The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter

Transcription

The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
May 2011 (Volume 2, No. 2)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Articles and Features
Editor’s Message
7
From the Chair
2
My Recent Irish Odyssey
12 - 15
They Killed My Father on Vinegar Hill—an Excerpt from “Valley Irish”
10 – 12
Who Were The Black Irish?
8-9
Book Reviews
Frommer’s 25 Drives in Ireland
16
Leinster to Lanark
16 - 17
News and Happenings
New Records on Ancestry
17
Ulster Research School
5
Upcoming Events
3-4
18 - 23
Queries
Reference / Website Links
Irish Archives Resource
6
Website Links
6
Remember to check out
Richard Doherty’s monthly articles Our Celtic Quest
Available in the Members Only Section
of the website!
Cliffs of Moher
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
Page 2
From the Chair...
As I write this, it appears that spring has finally arrived here in Northern Ontario. I for one
dislike the long winters, so for me, once that snow melts and the days grow longer and warmer,
it is very up lifting!
Let me begin by thanking Michele and Cathie for volunteering for the positions of Newsletter
editor and Membership coordinator, respectively! Without volunteers like this, a group such as
ours will flounder.
Our membership currently is 237 - that is great and I thank all renewing members and welcome
the new ones!
We are all gearing up for the 50th anniversary celebrations of OGS at the annual conference in
Hamilton, May 13-15. The Ireland SIG will be having a table set up in the Marketplace area.
Please drop by and say hello.
Our annual general meeting (AGM) will be held on the Saturday, May 14th from 1 -1:45 p.m.
At the time of this writing I do not have the room assignment, but at the conference registration
desk there will be a flyer with the details. We hope that you will attend and bring any ideas,
suggestions, etc. that you may have.
One of things that always amazes me is what you can find by going over previous data that one
has collected. In my own research since 2001, I have gathered lots of information and then file
it away because at the time it does not seem pertinent. But then at a later date, I will review this
data because of a new person added to the tree or another idea has connected with my little
grey cells as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot would say! Case in point...
My great grandfather and his 2 brothers came from Northern Ireland circa 1840 and settled in
Northumberland County. My great grandfather lived in Baltimore, Ontario which is in
Hamilton Township, but borders on Haldimand Township. There was another family named
Noble living right on the border of these 2 townships. I always thought that this family was
related somehow to mine as it was too much of a coincidence that my great grandfather would
settle practically next door. It was something that has been gnawing at the back of my mind!
So a few weeks ago I revisited my data and discovered that I had overlooked the fact that one
of my great grandfather's brothers lived on the other side but in Haldimand township. I had
only been concentrating in Hamilton township. I therefore ordered some microfilms from the
archives for the early census returns of both townships! Hopefully, I will find out more details!
Lesson to be learnt: Keep reviewing your data and look beyond the obvious!
I encourage members to write up their own stories and send them in for the newsletter or for
the website! Your story may inspire others and point out areas of possible research they may
have overlooked! If you find new Irish links or resources, please let us know so that we can
post these for others!
I look forward to seeing you at the Conference,
John Noble, Chair
Drombeg Stone Circle
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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UPCOMING EVENTS
OGS CONFERENCE 2011—50TH Anniversary
Hamilton Convention Center
Hamilton, Ontario
May 13-15 2011
http://www.og.on.ca/conference.php
ROOTS 2011- An International Conference on Family History Research
hosted by the Quebec Family History Society
This event will be the largest English-language genealogical conference ever held
in Quebec. There will be numerous well-known speakers discussing all aspects of
family history research, computer demonstrations, and a book fair. All lectures
and events are in English.
June 3rd, 4th, & 5th 2011
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
For complete program details and registration form visit the QFHS website at:
www.qfhs.ca Or e-mail: roots2011@bell.net
You may also write to:
ROOTS 2011, Quebec Family History Society,
P.O. Box 1026, Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada H9S 4H9
or call: 514-428-0238
Annual General Meeting—OGS Ireland SIG
Our next general meeting will be held at Conference 2011 on
Saturday May 14th in Hamilton, Ontario. Time: 1:00 -1:45 p.m.
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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A PRESENTATION FOR IRISH FAMILY HISTORIANS
Irish Resources Online - Thursday, June 16, 7:30 pm
Noted genealogist Chris Paton, author of the new publication Tracing Your Family History on
the Internet, will also be speaking on the topic of "Irish Resources Online" on the evening of
Thursday, June 16, commencing at 7:30 pm in the Gold Room, North York Memorial Hall
(Concourse level, opposite the Burgundy Room). This will be a two-part lecture with an
opportunity to mix and mingle at half-time.
Please assist us with planning by pre-registering your interest in attending. (E-mail the Education
Committee at courses@torontofamilyhistory.org with the subject line "Irish lecture" or sign up
at the Education Committee table at an upcoming monthly meeting.) Please note in your email if
you are an OGS member for the reduced rate.
Registration fee payments will be accepted at the door from 7pm onwards as follows:




Pre-registered OGS members : $10.
Pre-registered non-members : $15
At the door OGS members : $15.
At the door non-members : $20
After June 13, no pre-registration. Registration at the door, only if space permits, after 7:15.
Check the website for updates and details.
http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/Scottish2011.html#Chris
OGS CONFERENCE 2012
Kingston, Ontario
June 1-3, 2011
http://www.og.on.ca/conference.php
To have your Event included, please forward your announcement to
newsletter.ogs.irsig@gmail.com
by the newsletter deadline. (15th of the month prior to publication date).
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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Ulster Research School
The following is a reprint of an email. One of our members attended this school recently and
wanted to recommend it to others (hopefully she will write up her adventure and submit it for
publication soon):
Hello Michele,
Thank you for getting in touch with us.
The Ulster History and Genealogy Summer School is a new venture for us, though it builds on
the experience gained from over 15 years of delivering our family history conferences. The
Summer School is run in conjunction with the University of Ulster.
Last year's Summer School, the first, had 24 participants. This year we have more than double
that and had to stop taking bookings six months before it was due to take place. Because of
this we decided to run the Ulster Genealogy and Migration Studies Autumn School with the
Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster- American Folk Park. This will take place 9-15 October and will be based in Omagh.
The concept of the Summer or Autumn School is very much that of an activity holiday with a
difference. Over the course of a week participants will be given hands-on assistance with tracing their Ulster ancestors as well as have the opportunity to visit some of our most historic
places. A highlight for many is the visit to Barons Court, home of the Duke of Abercorn and
the finest private house in Ireland.
The combination of research, lectures and excursions is appreciated by the participants. The
Summer School also provides an opportunity for like-minded people to get together to talk,
and share experiences and tips for successful searching.
Next year we hope to repeat the Summer and Autumn Schools and have been speaking to
other organisations about partnering in similar ventures.
http://www.ancestryireland.com/autumnschool/
Best regards,
William Roulston
Dr William Roulston
Research Director
Ulster Historical Foundation
49 Malone Road
Belfast, BT9 6RY
028 9066 1988
www.ancestryireland.com
View of the Northern Ireland coast near Bushmills
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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Ireland SIG Website Links
Be sure to check the Links on our website. If you
have a suggested link, please be sure to pass it
onto our webmaster Brian Elliott.
Here are some interesting ones..
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
index.xml - “Ask about Ireland”’s Griffith’s Valuation
http://www.discoverireland.ie/ - Ireland’s Tourist
Bureau
http://www.igrsoc.org/ - Irish Genealogical
Research Society
http://www.hiddenireland.com/ - Hidden Ireland is a
collection of Historic houses in Ireland where visitors stay as guests.
Irish Archives Resource
A new web site opened up this March. Here is a description of the site by Dick Eastman.
“Ireland’s archive collections have found a new central home online at http://www.iar.ie.
