DONAGHEADY PARISH REGISTERS
The earliest surviving registers for this church are dated 1697 – 1723, however at this stage I have not attempted to extract any entries from them as many pages are very difficult to read.
The next period is 1753 – 1765 and these begin with the following notes :
Andrew Hamilton, D. D. died, Sept. 22d 1753, rector of Donoghkiddy about 64 years – must have been inducted at the age of 20, in the 1st or 2d year of William & Mary, 1608, or 1609.
1753. 14 baptisms this year, after Dr. Hamilton’s Death – No register came to the present Rector’s Hands, but a very imperfect one, confusedly kept in two Vestry Books, to the year 1732, or there about.
(signed) Geo Bracegirdle, Rector.
BAPTISMS
| BAPTISED | CHILD | PARENTS | TOWNLAND |
| 1754 April 17 | Charles | legit Son of William Hamilton | Aghabrack |
| 1754 May 3 | Mary | legit Daughter of Hugh Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1754 May 16 | Frederic | legit Son of Mr Wm. Hamilton | Stoneyfold |
| 1754 Sept. 23 | James | legit Son of William Hamilton | Glennagoorland |
| 1754 Sept. 23 | James | legit Son of George Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1754 Dec. 16 | George | legit Son of Mr Wm. Hamilton | Stonyfolds |
| 1754 Dec. 30 | Margaret | legit Dr. of James Hamilton | Gorteleck |
| 1755 | No Hamilton entries | ||
| 1756 Jan. 18 | William | Son of James & Elizabeth Hamilton | Glennagoorland |
| 1756 June 13 | Kitty | Dau of Henry & Bridget Hamilton | Liscleen |
| 1757 March13 | Elizabeth | Daughter of William Hamilton | Stoneyfolds |
| 1857 | 1 private Baptism at the age of 15 Months | ||
| 1758 | Illegible | ||
| 1759 June 10 | John | son of George & Jane Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1760 | No Hamilton entries | ||
| 1761 Feb. 8 | John | of William & Catherine Hamilton | Glennigoorland |
| 1761 April 5 | Elizabeth | of George & Rebecca Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1761 May 10 | Rachel | of James & Rebecca Hamilton | Stoneyfolds |
| 1761 May 17 | Hugh | of Joseph & Mary Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1762 Jan. 17 | George | of James & Elizabeth Hamilton | Glennagoorland |
| 1763 March27 | Margaret | of William & Sarah Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1763 Dec. 4 | Ann | of Joseph & Sarah Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1764 June 3 | Martha | Dr. of Thomas & Catherine Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1764 July 8 | Ann | Dr. of George & Catherine Hamilton | Glennagoorland |
| 1764 Nov. 18 | Robert | Son of (Robert crossed out) William & Catherine Hamilton | Claudstown |
| 1765 March 7 | Ann &(?) Elizabeth | Dr. of James & Catherine Hamilton | Outermurgh |
| 1765 April 21 | Rachel | Dr. of James & Mary Hamilton | Dunnimana |
| 1765 May 26 | Belinda | Dr. of James & Elizabeth Hamilton | Glennygoorland |
MARRIAGES
| 1754 December 12 | Archibald Read of Tamlaghtfinlagan [Co. Londonderry]& Isabel Hamilton of this parish |
| 1755 September 29 | George Boyd & Catherine Hamilton, both of this Parish |
| 1756 November14 | John Knobbs of Greystone & Sarah Hamilton of Gloudstown, both in Donoghkiddy, with Banns |
| 1757 April 27 | James Young, Bachelor, & Margaret Hamilton, Spinster, both of Donoghkiddy, with License |
| 1758 December 24 | Arthur White, Bachelor, of Dunnimanar, & Sarah Hamilton, of Grange, Spinster, both of the Parish of Donoghkiddy, after publication of Banns |
| 1761 January 23 | Andrew Dunn of Cullan, Bachelor, & Jane Hamilton of Gortereagh, Spinster, in this parish with License |
| 1761 January 25 | Samuel Erwin, Widower, of Benone, & Mary Hamilton of Leitrim, Spinster, after publication of Banns |
| 1763 September 22 | William Caldwell, Bachelor, of Ballybogan, Lifford, or Clonleigh [Co. Donegal], & Jane Hamilton, Spinster, of Glennagoorland, Donoghkiddy, with License |
| 1764 September 22 | Robert Cary of Clohogal, Bachelor, & Ann Hamilton of Prospect, Spinster, of this parish, with License |
BURIALS
A note in the Burial register of 1754:
The reason for so few Burials are enter’d , is, an indecent custom of interring without sending to the Minister to attend – That the papists should, always, & the Presbyterians, generally, omit it, is not to be wonder’d; but it is astonishing, that those, who are of the Establish’d Church, should chuse to bury their deceased Friends’ like Dogs.
| 1756 November 13 | John Hamilton of Castlemellon |
| 1756 November ? | William Hamilton of Achabrack |
| 1757 March 13 | Child of William Hamilton of Glenagoorland |
| 1757 March 19 | Child of William Hamilton of Glennagoorland |