CRAIG, McMURRY, WRIGHT, MILLER of Dromore/Dromara

[boumboum]

Hi everyone

this is my first posting here - I had a huge breakthrough today, and have found several generations of my family in and around Dromore in Co Down. If any of you are researching the above names, I'd really appreciate hearing from you, so I can fill out the basics I've got from the IGI - which I know isn't always reliable anyway.

My line in Down starts with Elizabeth Craig, born 1807 and married to Benjamin Miller - and goes back to Robert Craig in 1741. I'm looking for more on Benjamin Miller particularly, but all and any links gratefully received.

Thanks

Amanda

[eddiekelso]

Hello Amanda,

Were any of your names linked to 1st Dromara Presbyterian Church? I have a database of names from my "Kelso" research in Dromara & can check for you if relevant. The earliest records I have date from 1819.

Regards,

Eddie Kelso
Antrim, Northern Ireland

[boumboum]

Thanks so much Eddie, and yes they were. My 4x great grandfather was William James Craig, christened at the first Presbyterian  Church 21st June 1780. Through the IGI I've found listings of 7 children to him and Elizabeth Miller, from Sarah 1802 to Isabella 1820.

I've no information on Elizabeth Miller, and am hoping that you might be able to find more about her in the records - marriage, birth? She's listed as having died in Dromora in 1842, that's all I know.

Thanks very much for looking, and hope to hear back soon.

Cheers

Amanda

[eddiekelso]

Hi Amanda,

I checked my records, but unfortunately I don't have anything for Craig or Miller for the dates you have given.

I will be at PRONI on Thursday to do some research on my family, & will check the microfilm for 1st Dromara. Baptisms date from about 1763, and marriages cover 1800/01 and from late 1819 until the early 1960's; no deaths are recorded. However, the early marriages only give the name of bride & groom; later marriages have more info (names of fathers, address & witnesses).

I am wary of the IGI - some dates & relationships for Kelso in IGI, allegedly from 1st Dromara, just don't exist! Hopefully I will be able to confirm the info you have about William Craig's family.  If there is anything else you want checked, just let me know.

Regards,

Eddie

[boumboum]

Thanks very much Eddie, I really appreciate that offer. I'm not sure if the children were baptised at the same church, but if you've time to have a poke around, fantastic!

Cheers

Amanda

[eddiekelso]

Hi Amanda,

As promised, I got a quick look at the microfilm of 1st Dromara Pres. Church records today. There was no record of any Craig's in the early marriage records.

I checked baptisms from 1774 - 1786 & got the following:

[1777] "Willm Craig & Mary McMurry had a male child born Decr 5th Baptised 12 called Robert."

[1780] "Willm Craig & Mary McMurry had a male child born June 16 Baptised 21 called William."

This confirms the record in IGI for William, and gives you a brother & his parents!

I also checked baptisms from 1799 - 1805, but there was no record of any baptisms of William & Elizabeth's children.  Although some of the records were very faint, I am sure that William wasn't there. (There were Craig baptisms - Robert Craig & Margaret Walker's children - possibly William's brother?)

Unfortunately I didn't have time to check further, but as at least 1 child was born/baptised about 1802 I think that it is unlikely that the baptisms were at this church. There were no Miller records in the years I searched.

I think IGI shows the birthplace as "Dromore", where there is also a Pres. Church. There are other churches in the area e.g. Drumgooland, but without knowing where they lived it will be difficult to find the baptisms/dates of birth. The absence of baptisms suggests that they either moved to another area, or just to another church.

I will check the Dromore records when I am next in PRONI, but I am not sure what date those records are from - lets hope we get lucky!

Hope this is useful - regards,

Eddie

[boumboum]

Hi Eddie

thanks so much for your trouble, I really appreciate it, and it's good to have confirmation of that IGI information on William, as well as to learn he had a brother.

I'll search further afield now - but thanks again

Amanda

[cygnus12]

Hi Amanda,

I am a descendant of William James Craig and Elizabeth Miller. I am interested in the fact that Elizabeth Craig also married a Miller. Do you have any other information on the Miller's?

Also I had traced the family back to William Craig and Mary McMurry, born about 1756. Do you have the family traced farther back than that? You mentioned a Robert Craig born in 1741. Is he in that line? The date seems a little late to be William Craig's father in 1756.

Any information you have to share is most welcome.

Steve.

[boumboum]

Hi Steve

great to hear from you - this is my father's side of the family, and I have very little info from them as my parents divorced when I was very young.

If you want to email me at boumboum@boumboum.co.uk, I can let you have what I've got by Gedcom?

Cheers

Amanda

PS whereabouts are you? Irish?