Was I expecting too much?.....

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:08 pm

Last November, I gave in and paid for research in Ireland, the research was for two names, the cost was 190 euro ($324.00au)

I supplied quite a lot of known information I already had.

Last Friday, I finally received a reply, telling me there were 7 children, that's two more than was aware of, and that they had located marriages for 3 of them, and the family in 1901 & 1911 census.

On the second name, they had found the 4 children I had supplied the info on, and the 1901 & 1911 census.

If I want any more information, even the names of the children, I counted up the costs quoted - a further 305 euro ($511.00au)

Was I especting too much? I would be interested to know what others researchers would have expected to receive.

Kathy

tishgibbons · Post by **tishgibbons** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:35 pm

Kathy,

I get embarassed every time I see people on this site looking for help with research here in Ireland!

I can never help them and the situation regarding family history is the pits compared with Scotland. To make matters worse I get loads of help on this site for my own research!!! Anyway, it does seem like a lot of money and if they already have the names of the children that suggests they have already done the work and it shouldn't cost so much extra as it sounds like they were all at the same location. That said, the few times I've been to the Gilbert Library it takes hours (painful ones) scanning miles of records for something you could find on ScotlandsPeople in a matter of minutes.

I should add that I'm missing a whole branch of my own family but I wouldn't use any of those services here.

Anyway, poor you! I know some scottish researchers contribute to this site and maybe they will say we are unrealistic in our expectations. Let's see!

Tish

sheilajim · Post by **sheilajim** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:50 pm

Hi Kathy

I think that was way too much money.

I also have ancestors in Ireland, and unless they are in FHS, and most of them are not, I don't know what to do.

I think that we have all been spoiled with Scotlands People. For some reason, Ireland seems to be the worst place to search for your bygone relatives. I know that most of the 19th Century Records were destroyed.

You didn't mention who you got to help you, and I suppose that you shouldn't, unless it was Proni.

Let's hope that things will get better in the future.

Good Luck

Sheila

IanS · Post by **IanS** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:19 pm

Kathy, Could you tell us exactly what you received from the researcher, i.e. any certificates or extracts? I'm wondering if this was only a feasibility study. Was it a lone researcher or one of the big firms? Would you be allowed to name them? Was it a local researcher i.e. based in Cavan or one based in Dublin?

Sorry for all the questions, but they may help others to decide whether they are prepared to pay these sums of money.

I personally, would not, but !!

This year I went to the main register office for Donegal in Letterkenny, and came away with 8 certs, total cost 48 euros.(searches and photocopies) I went armed with only one sure date of death, and one marriage date. I also had the area. The rest I 'winged' it . I asked for searches for family names in time frames in a specific area.(I had to keep asking her to move the time frames on, one of them lived till he was 85, so a fair bit of searching was done!) Three death certs basically confirmed what I knew from Scottish records, but gave me the approx year they were born, who registered the death, occupation, place of death, cause of death. These death certs are the only official documentation they ever appear on,(so far) as they were born and married before parish records or civil reg. began, so I felt it was important to get them.
I came away extremely happy with the results.

If I had given a researcher all my family info, he should have been able to do the same job-but I haven't a clue what it would have cost me!

(Time in registry office approx. 1 hour, with an extremely pleasant and helpful young lady.)

I have never used an Irish researcher, (though I have previously sent for certs and asked for searches for specific names in specific areas, and been happy with the price!)

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:01 am

It was the County Cavan Genealogical Research Centre, I had personally travelled to Cavan this time last year, and was unable to do the research myself, they said they had to do it, the records were not available to the public.

The following is the information I supplied and the reply received.

Kathy

On the first name - Thornton

I supplied them with the names/birthdates of 5 children, their parents, Edward Thornton b 1825c, d 22.09.1911 Pullabawn Cavan & Jane Flood b 1848, d 10.09.1908 Cavan Workhouse.

Reply on the Thornton's

1. Baptismal details for seven children, of parents Edward Thornton & Jane Flood, entries were recorded in the Catholic Church register for Cavan Parish.
2. Marriage entry for Edward Thornton & Jane Flood.
3. Marriage entries located for three children of Edward Thornton.
4. 1901 census return for Edward Thornton household
5. 1911 census return for Edward Thornton who is living with his daughter and her family, six occupants of the household are recorded on the return.
6. Griffith's LV circa 1856, father of Edward Thornton is recorded.

Second surname Lynch.

I supplied Patrick Lynch b 1850c, d 13.08.1929 spouse Ann Sexton b 1850c, d before 1929 Tullyvin, Cootehill, County Cavan. also their 4 childrens names, birth dates, place of birth, death date of 2 children.

Reply I received on the Lynch's.

1 Baptismal entries located for 4 children of parents Patrick Lynch & Ann Sexton.
Marriage not located, they are still checking microfilms.
2. 1901 census for Patrick Lynch & family.
3. 1911 Census return located for same household.
4. 1821 census, no Lynch recorded at the address, but there are a number of Sexton households recorded.
5. 1856 Griffith's VL, Sexton plotholders located at Lynch family home address, but no Lynch householders listed.

IanS · Post by **IanS** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:19 am

Hi Kathy, while I see you online, I'll quickly ask- is your townland of Pullabawn the same one as Pollabane in the parish of Kilmore.

map link from Genuki Cavan

http://www.sierratel.com/colinf/genuki/ ... ndMap.html

IanS · Post by **IanS** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:40 am

Next bit! The name Thornton is not common in Cavan, in fact only 2 heads of household in the County. An Edward in Parish of Drumlane, Townland of Tirliffin. A Perrot M. Thornton, who appears 11 times, but seems to reside in the parish of Kildallon.

Back to Kilmore Parish from previous posting. A Patrick Thornton appears on the flax list of 1796 for this Parish.

back later, got to recheck something.

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:51 am

Whilst living in Dublin mid 90s I came across a group of Americans who were on a genealogical holiday organised from them.
They had a "professional" genealogist taking them about the country. I got talking to this "pro" and she said that most of the local parish priests have the records and for a fee/donation they would supply the information.

I have to say the records office in Dublin was very helpful but if you did not have correct information it became expensive, slow and the information was minimal.

IanS · Post by **IanS** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:58 am

The following link shows the Catholic Parishes of Cavan.

http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/bro ... avanrc.htm

Do you see the arm of Kilmore in which Pollabane is situated is surrounded by a couple of other Parishes. (Catholic and Civil)

Click on each Catholic parish link to see what records are available and where and timeframe. Not altogether always trusting that these are the only sources for the records, type each placename in the L.D.S. Placename search. it shows that Urney has catholic Parish records on film for the years 1812-1830.

Now this is too early for Edwards marriage, but it might just catch his birth.

I would repeat same process for any placenames that might be likely.

I forgot to take note, bit Kilmore 1901/1911 census may be available on film to order.

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:00 pm

IanS wrote:Hi Kathy, while I see you online, I'll quickly ask- is your townland of Pullabawn the same one as Pollabane in the parish of Kilmore.

map link from Genuki Cavan

http://www.sierratel.com/colinf/genuki/ ... ndMap.html

Hi Ian,

I'm sorry to say, I don't know.

Edward Thornton's son Thomas was baptised at Kilmore, perhaps its the same place, but I cant be sure.

Kathy