Alexander Donning (Denning) - barony of Ards Co. Down

[me2012]

I wondering if anyone can help  - re: Alexander Donning (born about 1764 - died 1819) who married Jane Bailie (born about 1763 died 1831) - who married about 1789.   Nothing is known about the couple, only what is written here.  They were believed to have been from Drumardin ,  Co. Down.     We are not sure if they were original from Co. Down, or born and married elsewhere in Ireland.   (they were Presbyterians)

They had two known children: Alexander (1795) and Elizabeth (1798) and possibly Samuel and Jane.

We have information on their two children  Alexander and Elizabeth   no need for information there    ( which saves a lot of  time looking, as I appreciated that time is valuable )  -  it is only their parents and possible other children the parents may have had - that I am finding hard to locate.     Maybe - no records go back that far, for Co. Down.   

Thank you.

Pat.  NZ

[Elwyn Soutter]

Drumardan is in Castleboy Parish. Nearest Presbyterian church looks to be Cloughey. Their records only go back to 1841 so you are probably correct that there are no records for the period you need.

I note an Alexander Donnan farming Drumardan in Griffiths Valuation in 1864. A relation perhaps? (It's a small townland with only 7 or 8 households in 1863). No Donnan (and variants) living there by the 1901 census.

[scotmum]

Some relatives of this chap, who served with NZ forces in WW1, seem to have been born in Drumardan https://barryniblock.co.uk/world-war-one-list-of-dead/names-listed-alphabetically-by-surname/dobson-to-dooley/donnan-thomas-no-14080/

[scotmum]

Old Age Pension search shows Donnings at Drumardan in 1851

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/countries/topics/northernireland/2587/

So Donnan/Donning seem to have been interchangeable, depending on record. It even notes that the Griffiths Valuation showed "Donnan".

See various at http://www.rosdavies.com/SURNAMES/D/DonDoo.htm, including some with links to Castleboy parish.

[sam.b]

Do you have this?
Surname(s)   Graveyard   Civil Parish   Graveyard Location   County
DONNING, BAILIE   Slanes   Slanes   Slanes   Down
Gravestone Inscription   Erected by Alexander Donning of Drumardin in memory of his father Alexander Donning who departed this life 4th June 1819 aged 55 years And also of his mother Jane Donning alias BAILIE who departed this life the 4th January 1831 aged 68 years Also Margaret Donning alias BAILIE, wife of John Donning of Drumardin, who departed this life the 24th August 1837 aged 42 years.

[sam.b]

Here's a Marriage I found, is this a relative ?
Surname   First Name   Year   Father's First Name   County
LYONS   DAVID   1854   GEORGE   Down
Type   Civil Marriages
Date of Marriage   13/04/1854
Husband's Name   DAVID LYONS
Husband's Address   71 DURHAM STREET BELFAST
Husband's Occupation   NIGHT CONSTABLE
Husband's Age   25
Husband's Denomination   Presbyterian
Husband's Marital Status   Bachelor (Previously unmarried)
Husband's Father's Name   GEORGE LYONS
Husband's Father's Occupation   FARMER
Husband's Witness   RICHARD CHRISTIAN
Wife's Name   MARGARET JANE DONNING
Wife's Address   DRUMADON
Wife's Age   26
Wife's Denomination   Presbyterian
Wife's Marital Status   Spinster (Previously unmarried)
Wife's Father's Name   ALEXANDER DONNING
Wife's Father's Occupation   FARMER
Wife's Witness   FRANCIS MCKEE
Comment   BY LICENCE J ORR.
Address 1   PORTAFERRY Presbyterian
Address 2   ARDS
Address 3   BALLYPHILIP

[Elwyn Soutter]

PRONI (public record office) in Belfast has a rent roll for Drumardan in January 1849, with the names of the tenants. T1009/400.

[me2012]

Hi Elwyn  -  thank you for the information will look into it.
.
Hi Sam - Margaret Jane, is a relative - I don't have much on this family .  . I do have the cemetery details at Slanes. 
.
Hi Scotmum, I have come across the 'Old Age Pension' earlier this year - However I have looked at the WWI NZ families will look into this further - thank you.
.
Yeah - I thought researching back prior to 1800s in regards to Alexander Donning and his wife Jane. although grateful for the info that we can gather.         Thank you    P.