FREEDUFF CHURCH MIC 18/444A/1 (1835?)

Congregation of Creggan

June 3, 1835 List of women examined in Holy Scriptures

Minister Thomas McWilliams

Clerk: Joseph Donaldson

Nov 18, 1837. The meeting of the session held that day … examined in shorter catechism:

November 18, 1837: Agnes TRIMBLE, wife of Samuel DONALDSON of Cloghog [?] a Certificate deemed satisfactory ...[there followed a number of records of those found guilty of fornication]

May 3, 1857: Alexander DONALDSON “received token after examination”

Feb 1, 1857: Gilbert MASTERMAN & his wife Mary SMYTH came before the session and expressed their contrition for the act of fornication before Marriage, after suitable admonition they were received into fellowship.

Nov 3, 1860 After exams. Mary DONALDSON

MARRIAGES

June 6, 1838. Alexander DONALDSON son of Samuel DONALDSON (1753-1827) of Cloghog & Alice DONALDSON (1761-1827) his wife of Cloghog … married to Barbara daughter of the late Thomas HOPKINS (or HIGINS) & Martha HOPKINS otherwise GILLMER his wife. Present John DONALDSON & Samuel GILLMER.

NOTE: There is some confusion here. My 2009 notes differ and it is mysterious how this could have occurred. The 2009 version records:
June 6, 1838. Alexander DONALDSON son of Samuel DONALDSON & Alice DONALDSON his wife of Clogher married to Barbara daughter of the late Thomas STEPHENS & Martha STEPHENS otherwise GILLMER his wife, members of the established church. . NOTE:

• There is a Barbara JACKSON who married a Thomas STEPHENS and she died young after having three children. It is not impossible that he would have remarried and that given the proiximity of GILMOREs that, one of them would have been chosen as a wife. The names Martha shows up in the GILMORE line in the next generation.
• [NOTE: See Creggan Marriages where I have a cryptic note – likely as a result of over-hasty note-taking – indicating a CLAPPINS?, Thomas of Monaghan & Martha GILLMER of Creggan Mar 24, 1815] [NOTE: I suspect this is a second wife of Alexander DONALDSON as there is a record of an earlier wife (Jane Unnamed) and two children born in 1814 and 1817. I am entering it in my tree this way. I am also using GILMORE instead of GILLMER so I don’t lose track of the mother & potential relations to other GILMOREs.]

November 26, 1838 James STEENSON of the Police Establishment now stationed at Crossmaglen having a proper certificate from his former [?], the Rev. Mr. SMITH of Glaslough to Esther, daughter of his wife of the congregation Established Church of Castleblayney. November 26, 1838. In presence of Mr. [?] McWILLIAMS & Sarah Mc[?]

January 5, 1839 James JACKSON son of Richard JACKSON & Sarah McKEE his wife of this congregation to Fanny daughter of [blank] McComb____? [blank] his wife of the congregation of Covenanters at Bellilane. Present at ceremony John McNEELY & John JOHNSTON.

• [NOTE: There is a Richard JACKSON of Liscalgot (1778-1848) in the Creggan records who had a daughter Mary JACKSON in 1810. Another interesting link is that Margaret JACKSON (1783-1810) – a daughter of David JACKSON & Margaret BRADFORD married a Thomas McKEE. We know that: “MARGARET married Thomas McKEE who died early in their marriage. Their son Sam was born some months after his death. Margaret remarried to a Mr. SEAWRIGHT and died in childbirth aged 27”. ]
• Rev Daniel Gunn Brown’s visiting notes c 1833 included the following: South Tullyvallen. Richard Jackson and Sarah McKee, 5 children, James, Richard, Sarah, Eliza, William. Regularly attending communicants, 2 Bibles, family worship. Thanks to Linda Leonard for this addition.

March 5, 1839 William GORDON of this congregation, son of David GORDON & Annabel McNEELY his wife to Anne DONALDSON of the established church of Creggan, daughter to John Donaldson & Jane Smith his wife.

Jan 27, 1840 Archibald BIGGAM of the Congregation of Clarkson son of Samuel BIGGAM & Mary BUTTER to Sarah JACKSON daughter of Richard JACKSON & Sarah McKEE his wife of this congregation. Present John JACKSON, William WALLACE & Edward WALLACE.

