This man is my gggrandfather who immigrated to the US from County Derry. His wife was Mary Nancy White (1793- 1882) I believe he didn't immigrate until about 1820, as his first child in the US was born in 1822. My grandmother's handwritten notes indicate that there was an older son, Daniel, who died in Ireland. I found the death certificate of one of his sons who actually reported County Derry as his birthplace. Other children just reported Ireland. I know that Robert Stewart is an extremely common name, but I am wondering if he is in anyone's line. I will be in Northern Ireland in August-- yes, I have lodging and transportation-- and will be touring the old city of Derry. The above information is all I have.
I believe that they immigrated with money as they bought land, had many children, and founded a Presbyterian Church in Logan's Ferry, PA. They were farmers. Many thanks to all who might try to help! Kathy Stewart Connor
Robert H. Stewart 1791- 1882
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Kathy Stewart
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- Location: Absecon, NJ, USA
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Elwyn 1
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- Location: Co. Antrim, Ireland
Re: Robert H. Stewart 1791- 1882
Kathy,
The dates you are looking at are all long before the start of statutory registration in Ireland (1864 for births, deaths and RC marriages. 1845 for non RC marriages). So to trace the couple, you need to rely on church records. Not all church records for the late 1700s/early 1800s have survived and not all the records that do exist are on-line.
The most comprehensive set of records for Northern Ireland are in PRONI in Belfast. A personal visit is required to view them. If you have no idea of where in the county that the family lived then you have a lot of records to go through. Knowing that the family were Presbyterian will narrow it a bit but there are at least a hundred Presbyterian churches in the county. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church after which she’d attend her husband’s. So marriage and the 2 children’s baptisms may not be in the same church.
I did look on Rootsireland but did not find the couples marriage nor Daniel’s baptism, but that’s not too surprising as many Presbyterian records are not on-line. Presbyterians in Ireland generally don’t keep burial records so you are unlikely to find any record of Daniel’s death.
I had a look at the 1831 census for Co. Londonderry. There were 17 people named Robert Stewart plus 5 Robert Stuart. Obviously your Robert had left Ireland by that census but it gives you an idea of how common the name was in that area. So care needs to be taken to ensure you identify the right family. Perhaps his death certificate contains parents names? (There are several trees on Ancestry with this family. He seems to have died in Plum, Allegheny in 1882. None of the trees gives a precise place of birth).
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 is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with Family Tree DNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price. http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website). You don’t need to be a member of the NIFHS to participate in the DNA project.
Elwyn
The dates you are looking at are all long before the start of statutory registration in Ireland (1864 for births, deaths and RC marriages. 1845 for non RC marriages). So to trace the couple, you need to rely on church records. Not all church records for the late 1700s/early 1800s have survived and not all the records that do exist are on-line.
The most comprehensive set of records for Northern Ireland are in PRONI in Belfast. A personal visit is required to view them. If you have no idea of where in the county that the family lived then you have a lot of records to go through. Knowing that the family were Presbyterian will narrow it a bit but there are at least a hundred Presbyterian churches in the county. Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church after which she’d attend her husband’s. So marriage and the 2 children’s baptisms may not be in the same church.
I did look on Rootsireland but did not find the couples marriage nor Daniel’s baptism, but that’s not too surprising as many Presbyterian records are not on-line. Presbyterians in Ireland generally don’t keep burial records so you are unlikely to find any record of Daniel’s death.
I had a look at the 1831 census for Co. Londonderry. There were 17 people named Robert Stewart plus 5 Robert Stuart. Obviously your Robert had left Ireland by that census but it gives you an idea of how common the name was in that area. So care needs to be taken to ensure you identify the right family. Perhaps his death certificate contains parents names? (There are several trees on Ancestry with this family. He seems to have died in Plum, Allegheny in 1882. None of the trees gives a precise place of birth).
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 is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with Family Tree DNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price. http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website). You don’t need to be a member of the NIFHS to participate in the DNA project.
Elwyn
Elwyn
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Kathy Stewart
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Absecon, NJ, USA
Re: Robert H. Stewart 1791- 1882
This isn’t the first place I have tried. I do feel it is hopeless. I will check the place website in Belfast. I did a search of all Presbyterian cemeteries online with no success. Much of the cataloguing is incomplete.
I grew up near Plum, and I have been told there were at least six families of unrelated Stewarts In thearea. I even did Ancestry searches using what might be their parents names as in the Scottish naming custom. Nothing.
I do have a lot of information in the United States, even their photos in a commemorative booklet from the church they helped found. My direct ancestor was his youngest son.
I won’t be in Belfast long enough to do much. We have friends there and they will be taking us sightseeing.
Thanks so much for your interest and reply.
Kathy Connor
I grew up near Plum, and I have been told there were at least six families of unrelated Stewarts In thearea. I even did Ancestry searches using what might be their parents names as in the Scottish naming custom. Nothing.
I do have a lot of information in the United States, even their photos in a commemorative booklet from the church they helped found. My direct ancestor was his youngest son.
I won’t be in Belfast long enough to do much. We have friends there and they will be taking us sightseeing.
Thanks so much for your interest and reply.
Kathy Connor