Thonas Wallace Killyleagh and Simmy Island

Hi,

Thank you for your message.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find information on Thomas and Agnes? ancestry as 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. As the Church of Ireland was the official church in the country at the time, the bulk of what does survive can be found in these registers. For information on C of I registers check http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/. 

Killyleagh is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Kilmore. Catholic records in the parish do not begin until 1837, you can see this at the Irish Times website:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Down&parish=Kilmore&churchid=453

Perhaps you could contact the Ulster Historical Foundation for more assistance, however a fee may apply. Here are their contact details:

Ulster Historical Foundation,

49 Malone Road,

Belfast,

BT9 6RY

Northern Ireland.

Phone: + 44 28 9066 1988                Email: enquiry@uhf.org.uk

Also, here is a link that shows you what resources are available in specific counties: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/down/index.html

I hope you are able to uncover something here.

Best of luck with your research!

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

I agree that it may be difficult to get back further on Thomas Wallace and Agnes Carroll.  A couple of us who are descendants have tried.  Thomas and Agnes are my 2nd great grandparents through their daughter, Jane Wallace who married Thomas McClurg, and I am interested in making contact with other descendants to share info.  Have been to Simmy Island and have photos.

Nancy McCormack Schaalje