Hamilton Malcom Family

[Elwyn Soutter]

The family appears to have been Presbyterian. Not all Presbyterian records are on-line.  2 of the daughters married in Randalstown 2nd Presbyterian. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that’s probably where they were baptised. But that churches baptism records only start in 1850, so if they were born before that there are probably no records to find.  Sarah Ellen was 19 when she married in 1874 so born after 1850, so you might find her baptism, but not those of siblings born before 1850.  You’ll need to go to PRONI  in person to search the records (when it re-opens).

Hamilton’s marital status of married means his wife was still alive when he died. She re-married to Alexander Rainey in 1893. (Kiltaglassan gave you the details). Her maiden name was apparently McLernan.  That’s a common name in the Derryhollagh area.  Plenty living around there today. Mostly Catholic so possibly the marriage to Hamilton was a mixed marriage. (In the 1830s and early 1840s mixed marriages often married in the Church of Ireland, so worth checking those records too. Duneane and Drummaul parishes. The records are not on-line).

[sjgrace53]

OK thanks I will hopefully pop home after Xmas depending on the current  situation.

The area you mentioned, indo not know well,  can you recommend any grave yards or churches for burials at all for  Hamilton or his wife ?


Many thanks for explaining this

Best wishes

[Elwyn Soutter]

Randalstown 2nd has a graveyard, so I’d start there. But people move around because of work or marriage etc and sometimes are buried in what may seem the strangest of places eg where their family lived 70 years before. People aren’t always buried in the graveyard of the church they attended. And many didn’t have gravestones.

For a Presbyterian around Randalstown there are graveyards in Randalstown OC, Randalstown 1st, Randalstown 2nd, Duneane, Craigmore, Drummaul Old (2 miles north of the town) plus some Presbyterians were buried in the Church of Ireland which for someone living in Derryhollagh might mean Randalstown or Duneane COI graveyards.  Then there’s Cranfield, Shane’s Castle & Milltown graveyards too. But I’d start with Randalstown 2nd. Plenty of choice anyway.

Presbyterians generally don’t keep burial records, so if there’s no gravestone you will probably not find a record of where the grave is.

Given that Hamilton’s wife remarried, she may not be buried beside him. She’s more likely to be with her 2nd husband.

[sjgrace53]

I'm not sure that's his wife that re-marries

As he dies aged 84 which makes him born 1788... and she's 40 on her second marriage.


Would that not make her the daughter?
As the second wedding shows Hamilton is the farther?

Or have I really confused myself ... totally possible knowing me lol 😆

[Elwyn Soutter]

No you are probably right. Mary Anne would have been his daughter.  I don't know who his wife was. I can't see a death post 1872 that fits.