.irish-place-names.com/
Due to the popularity of these placenames it is hard to know where Thompson and Mary originally came from. Do you have any other documentation belonging to either of them that mentions any placenames? Without a specific place of origin it will be difficult to find further information on the family.
It is also important to be aware that in Ireland the reality of finding documentation pertaining to births/baptisms/marriages/deaths in Ireland prior to 1800 ? particularly in rural areas ? is that they simply may not exist. Also note that the Church of Ireland was the official church of the country and therefore the bulk of information that does survive for earlier periods is often from these registers.
Some websites that you may find helpful in your research are:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
Family Search: https://familysearch.org/
Perhaps you could try contacting the Ulster Historical Foundation for possible assistance. However a fee may apply for their services. Here are their contact details:
Ulster Historical Foundation,
49 Malone Road,
Belfast BT9 6RY,
Northern Ireland.
Phone: +44 (0) 28 9066 1988 EMail: enquiry@uhf.org.uk
I hope that this is helpful. If you do find any new information remember to post it here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
Wednesday 6th Mar 2013, 04:12PM