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« on: Tuesday 12 September 17 11:39 BST (UK) »
G’day all. This is my first post anywhere so please be gentle if I make any blues. If anyone is going to PRONI I would greatly appreciate a lookup of the Ahoghill 1st Presbyterian registers Ref. No. MIC1P/64 for the baptism of my great-grandmother Eliza/beth (nee McMullen) Gordon.
Eliza (as Betty) married John Gordon at Ahoghill 1st Presbyterian Aug 1861. Both were stated to be 21 though I believe Eliza was more likely to be 19 at the time. Her headstone is inscribed ‘Born April 19 1842’ but I don’t know just where this date came from nor how accurate it is. She was also said to be 74 when she died in 1916.
When she arrived in Brisbane in Jan 1865 her stated age was 22 which would fit with the dob on her headstone and John gave his age as 25 and I feel that both of these are much closer to the mark. Her death certificate also states she was born at Castletown and I believe this was very likely Casheltown townland and this is one of the things I am trying to verify. When they married they were both residing in Carmagrum sic.
Eliza had three known siblings William, who also emigrated to Queensland, born abt. 1835 and Mary Jane born abt. 1835/6, however baptisms for this church only commence in 1841. Eliza’s younger sister Margaret Ann was stated to be only 20 when she married 11 Jul 1864 so born abt. 1844. Eliza witnessed this marriage as Elizabeth Gordon.
All three girls married at Ahoghill 1st Presbyterian. William married at Portglenone 2nd Presbyterian. All were living in Carmagrim when they married and their father was John McMullen and there was no indication that he was deceased from 1858 through to 1864.
I have looked at Griffith’s Valuation which was for 1862 and there is a John McMullen in Carmagrim who would seem the most likely one but there is also one in Casheltown and another two nearby in Kilcurry and Ballylummin however without any ages given this really doesn’t help much. I have also looked at the 1851 partial census and at the headstone inscriptions on The Braid.
As all three girls married at Ahoghill 1st Presbyterian I feel that this was most likely their church but with the records only beginning in 1841 the only ones likely to have had their baptisms recorded there are Eliza/beth about 1842 and Margaret Ann about 1844.
I understand that the early records for this church might not list the mother’s name but I am trying to get further confirmation that it was Margaret Barr, which information came from the Scottish d/c of Mary Jane. I would also like to know the abode/s and the occupation of their father John if this was stated. He was a weaver when they married.
If anyone has some time to spare whilst at PRONI I would greatly appreciate the lookup.
Bruce.
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