Sarah Martin b 1866 - Maghera (?)

[Lizzie Smyth Collis]

Thanks again to this wonderful group.  I am stuck at my great grandmother, Sarah Martin who was b 1866.  She married William James McKay (m'Kay) in Magherfelt in 1891 and had a number of children including my grandmother, Elizabeth Jane. 

So far, I have been unable to go any further back and any help would be greatly appreciated.  My father believes they were from Maghera but I can only find Roman Catholic Martins there - and the family was Protestant we believe. 

L

[Elwyn Soutter]

The 1891 marriage was in a Baptist chapel, suggesting Sarah’s family were of that denomination. Her townland was Knocknakielt. Her father was John Martin, farmer. So I suspect this is Mary’s mother and brother in the 1901 census:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Maghera/Knocknakielt/1545459/

Probate abstract: Letters of Administration (with the Will annexed) of the personal estate of John Martin late of Knocknakielt County Londonderry Farmer who died 23 November 1882 at same place were granted at Londonderry to Mary Anne Martin of Knocknakielt Widow the Universal Legatee in trust.

The will itself is on the PRONI wills site, and mentions 6 children: Thomas James, Samuel, Margaret Ann, Nancy Jane, Sarah & John.

This is Sarah in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Swatragh/Upperlands/1545909/

Her age there would make her born in 1865. However going by the 1911 census she’d be born around 1860:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Swatragh/Upperland/611968/

There’s no sign of her birth from 1864 onwards (when statutory birth registration started) and so I’d say she was born before that. In which case you would normally rely on finding her baptism from church records. However if the family was Baptists that won’t apply as they don’t baptise at birth. I have  a hunch that the Martin family were originally Presbyterian (there’s another Martin family in Knocknakielt who are Presbyterian). It might be worth checking the local Presbyterian records for her baptism. Garvagh or Maghera may be the nearest.

[Lizzie Smyth Collis]

Thanks very much indeed - this has been really helpful and has taken me back a little further.  I have not been able to find Sarah's birth in the church records but I will keep trying.  Best wishes L

[aghadowey]

I checked records for 1st, 2nd (Main Street) & 3rd Garvagh Presbyterian Churches and no records in any of them for this Martin family. There are gaps around the time of Sarah's probable birth but based on the location (slightly south east of Maghera) I'm not surprised no records for the Martins found in Garvagh.

https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/loughinsholin/termoneeny/knocknakielt/

I checked online baptisms (1843-1878) for Maghera Presbyterian Church and there were some Martins, Knocknakielt but none for children of John & Mary Martin.
http://www.magheragenealogy.org/maghera-presbyterian-church-records/

[maryderry]

hi. on her marriage record her father is Thomas not john.

                                    regards Mary.

[Lizzie Smyth Collis]

Thank you both for your comments - I still cannot find any record of her birth but if Sarah's father is Thomas, it is likely that her mother is Elizabeth Jane Bolton.  Unfortunately I cant take either of them back any further...

[aghadowey]

Thank you both for your comments - I still cannot find any record of her birth but if Sarah's father is Thomas, it is likely that her mother is Elizabeth Jane Bolton.  Unfortunately I cant take either of them back any further...

Are you sure about Thomas Martin & Elizabeth Jane Bolton?

There is a baptism in Maghera Presbyterian Church for a William James McKay, son of Thomas McKay & Eliza J. Bolton of Tamneymartin
http://www.magheragenealogy.org/maghera-presbyterian-church-baptisms-1843-1878/

[Lizzie Smyth Collis]

You are correct -  I had confused Sarah's husband's father - I believe from another responder that her father's name on her marriage cert is Thomas but I cannot find anything else. 

[aghadowey]

Un-named female child born 1865- parents Thomas Martin & Sarah Winton might be a possibility
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5PT-L8B