RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: Jillie42 on Saturday 13 May 06 17:42 BST (UK)
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I could really do with some positive vibes at the moment and some success stories might encourage me to keep looking.
I know my Harringtons came from somewhere in Ireland around 1852 - and that IT!
I've currently got a professional researcher (AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!) looking for possible leads. He is reputable and I paid for an initial assessment but it's been absolutely weeks and I've heard nothing........so I guess it's not looking good.
If he can't find anything actually living in Ireland then I stand no chance. I've got so little to go on.
It would be really nice if I could get some positive feedback.
Moderator Comment: If anybody can help, then please check out the thread on the Ireland - Cork Board as well, to avoid duplication of efforts. Thanks :)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,132317.0.html
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Jillie
I have loads of info on Harrington names very well listed back to 1813 which is unusual for Ireland so post what you know and I will see what I can find happy to help with births or marriages nothing lost if I cant find what you need
audrey
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Most of the info I have is from when the family came to England. Cornelius and his wife Helen are on the 1871 census and were apparently born in 1813 and 1815 respectively somewhere in Ireland. They lived in Johnson's Court, Westminster by 1952. I can't find them on any other of the census returns for England. They had two sons Cornelius (my Gt Gt Grandfather) for whom there is no birth registration but I've found his baptismal records - he was born in 1854 and baptised at St Mary's Horsferry Road, Hanover Square, Westminster. There is a second son born 1859 called James who was supposedly born in Ireland.
ornelius younger was married twice - to a Mary Sullivan in 1875 and to my Gt Grandmother Mary Williams in 1884.
C
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HARRINGTON, James
born 28 Nov 1866 at 60, Castletown, Cork, Ire
Fath. Cornelius HARRINGTON
Moth. Catherine SULLIVAN
HARRINGTON, Cornelius
born 17 Apr 1869 at 88, Kilcatherine, Cork, Ire
Civil Reg.
Fath. Cornelius HARRINGTON
Moth. Ellen SHEA
HARRINGTON, Timothy
born 26 Nov 1870 at 72, Kilcatherine, Cork, Ire
Fath. Cornelius HARRINGTON
Moth. Mary HARRINGTON
Cornelius name crops up in every family the above are just pos.leads
audrey
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Thought I'd just post an update. I did eventually receive a report from te professional geneologist. To be fair to him he had been in hospital following an accident - hence the time it took to get my report. It was well presented and although only an initial two hour search they'd obviously done a pretty good job.
Basically, they couldn't find anything concrete but that there was a vague link to an earlier inquiry concerning a baptism of a Con Harrington born in 1815 to a Cornelius Harrington and a Margaret Collins. Their information was scant but pointed to Adrigole. However, the Glengariff records only cover the 1840's.
General concensus seems to be that Cornelius and Ellen did indeed come from somewhere in Cork or South Kerry but a longer (more expensive ::) :-\ :'() search is needed and ofcourse nothing can be guarenteed.
I was impressed by the work done by this professional but it still goes against the grain to get someon else to do it. I shall now keep saving y pennies untill I can afford to pay for more work to be done.
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Jillie, I don't know where you're based, but have you considered going to Ireland yourself?
If you're in the UK you can get a coach over to Cork for about £30, it's really not that expensive.
I would then direct you in the way of Mallow Heritage Centre, which I have posted information about here: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,247082.0.html
Do let us know how your search is going.
All the best.
Scott
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Hi Scott,
Yes, I have considered going to Ireland myself. We went two years ago and unfortunately (it wasn't county Cork by the way) were made to feel so unwelcome and insulted simply because we are English that frankly I'm not sure I ever want to go again.
The irony ofcourse is that my mother's family originally come from Ireland :-\
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I find that sad to here you have had a bad time in Ireland. We have been many times to differant parts of Ireland and have never come a cross any one who did not welcome us or make us feel at home. I found the people in Ireland to be them friendly people i have ever met and would go out of there way to help us. If you are talking about Dublin or any big city's any where you will find people don't have the time for you. I live in the north of England and find every time i go to London the people there do not make you welcome but i put it down to people just not having enough time and there lives are allways in a hurry. If you ever do get the chance to visit Cork, do take the time to see as much of the city as possible , i found it loverly there, and try and visit "The English market" in Cork .the food is really good. Hope you do give ireland a second chance?
http://www.cork-guide.ie/cork_city/english-market.html
Migky ;)
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Dublin was fine as were the visitor centres such as Newgrange.