The web site launched today and allows the public to search a wide range of Irish archives
online. Some of the collections featured include the Irish Film Archive, the Guinness family archives, archives from UCC’s Boole Library and a large number of city and county
council archives.
The Irish Archives Resource site brings together a large number of collections from
around the country, preserved by a range of organisations. It includes records from current
and defunct government and local government agencies, personal contributions, estate records, clubs, societies, trade unions, religious, cultural, sporting and political organisations. Links to wherever these archives are digitised and searchable online. One notable
collection includes deeds on properties in Cork city dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
The same web site also carries detailed descriptions of what is in every archive listed and
where it can be accessed physically, if the collection is not online. The important thing
about the site is that every collection on it is accessible and available to the public. The
long-term hope is that it will one day all be digitised, and some archives are going in that
direction already. Limerick city archives have been digitising a lot of their material recently.”
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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Editor’s Message
By Michele Stanley
My name is Michele Stanley. I have just recently been given the opportunity to become editor of this
Newsletter and thought it appropriate that I introduce myself. I live in Florida in the United States. I
have a graduate degree in Business, 30 years of experience in Information Technology, from way back
when it was called Data Processing, and about 14 years experience as an amateur genealogist. As you
can infer, I am not an expert on either Ireland or Ontario genealogy, so this will be a learning experience
for me. I do have many years experience creating newsletters, but these were mostly related to I.T.
I envision this newsletter as YOUR newsletter. Many, if not all, of you know more about our subject
than I do. After my recent trip to Ireland, however, I do not believe that you could love the subject much
more. I hope to get as much input as possible from each of you. You have stories. You have successes.
You have brick walls. You have information that the rest of us might not know - even if you may think
it is common knowledge.
I have discovered a funny thing about history. I was always a good school student, from elementary
through graduate school, but I don't remember more than a couple things I learned about history. I am
certain that there are many reasons for this, not the least of which is that I saw no reason for me to know
this stuff beyond passing a test. There was no personal meaning for me. The other reasons include
having teachers that did not love the subject and well, politics, regionalism, and nationalism. I learned
certain things in Maryland as a child. My husband learned certain things in Texas as a child. Our
children learned certain things in Florida as children. We did not learn the same things, in the same
ways. That's the regionalism. As far as politics goes, I was required to take the class “Americanism
versus Communism”. Our children's education was influenced by President Reagan. Our grandchildren
learn Liberal Democracy. The nationalism becomes apparent to me when I visit or research another
country besides the U.S., whether Canada, China, France or Ireland. The history books we see in school
tend to tell only one side of the story.
Now, I am interested. Now, I want to understand why my ancestors moved from Ireland, or from
Germany, or anywhere else. What was going on in their lives that influenced such a big decision?
When I asked my Mother once what a “Scotch-Irish” was, she wasn't really sure. Whatever she told me,
immediately did not make sense, even to a 9 year old brain. As an adult I see that many people still
aren't interested in the history, the genealogy, the human story. I used to be like that and I missed out on
so many stories, so much information from relatives who are now gone. Now, I have to work that much
harder to make up for these lost personal stories. Luckily, there are others out in the world like you who
think like I do now and are willing to share their insights and their information.
I hope that you will help me to make this newsletter as
meaningful and as full of information that may be
helpful for other researchers as we can.
Michele
Bee Hive Huts on Dingle
Page 8
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
WHO WERE THE BLACK IRISH?
The term 'Black Irish' has commonly been in circulation among Irish emigrants and their descendants for
centuries. As a subject of historical discussion the subject is almost never referred to in Ireland. There are a
number of different claims as to the origin of the term, none of which are possible to prove or disprove.
'Black Irish' is often a description of people of Irish origin who had dark features, black hair, dark
complexion and eyes.
A quick review of Irish history reveals that the island was subject to a number of influxes of foreign people.
The Celts arrived on the island about the year 500 B.C. Whether or not this was an actual invasion or rather a
more gradual migration and assimilation of their culture by the natives is open to conjecture, but there is
sufficient evidence to suggest that this later explanation is more likely. The next great influx came from
Northern Europe with Viking raids occurring as early as 795 A.D. The defeat of the Vikings at the Battle of
Clontarf in the year 1014 by Brian Boru marked the end of the struggle with the invaders and saw the
subsequent integration of the Vikings into Irish society. The migrants became 'Gaelicized' and formed septs
(a kind of clan) along Gaelic lines.
The Norman invasions of 1170 and 1172 led by Strongbow saw yet another wave of immigrants settle in the
country, many of whom fiercely resisted English dominance of the island in the centuries that followed. The
Plantation of Ulster in the seventeenth century saw the arrival of English and Scottish colonists in Ulster
after the 'Flight of the Earls'.
Each of these immigrant groups had their own physical characteristics and all, with the exception of the
Ulster Planters, assimilated to some degree into Irish society, many claiming to be 'more Irish than the Irish
themselves!'
The Vikings were often referred to as the 'dark invaders' or 'black foreigners'. The Gaelic word for foreigner
is 'gall' and for black (or dark) is 'dubh'. Many of the invaders families took Gaelic names that utilised these
two descriptive words. The name Doyle is in Irish 'O'Dubhghaill' which literally means 'dark foreigner'
which reveals their heritage as an invading force with dark intentions. The name Gallagher is 'O
Gallchobhair' which translates as 'foreign help'. The traditional image of Vikings is of pale-skinned blondhaired invaders but their description as 'dark foreigners' may lead us to conclude that their memory in
folklore does not just depend on their physical description.
The Normans were invited into Ireland by Dermot McMurrough and were led by the famous Strongbow.
Normans are ultimately of French origin where black haired people are not uncommon. As with the Vikings
these were viewed as a people of 'dark intentions' who ultimately colonised much of the Eastern part of the
country and several larger towns. Many families however integrated into Gaelic society and changed their
Norman name to Gaelic and then Anglo equivalents: the Powers, the Fitzpatricks, Fitzgeralds, Devereuxs,
Redmonds.
It is possible that the term 'Black Irish' may have referred to some of these immigrant groups as a way of
distinguishing them from the 'Gaels', the people of ultimately Celtic origin.
Another theory of the origin of the term 'Black Irish' is that these people were descendants of Spanish traders
who settled in Ireland and even descendants of the few Spanish sailors who were washed up on the west
coast of Ireland after the disaster that was the 'Spanish Armada' of 1588. It is claimed that the Spanish
married into Irish society and created a new class of Irish who were immediately recognisable by their dark
hair and complexion. There is little evidence to support this theory and it is unlikely that any significant
number of Spanish soldiers would have survived long in the war-torn place that was sixteenth century
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The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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Ireland. It is striking though how this tale is very similar to the ancient Irish legend of the Milesians who
settled in Ireland having travelled from Spain.
The theory that the 'Black Irish' are descendants of any small foreign group that integrated with the Irish and
survived, is unlikely. It seems more likely that 'Black Irish' is a descriptive term rather than an inherited
characteristic that has been applied to various categories of Irish people over the centuries.
One such example is that of the hundreds of thousands of Irish peasants who emigrated to America after the
Great Famine of 1845 to 1849. 1847 was known as 'black 47'. The potato blight which destroyed the main
source of sustenance turned the vital food black. It is possible that the arrival of large numbers of Irish after
the famine into America, Canada, Australia and beyond resulted in their being labelled as 'black' in that they
escaped from this new kind of black death.
Immigrant groups throughout history have generally been treated poorly by the indigenous population (or by
those who simply settled first). Derogatory names for immigrant groups are legion and in the case of those
who left Ireland include 'Shanty Irish' and almost certainly 'Black Irish'. It is also possible that within the
various Irish cultures that became established in America that there was a pecking order, a class system that
saw some of their countrymen labelled as 'black'.
The term 'Black Irish' has also been applied to the descendants of Irish emigrants who settled in the West
Indies. It was used in Ireland by Catholics in Ulster Province as a derogatory term to describe the Protestant
Planters.
