Matthew McCauley

The surname McAuley (and variant spellings) is very common in Ireland. In the 1901 census there were over 2000, of whom 71 were named William and 13 Mat(t)hew. So the names would have been equally common in the 1700s. Care needs to be taken to ensure you find the right family.

Researching in Ireland in the 1700s is notoriously difficult because of the lack of records. You haven’t said what denomination your family was. Do you know? But in Carrickfergus only 1 church has any records for the 1700s. That was the Church of Ireland whose records start in 1740. The oldest Presbyterian records start in 1823 and RC in 1850. If you think your family might have been Church of Ireland (ie Episcopalian) then there’s a copy of those early records in PRONI (the public record office) in Belfast. Otherwise no church records exist. Earlier records were either never kept or have been lost.

If you are unsure of the family’s denomination, the majority of emigrants from Ireland in the 1700s tended to be Presbyterian but obviously that’s not exhaustive proof that yours were. Some Roman Catholics and some Church of Ireland people left then too.

One source that might possibly help is the McKinney “stud” book in PRONI.  (T1013/1 to 3). This is a record of many of the main families in the general area, compiled by the McKinney family of Sentry Hill. There may be some McAuleys in it.

DNA testing might link you to a family which does have more information on its origins.

I would presume that William and Mathew were Presbyterian. William is supposedly buried at New Hope Presbyterian Church near Hillsborough, North Carolina. 

I've been told by someone in Clan McAuley that my blood is too diluted! Mathew was my 6th great grandfather and I descended from one of his daughters so that also makes it more difficult.

I'm not familiar with PRONI. Can you explain more?

Anggie,

Sorry about the delay in replying. I have only just come across your response. PRONI is the public record office for Northern Ireland:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/public-record-office-northern-ireland-proni

Access to the records there is free. This link explains what records exist, parish by parish:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/proni-guide-church-records

If you are unable to go yourself, you could employ a researcher. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net