Young Family - Bovevagh Parish (Londonderry)

[Kang]

Hello,
I am trying to find the baptism record(s) for my great-grandmother - Sarah Jane Young and the birth date I have for her is August 18 1853 and then for her brothers, Samuel C (probably Crawford) in 1863 and James M (probably Moore) also 1853 ?? - William John in 1864 and Alexander S (probably Stephenson) in 1865. They are the children of James Moore Young and Lavina (Livinia) Crawford. I show them at Bovevagh Parish - Presbyterian but can't seem to get her birth record unless my dates are wrong but this is what she had on her death certificate. She later married William Canning in Aghadowy in 1879 and then came to America and had her 5 children here. Any info you can supply or steer me towards would be appreciated.
Best,
Karin

[aghadowey]

It might be that there is a gap in the baptism records that would cover the period when the children were born or that the family lived elsewhere and they were baptised in another church.

Sarah Jane Young married 25 Nov.1879 in St. Guaire's Church of Ireland, Aghadowey, to William Canning of Farrintemple. She was living at Ringsend (not a townland but an area near Ringsend Presbyterian Church) and father listed as Alexander Young, farmer. Since marriages usually take place in the bride's church it's likely that the Youngs could have been Church of Ireland rather than Presbyterian.

[Kang]

Yes, I saw that Alexander was listed as her father but it is my belief (for what it's worth) that this was her grandfather who was there for her marriage and just listed as the "father" How might I go about finding out where these children may have been born so I can get their baptismal/birth records? I know nothing else other than the Crawfords are highly involved in this family history since Sarah Jane's mother was Lavina (Livinia) Crawford and her father was Oliver Crawford. Sarah Jane came to America when she was 16 and stayed with her mother's brother and his family. She worked to bring her 4 brothers to Pennsylvania.

[aghadowey]

Civil registration of births started in 1864- have you birth certificates for William John 1864 & Alexander S. 1865? These would show exactly where the family were living so that you could see what churches are in the area.

For children born pre-registration finding a baptismal record is often a case of searching any possible churches.

Have you traced all possible descendants of the family to see if anyone else has a family Bible, stories handed down, etc.?

[Kang]

no family Bible but lots of stories. My mother said that Sarah Jane always said their story was in Antrim but other than that no one was interested which leaves me hanging. William John and Alexander (along with Samuel and James) all came to America so, again, it leaves me wondering where they were born and how to track them down

[aghadowey]

Civil registration of births started in 1864- have you birth certificates for William John 1864 & Alexander S. 1865? These would show exactly where the family were living so that you could see what churches are in the area.