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Agnew of Ballynahinch 1839/45?

DownDown (Down)

Hello there! I am trying to trace the parents/family of my great great grandfather Matthew Agnew.

Matthewenlisted in the 56th Regiment (23 December 1862) and then transferred to 2nd Battalion 18th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot on 18/19 August 1863. According to his enlistment he came from Ballynahinch.

He gives his birthdate as 1845 in the NSW police register - as he became a policeman in Australia. However his gravestone says his birthdate was 2 March 1839! and says he was a native of County Down.

He name his sons (born in Sydney): Daniel Arthur; William John; David; Alfred.

So I hope you might be able to solve the mystery around his birthdate, place and parents. Many thanks and good wishes.

Liz Agnew

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Liz,

In the 1800s, people in Ireland didn?t always know exactly when they were born and discrepancies in ages like this are quite common. (In addition they would routinely increase or reduce their age if that made a difference to their eligibility to join the forces or the police).

Mathew?s birth is before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864) so you won?t get a birth certificate for him. You might find his baptism if you know his religious denomination.

If he was Church of Ireland (ie Anglican) then there are no records before 1879 as the early records were destroyed in the 1922 fire in Dublin. (The parish is called Magheradrool).

If he was Presbyterian (a strong possibility) then Ballynahinch 1st Presbyterian church?s records only start in 1841; Ballynahinch 2nd?s start in 1829 & Ballynahinch 3rds in 1820. Copies of those records are held in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. None is on-line anywhere so far as I am aware and so a personal visit would be required to inspect them.

 

Elwyn

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Elwyn for your speedy reply!  Sounds like a trip to PRONI or a researchers is the only way to go to solve what may well remain unsolvable.  Meanwhile Happy St Patrick's Day to you and yours. Liz Agnew

 

IrelandXO member

Hi there,

My GGGrandparents left Belfast for Australia on 10 June 1838 on the "Mandarin".

Samuel Gibson was born circa 1813. Parents Robert and Jane Gibson.

Mary Ann Russell was born circa 1808. Parents Hugh and Elizabeth Russell.

On the shipping records both families are listed as "farmers" and both Samuel and Mary Ann are listed as "Natives of Saintfield".

Samuel and Mary Ann were married on 14 September 1832 at Saintfield 1st Presbyterian Church by Rev Henry Simson.

Daughter Jane born 14 December 1833. Christened at Saintfield 1st Presbyterian Church.

Daughter Elizabeth born 27 October 1836. Christened at Saintfield 1st Presbyterian Church.

 

I would love to find out more about Samuel and Mary Ann's parents and family in Ireland.

Both Samuel and Mary Ann are buried in the Wollongbar Cemetery near McLean's Ridges in Northern New South Wales, where the family eventually settled.

Thanks

Elizabeth

elizabethmcguire@ymail.com

Elizabeth McGuire

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