O'Donnell family

mcblondie · Post by **mcblondie** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:15 pm

Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone could do a look up for me.

I'm trying to trace my relation Patrick O'Donnell, born around 1839, parents were Andrew O'Donnell and Margaret McGuire (or Maguire), his spouse was Ann McCafferty (or McCaffrey) it's been spelt both ways on there Scottish marriage cert and on the census. I'm trying to find out where in Ireland they came from.

Thanking you all in advance.

Katie

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:40 pm

Hi Katie
I think you may have quite a big search on your hands there. It is a bit like the chicken and egg situation: if you do not know what area of Ireland to look, then it similar to saying "somewhere in Scotland" but without the benefit of being able to search on SP for likely matches in OPRs and the census.

Have you tried IGI? They do have some Irish records, however, from what I've come across for the areas I've been looking they are post 1864 records, after registration began in Ireland for everyone. Prior to that it would be Church records and you would really need to know the parish and also whether the family were RC or Protestant to know where to start looking. Maguire is a Fermanagh name, as far as I'm aware, but they could have come from elsewhere. Have you tried Emerald Ancestors perhaps for the marriage? However, I believe the Parish record coverage is very patchy and non-existant in some areas...a bit like Scotland, but worse, or so it seems.

From my tentative forays in to Irish research, I'm afraid it seems there are no quick fixes, or one-stop-shops where the answers can be "looked up".

We have lots of links to try here too:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10339

As you are in Dunbartonshire I would suggest a trip to the Mitchell Library, where you can look up the Poor Law applications. Always a chance one or other of them applied for poor relief, and that may give place of origin, though probably only the county in Ireland...but hey, thats a step in the right direction..... As far as I remember, I think there are both Glasgow and Dunbartonshire Poor Law Application indexes on the PCs there, but I'm sure one of our Mitchell regulars will be able to clarify that one!

They also have a good number of books there about Irish research I think.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **SarahND** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:00 am

Hi Katie,
For what it's worth, if you search in the censuses in Scotland for anyone with a surname O'Donnell born in Ireland nearly all who list a county of birth were born in County Donegal. Most, of course, don't say anything but Ireland

All the best,
Sarah

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:47 am

Following on from Sarah's post re. surnames, if you go to
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/
and put in the surname, you can see the number of O'Donnell households in each county in the Primary Valuation property survey of 1848-64, and again Donegal comes out tops.

Also, if you have not done so already, would be to check all census mentions, just incase more than "Ireland" was mentioned on one occaision.

Best wishes
Lesley

hg · Post by hg » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:06 pm

Hi Katie,

I have been looking for Irish ancestors as well, in particular my ggranfather Hugh Glacken. I have had lots of gratefully received suggestions from this site on where to look but its still a brick wall. In one of the Scottish census it says he was born in Derry Ireland, but iI know the name originates from Donegal. I have also been to the Mitchell Library to look at the poor law applications but this shed no light either, it did confirm the family were Roman Catholics though.

Every so often I have another look.

I will just keep plodding away and hope for the best.

all the best

Helen

mcblondie · Post by **mcblondie** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:48 pm

Hi all,

Thank you for your replies, yes it's very much the proverbial needle! Typical genealogy eh? lol Not only can't I find my Irish rellies, it's worse trying to trace my Lithuanian ones on my fathers side. lol Well travelled my lot where.

Take care and thanks.

Katie

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:42 pm

Hi Katie

yes it's very much the proverbial needle

I think we all have at least one of those. But take heart, needles can be found...it happens to folk here on TS. It just takes a lot or perseverance, a lot of patience and in many cases a lot of time. Difficult, yes, but in many cases, not impossible!

Stick with it, believe you can crack it, and it all just may fall into place one day!

Best wishes
Lesley

hg · Post by hg » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:55 pm

Hi Katie,

I know this is your post but, I hope you don't mind if I use it to just say thank you to Lesley.

Her words of encouragement have enspired me to have another look. Don't know if I will find anything this time but, I beleive if I keep on looking I will........eventually!

Good luck with your Lithuanian ones. I have Italian ones as well as Irish, they are proving to be hard to find.

all the best

Helen

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:22 pm

Hi Helen
Have you been to :
http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php
another site worth a look if trying to pinpoint Irish persons.
A few Hugh Glackens there - if you don't specify a first name or which county, there is still only a pageful of Glackens.
For background info about the Griffiths Valuation, try:
http://www.from-ireland.net/gene/griffithsval.htm

Worth trying that with your O'Donnels too, Katie. There are not as many Andrews showing up as I would have anticipated. Andrew does not appear to have been a very popular name at that time.

Best wishes
Lesley

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