August 6, 1841 Hugh PEERY son of William PEERY & Jane McCULLAGH to Margaret BUCHANNAN daughter to George BUCHANEN & Margaret PEERY, all of this congregation. Present: Alexander BROWN with others.

February 9, 1843

Edward WALLACE a member of the Independent Congregation of Armagh son of the late Jas WALLACE married to Eliza daughter to Richard JACKSON of this congregation and Sarah McKEE (or McKEEN) his late wife of Tullyvallen. Witness John JACKSON. William Nelson

March 21, 1843 David NELSON of Freeduff son to John NELSON & Jane McCREERY his wife was married to [Alley] SPEERS of Cullyhannna, daughter to Samuel SPEERS & Elizabeth THOMPSON his wife. All of this congregation. Present: William SPEERS and William NELSON

April 23, 1843 Cornelius Brown son of William Brown of Tullycolive & Margaret Wilie [AKA WYLIE] his wife was received into the church by baptism. He was born 23 March 1843

NOTE: I have much more work to do on the BROWN family:

• In 1812 December 6, a Cornelius and Margaret BROWN had a daughter baptised at Creggan Church. He may have been a grandfather of the Cornelius BROWN b 1843.
• NOTE: Tullycolive is in the Parish of Muckno, Co. Monaghan (although a deed indicates Armagh – perhaps the border was redrawn since the deed reference was made).
• See also: http://www.user.dccnet.com/s.brown/documents/1871BROWNThompson.htm for how this part of the family will eventually connect to our BROWN family.
• See also Excel files from Monaghan
• See also
• Deed 619-7-423137 dated Dec 2, 1809 Deed of conveyance between Alexander BROWN of Cloghog, Co. Armagh farmer & Cornelius BROWN of Tullycol[eve?] Co. Armagh, farmer. Whereby Alexander BROWN declared ¼ of Kiltybane (29 A 1R 30p) demised by the late James EASTWOOD of Castletown, Co. Louth to the said Alexander and William BROWN & Alexander DONELTON [sic] 20 Aug 1794 was made in trust to the said Alexander BROWN to & for the use of the minor children of the late John BROWN of Cloghog aforesaid deceased whose last will and testament said Alexander BROWN was the only executor ... natural lives of Alexander DONALDSON & William BROWN. Witness John COLER of Aghad ... & John BROWN of Cloghog, both of Co. Armagh, farmers. John WALLACE of A... Attorney, Dublin. NOTE: A John BROWN was a brother-in-law of the three brothers: William McCULLAGH, Samuel McCULLAGH and George McCULLAGH [I suspect a Co. Monaghan connection here]. SOURCE: A Statistical Account of the Barony of Upper Fews in the County of Armagh. John Donaldson 1838, p13.
• Deed 500-66-312060 dated 1795 Feb 13 p 132 2007 diary notes
• Deed 552-242-365984 dated 1802 Oct 19 & Deed 565-222-377388 dated 1780 Jan 1 p 134 diary notes
• Deed 713-137-487872 p 139 diary notes

February 28, 1844 Robert PEERY of Cloghog, son of William PEERY & Jane McCULLAGH his wife to Jane SINCLAIR daughter to Isaac SINCLAIR & Elizabeth JOHNSTON his wife, all of this congregation. Present: Joseph PEERY, James SINCLAIR among others.

BAPTISMS – in order of date

*My notes were less clear to me when I got home than they were when I was madly transcribing, so I may have some birth dates that should have been recorded as baptismal dates. I will fix it after I can get another look at the records. Not that I know when that will be.

The List of Original Seatholders included:

William McCULLAGH ₤130.12

Alexander DONALDSON ₤130.13

John STITT ₤112.

DEATHS

Mr. James STITT was Session Treasurer in 1837.

1908 Communion: James McCULLAGH

1909 Communion: Maggie McCULLOUGH

1915-1919 Communicants: William, Mrs. Agnes, James, Samuel, George, Lucy, Sarah, Mrs. McCULLAGH; William, Mrs. L., Gordon, Ida SPEERS; William James, Mrs. STITT; Mollie McCULLAGH.