RootsChat.Com

I am trying to assist a friend of mine tracking down his ancestors.  We have managed to detect that his ancestors had some association (ie married, baptised) with St Anne's Shankill (Connor diocese), Belfast.  When searching on the rootsireland site I found 2 records relating to the family (1 baptism and 1 marriage) but am unable to track down the majority of the family being baptised etc at this church.
I gather PRONI holds the microfilm
PRONI REFERENCE NUMBER
MIC583/18-23; MIC1/178
The info on PRONI indicates that the records are "full" ie, not many gaps in the time period that we are interested in 1820-1858.  I have emailed PRONI asking about the condition, gaps etc of this register but have not heard back as yet.

Before my friend engages a local researcher to actually go to PRONI (we live in Australia and it seems the only way to access the microfiche is to physically go) I thought I would ask a question here:
1.  Does anyone know if there are time period gaps in the St Anne's Shankill register information held at PRONI - which could explain the "missing" baptisms, deaths etc we are looking for, particulaly the period 1820-1858.

I would welcome any assistance
Cocks

An acquaintance has asked me for some help tracing his Australian Shaw ancestors back in Belfast in the early 1800s and I am checking (getting my head around) his collated family research done to date and I have very (very) limited experience with family history research in Ireland.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography states that a certain William Henry Shaw, b. Belfast abt 1830 was educated at "the common school".
From what I can find online it seems this term may refer to the attempt in 1832 to set up non-denominational schools in Ireland?
Am I on the right path?
Cocksie

I am hoping someone can help me understand/glean info from a settlement examination of a Richard Cock in 1785, Beer Ferrers, Devon.  I have transcribed it:

"Devon
To Wit
The Examination of Richard Cock – now residing in the Parish of Bereferris in the said County Mason – taken on Oath before me John Jago Clerk One of His Majestys Justices of the Peace in and for the said County the Nineteenth day of January One thousand seven Hundred and Eighty Five.
Who saith that about Sixteen years since the Bound himself an apprentice to one Anthony Wilson of the Parish of Redruth in the County of Cornwall Mason for Seven years and that he served his said apprenticeship and hath never since done any act or thing whereby to gain a settlement. And that he hath a wife namely Ann and three children viz Ambrose aged about Nine years Richard aged about Four years and Michael aged about One year now residing with him in the said Parish of Beerferris.

(signature of Richard Cocke)

Taken and sworn this day and year (first ?) above written before me
(signature of Jn Jago)"

Other pertinent information:
Richard was married in Redruth in 1775
Richard had 3 children baptised in Redruth (Ambrose 1775, Richard 1779 & James Pollard 1781)
7 further children baptised in Bere Ferrers (1783-1792)
2 children buried in Bere Ferrers (1784-1790)
And then 2 further children baptised in Redruth (1794-1796)
The children in general married in the area of Bere Ferrers (and surrounds)

Questions:
1.  Does this imply that 16 years earlier Richard began his apprenticeship in Redruth OR that he finished his apprenticeship 16 years ago?
2.  Does this imply that Richard was originally from Bere Ferrers, then moved to Redruth and then moved back to Bere Ferrers OR that just that he was in Bere Ferrers in 1785 and had been apprenticed in Redruth earlier?
3.  Could an apprentice marry?
4.  How long would a stone mason apprentice last? 7 years?

I think, in essence, I do not understand what the settlement examination actually means ..... am probably a bit "thick" and any plain english answers would help.
cocksie

In an effort to track down the mother of an ancestor I have collated, spreadsheeted and tracked all the female convicts who arrived in Sydney on the Princess Charlotte in 1827.
The bound indentures of these convicts on Ancestry seem to be a muster held on board on 11 August 1827 (5 days after arrival).
There are 2 Mary Davis women listed, with details of trial places, dates etc.  Both have been assigned to Sydney persons.
Under 1 of the Mary's it is written "Dead as stated by Mary Davis - two lines below".

I am finding this confusing ......
Medical diary & captains log etc reports one death prior to leaving England (A child) and one death on board during the voyage - a Maria Coutts who is listed as deceased in the "bound indent" (or muster).
So, is this handwritten comment implying that Mary Davis A arrived alive on 6 August, assigned to a person and then died onboard before 11 August?
If she died on board wouldn't the captain's log report it?
I can't find her death listed on NSW BDM - which was my other thought as, technically, if she died between 6 Aug and 11 Aug she was almost on land.

Or could it be an added note later on?  I ask as it appears that one of the Mary Davis made an application for marriage in 1832 which was refused on the basis that "there are two Mary Davis by this ship.  A description of her person is therefore wanted".

Can someone help me clear my head as it feels scrambled trying to work this out.
Thanks in advance
cocksie

"Photo" is quite dark and appears to be metal?  Oddly, I believe I can identify the boy/man standing at the rear (hopefully) ..... but his hair is parted on the wrong side compared with a similar photo (on card).
What date(ish) do you think this photo is?
Googling about the metalness of it leads me to think it is a tin type photo - but I really have no idea.
All help and thoughts much appreciated.
cocksie