Edward Thompson B 1817 Coleraine

[esor]

My 3X GGrandfather Edward Thompson son of Samuel Thompson (occupation?)and Martha and his wife Mary dau of James Stewart (labourer) and Peggy arrived in Sydney NSW on 3 Oct 1838 on the Parland that departed from Loch Foyle, Derry 3 Jun 1838.

The handwritten immigrant record looks like Edward was a native of the parish of Coleraine (I think) but I cant read the father Samuel's occupation.  Martha was also a native of the same parish.

Edward was born about 1817 and married Martha about 1836.  They had one son James also born in Derry about 1836.

Can anyone tell me how I might go about locating birth and marriage records for Edward and Mary  and James?  Their religion was Presbyterian and they could both read and write.

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately the dates you are looking for are well before the start of civil registration so you'll need to rely on church records but many Presbyterian records in the Coleraine area don't start until after the Thompsons left Ireland.

Here's a rough guide to the records of the Presbyterian congregations in Coleraine- B=baptisms, M=marriages:
1st Coleraine B=1845, M=1845
2nd Coleraine (New Row) B=1842, M=1809
3rd Coleraine (Terrace Row) B=1862, M=1845

There are also a number of Presbyterian churches not far from the centre of Coleraine- Ballywatt, Ballywillan, Ballyrashane, Macosquin (Englishtown) are just a few.

The earliest complete census for Ireland is 1901 but for Co.Derry there is the 1831 Census- lists heads of household only. Perhaps someone here will have access to that and check for Samuel Thompson for you.

[esor]

Thank you.

I have a copy of the 1831 Census and there are lots of Thompsons in Coleraine including three Samuels (Edward's father's name).

I haven't been able to decipher Samuels occupation from Edward's NSW immigration record.  Can any help please?  Copy attached.   If its not a labourer which I dont think it is, perhaps I'll be able to find him in a directory?

 

[frankie-d]

I just saw this after searching for Coleraine Presbyterian Records.

Looks to me like the occupation could be Weaver with the W running into an e which is similar to the e at the end of "wife", followed by an a.

Weaving would have been a common occupation but went into decline around this time with mechanisation so a son would maybe no longer follow his father into it.

[esor]

Thank you, you are spot on.
My grandmother thought he was a farmer so I too funnelled in my thinking.
Esor