Robbity,
As far as the Gortnessy Presbyterian church baptism records are concerned, I don’t think you’ll find them on-line. Sometimes there’s a perception that most genealogical records are on-line these days. That’s not the case in Ireland especially for many Protestant denominations. There are some Presbyterian records on reputable commercial sites eg rootsireland but many are not on-line. A high percentage of records for the counties of Ulster are in PRONI (where they are usually on microfilm) and a small number are still held by the Minister. Gortnessy's have been copied and are in PRONI.
You could contact Gortnessy Presbyterian church but I hesitate to encourage that when their records are in PRONI. Many Ministers are very accommodating about looking up records but others get rather too many requests and have better things to do, and just don’t reply. If you do write to the church, enclosing a donation may improve your chances. Assuming I am correct about Gortnessy being the family church, then the baptism records are going to be of slightly limited value. They only start in 1839. If your John was born c 1829, then clearly his parents could have had quite a few children before 1839. However there may have been some after that too. So you may find details of their baptisms but you won’t get the whole family.
A personal visit is required to view the PRONI records. Access is free. This link explains what records exist, parish by parish:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/proni-guide-church-recordsIf you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area:
http://sgni.netRegarding confirming the continuity of the farm at Gortree, you will see in 1858 that Griffiths listed Wm Craig as being on plot 8a. It was the only Craig household listed in the townland. (There were only about 9 farms). There is a set of records that takes Griffiths forward. Called the Valuation Revision records (or sometimes the Cancelled books) they go up to c1929 and show changes in occupancy, acreage and buildings. Those records are on the PRONI website (and are viewable on-line):
https://apps.proni.gov.uk/Val12B/Search.aspxThe records show the plot 8 farm passing from William to David Craig in 1876. So I think that, and David’s marriage certificate, confirms the link. By 1929 the farmhouse was occupied by William McLoughlan and the land farmed by Alex Hogg.
Looking at the tithe applotment records for 1834, there wasn’t a Craig farm listed in Gortree then.
http://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/derry/tithe-applotments/clondermot-parish.phpNor was there a Craig household in the townland in the 1831 census. So I think the family arrived in Gortree after 1831 and probably after 1834. But they were probably living nearby. (Based on what was typical). I searched the 1831 census for a William Craig elsewhere in the parish of Glendermot. I found 2, both Presbyterian families:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Tirkeeran/Glendermot/Gortecross/6/That could be William & Sarah with 2 sons and 1 daughter but it could be a mother in law, elderly unmarried uncle or who knows what. No way of knowing as the names and relationships weren’t recorded in that census. Here’s the second William:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Tirkeeran/Glendermot/Tullyally_Upper/7/I haven’t researched these families forward but I mention them just as a possible hint as to where your William was in 1831.
You have mentioned William Bannatyne Craig, and you are uncertain of where he fits in. Perhaps you noticed that the farm next to the Craigs in Gortree in 1858 was held by the Ballantyne family (plot 7 next to their plot). Without going into a boring explanation, perhaps it’s sufficient to say spelling of names often varied in Ireland. I suspect Ballantyne and Bannatyne are probably the same. So William B Craig is perhaps named after a neighbour, or is descended from a marriage to a neighbour. Someone perhaps married the girl next door.
Aghadowey has said that it’s not always the case that the eldest son inherited the farm. I am happy concede that point. All I would say is it wasn’t uncommon. But to support her, I did see a case not long ago where there were 3 sons and 1 daughter and the farm went to that unmarried daughter. Who knows what the reasons were but clearly it didn’t follow the tradition I proposed.
You are looking for a census or birth certificate showing who (Ernest) John Craig’s parents are. I very much doubt you will find either. The 1831 census didn’t list children’s names and the 1841 & 1851 censuses have largely been destroyed. (Some fragments exist. I have checked the ones I have access to but did not find your family). If Ernest John was baptised in Gortnessy Presbyterian c 1829, then no records exist.
You might be looking at DNA testing with some of the other apparent descendants of William & Sarah to see if there’s a link?