While it at various stages was almost certainly used as an insult, the term 'Black Irish' has emerged in recent
times as a virtual badge of honour among some descendants of immigrants. It is unlikely that the exact origin
of the term will ever be known and it is also likely that it has had a number of different creations depending
on the historical context. It remains therefore a descriptive term used for many purposes, rather than a
reference to an actual class of people who may have survived the centuries.
The Black Irish - An article provided by The Information about Ireland Site.
USAGE:
THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRODUCED ON YOUR WEB SITE OR IN YOUR
EZINE OR NEWSLETTER ONCE THE FOLLOWING COPYRIGHT AND 'LINK' TO THE
INFORMATION ABOUT IRELAND SITE ARE INCLUDED AND LEFT INTACT.
(C) Copyright http://www.ireland-information.com
North Sea View, Wicklow Town, County Wicklow
Page 10
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
“They Killed My Father on Vinegar Hill!”
From the book, "Valley Irish" by Carol Bennett and D.W. McCuaig copyright 1983
Quite a number of Irish settlers in the Ottawa Valley came from County Wexford in the early years of the
nineteenth century, and this was a result of the Insurrection which had taken place in Ireland some years
earlier, leaving terrible conditions in its wake. The year 1798 was a tragic experience for the Irish people,
and one family in Carleton County has an interesting story to tell in connection with life in those days.
First, however, we must explain something of the events of that year. It is difficult to sum up the 1798
Insurrection in a few words, but several books have been written on the subject, and those who are
interested in learning more may read those. Basically, it was the work of a group of reformers, calling
themselves the United Irishmen, who wanted a democratic Ireland undivided by sectarianism, and in
order to achieve that goal it was decided to organize a rebellion in: the country, aimed at shaking off the
rule of the English government. One of the leaders of the United Irishmen was the patriot, Wolfe Tone, a
Dublin Protestant who wanted to unite both Catholics and Protestants into fighting for their common
cause.
Tone, who had spent some time in France, suggested to the French (who at that time wanted to invade
England) that the Irish and the French should combine forces. The French should land in Ireland to assist
with the uprising there, and they would then be in a strategically good position to invade England by
crossing the Irish Sea. Uprisings were held in different parts of the country, the worst being in County
Wexford, where the peasant class rose up against their landlords. After three weeks of fighting the
Wexford revolt was crushed at a battle on Vinegar Hill, outside Enniscorthy. Uprisings in the north were
also put down. The French failed to establish a foothold in Ireland, being beaten back at County Mayo
when they made an attempt to land.. Tone ended his life in jail, where he managed to kill himself before
his execution for treason.
Perhaps the worst tragedy was the agony suffered by the ordinary people during the rebellion, and the
bitterness and uncertainty and the physical deprivation that lingered after the event. This was not a clearcut case of the Protestant versus Catholic violence which has often prevailed in Ireland. Whereas in
Wexford it was a case of Catholic peasants rising against their Protestant landlords, in other parts of the
country Catholic militiamen served in the movement to put down the revolt. While many landlords (who
also happened to be Protestant) were made to suffer, by the same token there were many atrocities
practised in the countryside by yeoman corps composed of Orangemen who were trying to stir up as
much hatred and confusion as possible in order to crush treason, as they saw it.
In County Wexford today, the Insurrection of 1798 is still remembered as vividly as if it happened
yesterday. There is a Norman keep in Enniscorthy which has been turned into a museum of Irish history,
or perhaps it would be closer to the mark to say it is the history of the cause of Irish Nationalism. On one
floor the displays recall the terrible happenings at Vinegar Hill, with maps and swords and blow-by-blow
descriptions of what happened in that fateful year of 1798. "Where is Vinegar Hill?" you ask the curator,
and he turns to point out of the window to show you a very ordinary hill, half covered now with houses,
the homes of the present populace of Enniscorthy.
Aside from the historians, have the people of the Ottawa Valley ever heard of Vinegar Hill? There are
some who have. In the Anglican cemetery at Richmond in Carleton County there is the grave of one of
the founders of Richmond, Lady Jane Copeland. Not that you would know anything about her from her
tombstone; she lies beside her husband, William Vaughan, and her memorial stone says simply "his wife,
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Jane." When she was on her deathbed in 1879, her last words were a message to her eldest son: "tell
Johnny, they killed my father on Vinegar Hill!" These words, told to her daughter, were handed down
from one generation of the family to the next, and although today there is no fear or bitterness attached to
the story, Lady Jane's descendants still show a lively interest in her story.
Little Lady Jane was 2 1/2 years old when the fateful battle took place at Vinegar Hill. Her father was
one of the landlords in that county, and although he was not an absentee landlord, as many were, and
economic conditions in his district were good, he had to suffer with the rest. He was killed in combat,
and when his brother ran back to the home to warn the family, rebels followed him and hanged him from
one of his own apple trees, under the horrified gaze of his sister-in-law.
Knowing that her home and everyone in it would probably be put to fire and sword, the terrified woman
rounded up her five children and hid them in a drainage ditch and piled brush over the top of them. She
then hid herself some distance away, preparing to draw off the enemy if need be, in order to save her
children. Her eldest child was twelve years old at the time; he was told to keep the children absolutely
quiet, no easy task when the group included the two year-old Lady Jane and a new baby.
The children stayed in the ditch until nightfall, and it is said that at one point the rebels crossed right over
their hiding place but the little prisoners remained safe. What happened after this isn't known, but most of
the family came to Quebec in 1812 when one of the elder sons joined the army. Obviously the family
fortunes had diminished after the Insurrection because 18 year old Willie enlisted as a private soldier. In
those days, commissions had to be paid for in cash.
A few days before the War of 1812 broke out, Lady Jane married William Vaughan, a soldier from her
brother's regiment, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Quebec City. William had been in Canada
since 1805 after joining the 100th Regiment of Foot, more formally known as "The 100th Regiment of
Foot, County of Dublin, Prince Regent's Own." William Vaughan's regiment didn't see action
immediately, which was fortunate for the 16 year old bride. The men remained on garrison duty in Lower
Canada for a time, but eventually they were off to the Niagara Frontier, where William took part in the
commando-type raid on Fort Niagara and fought in most of the battles in that campaign, being wounded
at the Battle of Chippewa Creek, where the regiment was decimated.
In 1818 the discharged soldiers were given the choice of being sent to England with the army, or of
taking up a grant of land at a new military settlement in the area of what would later become Richmond.
The Vaughans chose Upper Canada, having no reason to settle in England, and William, as a sergeant,
was allotted 200 acres of land, 100 in Goulbourn and 100 in Huntley. He farmed alongside the fourth line
of Goulbourn until his death in 1859. Several members of Lady Jane's family also settled in the
Richmond area.
This was on the trail which led from the Perth military settlement via the government storehouse at
Franktown, to Richmond, and later on to Bytown, which is Ottawa today. For a time, in order to make
ends meet, the Vaughans operated a stopping place where travelers on this trail might stay overnight.
Their most distinguished guest was Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, who was touring the
military settlements of Upper and Lower Canada, and was on his way from Perth to Richmond.
Although the Vaughans could not have known it, this was the Duke's last journey. Fatally stricken from
the bite of a rabid fox, he died a few days later at the inn at Richmond, which was run by some other
members of William's old regiment, Sergeant Andrew Hill and his wife, Maria, who had disguised
herself as a man in order to follow her husband to war.
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The Duke's body was taken to Quebec City, where it was interred in front of the altar in the Cathedral of
the Holy Trinity, where William and Lady Jane had been married seven years before.
Despite all the violence and suffering that Lady Jane had known in her youth, she lived peacefully in
Goulbourn for the rest of her days, yet as she lay dying she recalled the event that had affected her most.
“They killed my Father on Vinegar Hill!”
