If this is his proper birthdate, you should be able to get a copy of his birth cert from Ireland.Alcluith wrote:Steven,
Do you have the birth certificate of John born 15.06.1865 or his marriage cert to Mary Ward?
In 1881 census there is a John Dougan but his father is William both are coalminers.
Secondly, there are loads of James Dougans in G.V. inc all spelling variations, and quite a few in Co.Down. Funnily enough , there are no Ivors, Evors (or spelling variations that I can find) in Co.Down, but there are entries for this surname in neighbouring counties.
They could have been living Antrim or Armagh, but the nearest Civil Reg. town may have been in Co.Down. My own children were reg. in a different county from where they were born.
If you don't want to send for Johns birth cert. in case you are not sure of his birthdate, send for his sisters. It will give a placename or address, district, Union, and County. The County of Down, you already have from I.G.I.
This will narrow down places to look on G.V. We could be looking at a place just over the County down border. I will cross ref. and see if there is anywhere obvious later on tonight.
Or perhaps the whole family were on the move when his sister was born.

With any luck, someone might find them on the 1871 Scottish Census.
You aren't stuck yet.
post edited by AG member to show the quote correctly......