James Elias Conner - born 1801 County Down

[abrambook]

Please help! I am looking for information on my four times great grandfather, James Elias Conner. We know he was born in 1801 in County Down, possibly Portaferry, later immigrated to the U.S., married Elizabeth Long in 1830 in PA or MD, USA, and died in January, 1892 in Reading, Berks County, PA, USA. It is also possible, even likely, that his surname was spelled "Connor" while living in Ireland and was changed to "Conner" after he immigrated. We don't know much else. I am particularly interested in his parents' names. Thank you.

[sam.b]

Try this site of County Down Surnames, you may find something on there:
 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/C/Connor.htm

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Why did you mention perhaps Portaferry  ?   Portaferry is in the parish of Ballytrustan and Ballyphillip
1823-1837 The Tithe applotment books exist in the Public Record Office Belfast, an index exists http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/down/tithe-applotment-books/ballyphilip-parish.php#.WWE4ysaZP9M
which has 2 entries, the first without a first name
Conner, Townland: Ballyphilip Year: 1827-Ballyphilip-Down-
Conner, Widow Townland: Ballyphilip Year: 1827-Ballyphilip-Down-

1863 Griffiths Valuation has
Connor Patrick Back Lane,Portaferry Ballyphilip   Down
Connery James Craigaroddan Ballyphilip Down

Ros Davies Co Down website http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/ has many Connor and a few Conner but I dint find a mention of  James elias
Miss   Eliza   CONNER   .   Ballyphilip   regd. Portaferry; wife of George McVay; mother of male child b. 1865   CR
John   CONNOR   .   Ballyphilip   brother of George Connor who died 13 Apr 1848 aged 25; grandson of Eliza Kelly (d. 16 Jun 1843) & buried Templecranny graveyard, Portaferry MIs
Patrick   CONNOR   .   Ballyphilip   from Portaferry; an able seaman aged 24 ; served on Lock Ryan of Glasgow then on board British cruiser 'Nelson' which sailed to Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand in 1881   SSSCP p59

ancestryireland doesn’t have, familysearch.org doesn’t have

church records  download https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Guide_to_church_records.pdf
BALLYPHILIP, CO. DOWN
C.I. Ballyphilip (Down diocese)
Baptisms, 1745-1871; marriages, 1746-1844; marriage notices, 1851-65; burials, 1745-1883; poor lists, 1808-13.
Baptisms, 1872-; marriages, 1845-; vestry minutes, 1751-; register of vestrymen, 1870-; preachers’ books, 1886-.
M. Portaferry (Newtownards Circuit)
Baptisms, 1870-c.1880; circuit schedule book, 1870- 78.
P. Portaferry
Baptisms, 1699-1786 and 1822-1953; marriages, 1750-84 and 1822-1936; marriage notice books, 1879- 1906; burials, 1836-1989; list of members who emigrated, 1852-72; communicants’ roll, 1870; receipts and accounts, 1841-1916; title deeds and legal papers, 1778-1893; testamentary papers, 1812- 69.
Marriages, 1785-1822; communicants and poor lists, 1803-34; minutes, 1822-.
87
R.C. Ballyphilip and Portaferry (Down and Connor diocese) [Contains most of the civil parishes of Ardquin, Ballyphilip and Ballytrustan]
Baptisms, marriages and some funerals, 1843-81.
goodluck you will need it

[abrambook]

Try this site of County Down Surnames, you may find something on there:
 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/C/Connor.htm

Thank you. I have checked that site. A lot of great information, but nothing was an exact match.

[abrambook]

Update: James Elias Conner was NOT born in Portaferry, but departed there on a ship for the US, arriving in NY in May, 1825. We do not know the name of the ship on which he sailed.

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Portaferry as a port is tantalisingly covered in ship names but not passenger lists on the website http://www.dippam.ac.uk/ied?s=portaferry
there are about 9 pages of references covering 18o1- 1832
the same site is searchable for Conner 

there are passenger lists published and other eg Findmypast migration and Castle Garden etc
good luck

[abrambook]

We now believe James Elias Conner may have been the son of Robert Connor, who is listed on the County Down Irish Flax Growers List of 1796. I have not been able to find any family information for this Robert Connor.

[BallyaltikilliganG]

Connor            Robert               Dromore                         Down
so you are now into Dromore connor
see
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/C/Connor.htm
i notivce a fair amount of Catholic Connor in Dromore
so church records etc at PRONI under Dromore catholic might exist

PRONI online guide has
R.C. Dromore and Garvaghy (Dromore diocese)
(The Roman Catholic parish of Dromore consists of the parishes of Dromore and Garvaghy)
Baptisms, 1823-81; marriages and deaths, 1821-82. ref MIC1D/29



good luck onwards