Jane,
Here’s a link to the 1852 marriage. You mention that you think the Weir family were Catholic. That’s possible but this marriage was in the Church of Ireland (ie Anglican), and I think that was probably the family’s denomination. Bride’s name was Ann Duke (not Mary). Fathers names are given too, but not the mothers.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1852/09420/5412687.pdf
Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church and the inference is that she at least was Church of Ireland. That church has records starting in 1789 so it should be possible to search for her baptism etc in them. I’d also search for John’s as he may have been born in that parish too.
Bride & Groom were both living in Ballintaggart at the time of their marriage. So though you have found John in Derrycaw later, it doesn’t appear he had always lived there. (Irish marriage certificates don’t record where someone was born, just where they were living when they married).
Here’s a link to Thomas William Weir’s birth on 2nd Jan 1870 at Derrycaw:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1870/03365/2233867.pdf
Mother’s name was recorded as Ann.
Daughter Mary Margaret Weir born at Derrycaw in 1874:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1874/03153/2156630.pdf
Son Joseph in 1877:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1877/03002/2100354.pdf
Additional children:
Richard 12.3.1864
George 10.2.1866
Hannah 28.10.1867
Henry (registered as Wier) 6th Jan 1872
Birth registration only started in 1864. However there are some trees on Ancestry which list extra children, pre birth registration:
John 1857
Eliza Ann 1862
You would need to check church baptism records to confirm those births. Probably Milltown church, parish of Tartaraghan. There’s a copy held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast.
Hannah married William Smith in 1890. Note that she married in Milltown Church of Ireland, again indicating the family denomination (at that period anyway):
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_re…
John Weir died in 1900 at Derrycaw:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1900/05756/4625895.pdf
Ann Weir died in 1884 at Derrycaw:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1884/06329/4815103.pdf
All the children appear to have emigrated to the USA pre 1900, according to the trees on Ancestry.
John Weir’s home in Derrycaw is on the modern Derrycaw Lane, off the Birches Rd near Junction 12 on the M1 motorway. The house appears to be gone (judging by Google Earth) and the land given over to a plantation of trees. Drive to the far end of the lane and then you may need sturdy footwear to get to the exact site.
