John Cameron and Jane Mathews

famtracer,

I looked in the 1831 census of Co. Londonderry. There were only 16 or 17 households headed by someone named Cameron in the whole county. With the exception of 1 RC family, they were all Presbyterian (so almost certainly descendants of Scots who settled in the area in the 1600s. The surname and location would suggest that as well).

There was a John Cameron in Ballinrees, parish of Dunboe with 6 males and 4 females in his household, another in Cah which is in Errigal parish (3 males, 2 females) and a third in Islandmore, parish of Ballywillin (3 males and 2 females). There was also a Jane Cameron (probably a widow) in Ballyrees with 1 male and 4 females. All these families were Presbyterian.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie

John Cameron junior’s birth (c 1820s I assume, if he married in 1845) and his parents marriage are long before the start of statutory birth and marriage registration so you won’t find conventional birth or marriage certificates for the events. You need to rely on church records. They haven’t all survived and what does still exist isn’t always on-line. You would probably need to employ a researcher to go through the church records in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. There’s probably a couple of hours work involved in checking all the Presbyterian churches in the relevant areas.

There were still 3 Cameron households farming in Ballinrees in 1911 (one mistranscribed as Comeron), but the families in the other 2 townlands in 1831 had moved on or died out.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Londonderry/Letterloan/Ballinrees/

I also looked at the 1831 census to see where the name Matthews/Mathews was found. There were about 25 households, including some in Dunboe & Ballywillin.  Again nearly all were Presbyterian.

So I think Dunboe and Ballywillin are probably the areas to start any search of church records. Church records in PRONI are not on-line. They are on microfilm and someone has to go in and look them up in person. 

1st Dunboe Presbyterian has baptism records 1805-1812, then 1825 & 1826 and 1843 onwards. No marriage records prior to 1845. So some significant gaps.  There are seatholder records for 1830 which might help. Ballywillin Presbyterian has no records earlier than 1862 and Portrush Presbyterian (which is in the same area) has none earlier than 1843. Garvagh 1st Presbyterian (parish of Errigal has baptism from 1795 and Garvagh 2nd from 1830 only.

Failing that you might need to try DNA testing.

Hi Elwyn,

Thank you so much for researching my Camerons.  We were mid-move when you responded to my message and it wasn't until now I reread you post and realized that the William Cameron you found may well be a relation,  My Camerons were RC as well and I imagine as there are not very many Catholic Camerons.  Wold you have any suggestions where I might continue my search.

Thank you again.  Your kindness is greatly appreciated.  

Judy Fulton