"Used by permission from Valley Irish by © Carol Bennett McCuaig, 1983.” Copies of
the book are available from her web site, http://www.nrtco.net/~juniper2/
Editors Note: Carol’s newest book, “Leinster to Lanark”, has even more information
about the Uprising and other items of interest to Irish researchers. This book and others are
available at her website.
My Recent Irish Odyssey
By Michele Stanley
My last birthday was one of those ones that end in a zero. I am not big on birthdays, or holidays in general, so
I really didn't give it much thought. However, a couple of months prior to this momentous birthday, it
occurred to me that my big day would be midweek and, as such, I would be "celebrating" at work… again.
Suddenly, I had an overwhelming desire to not spend this birthday at my cluttered desk in my dirty little office
where I have spent most of the last 22 years. But where should I go? Honoring my need to multi-task, I
wondered if I could make this a multi-purpose trip in some way? Something like a family research trip? After
all, we spent a month one afternoon in a rural Mississippi library researching my husband's family tree. At
least it felt like a month (not that there's anything wrong with rural Mississippi. It was probably just me).
There were other dusty libraries and old cemeteries in Arkansas and Texas. It seemed like my turn now but
where did I really want to go for this trip?
When we were kids, our parents told us we were Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch. Like many young
people too concerned with their own lives, it never dawned on me to ask for more information until after my
Dad died suddenly at age 62. Sometime after the funeral, my Mother dug around in their garage and gave me
a dirty, dusty cardboard box that had belonged to my father’s father. In it, I found photos, postcards and
military records from my Great Grandfather from the 1890s to the 1910s. These military records stated that
Great Granddad was born in Watertown, New York. However, before my Mom passed away a year and a half
later, she told me in no uncertain terms that, no, Dad's family was originally from Canada. Hmm. By this
point I had begun researching the family in Ontario using the Internet and found a couple of distant cousins
and pieced together more information: Our ancestors had come to Ontario from Ireland. I had never been to
Ireland. Money was tight, the flights were pricey, but bed and breakfasts could be found for 35 Euro per night.
I spoke the language (mostly). Decision made.
With my deadline fast approaching and no luck finding out for certain what areas my ancestors were from, or
even their parents names, the following plan emerged: We would rent a car and drive the entire circumference
of the Island, both countries. I bought 3 travel guides and “Rick Steve's Ireland and Scotland” DVD (found at
travelstore.ricksteves.com or www.amazon.com). We originally planned to drive counterclockwise with only
2 reservations: one for the first night and one for the last. A couple of weeks before our departure, we got cold
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feet on that idea and I made reservations for the rest of the trip. The upside of this was that I could prepare our
hosts for my many allergies and we tended to get better rooms than our house mates who just showed up. The
downside was that now we had a schedule to keep to.
I must say that, without question, Ireland is the most beautiful place that I have ever seen! I live in Florida
where it is very green more often than not. In fact, my neighborhood is named Hibernia and was named by
Margaret Fleming in the 1800s because it reminded her of Ireland. However, I have never seen a place that
was so many simultaneous kinds and colors of green, or one that tugged at my heartstrings in such a way. So,
after browsing my travel guides, downloading a map of Ireland into my GPS, and gathering my scant
knowledge, Google and I came up with the following plan:
We flew into Dublin, got our car, and my husband practiced driving on the wrong side of the road a little
while. The rule is said to be "When traveling in Ireland, get the smallest car with the biggest insurance" and I
can attest to the truth of the statement. We, however, got talked into an SUV which, although smaller that a
U.S. version, was still too large for comfort on many of the roads. After procuring the car, we stopped to buy a
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The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
(Continued from page 13)
cheap prepaid cell phone and headed north toward the Hill of Tara in County Meath. For those not familiar
with the site, it's the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. What you see on land is actually a huge
landscaped area so, if you go, bring good cross-country walking shoes.
Since our first night’s bed and breakfast had cancelled on us while we were at the airport, we needed to find
somewhere to stay the first night and the prepaid phone was instrumental in this. Instead of our original plan
to drive to County Cavan to stay, we went to Drogheda in County Louth. We found a nice room at a country
club where we watched a wedding being held on the grounds. Later, we headed to our first, real Irish pub for
dinner and my husband made his first, real 'OOPS!' driving the car by turning into the wrong lane. Luckily,
the oncoming traffic stopped long enough for us to drive right up onto the sidewalk until we got our breathing
under control.
We visited the site of the Battle of the Boyne the next morning and afterwards we took the highway and
headed into Northern Ireland. It was actually easier to drive on the large interstate than the smaller roads
although they do have round-abouts on the interstate which was quite different from Florida. The satellite
navigation system (GPS) that we brought from home was helpful for knowing the roundabouts were expected
and then to “Keep left” and “Take the third exit”.
Oddly the only way we knew that we had crossed from the Republic of Ireland into the United Kingdom was
when my prepaid cell phone sent me a text relating the calling rates! As it was Sunday, there wasn't a whole
lot open in Belfast but we stopped and looked around. We then drove north up to the coast for our reservation
at the Whitepark House. This was a lovely, large house across the street from the coast and near the Giant's
Causeway and Bushmill’s. The next morning, early and before the rest of tourists arrived, we walked the cliffs
above the Causeway and then down a long shepherd's stair to come into the area from the less-common side,
as suggested to us by the guide. It was breathtaking!
A word of warning if you follow our strategy of going it alone and making all of your own plans: the island
looks and is small but it takes a long time to traverse. The roads are narrow and often there aren't any
shoulders and there are vegetation covered walls flanking both sides of road. They say that if you travel the
Ring of Kerry and meet a bus, it is up to you to back up to a spot where you can pull off so that the bus, which
has the right of way, can go on. While it might seem a little intimidating, the speed limits are generally pretty
slow on these roads. In fact, I had taken to programming my GPS to keep to roads under 40 miles per hour
(We left our GPS on miles instead of kilometers because at least we now how far a mile is). This, of course,
caused some interesting drives but that is part of what made it such a wonderful experience. It was not like
most hosted tours where a bus driver does all of the driving and someone else has navigated the way.
After Northern Ireland, we traveled down the wild and beautiful western coast of Ireland. We let the GPS take
us up the wrong side of Croagh Patrick in County Mayo and then over the top of a nearby mountain to get to
the front. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything although the sheep at the gate blocking the road on
wrong side seemed only mildly amused. There is a famine memorial at the foot of Croagh Patrick which is
haunting. We visited Sligo and then through the surprising beauty of the Burren. We went on to Galway,
Doolin, Adare, and then on to Dingle town for the big decade birthday. (We had decided to traverse Dingle
peninsula instead of the Ring of Kerry peninsula.) We had what may have been the best room in the house,
overlooking the bay from our patio, where we drank a bottle of wine that we bought from the inn and watched
the sunset. Then we walked down to town with other travelers we had just met to eat dinner at Murphy's Pub
and then go pub-hopping. Irish pub food is some of the best food I have ever eaten. It seems to us that Irish
food gets a "bad rap" and is really quite fresh and wonderful (with the possible exception of the “full Irish
breakfast”). Actually, I had the best oysters that I have ever tasted at Hargadan's pub in Sligo.
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(Continued from page 14)
During these days, we visited and photographed many monuments, some castles, cemeteries, various famine
memorials, beautiful countryside and inspiring seascapes. And sheep. We drove the Dingle ring and saw the
"Bee Hive" huts. Rick Steve’s Ireland travel guide has a self-guided tour with kilometer markers and
descriptions of what you are passing and notes on where to stop. After Dingle, we drove to Killarney, Bantry,
and Cork. We took a little side trip to Glandore to find the Drombeg Circle also known as the Druid’s Altar.
