Waldrum/MacBride families

I can see Robert’s marriage to Margaret Lesslie was on 10.6.1844 in Dundee. That marriage is on Scotlandspeople, and was Church of Scotland rather than Free Church. However tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that just indicates she was mainstream Presbyterian prior to her marriage.

I can see a death for Robert in Dundee in 1884. Scottish death certificates contain the deceased’s parents names, occupations plus whether they are alive or dead (all provided the informant knows that information). Have you checked the death certificate for Robert’s parents names etc?

There were secession Presbyterian churches in Ireland, the same as in Scotland. One or two used the term Free Church but most joined Associate Presbyterian presbyteries and were known as Presbyterian, in the main.  Most secession congregations rejoined the mainstream Presbyterian church in Ireland over the years. 

Not all Presbyterian records in Ireland are on-line. And not all have records for the early 1800s. The most complete set of records is held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. Going through all the Presbyterian records for Armagh would take a day or so, and there is the possibility that the church they attended doesn’t have any records anyway.

Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with FTDNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

Elwyn, thank you for your information. On Roberts death certificate there are no parents names just Co Armagh as his place of birth. 

I will check again on Mary MacBrides to see if she has parents listed but if my memory is rightt they are not on there., 

I'm thinking that DNA is the only way to go now and as my 87 year old mum is still alive I will see if she will provide the sample!

Thank you again for also helping me with the McWilliams and English families in Larne last year. I haven't gotten much further due to a lack of info but I'm still looking! 

I have connected with a cousin near Glasgow who did not know that she had other family from this line. She thought that there were only two children and was not aware that two had moved to Canada.

Thanks again!!

Christina