Great Grandfather Joseph Thompson

Olive,

Magheragall is in Co Antrim but it’s very close to Co Down. See map below:

https://www.ancestryireland.com/civil-parish-maps-for-ulster/civil-pari…

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 a statutory birth certificates for Joseph. 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

Looking at the records for Maghergall, the Church of Ireland’s start in n 1776, Methodist in 1826, Presbyterian in 1878 and RC c 1900. I’d start with the Church of Ireland’s records. They are not on-line so far as I am aware so you’ll probably need to get someone to look them up in PRONI (when it re-opens).

Looking at the statutory marriage records which start in 1845 I can see several William Thompson marriages in the parish of Magheragall in the period 1845 - 1854, so care will need to be taken to identify the right family.

Thank you Elwyn. That is very helpful. I did wonder if Magheragall is close to Co Down. That would explain the confusion with the censuses. 

I will start looking at the Church of Ireland records more in-depth. I have contacted the church in Magheragall and they hold parish records. That is hopeful - I might be having a trip to Ireland at some point.  I will certainly look at the statutory marriage records as well. 
Thank you for all your advice 

OliveB,

If you decide to view the records at the church, be aware that the Church of Ireland charges for that. (I think it’s about £12 an hour or thereabouts). However the same records are available to view free in PRONI. Plus they have all the adjacent parishes as well.

Thank you for that information. I wasn't aware so it's good to know