This was only mentioned in one of my books, and is quite small as far as prehistoric stone circle go, but we
enjoyed it. Next we rushed on to the Rock of Cashel, arriving near the end of hours. We tagged along for a
while on one of the guided tours but preferred to wander at our own pace. Earlier, we had a met a “clockwisetraveling” couple who said that they were told there was nothing to do in Cashel, but we found that wasn’t
true. We stayed in a truly pleasant bed and breakfast (where I had apple pie for breakfast - Yum!), wonderful
housemates, and great pubs in town nearby.
Next, we drove to New Ross to see the Dunbrody and then on to Wexford and Wicklow. The Dunbrody is a
replica of the original ship from 1845 which was wrecked about 1875. The John F Kennedy Trust helped
provide funds to restore the ship and it is setup for visitors to tour the ship and experience an ‘interactive
exhibit’. Your tour guide takes you below decks where you can see the small berths that were shared by whole
families for the long voyage. 2 actors dressed as passengers tell their tales based on actual voyagers. There is
an emigration database that is available (www.dunbrody.com), as well as a plaque of ancestors names.
Wexford town was quiet but by now it was Sunday again. We moved on to Wicklow town and we found a
seaside park which was truly beautiful. There were cannons, and plaques and green space and the most
wonderful sea views over the water.
We stayed in a variety of places in Ireland: bed and breakfasts, inns, and a chain-owned airport hotel. Among
all of the places, the night we spent at an estate in Enniscorthy was the most fantastic! If you ever want to feel
like you are a lord or lady, this is the place for you. To find it, we drove for quite a while out into the
countryside. Luckily they had given us GPS coordinates which were dead-on. There is an organization that
specializes in estates but this place was fairly easy to find directly (http://www.ballinkeele.ie/). Being an
estate, it is quite a distance to town, so in our case, dinner was an additional charge option which we selected.
We were joined by a lovely couple, and the owner, whose family has had the estate for many years, served our
dinner. The next morning before breakfast, we strolled the grounds with the owners' dog. Since we missed
our Golden Retriever horribly by this point, we were thrilled to have the donor-dog’s company. She would
scare up birds and retrieve things back to us, while we walked about wearing our borrowed Wellies, awestruck
by the property.
Unfortunately, it was time to leave Ireland. I would have loved to extend our stay and we will certainly return.
There were many places that I didn’t get to see and several that I would like to return to and spend more time.
Hopefully, I will get farther along on my research before my next trip and then I will spend at least some of the
time researching in Dublin or Belfast. Until then, if anyone has any questions that I can answer for them, don’t
hesitate to send them to me at the newsletter editor email.
The Dumbrody Replica above and right
Lost on the wrong side of
Croagh Patrick above and
right
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
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Book reviews
If you would like to submit a review of a book pertaining to Ireland or Irish genealogy, please
email to me at newsletter.ogs.irsig@gmail.com and I will include it in our next newsletter.
Frommer’s 25 Drives in Ireland 8th Edition,
Written by Susan Pope and Lyn Gallagher, Published in the United States by Wiley Publishing Inc, Hoboken, NJ; First published in 1992, 8th edition published 2010, ISBN 978-0-47056024-2, Paperback.
This book, organized by province, does just as its title implies. It lists 25 separate and distinct
scenic drives in Ireland, as well as listing practical information for travelers including not just
accommodations and restaurants, but also a section called ‘Motoring in Ireland’. This section
gives helpful advice on local laws, roads, signs, and instructions should your automobile
breakdown or you are in an accident.
Munster has by far the most driving tours in this book, numbering 10. Munster includes counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Tipperary which of course include many popular sites
including the Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Cashel, and Waterford. Leinster and Ulster have 5 tours
each and the Connacht region has 4. You can pick your favorite region or your favorite
theme. Tour 14 is called “Witches, Castles and Horses” which encompasses 201 miles (324
KM) over 2 to 3 days. This tour includes stops in counties Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, Kildate, Laois, and Tipperary. Many of the other tours are shorter and might include only a single county. A map of the tour regions, as well a road map on 4 pages, is included. The suggested stops may be popular tourist destinations but they might just as likely be an out of way
“hidden gem”.
While I wouldn’t attempt to drive Ireland armed with only this book, it was instrumental in
my enjoyment of our Ireland trip. Although we didn’t generally drive the complete route of
any of the suggested tours, we did do pieces of them (they are all circular routes, beginning
and ending in the same town). We added many of the hidden gems when we were near them
after reading the descriptions from this book, and I plan on taking it on my return trip also. I
definitely recommend this book for any who are renting a car to explore Ireland.
Leinster to Lanark,
Written by Carol Bennett McCuaig, Published and bound in Canada by A Juniper Book; Published 2010, ISBN 978-0-919137-38-7, Paperback.
This is an excellent book for anyone whose family comes from around Lanark County, Ontario. It continues the research that Ms McCauig started many years ago, some of which was
in a previous work, “The Valley Irish” (see elsewhere in this newsletter for an excerpt of this
book, reprinted with the author’s permission). Much more detail is given here on the early
families coming from Leinster than in the earlier book. There are also many references to
other works, locations of other records and general hints which I felt to be very useful, personally.
The author has done an extraordinary job researching the Irish who emigrated to the Lanark,
Leeds and Carlton county areas in Ontario. Fully 200 pages list genealogical information for
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New Records on Ancestry Website
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, the website Ancestry.com released what it is calling “the
definitive 19th century collection of Irish historical records”.
This collection of Irish information can be found at: www.Ancestry.com/Irishrecords
The Irish Collection, 1824-1910 includes:
 Lawrence Collection, 1870-1910: A collection of 20,000 photographs of Ireland by
William Lawrence’s Dublin photography studio.
 Griffiths Valuation, 1847-1864: over 2.5 million records providing a snapshot of ancestors
who rented land in Ireland in the 1850s.
 Ordnance Survey Maps, 1824-1846: a detailed mapping of Ireland started during the 1830s
and 1840s and completed during the potato famine.
 Tithe Applotment Books, 1824-1837: a listing of 600,000 Irish who were required to pay a
tithe (in effect a tax) to the Church of Ireland due to an 1823 law, regardless of the person’s
religious affiliation. Details include payer, land acreage and tithe amount and works as a
census substitute.
Reference: Ancestry.com press release 14 March 2011
(Continued from page 16)
families that may have emigrated in 1818 according to the Elly lists (A transcript of this list is
also found at shipslist.com). Many families are listed, including births, marriages, and census
records.
The author’s introduction lists some reasons that the Irish came to Canada. There was the fact
that the British decided it would be easier to keep the United States from invading if the Ontario
area was more heavily populated. Then there was the general state of the economy and widespread unemployment in Ireland after the Napoleonic Wars. The author concludes that within
the group of emigrants on the 1817 lists from Leinster, the 1798 Insurrection was a major factor
for these settlers’ pre-famine emigration. The second part of the book is devoted to the causes
and the battles of the Insurrection which greatly affected the residents of Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wicklow.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is researching pre-famine immigration into Ontario. This and Carol Bennett McCauig’s other books can be ordered at http://www.nrtco.net/
~juniper2/order.html .
