Newspapers...
Newspapers are an important source of family history information.
The major drawback with using them is usually the lack of an index of names. Of particular interest to genealogists are birth, death and marriage notices. In many cases a newspaper notice may be the only record of one of these events if it took place prior to civil registration and if a church record has not survived.
The Belfast Newsletter was first published in 1737. Its readership extended far beyond Belfast to cover much of Ulster. Extracts of births, marriages and deaths taken from Gordon’s Newry Chronicle, 1778-9 are available in PRONI (T/699/6).
Extracts
The Newspaper Library in Belfast, the Linen Hall Library and PRONI all have good newspaper collections. The following are extracts from marriage and deaths notices in Belfast Newsletter, 1738-1800, for Newry (PRONI T/1584)
| Page | Edition | Announcement |
|---|---|---|
| p.453 | 17 Feb. 1792 | Married James Andrews Esquire of Comber [Co. Down] to Miss Glenny of Newry. |
| p.303 | 24 Nov. 1780 | Married on Friday last [17 Nov.] John Gausson Esquire of Newry to Miss Andrews of Comber [both Co. Down] |
| p.82 | 18 Jun. 1765 | Married last week Mr Robert Davis of Newry, merchant, to Miss Elizabeth Lindsey of Portadown [Co. Armagh] |
| p.172 | 24 Sep. 1773 | Died at Newry Mr Terence Devellin a Romish clergyman |
| p.333 | 29 Oct. 1784 | Died at Newry on 27 ult. in her 30th year Mrs Mary Ann Devlin, wife of Mr Mark Devlin of said town. |
| p.151 | 8 Oct. 1771 | Died at Newry on 27 ult. Mr Andrew Dick, hardware merchant |
| p.362 | 17 Oct. 1786 | Died last Sunday [15 Oct.] at Violet Hill [Newry] Master Nicholas Dick second son of Samuel Dick Esquire |
| p.27 | 30 Aug. 1754 | Married last Saturday [24 Aug.] George Disney Esq of Newry to Miss Jane Brabazon eldest dau. of Anthony Brabazon Esquire of Constown, Co. Louth. |
| p.270 | 20 Jun. 1777 | Died last week at Cabra, Co. Down, in her 35th year Mrs Mary Dromgoole dau. of the late John Magenis Esquire of Cabra, wife of Mr Peter Drumgoole of Newry, apothecary and wine merchant |
| p.276 | 2 Jan. 1778 | Died a few days since at Newry Mr Peter Dromgoole, apothecary and wine merchant. |
| p.503-4 | 12 Oct. 1795 | Married on Wed. last [7 Oct.] Thomas Greer Esquire of Newry to Miss Elizabeth Courtney of Southwark |
| p.24 | 23 Apr. 1754 | Died last Tuesday [16 Apr.] at Newry Capt.John Grenon aged 74 |
| p.406 | 3 Apr. 1789 | Married Mr Thomas Black of Newry, surgeon, to Miss Hail of Drumnevadey (Drumnavaddy, Seapatrick, Banbridge, Co. Down) |
| p.28 | 8 Nov. 1754 | Died Sunday last (3 Nov.) in Dukes Street [Dublin] Miss Mary Hall, eldest sister to Roger Hall Esquire of Mount Hall, near Newry, and niece to the Rt Hon. The Countess Dowager of Kildare |
| p.86 | 29 Nov. 1775 | Married lately at Mount Hall, near Newry, William Brownlow Esquire, Knight of the Shire for Co. Armagh, to Miss Hall, 3rd dau. of Roger Hall Esquire, MP for Newry. |
| p.565 | 30 Sep. 1800 | Died on 17th inst. at Narrow Water House, Mrs Hall, wife of Savage Hall Esquire |
| p.328 | 13 July 1784 | Died at Newry Joshua Hamilton Esquire, Collector of that port |
| p.174 | 22 Oct. 1773 | Married [Dublin] Col. Simon Hart, lately from the East Indies, to the widow Campbell of Newry |
