GuidedResearch:Why Can't I Find the Record - Ireland Presbyterian

Back to Ireland Guided Research. This page will give you additional guidance and resources to find information in Protestant records. Use this page if a record cannot be found on Ireland Protestant Guided Research page. If researching after 1864 (after 1845 for marriages), see Civil Records.

Additional Online Resources
''Currently, there are no additional databases for Presbyterian birth records. See, Substitute records below to help locate birth information in other records.''

Additional Records
Substitute records may contain information about more than one event and are used when records for an event are not available. The accuracy of the record is contingent upon when the information was recorded. Search for information in multiple substitute records to confirm the accuracy of these records.

Finding Town of Origin
Knowing an ancestor’s hometown can be important to locate more records. If a person immigrated to the United States, try Finding Town of Origin to find the ancestor’s hometown.

Virtual Genealogy Consultations
Schedule a free online consultation with a research specialist:

Ask the Community
Select a community research group where you can ask questions and receive free genealogy help.

Tips for finding vital records
Successfully finding vital records in online databases or other repositories depends on a few key points. Try the following search suggestions:
 * Add information. For common names, add more information to narrow the search such as approximate birth date or parent's names if known.
 * Spelling variations. Your ancestor's name may be misspelled. Search with spelling variations for the first and last name of your ancestor.
 * Search other party. Search for the parents or spouse.
 * Know county. Because of the abundance of common names, knowing the county is important to narrow down the search. Go to Finding the Ireland County or Parish of Origin to learn how to find the county.
 * Date range. Expand the date range of the search by 5 years.
 * Check PRONI. The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) has copies of most Presbyterian records. See PRONI Guide to Church Records for more information.

Why the Record may not Exist
Records Start Presbyterians entered Ireland, mainly Northern Ireland, in the early 1600s. Congregations started keeping records in the early 1800s. Records Destroyed Each congregation kept their own records; the survival of records depends on the congregation.