SLEAN family

James & Thomas’s births are well before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864) so you would need to rely on church records to trace them. You haven’t said what denomination they were. The majority in the 1901 Irish census appear to have been RC. I checked the on-line RC baptism records but did not find any that might be Thomas. It’s possible he came from a parish that doesn’t have any records back as far as the 1840s.

Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society are running an Ulster DNA project and can offer FTDNA testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

Lois,

If Thomas was Presbyterian then that helps narrow the search. However it’s important to know that not all Presbyterian records are on-line and also that not that many Presbyterian churches in Armagh have records for 1811 or thereabouts. The records that do survive are in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. But a personal visit is required to view them.

I had a look in the 1901 Irish census. All of the Slean/Slane households from Armagh were RC. Not a single Presbyterian. There was one family who were Church of Ireland (ie Anglican) who had moved from Armagh to Belfast. That was it. Do you think James might have “changed lanes” over the years from RC to Presbyterian? (It did happen, sometimes through a mixed marriage).

Regarding which DNA test to go for, I find that very hard to advise on. I am not an expert on DNA. I have heard anecdotally that Ancestry (though a big and reputable company) have slewed their DNA analysis to focus on genetic illnesses. So they are reportedly looking for potentially hereditary complaints, because that information may be of commercial value to them outside the genealogical field. They still offer a very reputable genealogical comparison service but there is some doubt in my mind as to how good the genealogical service is now. But that’s just opinion and hearsay. You would need to make up your own mind, or seek advice from others better informed.  You could go for the Ancestry test and then upload your results free to FTDNA and back both horses that way.

The problem with the Linen Tax and other early records is that if you know that your ancestors lived in a given place, then finding their name in the spinning wheel records etc. confirms their presence a bit earlier, But if you don't know where they came form, then there’s no way of knowing if the James Slean in the record is your James. So their value is limited.