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Queries
There have been numerous queries that have come in and are listed below. Please review them and see if you
can provide any help! If you have any of your own queries, please send them to our Queries Coordinator Judith Hayman (hayman@mountaincable.net)
ANGLUM I am looking for information on a John Anglum (my gg grandfather) who was born about 1835 and came from
Ireland to Canada and then later on to Michigan about 1856. I’m not sure when he arrived in Canada but there
was a James Anglum who came in 1846 with his wife and 7 children and John could have been one of those
children. I do not find any of the family in any of the Canadian Census Records I only have this information
from the “Canadian Immigrant Records, Part Two”. No names of anyone but the father in this record. Has
anyone ever run across the name Anglum or have any suggestions for me? Claudia Leach claudial@tds.net
BRUCE My gggrandfather John Bruce, b. c 1797 in Fermanagh or Cavan, m. c 1822 in Fermanagh to Mary Johnston,
b. c 1803 in Fermanagh. They immigrated to Canada on June 12, 1840 with their children Thomas, b. c 1819;
Robert, b. May 24, 1827; Margaret, b. June 1, 1832; Johnston, b. c 1833; Andrew, b. May 10, 1834; John, b. c
1837; Jane, b. Oct. 14, 1838. John died shortly after arriving. Mary, after living for a few years in Cavan
Twp., Durham Cty., Ontario, moved to the Devitts Settlement in Cartwright Twp., Durham Cty. On her death,
she was buried in Cavan, Ontario beside John. Many of their descendants are buried in Devitts Cemetery,
Blackstock, Cartwright Twp., Durham Cty., Ontario. I have considerable information on their descendants but
have nothing on their ancestry. I would like to connect with anyone researching these lines. Thanks Ron
Dobson rondobs@rbsinternet.com
BURKE I am trying to find the date of death of Thomas and Catherine Burke. According to the census they were born
about 1806. They moved from Ireland to Canada between 1848 and 1854 with three of their children. Two
more children were born in Ontario (one being Frances, my great grandfather). They last show up together in
the 1871 census living in McKillop, North Huron, Ontario. Frances moved to Detroit Michigan between 1871
and 1874. He was married to my Great grandmother in 1874 in Detroit. If I could find some death records for
Thomas or Catherine I was hoping I could find out what County in Ireland they were from. Claire Burchell
burchelc@verizon.net
CAMPBELL The following three men were in Bosanquet Township, Lambton County, Canada West [Ontario], by the
1850s. All three were recorded in the 1861 Canada West Census as being born in Ireland. Family lore and
death records suggest that they were born in County Cavan, Ireland. My hypothesis is that they are related,
possibly siblings. I am interested in being able to pin down the place of their birth plus any information about
their lives in Ireland. I am also interested in making contact with researchers who have information to share
about their children and grandchildren. Alan Campbell Alan.acsresearch.campbell@gmail.com or
campbeal@sympatico.ca
Campbell, John Pratt born circa 1811 at Ireland, married 14 September 1852 possibly at Bosanquet
Township, Lambton County, Margaret Fitzgerald. Their children were Frederick Pratt born 16 October 1852
at London Township, Middlesex County [married 1879 at St. Marys, Ontario, Mary Sloan], Martha Ann born
4 June 1857 at London Township [married 4 May 1876 at Thedford, Ontario, Joseph Young], Sarah born 14
September 1859 at Port Franks, Lambton County [married 20 October 1880 at Springfield, Manitoba, John
Colbert], Mary Ellen born 10 October 1863 [married 15 April 1882 at Minnedosa, Manitoba, John Cameron],
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(Continued from page 18)
James born 1865 [married circa 1898 probably at Yorkton, North West Territories [Saskatchewan], Ida May
Keeler], Samuel Simon born 28 February 1868 [married 13 July 1898 at Springfield, Manitoba, Eva
[Angelina] Rowell], Rebecca Jane born 18 December 1870 at Bosanquet Township, Lambton County [married
29 March 1899 at Moosomin, North West Territories (Saskatchewan) and John William Edward born 2
February 1875 at Bosanquet Township [married circa 1900 at or near Saltcoats, North West Territories
(Saskatchewan), Ellen Trafalgar Atkey].
Edward Campbell born circa 1803 at Ireland, son of Simon and Martha Campbell, married circa 1838 Ann
Lennox [location unknown]. Their children were Robert born circa 1836 married Margaret Sherritt at Huron
County], Joseph born circa 1839 [married Mary E. Foster at Bosanquet Township, Lambton County], Martha
born circa 1840 [married Oswald Foster at Bosanquet Township], Simon born circa 1843 [married Margaret
Ross at Bosanquet Township], Frances born circa 1843 [married Daniel McIntyre], William born circa 1844
[married Martha Fitzgerald at London Township, Middlesex County], Sara Ann born circa 1848 [married
Robert Ross at Bosanquet Township] and Martha born circa 1856 [married Eligah Clark at Bosanquet
Township, Lambton County]. Edward refers to Martha as his niece in his will so it seems that he took her in. I
am unsure of who her parents would be in that case. Family lore and death records indicate that these children
with the exception of the second Martha were born in Hamilton, Canada West.
David Campbell born circa 1805 at Ireland, married circa 1827 Catherine [Fannie] ----------------- [location
unknown]. Their children were Alexander born circa 1828 [married Jane Ann Sherret at Bosanquet Township,
Lambton County] , James Henry born circa 1831 [married Susan Jane Harken at Cheboygan, Michigan],
David born circa 1833 and John born circa 1842.
CANE/KANE Looking for any information of a SAMUEL CANE/KANE who arrived in Ontario with family in the 1820s
from Albany, New York, said to be of Irish heritage. Thought to have lived in Cavan Twp area. Sharon
Neville shariden@rogers.com
CARSON /DONNELLY My great, great grandmother Eliza Carson (born Eliza Donnelly in approximately 1847 in Ireland), emigrated
to London, Ontario, Canada, in approximately 1873, with her husband Thomas Carson. Prior to emigrating
they had moved to Scotland where they had two sons, Thomas (1871) and James Joseph (1873). In
London they had three more children. She died in 1881 and is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery. I have only been
able to find one distant family member and between the two of us we have not been able to find anything
further about Eliza - who her parents were or if other family members came with her and Thomas or where in
Ireland she was born. Her grave is unmarked and apparently there is no information in the record at the
cemetery however I am unable to look at it. Her death record has no information either. Carole Sutherland
carolecsutherland-2@yahoo.ca
COLLINS Bernard/Bernet/Barnard/Barnhart - abt 1801 – 1876 and wife Margaret (abt 1810). First located in 1851
Census in Streetsville, Ontario 6 children – William, Sara, Henry J., Catherine, Mary A., Bernet/Barney J. His
occupation is listed as ‘potter’. The 1871 census has the family in Orangeville, Ontario. A Barney/Bernet J.
Collins did a ‘pottery display’ at the Canadian national Exhibition in 1913 and 1927 using an old wheel from
his family in Orangeville. In 1896 it is reported that Harry Collins is managing the pottery business quite well.
Harry is believed to be the grandson of Bernard as his father Henry James Collins (1842-1916) compares to
the Henry J. Collins listed as a son of Bernard. Mary Young (1844 – 1909) is the wife of Henry. All are
buried in Orangeville. I am interested in knowing more about the ‘potter’ Collins with a particular interest in
Harry Collins, my grandfather. Jeff C. Hemming jaycee@bmts.com
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The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
(Continued from page 19)
COSTELLO / HOOKEY - I'm looking for further information on Thomas Costello, who married Mary
Hookey Young Sept 6, 1884. It's his siblings and parents that I'm not sure I have completely correct. Father:
Edward Costello - born abt 1830 in Ireland Mother: Mary Jones - born abt 1831 in Ireland They Married: May
1859 in Wentworth - parents: B Costello, Catherine Fowler/ Thomas Jones, Ellen Cahil 1861: Edward,
Labourer (though census isn't not clear on first name), Mary and 1 year old son Fred. They live with Mary's
parents Thomas and Ellen 1871: Edward, labourer, Mary and kids: Bartholomew 10 (where's Fred? - they're
the same age), Thomas 8, Edward 5, Catherine 4, Julia 1/12 1881: Edward, labourer, Mary and kids: Norah 21
(where did she come from?) Thomas 18, Edward 16, Katy (Catherine) 14, Julia 10, Bridget 7 1891: Edward is
deceased (Sept 1886), Mary and kids: Edward 25, Kate 22, Bertha 12 (where's Bridget and why wasn't Bertha
in the 1881 census. Could they be the same person? However, 1881 clearly states Bridget... and the age is off
by 5 years or so. 1901/1911: Bertha is living with sister Julia and her family (Rodgers). In 1901 there is a
Hattie Costello also living with them (ne: abt 1873 - same age as 'Bridget.'). Kerry McDowall,
kmcdowall@mgmpostvan.com
DALE I am looking for more information on Dales from Armagh and Down and am particularly looking for a Dale
who will have his DNA tested. I have linked up with other Derry and Antrim Dales and we have all done the
DNA thing to explore the connections. Ron Dale, ronaldjdale@netscape.net
DEMPSEY (DEMPSY), MARGARET See entry for LYONS, JOHN. SEARCHING FOR siblings and mother's name of MARGARET DEMPSEY.
