Killinchy - descendants of John Moorhead

According to the Canadian census of 1881, Isabella Lowry was born in Canada, so it is likely the couple married there. There are some detailed public family trees on Ancestry for the Moorhead family. One shows that the couple had the following children: Jane Moorhead 1849–1927 Samuel Moorhead 1851–1924 Isabella Moorhead 1853–1858 Michael Henry Moorhead 1854–1893 Savage Moorhead 1855–1937 Susannah Moorhead 1857–1858 Agnes Moorhead 1859–1881 George A. Moorhead 1862– John James Moorhead 1862–1933 Osay Moorhead 1867–1933 William David Moorhead 1870–1915 Ida Florence Caroline Moorhead 1875–1896 I have not verified the accuracy of this tree. Ancestry trees are not always accurate. But it's worth your having a look.

Hello Maryel, In her reply of 29 December 2022 Patricia had mentioned the 1881 Canada census, where she found John and Isabella Lowry Moorhead. This census includes one bit of vital information you’ll need to see if you can find any information about John Moorhead in Ireland. That vital information is the Moorhead’s religious affiliation. The government in Ireland didn’t record births until the year 1864. For ancestors born before 1864, one of the primary source documents you would need to uncover is the person’s baptism record, that is, if the baptism record for their religious denomination goes back far enough in time. The 1881 Canada census shows that the Moorhead family were Presbyterian. See a copy of the original 1881 Canada census for the Moorhead family from Ancestry.com: https://tinyurl.com/bdcsn4c7 Your information shows they were from Killinchy, County Down. Killinchy is not only the name of the town, but also the Civil Parish, and the Presbyterian Parish. According to the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland’s “Guide To Church Records,” the Killinchy, County Down, Presbyterian baptisms are extent from 1812 to 1854; marriages from 1813 to 1845, with gaps; indexes to baptisms and marriages from 1812 to 1854; marriage notice book, 1845 to 1854; a pew rent book circa 1785; accounts, 1781-1835; lists of names of heads of families and their children, 1841; printed list of stipend payers, 1881-82; typescript history of the church, 1835-1935; and stipend and other accounts, 1875 – 1867. These records are on reference/microfilm CR4/17; D1759/1/D - available on MIC637/3 To access the PRONI Guide to Church Records, go to: https://tinyurl.com/zpr97wcz You can contact PRONI directly as they will provide a search service for you for a fee, but not a comprehensive genealogical search for all your Killinchy ancestors. PRONI also offers an Enquiry Service. For more information go to the PRONI link at: https://tinyurl.com/4mz4s4ke In your message you wrote that John Moorhead was the son of Stephenson Moorhead and Mary Stevenson Moorhead. With this information I found the baptism indexes at the free FamilySearch website for an Elinor Moorhead and a David Moorhead, both children of “Stevenson” Moorhead. The mother’s name is not recorded in the indexes. Elinor was baptized in Killinchy on 30 January 1812, and David in Killinchy on 15 August 1815. See below: Name Elinor Moorhead Event Type Christening Event Date 30 Jan 1812 Event Place Killinchy, County Down, Ireland Event Place (Original) Killinchy, Down, Ireland Sex Female Father's Name Stevenson Moorhead "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5TY-XNG : 5 February 2020), Stevenson Moorhead in entry for Elinor Moorhead, 1812. ____ Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881 Name David Moorhead Event Type Christening Event Date 15 Aug 1813 Event Place Killinchy, County Down, Ireland Event Place (Original) Killinchy, Down, Ireland Sex Male Father's Name Stevenson Moorhead "Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5T1-DMQ : 5 February 2020), Stevenson Moorhead in entry for David Moorhead, 1813. ____ Elinor and David Moorhead look like they could be John’s younger siblings. If you send an email to PRONI you can ask if they have a copy of the original baptism records for siblings Elinor and David Moorhead, explaining that information you have from the 1881 Canada census, shows the family belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Best Wishes, Dave Boylan