I am looking for info on John Hazlett (1815 - ?) born in Belfast, Antrim and his wife Margaret Gray (1820 - ?) also born in Belfast. I have record that they were married in Belfast as well and had 3 children. I am really wanting to find info to connect these families further back! All I have is Margarets mother's name: Jean Ritchie. Thank you.
Madison
Monday 3rd Apr 2023, 04:01AMMessage Board Replies
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The marriage does not appear in the statutory marriage records which started on 1st April 1845 so looks to have been before that.
Tradition was to marry in the bride’s church after which she’d attend her husband’s so marriage and childrens baptisms may not be in the same church. Ideally you need to know what precise denomination the family was too as that narrows the search.
The records are probably not on-line and so you would need to go the PRONI to search the records around 1840 I would suggest. There are probably about 20 churches in Belfast with records for period. Details on the PRONI guide to church records. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/proni-guide-church-records
If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net
Don’t expect too much from an 1840 marriage. All you usually get is the couples names, the date and their 2 witnesses. No parents names or occupations and the address is usually just “Belfast.”
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Monday 3rd Apr 2023, 06:03PM