| p.376 | 10 Aug. 1787 | Married William Hartigan Esquire, surgeon of Kings Street, Stephen’s Green [Dublin], to Miss Pollock of Newry |
| p.529 | 1 Jan. 1798 | Married on 24 Decr. Mr Robert Henry of College Green, Dublin, merchant, to Miss Elder of Newry |
| p.403 | 30 Jan. 1789 | Died Miss Innes from the Bachelor’s Walk [Dublin], sister to Charles Innes Esquire of Dromantine [Newry], Co. Down, and niece to Robert Kingsmill Esquire of Sidmonton, Hampshire, England, MP for Tregony |
| p.73 | 3 Jan. 1764 | Died last week in Dominck Street [Dublin] William Innes Esquire of Dromantine [Newry], Co. Down |
| p.86 | 25 Oct. 1765 | Died on Monday last [21 Oct.] at Tremont, near Newry, Co. Down, Rev. James Johnson aged 87. |
| p.275 | 19 Dec. 1777 | Died a few days ago Mrs Johnston, wife of James Johnston Esquire of Tremont [Newry, Co. Down] |
| p.419 | 1-5 Jan. 1790 | Married Mr William Mackeester, merchant of Newry, Co. Down, to Miss Hannah Keenan of Paradise Row [Dublin] |
| p.3 | 29 Apr. 1788 | Married at Violet Hill [Newry], Co. Armagh, Miss Kelly |
| p.399 | 19 May 1780 | Died 13 inst. at Newry Mrs Mary Lawson, wife to Mr James Lawson, merchant |
| p.332 | 12 Oct. 1784 | Died in Market Street on Friday last Mrs Martha Macartney in her 51st year, relict of the late Mr Archibald McCartney, formerly merchant in Newry, and dau. of the late Major Bell of Bell’s Grove, near Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone. |
| p.484 | 20 Jun. 1794 | Died at Newry on Monday last [23 June] Mr Richard McAvoy in his 88th year, keeper of the navigation bridge, leading from Sugar Island to Canal Street. |
| p.341 | 17 Jun. 1785 | Died in Newry Mr William McCabe, watchmaker |
| p.295 | 26 Oct. 1779 | Married 27 inst. Miss Bridget McCaffrey of Belfast to Mr John Mateer of Newry |
| p.315 | 29 Nov. 1782 | Died Mr Joseph McClure at Newry 25 Nov., merchant of that town |
| p.384 | 11 Jan. 1788 | Married on Tuesday last Mr James McComb of Belfast to Miss Margaret McCulley of Newry |
| p.335 | 14 Jan. 1785 | Died on Friday last [7 Jan.] Capt. MacDonald, Master of the schooner. Industry of this port [Newry] |
| p.268 | 20 May 1777 | Died at Newry Mr Ferdinand MacDonnel, grocer |
| p.149 | 1 Jan. 1790 | Married Mr William Mackwester, merchant of Newry, Co Down, to Miss Hannah Keenan (q.v.). |
| p.129 | 21 Apr. 1769 | Married on 18th inst. Miss Maitland of Knockstickian [Knocksticken, Loughin island] to Mr John Maffet of “Farnefade” |
| p.340 | 31 May 1785 | Married Mr Francis McKenna of Newry, merchant, to Miss Marmion of Louth |
| p.506 | 8 Feb. 1796 | Died last week in Newry Rev. Lucius Marron, only son of Mr Marron, schoolmaster in Newry. |
| p.516 | 11 Nov. 1796 | Died in Newry on 8th inst. in her 14th year Miss Marron, dau. of Mr James Marron, classical schoolmaster in that town |
| p.234 | 1 Aug. 1775 | Married at Newry Mr Daniel Marsden, merchant of Abbey Street [Newry], to Miss Catherine Corry (q.v.), dau. of M.P. for Newry |
| p.338 | 12 Apr. 1785 | Died at Newry on Wed. last Master William May, aged 14 years, son of Mr Samuel May of Canal Street [Newry], merchant |
| pp.74-75 | 2 Mar. 1764 | Married 21 Feb. at Annaginy [Annaginny, Donaghmore, Dungannon], Co Tyrone, Mr Mitchell, merchant of Newry to Miss Judith Mitchell a lady of distinguished merit with a handsome fortune. |
