JAmes and Mary Woods, Killinchy County Down,

[maria101]

James and Mary immigrated on Indiana 1858,  farmed at Doyleston. Lots about the family on P.Past but it is harder to find much about James back in Ireland. They married twice on 1st April 1841 on the same day, first in Killinchy Pres. Church then in Raffery (Is this an April Fool's joke? source Ros Davies surnames index. Killinchy and Raffery appear to be neighbouring townlands just south of Belfast.
It seems that the Watsons and Woods were tenant farmers and some may be in Griffiths Valuation but hard to pin down.
Would love to hear from any of their many descendants researching this family
Maria

[Janette]

Hi you may be better to post this on the Ireland board

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/ireland/

Cheers Janette

[goldie61]

James and Mary immigrated on Indiana 1858,  farmed at Doyleston. Lots about the family on P.Past but it is harder to find much about James back in Ireland. They married twice on 1st April 1841 on the same day, first in Killinchy Pres. Church then in Raffery (Is this an April Fool's joke? source Ros Davies surnames index. Killinchy and Raffery appear to be neighbouring townlands just south of Belfast.

It may be that it was entered into the registers of both Killinchy and Raffery - one of them coming from each parish.

[maria101]

Just a feeble joke -It could be that it was easier for the couple to travel than elderly parents at that time. Thanks for your interest.
Maria

[aghadowey]

"b.c. 1828; married Mary Watson 1 Apr 1844 at Raffrey Presbyterian Church & Killinchy Presbyterian on the same day; father of Elizabeth b. 21 Oct 1844 (d. 2 Jul 1930) & ; emigrated to New Zealand in 1858 with children Samuel 11, James 9, Robert 7, Hugh 6, John 4 , Matthew 2 & Esther 3 months (b. 1 Mar 1858 & bpt. Raffrey Presbyterian Church) ; other children born in New Zealand William b.c. 1863, Thomas b 12 May 1863 , Mary b. 9 May 1865 , Joseph b.c. 1867 & Andrew b.c. 1870"
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/W/Woods.htm
On the right ride of that entry is a link for email address of someone researching the family- have you tried contacting them yet?

[Kiltaglassan]

Killinchy and Raffery appear to be neighbouring townlands just south of Belfast.

The townlands of Killinchy and Raffrey.
https://www.townlands.ie/down/dufferin/killinchy/killinchy/
https://www.townlands.ie/down/castlereagh-upper/killinchy/raffrey/

KG

[maria101]

I didn't notice Tom Watson in Down -thankyou very much.I shall definitely try him Have been relying on  great- aunt Annie's info  from years ago and early papers in Ellesmere where  the Woods actually lived in Killinchy because  NZCO actively encouraged Down families to emigrate -hardworkers -and Protestant! I assume they embarked at Belfast on the way from Gravesend. Finding more in Ireland is more difficult . 1841 census James son of a family in Grey Abbey but that seems too far away from Killinchy. Griffiths lists Samuel,  renting land -but no house - and Robert Watson house only, Lord Dufferin.
 Found another pair who married twice -could it be because the Presbyterian churches had split  at the time?
So grateful for your tips. Maria

[Flloyd_JW]

Maria.  There was a split in Killinchy Presby about that time and a second Presby church was formed in Killinchy in the 1840s but don't see how that affects Raffrey.  Certainly never seen registration in two church registers before but will bear that in mind for future reference.  I have looked up marriages in the register for Killinchy Presby in PRONI before and the marriage entry for 1841 will have listed the names of the fathers.  If you don't have success with Tom Watson I will look the marriage up next time I am down there.

[maria101]

Thank you so much - It is a puzzle and I hope to trace some descendants here who may remember hearing about this when I have done a bit more with the on-line Papers Past - news from the rest of the world took so long to get here and the local rags had plenty of space to publish  lots of news about the doings in their communities. But there are puzzles here and I now  need to dig deeper.  Tom has not replied but the e-mail did not bounce back so I know it went somewhere. I thought of writing to the churches but it would be a huge help if you have a chance to look at the registers. If we knew the christian names of James parents it could help.

Maria