Christine McFarland, cvmcf@hotmail.com.
DUDGEON My gggrandfather Joseph DUDGEON was born about 1780 in possibly Antrim, Ireland. He Immigrated about
1889-1890 to Maryland. Where his son Seabourn was born on 8 June 1801 in Maryland. The story has it that
Seabourn was born at sea. Maria Minear mminear11@mcn.net
EVANS - Searching for the Irish and Welsh origins of Francis Henry Evans (b. December 29, 1820 Wicklow,
Ireland, d. Feb 7, 1903 West Nissouri Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada) m. Susan Cronkricht (b.
Aug 15, 1830 Upper Canada, d. Dec 21, 1912 West Nissouri Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada).
Francis had a brother George William Evans m. Sarah Jane Colwell that also immigrated to West Nissouri
Township. The immigrations took place between1839 and 1842, with Francis possibly settling in New Jersey
before joining his brother in West Nissouri Township. There is a suggestion that 6 generations of the family
were from Ireland and that they came from Wales prior to that. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks. Vicki McKay, mckgrov@xplornet.ca
HAMMOND William John Hammond was born in 1875 (28 March probably) in New London, Canada, according to his
marriage record. All his life on census reports etc. he said he was born in Canada and his death certificate lists
his place of birth as Hamilton, ON, Canada. His older sister was born in 1873 in Woburn, Massachusetts. His
four younger siblings were also born in Woburn, Mass. His parents emigrated in 1871 from Donegal, Ireland.
Where was he really born? Carol White cahwhite@comcast.net
HENRY / CORD / Mc CORD I am trying to find information as to where the following people lived in Ireland, and when and how they came
to Canada (about 1850 I think). The birthdates and locations in Ireland came to me from an unidentified source
and have not been verified by me. George Rollins' mariage record shows his birth place as Antoine,Ireland. If
anyone can tell me where this is (was) I would be very grateful.
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(Continued from page 20)
Benjamin Henry--b:16 may 1840 in Northern Ireland--m:13 Oct 1874 in Huntingdon, Hastings County,
Ontario to Louise Ketchison--d:08 Dec 1888 in Hastings County, Ontario
William Henry--b:about 1800 in Northern Ireland--married Jane Wood in Northern Ireland before 1839--d: 23
Apr 1860 in Hastings County, Ontario . Jane Wood--b:about 1811 in Northern Ireland--d:23 Oct 1889 in
Hastings County, Ontario. George Rollins--b:about 1848 in Ireland (Antoine ?)--m:10 Apr 1872 in
Huntington, Ontario to Amanda Ellin Philipos. d: ?? James Rollins--b:15 Mar 1821 in Antrim County,
Northern Ireland--m:before 1845 to Matilda Cord (McCord ?)--d:11 Apr 1913 in Hastings County, Ontario.
Matilda Cord (McCord ?)--b:15 Jun 1827 in Antrim County, Northern Ireland--d:27 Aug 1896 in Hastings
County, Ontario. Any information on any of the above would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Merv Henry
mervh@telus.net
HIGGINS Michael Higgins married Mary Gleeson in the Catholic Church of Bulgaden-Balinvanna Parish in County
Limerick 25 Jan 1920. They immigrated to Canada before 1847 when they received a crown grant in Kent
County. Dates of birth unknown but assume Mike was born ca 1895. Contacted cousin Sean Higgins in 2001
and learned that the Limerick family started with two brothers from County Kildare, one, Michael settled in
Bulgaden area near Castle Jane and the other settled further west and no descendants are believed in that area
today. Any info re family in Kildare, move to Limerick, and Mikes brother will be welcome. Mikes sons
William and Lawrence may be after a grand-father or Mikes brother. William married Isabelle Dorothy Larke
and their son Melchior was my father. William Wesley Higgins home.bill@verizon.net
HUGHES / HUGHS - Searching for the Irish roots of Patrick Hughes, Bookseller m. Mary (b. 1793 - 1795
Mayo, Ireland). They had a daughter Ann Hughes (b. 1837 - 1828, according to census records in Chelsea,
Middlesex, England but I am starting to think that this may not be true as the family doesn't appear in the 1841
England census). Ann m. William Gradey/Grady on Aug 18, 1845 in the Parish Church at Bethnal Green,
Middlesex, England. Ann and William's children were Ellen (b. Jan 11, 1851), Ann (b. Aug 5, 1857 & d. Nov
4, 1862) and Mary (b. 1858 - 1859). Any information would be appreciated. Thanks. Vicki McKay
mckgrov@xplornet.ca
IRISH BRIDES FOR SETTLERS - Do you know if there are any records of Irish women being brought to
Canada as brides for settlers? My dad thought that his GG Grandfather Kenneth Urquhart-Glengarry was
married to such a person. I know she came to Canada in 1832 as she received help from the Montreal
Emigrant Society. This ladies name was Elizabeth Leonard and came from Moneymore Ireland. Mary
Bourke marymac14@shaw.ca
IRISH POTTERS / BARNARD (BERNET) - My 2X grandfather, Barnard (Bernet) Collins from
Lionamere, County Derry Ireland, was a potter in Streetsville and Orangeville circa 1850 - 1870 where he had
his own businesses. He arrived in Canada around 1835. I am interested in learning more about ‘pottery’ as a
trade in Ireland and the transition to Canada and the United States. A daughter of Barnard apparently married
a potter from New York State. Any information on the family would also be welcomed. Thank you. Jeff
Hemming jaycee@bmts.com
LANGHTRY, ANN See entry for MCGILL, DANIEL. SEARCHING FOR siblings and parents of ANN LANGHTRY (some
alternate spellings: Langtry, Langtree, Lantry). Christine McFarland, cvmcf@hotmail.com.
LEGATE Legate late 1700’s to mid 1800’s, Wicklow, Carlow (Shillelagh) and Laois – John Leggett, John Edge Legate,
and Robert Legate. They came to Canada about 1843 and after, one group to Wellington Co. The other group
went to Grey Co. Judith Hayman, hayman@mountaincable.net
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The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
LESLIE/FURRY John Leslie: Born circa 1797, Parish of Drumholme, County of Donegal, Ireland.. Served at Grand River on
Lake Erie sometime between 1819 and 1830. John married Harriet Furry circa 1828. Harriet Furry: born
August 1804. Issue: 1. John born Port Maitland 1830. 2. Henry born 1832, 3. James, my progenitor, born
1834, both in Drumholme Parish, Ireland. James came to Canada in 1857/58. He is in Sherbrooke Township
in 1861 with his mother. Source 1861 census. Harriet returned to Ontario, a widow, in 1859, with son 4.
Charles born in Ireland, 1839. Seeking information on these Leslies from 1825 to 1865 in Ireland and here in
Canada. Particularly when and where did John Leslie marry Harriet Furry? Also Henry had two sons that
supposedly came to Canada, too. Family data. Is there a family branch still here? Estelle Pringle
rjhoward@execulink.com
LOOKUP OFFER: Magherafelt and Artrea Churches I have been researching families in south Derry primarily in the Civil Parishes of Magherafelt and Artrea for
the past few years. Among the resources that I have collected are microfilms of the Church records from
several C of I and Presbyterian Churches from that area. I am happy to do look ups for other members
researching this part of Ireland. Ron Dale ronaldjdale@netscape.net
LYONS, JOHN b. abt. 1829 possibly Coleraine, Derry County Ireland. d. 1889 Belfast, N. Ire. Occupation: Boot and
shoemaker. Father Alexander LYONS , also shoemaker. Spouse Margaret DEMPSEY (DEMPSY) b. abt.
