Hugh Crawford Of Parish of Ballee, County Down, Ireland

The name Crawford is very common in Co Down. (There?s 640 of them in the 1901 census for the county).

There?s nowhere named Swonkford in Ballee parish or anywhere in Co Down. The nearest similar name is Strangford in Ballyculter parish which is just a mile or two away. I suspect that?s where he came from. You can see all the townland and parish names in Co. Down on this link:

http://www.thecore.com/seanruad

There is also a more detailed map of the Strangford (Ballee & Ballyculter) area on this link:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Erosdavies/MAPS/BallyculterBalleeTownlands.htm

Ros Davies site also has details of various other Crawfords in that area.

You don?t say what denomination Hugh was. Ballee Church of Ireland baptism record start in 1792, the earliest Presbyterian record (NSP) start in 1811. Ballyculter COI records start in 1777. Strangford Presbyterian records do not start till 1846.

I am not sure if any of these churches records are on-line. Copies are however held in PRONI (the Public Record Office) in Belfast, and you can consult them there.

Hello,

I was afraid that Crawford may be too common to get much information.  My ancestor, Hugh Crawford, was Presbyterian. It is very possible that the name of where Hugh was born was Strangford because the information that I have about Swonkford is from 1942 and may not be accurate.  Would I be able to find the marriage records of Hugh Crawford and Jane McDowell (both Presbyterian)?  I have from family history that she was from Glastry Church in Parish of Ballyhalbert, County Down.  They were married around 1794.

Does PRONI have records online or would someone have to go in person?

Thank you for your help!

Hello,

I was afraid that Crawford may be too common to get much information.  My ancestor, Hugh Crawford, was Presbyterian. It is very possible that the name of where Hugh was born was Strangford because the information that I have about Swonkford is from 1942 and may not be accurate.  Would I be able to find the marriage records of Hugh Crawford and Jane McDowell (both Presbyterian)?  I have from family history that she was from Glastry Church in Parish of Ballyhalbert, County Down.  They were married around 1794.

Does PRONI have records online or would someone have to go in person?

Thank you for your help!

Tradition was to marry in the bride?s church, so if Jane came from Glastry Presbyterian congregation, then that?s where you would expect to find her marriage record. You are lucky because Glastry?s marriage records go back to 1750, so you should find a 1795 marriage, if that?s where they married.

PRONI has a copy of those Glastry marriage records. They are not on-line.  A personal visit is required to access them. (PRONI will do simple looks up for you, for a fee which is around ?15 for 15 minutes work, though you will obviously need to check that with them). You may find it cheaper to employ a private researcher, or write to the Minister.

Hello,

Hugh Crawford is also my 4th great grandfather. I am also looking for more information about him and his wife Jane McDowell.