STEELE of Magherafelt

[thousandnames]

I have an ancestor named Robert Steele, who was born on the 21st of April 1808. 9 of his 10 children migrated to New Zealand, the eldest of which was named Samuel Steele (1838-1920). I know that Robert had a brother named Samuel Br... (unknown name) Steele who died in 1845. I suspect that Robert and Samuel's father may have been named Samuel, but I cannot confirm this.
Robert Steele married Elizabeth Brown before 1838, he died in Magherafelt. Robert owned property in Dunamoney according to Griffiths Valuation.
Robert's siblings:
Samuel Br... (d. 1845)
James (d. 1866)
Ellen (d. 1844)
presumably Margaret (d. 1858)

I would like to find out who Robert's parents were, and more about his wife. If you need the names of his children, I have them.
Thanks.

[Elwyn Soutter]

Judging by the 1901 census, the family were Presbyterian. I would expect they attended church in Magherafelt. Have you checked church records for siblings and parents? Magherafelt 1st Presbyterian baptism and marriage records go back to 1769/71.

[aghadowey]

There's a Steele family living in Dunamoney at the time of the 1901 census-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Magherafelt/Dunamoney/1532889/

Also found an early Robert Steele listed in Maitland's History of Magherfelt which may be of interest- see here for link to Google ebook.

[thousandnames]

Elwyn: Do you know if these records are online? If not, you couldn't do a search for me? I live in NZ, a long way away from Magherafelt!
Aghadowey: Margaret Richardson is the married name of the child who stayed in Ireland, so I suspect that this Robert may be a nephew of my ancestor. Just reading the ebook.
Thanks for the help, they were certainly Presbyterian, that much is family knowledge.

Note: Based on the names of Robert's brothers and Robert's sons' names, I'm guessing that Robert's father may be Samuel Steele and Robert his eldest son. Any matches for a Samuel Steele, married around 1807, born c. 1787? Of course, this is just guesswork, but it might help.

[aghadowey]

There was a fantastic website which was putting local church records online but the owner has had difficulties with the site and it's not fully working at the moment - suggest to keep an eye out to see if the records are back online-
http://magheragenealogy.org/

There are actually 2 Presbyterian churches in Magherafelt itself- 1st Magherafelt and Union Road (founded 1868, now united with Lecumpher). PRONI (Belfast) have microfilmed copies of the records but that won't be much use to you in N.Z. so it might be worth checking the LDS catalogue to see if they've also filmed the records (if so they can be ordered from your local LDS library for a small fee to be viewed there). www.familysearch.org

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
   Not sure if this helps but on 13 Jan 1865 William H. Richardson married Margaret Steele in Magherafelt CHURCH OF IRELAND.

Regards

[thousandnames]

Yes, I have this information, but its from a secondary source. Where did you get it?
Thanks for the help.

[thousandnames]

I've found a record for a Samuel Steele, born c. 1811 in Magherafelt. His children to Florilla Mitchell were Robert (1832), Mary Ann (1834) and David (1837). Could this be Robert's brother Samuel, I wonder?

[kingskerswell]

Hi,
    Information comes from a subscription website as does:-
11 Jan 1832 Samuel Steel married FLORELLA Mitchell in Moneymore First Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt District.

Regards