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Killen, Robinson, Anderson families

DonegalTaughboyne (Donegal)

My great grandparents Samuel Robinson and Mary Anderson were born in the St Johnston area in 1860.

Samuel Robinson's parents were James Robinson and Susan Killen and I have his birth details.

Mary Anderson's parents were Andrew Anderson and Matilda Killen but I cannot trace a birth record for her. Andrew and Matilda have two marriage records. A civil ceremony in Strabane on 27 September 1856 and a Catholic ceremony on 29 January 1859 in St. Johnston Roman Catholic Parish Church. I believe that Matilda Killen was either Church of Ireland or Presbyterian.

I have birth records for children born after 1863, but not for my great grandmother who was born in 1860.

Please can you help?

Thanks

Rosemary Bennett

 

RJB

6 replies

Statutory birth registration didn’t start in Ireland till 1.1.1864 so you won’t find a birth certificate for Matilda (or any other children born before 1864). You may find their baptisms but the records are probably not on-line.

Taughboyne Church of Ireland has baptisms starting in 1820; the PRONI guide to church records lists 4 Presbyterian churches in the parish: 1st Ballylennon baptisms 1829-39 & 1861 onwards, 2nd Ballylennon no baptisms, Monreagh baptisms 1845 onwards & St Johnston, baptisms 1838 onwards.

There are copies of all the above records in PRONI, the public record office, in Belfast. A personal visit is required to access them. Access to the records there is free. This link explains what records exist, parish by parish:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/proni-guide-church-records

If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Elwyn

Thank you for your reply, it was very helpful. I didn't know that there were records that could only be seen by visiting PRONI.

Best wishes

Rosemary

douglas.neilso…

Rosemary,

Yes people seem to think all church records are on-line these days. They are not. (RC records are, but few other denominations in Ireland are comprehensively on-line). PRONI has a pretty good collection for the area you are interested in. There is also still the odd church where the records are still held by the church, so you have to contact the minister to get access. (A lot of Methodist records are like that, for example).

 

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Rosemary, I’ve just came across your post. I believe I’m descended from Samuel Robinson’s brother William. He was my 2 times great grandfather and I believe he married Sarah Motherwell. I have DNA matches to both the Killen and Robinson family but I’m not sure I have the correct William and Sarah. I would be grateful for any information you could give.

Thanks Marian.

marianmckinney

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marianmckinney

Hi Marian, good to hear from you.

I am waiting for my DNA results to be returned and I'm sure they will show we have some connections in common, which is exciting!

Looking at my records, William, brother of my great grandfather, was born in Donegal in 1845 and moved to Cork where he married Ellen Hurley in 1869. they had a son William James who married Hester Jane Hornick in 1896. I have family letters that mention William James and his siblings David Henry, Ellen and Mary. I don't have any record of Sarah Motherwell in my tree, but that could just mean I haven't found her yet!

Are your William's parents James Robinson and Susan Killen?

I hope this might be of some help to you.

Bes twishes

Rosemary

RJB

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