James Morrow, b. Jan 6, 1806

To trace this man you really need to rely on church records. You don’t say what denomination he was. However for the parish of Aghadowey, the Church of Ireland has no records before 1882 (earlier ones lost in the 1922 fire); RC have nothing before 1843 and there are 4 Presbyterian churches but only 1 has any records for the period you are interested in. Killaig Presbyterian has baptisms from 1805 but marriages only from 1836.  The others either didn’t keep any earlier records or lost them. There’s a copy of the Killaig baptisms in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. It has been indexed  but is not on-line.

Looking at the 1831 census for Co Derry, I see 4 Morrow households in Aghadowey.  3 were in Gorran and 1 in Crevolea. All headed by either William or John. All were Presbyterian. No James. The census was compiled over a period of several months, starting 30th March 1831, so it’s possible either that James had left before it was compiled, or that he was staying with one of the families and so isn’t named himself.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

Aghadowey Presbyterian churchyard gravestones have been transcribed. No Morrows listed, so perhaps the family attended one of the other churches in the area.

http://www.torrens.org.uk/Genealogy/BannValley/church/AghadoweyP/Graves.html

There’s a couple of Morrows in Ringsend Presbyterian churchyard but they are from the 1900s and so don’t assist.

Thank you Elwyn.  I've added these points to a few others I have. I believe James left before that census. He left on ship, which likely sailed from Newry about mid April of 1831, or even previous year.  I haven't found many Morrows, of any similar spelling, in the searches I've tried so your comments seem to cap off the records. I didn't have church details so appreciate that. 

A bit further, his second marriage was in USA, apparently marrying a copassenger, Margaret Eddy. Familly passdowns tell of the Irish settling in PA, and there are records, but coming in thru Canada. A few unconfirmed items point to a Philadelphia entry, but can't connect them logically with other details. 

I'll pass on your comments to others in the family, and thanks very much.

D Nelson

Some more family records have surfaced. It says James Morrow had a pastor Brice in Aughadowdy Parish, Co. Londonderry. and it is most likely he was Presbyterian. If the Killaig records of baptism are the only surviving ones, Brice might be therein. James' brother was named Samuel and was born between 1790 and 1800. I can confirm at least James and likely both left Ireland on the Quintin Leitch in between 1831 and 1834, most likely for Quebec City as the paid destination. Also, that these Morrows were likely of Scotch-Irish descent.

     Pastor Brice likely was James pastor when he left, in 1831-1834, but can't estimate Brice' entire service years.   There must have been more than one Morrow family in the area as we know James' mother's maiden name was also Morrow, and that she was born between 1770 and 1780.  We don't know her given name but ANN has shown up in old records. She sailed to America in 1839 on ship "Londonderry."

     Perhaps these items can focus on something in old records in Ireland. I appreciate your work to check them out. Thanks very much,

D Nelson