Weir Sisters, born late 1860's North Ireland

[Robert B. Croman]

I am trying to trace my great grandmother, Annie Bell (nee Weir) and her sister Jennie Wray (nee Weir).   Family lore has it that they were born in Northern Ireland and were probably Presbyterian.    Both emmigrated to Philadelphia, PA in about 1885.    The 1900 Pa census has a birth date for Annie Weir as June 2, 1867.    Her 1914  Pennsylvania death certificate has that she was born sometime in 1866 but her death notice in the Philadelphia newpaper has that she was born sometime in 1868.   So at best I know that she was born sometime from 1866 to 1868.   I have less information about her sister Jenny who was married in 1890 and died in 1891 and the ages on her marriage document and death document suggest birth in the timeframe of 1868 to 1870.
I have supposedly that the father of these two Weir children was John Weir whose name was supplied in the 1914 death certificate for Annie Weir.
To make matters even more complicated the birth records for several of Annie's children have her name as Mary, Laura and Annie.
For some reason I want to believe that these Weir sisters were born in Tyrone, but that is only because I found an Annie Weir from Tyrone on the SS Archovia to New York just about the right age in 1885.
Now I come to my question(s).   The first is to ask if anyone has access to the civil registration of births in Ireland for this timeframe of 1866-1870, but realize that is probably too much to hope for.
And the second question is whether it would be worth my while to order the civil registration index microfilms from our local family history center here in the states.
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Bob Croman

[Christopher]

Hello Bob,

Have you had a look at Ros Davies' Co. Down site as Weir is a common surname in the county. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/W/We.htm

Christopher

[aghadowey]

Annie Bell could be registered under Ann, Anna, Annie, Anne, Agnes, Nancy, Annabelle? and Jennie could be Jane or Jeannie.
Father's name listed as John Weir- do you know their mother's name (would be big help in finding correct births). Are any parent listed on the girls' marriage certificates?
Census date of June 1867 is probably close (don't think census gave day of month).
Have you been able to find any possibilities for Jennie arriving in U.S.?

[Robert B. Croman]

Fellow researchers,

Thank you so much for your responses and insight.   Christopher, I will check out the County Down Website.   Unfortunately, I do not know the name of Annie and Jennie Weir's mother.   Jennie died before the state of Pennsylvania kept Death records and the informant for my great grandmother, Annie, only put down John Weir as the father on the 1914 death certificate and did not know the name of her mother.   I have never been able to find the sisters arrival in either New York or Philadelphia.   They must have been in their late teens when they arrived in the United States and it is hard for me to imagine that they traveled alone or at least didn't know someone in the United States, but I guess 1885 was a difficult time for many individuals.    My grandmother used to say that when they arrived in Philadelphia they were appalled that people would be cleaning the front steps (marble in the city) on a Sunday.   I have reason to believe that they were Presbyterian.     
In addition to the above hurdles, I have never been able to locate my great grandmother's marriage record to James Bell (also from Northern Ireland).
Again thanks you so much for your interest and help.

Best regards,
Bob Croman

[OTTO]

I will send by PM some records of  the Birth of female Wier children, having father as John in that time frame.

Obviously cant be sure if any of these are yours, but worth holding onto, even if only to eliminate them sometime in the future.

OTTO

[aghadowey]

Bob- my Irish great-grandmother was sent out to America when she was 18 to an older brother and sister- I have the date but can't find her on any passenger lists either.
Yes, Philadelphia was big on scrubbing the front entrance- I remember row after row of brick houses from my childhood and the step was alway cleaned, door knockers polished, etc. (although never on Sundays).
Do you know where in Philadelphia the Weirs lived? there might be church records. If they were Presbyterian they would have bought a certificate from the home church (written by minister or clerk of session). When joining the new congregation this would have been presented to new minister. Presbyterians usually have communion twice a year (sometimes May and Nov.) and communicants register would list new communicants (members), whether they joined by examination or certificate and often the home church is listed.