Lamont / Nevin

Midge,

Statutory birth, death and marriage registration (in some jurisdictions called Vital Records) only started in Ireland in 1864, save for non RC marriages which were recorded from 1845 onwards. So you won’t find birth, death or marriage certificates for this family if the events are before the years mentioned. For earlier years you usually need to rely on church records, where they exist. You obviously need to know the precise denomination in order to search the correct records. Not all churches have records for that period and not all are on-line.

RC records are mostly on-line on the nli site:  

https://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

For other denominations, the churches usually hold the originals but there are also copies in PRONI, the public record office, in Belfast. A personal visit is required to access them. Access to the records there is free. This link explains what records exist, parish by parish:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/proni-guide-church-records

If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

None of the churches in Ballyrashane parish has any records for the 1700s (or indeed before the 1860s) but if you are looking for the marriage between Hugh Lamont & Margaret Nevin, it rather depends on where they lived and which church she attended. (Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church). If, for example, she was Church of Ireland and came from Coleraine, then their marriages start in 1769. Don’t expect too much information from a marriage in the early 1800s. Usually all you get are the date, the couples names and their 2 witnesses names.

"She was born at Carnaff near Dervock, county Antrim, in the month of August, 1794...Her parents, Robert and Jane Nevin...she made a profession of her faith early in life under the ministry of Rev. Dr. Stavely....after her marriage she sat under the ministry of Rev. S. Carlisle, Ballyclabber, county Derry for 20 years...." -Reformed Presbyterian and Covenanter, Kossuth, Iowa, U.S.

Their first child was born in 1826 in county Derry, so they would have been married between 1814 and 1825? maybe I'm out of luck. Thanks for your help. 

Midge,

The Presbyterian Historical Society in Belfast should be able to tell you which church the Rev Dr Stavely was Minister for. (Unless there was a falling out with the congregation, Presbyterian Ministers often stayed at the one church for their entire career). So you should be able to narrow down where she likely married from that source. (Send them an e-mail):

http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com

Ballyclabber Reformed Presbyterian has no records before 1862 so any children baptised at that church won’t appear in any baptism records.  And statutory birth registration didn’t start till 1864.