Samuel Sturgeon born c.1785 Tyrone, Candee, Lindsay

You have obviously researched most of the usual sources fairly thoroughly. I looked at the 1766 religious census entry for William Sturgeon and I see that he was described as Protestant. That generally meant he was Church of Ireland. Presbyterians were normally recorded as “Dissenter.” With your Samuel having become a Presbyterian Minister, I’d wonder therefore if this entry refers to the right family.

There is a record in PRONI of probate being granted to a William Sturgeon of Ballyhollan in Tyrone on 7th Sept 1783.  I suspect that’s probably the modern Ballywholan. There’s 2 of them in Tyrone. Neither in Aghaloo unfortunately. One in Ballyclog parish and the other in Clogher.

Given your reference to the Seceder Fasti, I presume you have been in touch with the Presbyterian Historical Society in Belfast to see what records they may hold. If not, it might be worth enquiring there about Seceder Presbytery minutes for Co Tyrone for the early 1800s.  (Many Seceder records have been lost either because the church closed or following reunification with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland in the 1830s. It’s generally hard to locate seceder records etc prior to that time).

http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com

You could possibly search the Registry of Deeds records for the 1700s, for Co. Tyrone looking for any leases etc relating to William Sturgeon of Aghaloo parish. You might get a 3 lives lease naming various members of the family. (Originals in the Registry of Deeds in Dublin, copies on microfilm in PRONI, Belfast and LDS also have a copy).  Since you don’t have a townland name, you would need to search under the names index only.

Thank-you Elwyn,

I have been in touch with the Presbyterian Historical Society. Here's what they said:  "I think the parish that Samuel lived in was Aghaloo in Co Tyrone. He must never have had a church in Ireland as he does not appear in the Seceder Fasti. If Samuel’s father was still living in 1825 there are no Sturgeons in Aghaloo Parish in the tithe book of that date. The 1766 Religious Census returns record a William Sturgeon in Aghaloo and Carnteel but there is no other information.
The only other source might be estate records or gravestone inscriptions. For the latter see www.historyfromheadstones.com I think Aghaloo was on the Caledon estate – there are papers for this estate in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland – see their on-line catalogue under PRONI reference D 2433.
Valerie Adams Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland 26 College Green Belfast BT7 1LN Website: www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com Blog : www.phsireland.org Tel: 028 90727330"

I didn't think it made sense for Samuel not to have had a church since he preached wherever he went and started a church once he settled in Iowa. Missing records could explain his lack of a church in Ireland.  If he left the university in 1806 and didn't move to Canada until 1820, he must have been doing something somewhere.  He was a farmer once he settled in Iowa so maybe he farmed in Ireland.

I didn't find any land leases on the LDS site so I'll check PRONI.

Thanks again,

Kathy