Find Ancestors

I have tried for over 2 yrs to find details of my Irish Grandmothers roots and have sucessfully gone back 2 generations on VERY limited funds. Can anyone help me to trace back further please?
I am looking for Thomas Ward (a labourer) c1838 of Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland at the time of his child (childrens?) birth. He was married to Ellen McMaster c1840 of the same area and their child who was my great great grandparent was William Ward b1868 who married Mary Rodgers b1870.
All help would be very much apreaciated, regards Donna.

Hello

Have you tried the IGI

Donna...If you have gone back 2 generations can you expand on what you have found..eg...
Where was William Ward born and where and when did he marry Mary Rodgers...
The most vital piece of info...What religion...?

Donna...The McMasters came over to Ireland from Scotland during the Plantation of Ulster...long established Surname in the Co.Down..

Ellen McMaster and Thomas Ward had another child ...Martha born 1865 ..Kilmood...Co.Down

Thank you for your responses.
What is IGI?
The info I have has been thru sending for birth and marriage certs and Irish Catholic I can only presume as thats what my nana was.
How else would you advise I go about it as I was told the census reports where all destroyed by fire?
Regards Donna

Thank you Eringobrag, how did you find that out, I've been trying for yrs.
Really apreaciate your help.

Marriage
1857 Vol.4 Page 724 Downpatrick, Co Down..Thomas Ward
1857 Vol.4 Page 724 Downpatrick, Co Down..Ellen McMaster

http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/#=0

Donna....I have all sorts of bits and pieces collected over the years...however It is probable that the family were Pres./CI not RC as Kilmood was a mainly Protestant town ...occupations by and large..Weavers...Kay has found the Marriage....when you get that then you will have the names of the respective fathers...incidentally there was another McMaster (Jane) living in Kilmood she married a man called Moore Rogers and had a son Hugh b 1870...wonder if there is any connection here...?

Donna...These are the children born to Thomas and Ellen...(taken from the IGI
www.familysearch.org.)

1. Sarah Ward - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 06 APR 1870 , Down, Ireland

2. WILLIAM WARD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 07 APR 1868 , Down, Ireland

3. MARTHA WARD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 06 APR 1865 , Down, Ireland

4. WARD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Birth: 21 FEB 1867 0915, Kilmood, Down, Ireland

Donna...Found these two children father Thomas Ward mother Ellen...(no surname)...given there is a large gap inyears from date of marriage to first child (previous post) then it is possible these are also children of Thomas Ward and Ellen McMaster

1. JAMES WARD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 15 MAY 1859 Killinchy, , Down, Ireland

2. JANE WARD - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 15 NOV 1857 Killinchy, , Down, Ireland

Donna....
Baptism of a Thomas Ward 1835 Killinchy Co.Down
Parents : William Ward and Jane

Also 2 other births for Wm and Jane ;

Jane 1850
John 1852

Donna....
Ellen Ward b 1872...Killinchy

Parents : Thomas Ward and Ellen McMaster


Also found a marriage of William Ward and Jane Kirk 1835...Killinchy
The "Kirks" were Presbyterian.

Thank you so much ErinGoBragh I'm flabergasted by how much you found out.
I've looked on family search before, how did I not find them, what am I doing worng?
Please don't think I'm thick but I still don't know what an IGI is.
There seems to be more than one family searches, is thera certain one I should be on?
I can not thank you enough and really do apreaciate all your help, time and effort.
Donna

I've looked on family search and may have found the William Ward that married Jane Kirks parents but how can I double check?..I have found Daniel Ward and Elizabeth Mc Crackin.
Any ideas please, regards Donna

Donna....Dont ever think your "thick"...its like everything else when you first start out abbreviations etc are confusing and finding things can be just as bad if you dont know ways of using some of the sites .
The IGI is the Family Search site www.familysearch.org...Lots of people still refer to it by the IGI
When searching for children put in parents names only plus place/ birth/christening...that will bring up all children born to those parents in the search area...beware however that the mothers Christian name and surname may be mispelt so sometimes its a case of going through the process again and again .....
You will only be able to verify Wm.s parents by obtaining details from the Baptismal Reg.
Do you have any other Ward christian/family names...

Ah thank you, just feel a fool when I don't know what you're talking about.

I put in the last known parents name of William Ward that you kindly found on the family search and his estimated birth date give or take 10 yrs and went by the general area he was listed in living and that was what I came up with but nothing matches perfectly. It's sooo confussing and time consuming isn't it but I love it..
Trying to download a PAF so I can print sections of my tree for the inlaws if I ever get it to work.
Thanks again, all tiffs gratefully received

Donna...What you need to do is clarify for certain the Religion of the families involved before you try and go back to far...The Wards Kirks McMasters all came from staunch Pres. communities and although there were some RC you would not find either community marrying out of their Faith.....
I have looked at Daniel Ward and Eliz.McCracken...they were RC and from Dromore...
have you any Certs at all for the family from your research....
The MC Thomas and Ellen ?

Sadly the only info I have is starting with my Nana Bridget Ward.
I ordered her birth certificate, from this I got her parents marriage licence, Bridgets licence and traced back from this and family search etc..
I'm afraid I know little of religion and backgrounds. I know a bit about Roman Catholics as my Dad was brought up strictly with this religion but rebelled against it as did a few in his family but wouldn't know what a presbytarian is.You learn something new every day though so I look forward to finding out. I'm very inquisitive and don't like to be defeated.
Thanks again, can't tell you how much this means to me as I'd been at a dead end with it for some time, regards Donna

Donna...Can you give me details of Brids Birth and her parents marriage...Send a personal message (Click on my name) if you dont want to put them on the thread....

Thank you, will do!