Douglas' of Ballycrum/Ballynahery

[drumalief]

I would be grateful for suggestions as to where I might obtain the marriage certificate of William Douglas and Rachel Henry both of Ballycrum. The marriage would have taken place in the 1830s possibly at the 1st Limavady or Derramore.

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   I am afraid that you will not be able to get a certificate. Civil registration for Protestant marriages did not start until 1845. You will have to go to the church to look at any register which they may or may not have kept or hope that these have been microfilmed and are held by PRONI. Info on this should be available on the PRONI website. You should also consider Drumachose Presbyterian Church. It is a few hundred yards from Ist Limavady.

Regards

[drumalief]

Many thanks for your prompt and informative reply. It's just occurred to me that they may not have been officially married. What percentage of the population did get married in those days?

Thanks again.

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   I have never seen figures for people living together but I would have thought in a very religious country it would have been very few. Perhaps someone else may know.

Regards

[aghadowey]

Derramore Presbyterian Church marriages exist for 1827-1838 not on PRONI list (they only seem to have the baptisms and communicants).
First Limavady Presbyterian Church has marriages 1832-1841 (PRONI has on microfilm).
Drumachose Presbyterian Church has marriages from 1837 (not listed for PRONI).

[drumalief]

Thanks to you, too, aghadowey. It looks like a holiday in Limavady is called for to inspect the registers.

[aghadowey]

Not sure where you are located but as well as the registers in Limavady, PRONI and Coleraine Library have them on microfilm.

[Gortinanima]

In an old notebook of mine I have recorded an OAP claim for
Eliza Gordon nee Douglas daughter of William Douglas and
Rachel Henry:
She made the claim in 1910 and asked for a search of 1851 census
for Ballycrum:
1851 census
William Douglas aged 40 farm labourer, head
Rachel Douglas aged 31 wife [married 1831]
Mark Douglas 18
James Douglas 17
William Douglas 14
Elizabeth Douglas 12 [Claimant married Gordon]
Isobel Douglas 10
John Douglas 5
Henry Douglas 3
Wilson Douglas 9months

Additionally with the claim was a note of 3 baptisms:
Letter from William Browne [Reverend?]: Children of William Douglas and
Rachel Henry baptised:
James Douglas baptised 8 June 1834, Mark Douglas baptised 25 June 1834,
William Douglas baptised 15 Feb 1838:

The family was also in Ballycrum in 1841 and additional family members
listed included:
Rachel Douglas daughter aged 4 [not listed 1851]
Maty daughter aged 2 [Martha died aged 7]
Henry Douglas son aged 11 months [dead by 1851]
Mary Ann Douglas daughter aged 1 [dead by 1851]

Wilson Douglas aged 11 months in 1851 married Nancy Forrest [daughter
of John Forrest of Terrydoo & Ballycrum] in 1872.

The Rev William Browne was minister of 1st Limavady Presbyterian Church
1906-1945.

So it looks like your Douglas family used 1st Limavady:
PRONI MIC/1P/34
Baptisms, 1832-9 and 1861-1905
Marriages 1832-1841
Stipend book 1837-1906

[drumalief]

Gortinanima,
What can I say. Your information has confirmed that my ggggf was the said William Douglas of Ballycrum. His son James was my gggf and I have the records from then on. I doubt if it will ever be possible to go back further.

My grateful thanks to you for taking the time and effort  - 'Lang may your lum reek' (Scots, I know but can't think of an Ulster equivalent!)