Names, HAMILTON, and NELSON

Margaret,

I had a look at the 1901 census for Co. Monaghan and there are 159 people named Hamilton and 63 Nelson. So quite a few families in the county.  I see a complete cross of denominations ie some are RC, some Presbyterian and some Church of Ireland. Some may be related to each other but they won’t all be.  It might be easier to help you if you were to say what you know about your ancestors, ie what their names were, where they resided, when (ie years of birth/death) and what denomination.

Hello Elwyn, I am looking for Robert Hamilton born about 1809 I believe in Clones, Co Monaghan, the details are his birth and marriage details to Elizth Foster/Forster on 26 Apr 1826, I need this to try and prove this is my relative

Also Edward Nelson born abt 1813 not sure. I found these details in various marriage certificates of their children

Many thanks

Margaret

You didn’t say what denomination the family were. Clones town Church of Ireland records start in 1682. There’s a copy in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. There are 3 Presbyterian churches. Only 1 has records for around the time you are interested in. That’s Stonebridge whose records start in 1819.  Copy in PRONI. The RC records do not start till 1848 for baptisms but 1821 for marriages.

Hi Elwyn, I believe they were Presbyterian, sure they weren't Catholic.

Thanks so what so I do now, any help would be appreciated

Regards Margaret

Margaret,

Well I suppose the nextstep is to get a researcher to check the Stonebridge Presbyterian records in PRONI for you to see if they can locate your family. Othwerise, sadly, there's probably little prosepct of tracing them.There are so few records from that period.

Hi Elwyn, thanks for your reply, guess I am not surprised that I will trace my family so far back.

I had contemplated visiting PRONI so reading between the lines it might be a wasted visit. What do you think?

Regards Margaret

I don't think the chances of finding the fmaily are very high but you never know.