1837 possibly Coleraine, Derry County Ire. d. 1910 Belfast , N. Ire. Father: Roger(s) DEMPSEY Occupation :
Farmer. Marriage took place 1854 Coleraine , Co. Londonderry, N. Ire. Children: Margaret b. 1857, Joseph b.
1859, Minnie b. <1863>, Jane b. <1864>, Eliza b.<1867>, John b. 1868, Alexander b. 1869, Samuel Roger(s)
b. 1872. SEARCHING FOR siblings and mother's name of JOHN LYONS. Christine McFarland,
cvmcf@hotmail.com.
MACKEY I WOULD LIKE TO FIND THE PARENTS OR LOCATION OF MACKEY CLAN IN IRELAND JOHN
MACKEY 1818 IRELAND D 1893 LUCAN ONT. M ELLEN RYAN IN LUCAN
JOHN.GROOM@ROGERS.COM
MC CAREY Mc Carey I'm looking for information on 4th great grandfather Patrick Mc Carey/ Mc Cary all I know of him
is that he was born in Ireland abt. 1797 and was Roman Catholic and he was married in Williamsburg Twp,
Dundas Co., Ontario in 1823 too Elizabeth Pillar. Are there any ships lists etc? I'm not sure if this would be
his true Irish surname and if the English did change it and, what could have it been? I think he came to work
on the Canal in Ottawa, possibly the Trent or on the St. Lawrence River. Any help would be appreciated.
Robert Mc Carey sparkie_62@hotmail.com
MC CUE I am at a roadblock trying to find my great, great, great grandfather’s information about where he was born in
Ireland. ..I have found reference to him in the Scotland’s People database for his marriage banns, and the 1841
& 1861 Scotland Census, but when I try to find any info in Ireland I can’t prove anything I find. I hope you
can give me some direction. Torrance McCue was born in Ireland and lived in Scotland. He was born approx.
1811 and was married Feb. 9 1838 to Jean Taylor in Barony Parish, Glasgow City. Bob McCue,
bob@pcottawa.com
MCGILL, DANIEL (also spelled MAGILL, GILL) : b. abt. 1829, quite possibly Cavan Ireland. Occupation agr. labourer. d. 1897
Garston, Liverpool,Lancashire, UK. Spouse: Ann LANGHTRY (also spelled Langtry, Langtree, Lantry) b.
abt. 1831 quite possibly Cavan Ire. d. 1904 Garston, Liverpool, Lancashire, UK. Marriage most likely in
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
Page 23
(Continued from page 22)
Ireland. Children: Mary b.<1849> Ire. , Maria b. 1852 Warrington UK, Margaret b. 1854 Wigan UK,
Catherine b.<1858> Woolton UK, John b. 1860 Allerton UK, Anna b. 1863 UK, Anne b. 1865 Garston, UK.
SEARCHING FOR siblings' and parents' names of DANIEL MCGILL, Christine McFarland,
cvmcf@hotmail.com
O’GRADY / GRADY / GRADEY Searching for the Irish origins of Mortimer O'Grady, Labourer/Bricklayer (b. about 1800, likely in Ireland, d.
Dec 28, 1848 in Chelsea, Middlesex, England) m. Julia (b. abt. 1803). Children: 1) William, Plasterer ( d.
1857 - 1861) m. Ann Hughes Aug 18, 1845 at Saint Matthew Parish Church, Bethnal Green, Middlesex,
England, 2) Patrick Thomas, Engine Turner then Beer Retailer (b. abt. 1830 - 1831 Ireland, d. 1884 St. George
in the East, Middlesex, England) m. Margaret Quick Nov 30, 1857 at St. Johns Church, Liverpool, Lancashire,
England and 3) Ellen Sarah O'Grady (b. abt 1833—1834 in Ireland, d. 1901 - 1911), m. Henry Johnson in the
Parish Church at St. Mary, Newington, Surrey, England. The family does not appear in the 1841 England
census. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks. Vicki McKay mckgrov@xplornet.ca
PEPPER / FRYER -Seeking information on the parents & siblings of GEORGE PEPPER born Wicklow
Ireland 1818, married in England in Oct 1841 to ELIZA FRYER. George served in the British army in India.
They went back to Ireland then came to Canada in 1870 to Norfolk County Ontario. Any info greatly
appreciated. Thank you, Kay Pepper kmbp@ntl.sympatico.ca
PERDUE - French Huguenot forced to move to the Palatine region in the 1600s and eventually Yougal in
Ireland. They were resettled on improved lands in the Parish of Crohane in county Tipperary. Memorials go
back to 1790. To Ontario about 1830, Brampton then Fenelon Falls. Intermarried in Ireland and Canada with
Caesar/Cesar. Marie Perdue Holmes bmholmes@shaw.ca
SHANNON Ancestor William Shannon came to Canada in 1828 from County Monaghan (I believe) and settled in Augusta
Township, Grenville County. Wife Jane Elizabeth, either Grier or Henry. I have had little success in going
backward from 1828, nor finding proof of how he and his wife traveled here, and which port they arrived
through. Ron Shannon ron.shannon@sympatico.ca
STOCKDALE I am looking for more information about my great great grandfather Richard Stockdale. The following is what
I know, so far: Richard was married to Eliza Heagan (sp?) and they lived near Moy in County Tyrone. She was
born about 1821. Her father was Daniel Heagan and her mother was Sarah Orr. Eliza also had a brother
Nathaniel Heagan, a sister Margaret and a sister Jane. Jane came to Canada and married John Wilson and she
is supposed to be buried at Wist's cemetery near Campbellford. Nathaniel Heagen also came to Canada and is
buried at Trenton. Daniel Heagen (Eliza's father) also came to Canada and is supposed to be buried at Amherst
Island, near Kingston. I do not have verification of any of this. Richard and Eliza had two sons, Richard (born
Dec 12, 1844 in County Tyrone, but dates vary in different documents) and Nathaniel born about 1842. I do
not know where or when Richard (Eliza's husband ) was born. He apparently immigrated to North America
around 1851-3, to New York, but supposedly died before his wife and two sons arrived. I do not know when
he left Ireland for sure and when he died or where he is buried. Eliza and her two sons came to Canada in the
1850s. Eliza remarried a Samuel Cummings( not sure if in Ireland or where) and they also had a daughter
Sarah Jane Cummings. Nathaniel and Richard used the name Cummings for a short while then changed their
names back to Stockdale. Richard (born 1844) died in 1903 and is buried at Campbellford. He was my great
grandfather. I am particularly interested in finding out more about my great great grandparents, Richard and
Eliza Stockdale and their Irish roots and immigration to Canada. Any information about Eliza's family or
marriage to Samuel Cummings would also assist in my search. If you need any further information from me,
please contact me. Mary Stockdale Vernon, mary.stockdale-vernon@sympatico.ca
The OGS Ireland SIG Newsletter
Page 24
CONTACTS
Chair
John M. Noble
nobility1817@gmail.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
OGS Ireland SIG
c/o John M. Noble,
Chair
1199 Diane St.
Sudbury ON P3A
4H4
Vice-Chair
David R. Elliott dr.david.r.elliott@sympatico.ca
Treasurer
John Collins
jmacollins@gmail.com
Membership
Coordinator
Cathie Searle
Cathie.searle@gmail.com
Queries
Judith Hayman
hayman@mountaincable.net
Newsletter Editor
Michele Stanley newsletter.ogs.irsig@gmail.com
Webmaster
Brian Elliott
belliott@ody.ca
WEBSITE: http://www.ireland.ogs.on.ca
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This is YOUR Newsletter! If you have anything for to contribute, please forward it to
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