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Need info on Merrick or Graham prior to 1845

Henderson Merrick was born in Ireland around 1820. Prior to 1845 he married Eleanor C Graham, the daughter of Richard Graham and [Unknown] Wilson. They had six children, the first Margaret was born before May 1845 in Ireland. It is believed that Henderson came to American with his wife, Eleanor, and infant daughter Margaret aboard the ship Fanny arriving in Philadelphia on 12 May 1845. He died on 10 Dec 1899 in Kennett Square, Chester, Pennsylvania. Eleanor died on 7 Feb 1907 in Kennett, Chester, Pennsylvania.

I cannot find any information about either of them before they left Ireland. Can anyone help me find birth or marriage records? Any ideas where to locate the records or anything about them?

jwsstuff1@gmail.com

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The surnames are pretty common around Counties Antrim & Down, so I wouldn't be too suprised if they came from that general area. You haven't said what denomination they were but I'd guess Presbyterian or Anglican (ie Church of Ireland). That too would be a pointer to that part of Ireland. The births and marriage are before the start of stautory registration in Ireland (1864 for births & deaths and April 1845 for non RC marriages). So you have to search church records. The most complete set of records for that area is held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. They are not on-line and you have to go in person to look them up. However there are hundreds of churches in the 2 counties and if you can't narrow the search to a more specific area, it would be a needle in a haystack. And not every church's records have survived, so that doesn't help either.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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