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Is/was there a place called Durham in County Down, Newry Parish?

DownNewry (Down)

Hello,

I have a family who emigrated to Australia in 1833 and gave their "native place" as Durham.  The children's births were registered in Damolly and Carnmeen; additionally every record I have of the family in Northern Ireland is in Newry.  So my question is, does anyone have any knowledge of a place called Durham anywhere near Newry?  It could be a townland, building, house, paddock ... anything really! 

Any help or insights you kind folk can offer will be gratefully received, many thanks in advance

Debra Sleith

debrasleith@gm…

10 replies

There certainly isn’t a townland called Durham in Co. Down. I also searched the place names NI site and again no place like it is listed. 

Labourers from Co Down did go to the Durham coalfields to work. Have you searched for births there?

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Margot,

Co Meath does seem a bit far away.  Their names are David Sleith and Sarah Jane (Truesdale); their sons were John b.1875 and William George b.1883

Debra

debrasleith@gm…

Thanks Elwyn,

Yes, I have searched for births in Durham, England but not found any child with David Sleith and Sarah nee Truesdale as the parents.  That's interesting about the miners, he was a carpenter.

Debra

debrasleith@gm…

Cebra,

Neither Sleith (and variants) nor Truesdale are native Irish names. That doesn’t mean your ancestors didn’t live here – I am sure they did - but just that both probably originate in Britain rather than Ireland. They may have moved around. Hard to know.

Looking at the 1901 census of Ireland there were only 142 Truesdales and about 140 Sleeth/Sleith (out of a popln of 4.5 million). Without exception all were Church of Ireland or Presbyterian, indicative of plantation settler backgrounds (ie they probably came to Ireland from Scotland or England in the 1600s or later). But many of those who moved here in the 1600s and thereafter were also particularly flexible about leaving again. They were the first to leave in the 18th century, for North America, Australia and elsewhere, for example. The folk here that some might describe as “native Irish” didn’t start migrating in big numbers till the 19th century. So incomers were more flexible about moving back to England or onwards (having already moved once). It’s only 100 miles or less from Co. Down to the English coast and, at the closest point, 12 miles from Co Antrim to Scotland. Not the biggest journey.

None of this probably helps locate your Durham but is just by way of observation on the general family backgrounds and their likely willingness to move around Ireland & Britain to follow available work.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi I wonder if it is this...............
An estate called Dromantine.
There is a Sleith family with births records stating this place. I couldn't work out the place name when I first viewed it.
This Dromantine
dromantine newry map - Bing
this is Carnmee 
Carnmeen Townland, Co. Down (townlands.ie)
A Carpenter would have been required at the estate.
I see Wiliam George's birth but not John's birth.  Searched the UK records as well.
I searched every Sleith 1870 to 1890. None called John to a David and Sarah.
Is it John and Mrs Sleith on the Mountaineer 7th September 1832?
On the marriage record for David in 1874 her name is Trousdale. This also shows in other records. Must be the squiggle writing.
I noticed on the Ship record for David going to Australia it say born in Durham..... we take that as England.
 Margot

Margot Secrette

Hi Margo,

I found John's birth under the surname spelling Sleeth - to David Sleeth and Sarah Jane Truesdale 25 Aug 1875 at Down, Ireland; this was on Ancestry, Ireland, Select Births and Baptisms 1620-1911.  I've found both surnames spelt with multiple variations, between spoken accents and squiggly handwriting it's rather tricky!

The family came to Australia on the Dallam Tower arriving in Sydney on 1st November 1883 and yes, it does say Durham but with them marrying and registering both their children's births in Co. Down why on earth would he say their native place was Durham??

Dromantine is interesting, I'll have a closer look but can't imagine it being confused with Durham when spoken, even accounting for a thick accent.  Could you tell me please which/where you found Sleith family births around that place?

Thanks so much for your ongoing interest and help.

Debra

debrasleith@gm…

Hi Elwyn,

Thanks for this information and insight; I've been in touch with another Truesdale researcher who has knowledge of his branch of the family moving between England and Ireland and it's good to have your background to add to that.  My people moved here in 1883 and I've not searched through the 1901 or 1911 censuses ... yet; I need to get more confirmed details about siblings and cousins first, the hunt goes on :)

Debra

debrasleith@gm…

Hi,
This is the site I used. If you see BDM in Ancestry that state Ireland Civil Records, go to this site and put the same info in and you will see the actual document.
Check David's marriage. 
New tab (irishgenealogy.ie)
The Native place is usually where you are born.... some records say.....last address which makes it  harder to search.
My husband’s Granfather spoke with a thick Dublin accent, always said he was born in Dublin, when I started to search his family I found he was born in Glasgow, Scotland.
He went to Dublin as Baby and when he learned to speak he took up the accent. Usually whatever accent you learn to speak with that stays with you.
​Margot

Margot Secrette

Hi Margot,

Thanks for that, I use irishgenealogy.ie and have David and Sarah's marriage record but I'm always keen to hear of other people's favourite sites :)

Debra

debrasleith@gm…

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