information on James Porter and Catherine Smith

Linda:

If James Porter and Catherine Smith were baptized in Termonmagurik parish and presumably were born in the 1820s, it does not appear that Church records ( C of I ) go back that far. I also checked the 1859 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Co. Tyrone and there were no Oliver Porters listed. There were 20 Thomas Smiths but none lived in Termonmaguirk civil parish.

Roger McDonnell

Is this the family in 1850 Census New York Ward 8 District 1. James Porter b. 1819 Irl, Katherine 30, William 8, James H 5, John 3, Matthew 0

Hi Linda some further information for you to research. Wonderful site www.cotyroneireland.com go into search cotyroneirelandwebsites from this. I found a baptism record for James Porter October 21st 1810 to Oliver Porter & Catherine @ St Lurans Parish Church Derryloran-records 1810-1829. In Tithe Applotment Books for ARTREA PARISH 1825 there is a Oliver Porter & William Porter in DERRYGONIGAN. If the 1850 US census is same family you will note James & Katherine had a son called William. Another site www.proni.gov.uk there was a will for Oliver Porter but unfortunately transcripts pre 1858 were lost in fire of 1922. Good look & Regards Frances

Thank you so much Roger for your help in this. I started with Termonmaguirk as a birth place for James and Catherine since they chose to marry there thinking they would marry close to where they lived.  I will have to expand out to different counties to see what I find.  I know they definitely married there since I found their records. James had 2 sisters Ellen and Mary who also married in the area so I will check those towns also.  Again, thanks for checking!  Very appreciated.

Linda

Hi  Frances, Thank you so much for your help.  I don't believe it is the same James Porter in 1850 in NY. that you found but I will check it out again.

I have records showing James and Catherine Porter immigrated to NY,June 13, 1849 on the " Barbara" ship and they were 24 and 20 years old.  I did not find any other children sailing with them at that time.  They did have a son John who was born in NY around 1850 and this corresponds with a 1880 NY census record showing their son John was 30.  The information you gave me gives me new leads to check out that I hadn't been able to find. You found Oliver Porter at st luran Parish, Derryloran and that is a great lead because I found James Porter's sister Mary got married in Derryloran. in 1850.

Again, thanks for all the help and I hope I can also help someone out sometime!

Linda