Most genealogy databases (including the Douglas Archives) record that the first Irish 'Drysdale' was one Rev. John Drysdale. Birth 1581 County Down, Ireland, Death 1656 Portaferry, County Down - although possibly still living in 1670?

After some detailed research, I was unable to find any evidence of Drysdales born or residing in Ireland in the 1500s (it is a Scottish name after all).

There were many references to the 'Rev John Drysdale' in Portaferry in County Down, but these references indicated that this person was not born in 1581, but about 25 years later (in the early 1600s) and was an immigrant (or the son of an immigrant) to Ireland - one of the first Ulster Scots.

The following images show that John Drysdale graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1637, was briefly a minister in Paisley in 1650, was alive and still very active in Church life in April 1672 and possibly died in 1679

Ref: Fasti Ecclesiiae Scoticanae - Succession of ministers in the church of Scotland from the reformation Scott 1920

Ref: History of the Presbyterian church in Ireland by Rev. Samuel d. Alexander 1860 - footnote on page 398

The National Library of Scotland has a record for John Drysdale which indicates he was active in the period 1637-1679

The attached pdf gives a precis and a number of sources for the first recorded Drysdales in Ireland, including The Rev. John Drysdale.

Best regards

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