As Dave in South Africa describes his own experience, while I was in
Ireland I also made an appointment to see the minister of the church I
was interested in. I visited Ballygawley's Presbyterian manse in 2006,
where Rev. Ian McClean let me look at the original books, including
"Ballygawley Session Book, 1856-1938," a hardback ledger with a brown
marbleized cover. That book has NOT been microfilmed by PRONI, whose
church records guide and eCatalogue only have baptisms and marriages for
Ballygawley Presbyterian Church, and nothing for session books.
Besides the "Roll of Communicants" list, the Ballygawley Sessions book
included 18-20 pages of an unusual list for a Presbyterian congregation
-- a deaths and burials list. It was titled "Register of Deaths in the
Congregation of Ballygawley since May 1872." The beginning of this list
is well within the civil registration time period (1864+), but various
death entries have different data than found in civil records, and some
deaths have no matching entries in civil records. The burial places
included "Here" (meaning Ballygawley Presbyterian graveyard)
-"Aughnacloy" (Aughnacloy Presbyterian graveyard) - "Aghaloo" (the
ancient burial grounds at Aghaloo that preceded Aughnacloy and
Ballygawley as a local burial site for all denominations) -
"Ballynasaggart" (St. Matthew's Church of Ireland graveyard in Errigal
Keerogue parish) - "Clenaneese" (Upper Clonaneese Presbyterian
graveyard). Deceased individuals were being interred in both
Presbyterian and Church of Ireland graveyards, even when they were
members of Ballygawley Presbyterian Church, which has an adjacent
graveyard. These persons were obviously being interred in
generations-old family burial places, details of which are often
confirmed by finding their parents/grandparents/other relatives buried
in those places before them.
Web sites like this one -- thanks especially to Jim McKane, Len Swindley
and others -- are more important than ever in our continuing efforts to
identify our ancestors and learn more about their lives and families,
their residences, places of worship, cultural traditions, and other
aspects of daily existence. And, on web sites like CoTyroneIreland, we
can share those findings with others, and help each other as we all
learn more. I'm learning all the time, and I'm always glad to share what
I've learned.
Annie C.
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