| p.386 | 5 Feb. 1788 | Died in Newry in his 39th year Rev. John O’Fegan, RC clergyman in that town |
| p.307 | 22 Jun. 1781 | Died on Sat. last Mr George Ogle Jnr of Newry |
| p.309 | 19 Oct. 1781 | Died last week at Newry Mr George Ogle Snr., merchant |
| p.266 | 28 Mar. 1777 | Married at Newry Miss Jane Ogle, dau. of William Ogle of Newry, Esquire, to Thomas Benson Esquire |
| p.335 | 14 Jan. 1785 | Died on 10th inst. Mrs Jane Ogle, wife to William Ogle Esquire of Newry |
| p.329 | 6 Aug. 1784 | Died at Newry in Bow Street Mrs Owen, wife of Mr John Owen |
| p.330 | 3 Sep. 1784 | Married on Fri. last Miss Charlotte Pollock of Newry to Mr William Sinclare (q.v.) |
| p.236 | 22 Aug. 1775 | Married on Tuesday evening last Mr James Pollock, merchant of Newry, to Miss Jane Sinclaire (q.v.) |
| p.163 | 8 Dec. 1772 | Died last Tuesday [1st] of a violent fever in his twentieth year Mr George Read, son to James Read Esq of Newry |
| p.506 | 29 Jan. 1796 | Died at Newry on Thur. last in her 35t year, wife to Christopher Read Esquire |
| p.567 | 17 Oct. 1800 | Died at Newry on Sat. last [11th], wife of Samuel Re[i]d Esquire, distributor of stamps for Co. Down |
| p.190 | 31 May 1774 | Married Miss Robinson of Newry to Mr Daniel Cochrane (q.v.) |
| p.127 | 14 Feb. 1769 | Died at Rostrevor, near Co. Newry, Co. Down, Robert Ross M.P., Alderman of Dublin, Lord Mayor of same in 1749, Member of Parliament in the last two Parliaments and one of the Trustees of the linen manufacture |
| p.512 | 11 Jul. 1796 | Married yesterday [7th] at St. George’s, Hanover Square [London], John Scott Esquire of Newry to Miss Pratt of Harbledown. |
| p.226 | 12 May 1775 | Married at Newry Mr James Searight, merchant, to Miss Beath |
| p.275 | 26 Dec. 1777 | Died at Newry, dau. of John Seaver Esquire of Heathhall |
| p.330 | 3 Sep. 1784 | Married on Fri. last Mr William Sinclaire of Belfast to Miss Charlotte Pollock of Newry |
| p.369 | 23 Mar. 1787 | ‘Capt. Stack and all on board drowned in the wreck of the Ann near Broomhill on her passage from Alicunte [Spain] to Newry. |
| p.341 | 12 July 1785 | Married [Newry 11th] Miss Stanley of Drogheda to Mr Robert Taylor, Newry, apothecary |
| p.211 | 29 Nov. 1774 | Died at Newry Mr George Stevenson, printer and bookseller |
| p.385 | 25 Jan. 1788 | Died 21st inst. wife of Robert Stevenson Esquire, Newry |
| p.256 | 23 Aug. 1777 | Married on Mon. se’nnight Mr Robert Stevenson, bookseller, to Miss Nancy Cumming (q.v.), both of Newry |
| p.55 23 May 1760 | Died 21st inst. in Newry in an advanced age Mrs Catherine Stewart, formerly wife of Mr Peyton Farquhar, bookseller, late of Dublin. She was a dutiful wife; a tender parents, an affectionate friend, which make her death, universally lamented. She was eminent for making Holma’s London Ink powder for upwards of thirty years past. | |
| p.341 | 12 July 1785 | Married Newry [11th] Mr Robert Taylor, apothecary of Newry, to Miss Stanley (q.v.) |
| p.550 | 19 July 1799 | Died 13th inst. Mrs Sarah Tegart, wife of Mr James Tegart, merchant, Newry |
| p.343 | 23 Aug. 1785 | Died at Newry, Mr John Thirkield |
| p.272 | 29 Aug. 1777 | Died on Thursday 14th ult. Andrew Todd, linen draper of Ballyroney, Co. Down, on the road home from Newry by a fall from his horse |
| p.243 | 12 Dec. 1775 | Married [Dublin 9 Dec.] Miss Sally Tooms of Newry to Mr Peter Godley |
