Ballee

Maureen,

If John & Sarah married in 1851, I would have expected to see other children before 1864. 1864 is when statutory birth registration started so I suspect there were other children born in the period 1851 ? 1863. Just you won?t find them in stat records. You would need to check church records to find any such baptisms.

Assuming the children were baptised into the Church of Ireland, Ballee Church of Ireland records start in 1792. They are not on-line anywhere so far as I am aware. There is however a copy in PRONI in Belfast. A personal visit would be required to access them.

John McDowell is listed in Griffiths Valuation for 1863 with a house on plot 8b in Ballysallagh. (That was an agricultural labourers cottage on Robert Cultra?s farm). That farm appears to have been where the modern Ballysallagh Rd intersects with the Ballycruttle Rd, about 3 miles south east of Downpatrick. Easy enough to find today, should you ever wish to do so.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

The revaluation records show John?s name as tenant of 8b until 1895.

http://applications.proni.gov.uk/dcal_proni_val12b/ImageResult.aspx

Elwyn

Thank You for your help, much appreciated