This is all very interesting. I have seen the Ohio Paisleys but haven't yet connected them to County Down. I have focussed more on the Pittsburgh ones, although it may be pure coincidence that David and Agnes' son, Hugh, went out briefly to Pennsylvania (1880 census for Union Town). He went to work in the coke pits there but returned to Durham through lack of work a few years later. I had wondered if perhaps a second cousin in Pittsburgh had alerted him to the brief boom in the coke industry, but it may be that Hugh responded to a newspaper advertisement. I know Durham coal miners were favoured.
I am very interested in the 1834 obituary. It is quite possible that these are the parents of Samuel, who died in 1819 aged 48 and John who died in 1870 aged 90. These are the earliest Paisleys I've found so far. Samuel had a son James. I had searched the British Library newspaper database on FindmyPast, but this obituary is not included. There is an extremely interesting report in 1841, however, detailing how a deputation of tenants of the Marquis of Londonderry was sent to console him after his mansion was destroyed by fire at Wyngate Park and to reassure him of the affection they had for him. They and the Marquis both comment on the wonderful relationship they share and the respect they have for each other. This seems to have been in contrast to other places. The minister and a layman of each area were chosen to be representatives, with a Mr Paisley being a layman representative of Newtownards (suspect he is David Paisley of Ballyblack, who later married the minister's daughter.) This all gives further credence to the family story that says Londonderry brought out some of his tenants to the Durham coal pits at the time of the famine. I understand Scribo Tower was also built to show gratitude for the Marquis's kindness to his tenants during the famine.
Could I please ask where you got the information you provide for the marriage of Hugh Paisley and Eliza McMillan? I note that the father's names aren't given, but perhaps the certificate might. The same source does not show parents for David and Agnes, yet the actual marriage certificate names her father as John Gamble, labourer. But I take note of what you say, and it is quite possible that David's father was dead. The Newtownards Paisleys appear to be a highly respectable bunch, so illegitimacy is perhaps less likely. They were married in Newtownard's register office, not Agnes's local church, so I believe David genuinely did not know his father's name. One of the possibilities I'm mulling over is that his parents were a William and Susanna (this being the William of Drumhirk, Kilmood, granted a gun licence between 1832 and Feb 1836) who, as a widow, may have married a John Whitla(w) of Drumhirk. It gets very confusing with there also being a townland named Drumhirk in Newtownards. However, David's marriage certificate states Drumhirk, Kilmood, and in October 1866, David and Agnes are back in Drumhirk, Kilmood, where Agnes delivers twins. I cannot find out what became of them, but it appears they died, for they are not on the 1871 census in County Durham, nor are they in English civil registration indexes. I can only think David and Agnes went back to Drumhirk, Kilmood, to visit relatives and Agnes gave birth prematurely perhaps.
I have a lot of leads to follow up now, thanks to this list. But first I have to sort out how to order certificates online. When I was looking for deaths for the twins, I registered with GRONI, but they were asking for a specific date, which I couldn't supply. I couldn't see how to do general searches, but I obviously need to look harder. I'd love to know where the Hugh/Eliza information came from too.
Once again, thank you to you all for all your help. It certainly makes a difference brainstorming like this.
Carolyn
