AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION TO MCCLURE AND CREIGHTON

David & Margaret?s marriage appears to have been pre April 1845 when statutory marriage registration started.

Griffiths has David McClure in 1857 on plot 1 in Killynure (a farmhouse, outbuildings and c 44 acres).  What may be David?s death was registered in Stranorlar Apr ? Jun 1898, est year of birth 1822.

By 1901 this appears to be the widow Mgt still on the farm:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Convoy/Killynure_and_Wilsons_Forth/1198992/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Convoy/Killynure_or_Wilson_s_Fort/508947/

You may find the children?s baptisms in church records. The family were evidently Presbyterian (indicating Scottish origins, probably in the Plantation in the 17^th century. Possibly post 1630 since there are no McClures listed in the Donegal Muster Rolls for that time. There are some in the Hearth Tax records for 1665 though). Convoy Presbyterian church has baptisms from 1822, but only marriages from April 1845. They are on the rootsireland site (pay to view).

There?s a Samuel McClure of Convoy Presbyterian church listed as a pew holder and stipend (Minister?s salary) payer in 1867, along with Charles & Samuel.

Some information on Convoy on this link:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/Convoyproj.htm

Hello Ahoghill,

thanks for the headsup.

Our information was that David and Margaret were married in 1846. However the birthdate and following Baptism for Samuel was 1844. So this would indicate that our date is wrong and they would have had a recognised marriage prior to Sam birth for the Baptism to go ahead.

We now seek confirmation of Davids father - any clues?

We think that it is William born circa 1768 who married Sarah bc 1786.

We know by DNA that this lines is from the line of Richard McClure bc 1650   the first Lessee of Findrum

Richard is said to be from Ayrshire Scotland, possibly from the Maybole/Dailly area.

Cheers

John Gilbert

John,

Your research is approaching the dates when it gets very difficult in Ireland. You may come to a standstill. General advice on researching in this period can be found in Dr William Roulston?s excellent book: Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors, The essential Genealogical Guide to Early Modern Ulster 1600 -1 800. It will give you a list of suggestions.

The tithe records for that parish don?t appear to have survived.

You could try the Registry of Deeds records (Originals in Dublin, with a copy in PRONI in Belfast) for Killynure to see if any relevant leases etc were registered. (It wasn?t mandatory). These records started in 1708 and may name any relevant McClures, and sometimes their relationships to each other. Sometimes there are also references back to earlier leases and the persons named in them.

PRONI don?t appear to have any other documents in their on-line catalogue relating to Killynure & McClure. You could however try National Archives in Dublin.

I presume you have looked for relevant gravestones in the local churchyards. (Try Church of Ireland as well as Presbyterian as Presbyterians often used COI graveyards).

Search for any Encumbered Estates records on Killynure. These date to the 1850s, but often refer to 3 lives leases which can get you back into he 1700s. They are on fmp.

I looked at the Down Survey for 1630 but it doesn?t appear to have any relevant references to your townland.

Ayrshire seems a reasonable option for the family?s origins. Certainly many settlers did originate in that county. The Chief Undertakers in that part of Raphoe were Cunningham, Stewart (both from Ayrshire) as well Bishop Leslie and Knox.  And obviously many of the original tenants came from their estates in Scotland.

Elwyn