Robert Ferguson married Mary Orr, Lisnamorrow or Ballynagarve?

Dear Karin

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the delay in getting back to you

I haven't been able to locate a marriage record for the couple nor any baptisms for the children. They may have been born in a parish and at a time that predate parish records They will not have a birth record as they were born prior to 1864 when civil registration for all denominations began in Ireland. Both names were quite common in the mid-19th Century in Ireland. 

There is a headstone in Aghanloo Graveyard that refers to the death of a Robert aged 62 who died on 14th June 1858. The note on the record simply reads, 'father of Robert'. Of course I have no way of knowing if this is relevant (though it might be  bit early as a potential birth year for Robert sr). There a few others of these that might also be relevant on rootsireland.ie (Roots is a subscription site but you can now subscribe for as little as 24 hours). 

Sorry I couldn't provide more concrete information. Let me know if you learn anything new

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Hello Karin,

I have a copy of the Woods Chapel and Magherafelt C of I Church Records but cannot find your Ferguson baptisms at either church.  I have recorded 17 Robert Fergusons from the Civil Parishes of Artrea and Magherafelt but none match yours.  Several Mary Orr's as well but none match your criteria.

In the 1766 religious census there were Fergusons in Ballynagarve who were C of I and Fergusons in Drumenagh who were Presbyterians.   There were Orrs in Anahorish, Ballyeglish, Ballygurk and Lisnamorrow, all Presbyterians.

I also have the church records for the 1st Magherafelt, Castledawson and Salterstown Presbyterian churches but again come up empty for your lot.  Many Orr and Ferguson marriages, deaths and baptisms but not your Robert, James, Annie and Joseph.

This leads me to suspect that they were from a different area of Derry altogether.  There were Fergusons and Orrs in Ballynascreen and Dungiven in Derry in 1766.  I do not have the records for these parishes.  Have you checked the 1831 census?

Ron Dale (ronaldjdale@netscape.net)

Ron, Thank you so much for your reply. I have checked every available record in Ireland with no luck. I haven't found any record of this family living in Ireland whatsoever. I did find a copy of the will of Robert Ferguson, who died in St. Louis, Missouri. I discovered that his middle initial was a G (possibly Given?). I also found a Civil War record showing that Robert Ferguson was drafted and fought in the Civil War. I am am waiting for copies of his records to see if they might contain some clues to help me with my research in Ireland. I've also compiled a list of the Ferguson males in St. Louis who could have been Robert's uncles. I am researching their history to see if I can connect any of them to Ireland and also to my Robert. It is tedious and slow, but maybe I will get lucky. Thanks again for you reply. If I make any discoveried, I will post them here.

Karin Hardie Book

When you say that you have checked every available record do you mean that you have researched the church records in PRONI for Ballynascreen, Dungiven, Templemore, etc. or do you mean that you have checked out what is on line?