We stayed in a town called Tullamore and were made to feel like scum. The constant comments about our being protestant (my grandmother was a catholic :-\ :'() and how much money we English have (ha! what a joke) really ground us down as did the menace we felt when we tried to have a drink in a typical "irish" pub.
As soon as we opened our months and ordered a drink the room went silent.
I've been a biker all my adult life and drunk in some pretty scary places but I've never been so glad to leave a pub in my life.
I realise that this is probably not typical but it doesn't encourage you to want to return.
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I have for many years contacted researchers and institutions in Ireland to no avail, I have been told that they would not assist with English surnames and I have spent a lot of money trying to get the documents (I have provided the reference numbers ) out.
An American cousin also had the same problem he went armed with the reference numbers and was told he was too late in the day to get the copies. It was not too late in the day.
The problem was and is that our ancestors owned estates there.
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I did consider if I do ever go again booking in under the name "Harrington" (my grandmother'ssurname) and seeing how much help I get.
The irony of it is that so many of us have Irish ancestors who left as a result of the famine. I understand why there would be a degree of lingering anger against the English but I have Irish in my blood from several sides and would like to see the best of where my ancestors come from - not the worst.
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But the Potato Famine affected all Europe, England, Wales, Scotland and even North America.
http://www.from-ireland.net/history/potatoebogbutter.htm
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Thing I can't get my head around was that the Great Hunger was in 1846 - 1850 ish - it's now 2007 and I am in way responsible for the treatment of the Irish 160 years ago.
And I was pretty pi**ed off by all the snide comments of how much money the English had - but that the Irish in Tullamore were more than happy to relieve me of my apparently ill-gotten gains.
Sorry to all the Irish reading this. I'm certain most of you are lovely it's just that first impressions stick - and the ones we got have stuck pretty solidly ??? ::)
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Jillie, I've had English people sniff when I mention being from Ireland, someone from the British Tourist Authority telling me 'you don't want to go there' and even English people being surprised we have washing machines, microwave ovens, computers & have shops where we can buy lovely outfits for weddings here in Ireland!
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Jillie, I too find this a very sad thread. My hubby and I have just returned from our second 2 week tour of Ireland. First time visting Wicklow, Wexford & Waterford. This time Clare, Kerry and Galway and we have had the warmest of welcomes in all areas we visited.
On this visit we were looking at gravestones in a cemetery and got into a conversation with a local lady who asked what I was looking for. I gave her all my info and she asked for my phone number and offered to search the local registers and let me know what she finds. I don't think you can get any more friendly and helpful than that.
The potato blight was introduced to Ireland by imports from America. The problem was that potatoes were the main crop as they offered all the nutrients needed in one vegetable so when the blight hit there was no alternative food. England and other countries, especially India sent copius amounts of foodstuffs but the distribution of this to remote parts of the country was a huge problem as Poorhouses were only built in towns. Having read several books on this subject I have never come across blame being laid at England's door entirely.
It would be a shame to let one bad experience deny you experiencing the many charms Ireland and her people have to offer.
The National Library in Dublin is a minefield of information for the genealogist http://www.nli.ie/new_what_res.htm Many of the parish records are held on film there. On each visit I spend a day there whilst hubby walks his socks off in Dublin and have found loads of info, you just have to trawl the films of any parish you think may be useful to you.
Sorry you feel you had a bad time Jillie but I can assure you it is not the norm.
Can't wait for next year, Donegal here we come.
Sheila
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There was a big problem regarding the type of potato that the Irish people wanted to grow. It was called the "Lump" potato and it was favoured because it had in good time a heavier crop. Unfortunately this potato was more prone to the blight and the authorities could not get people to plant alternative types.
Beside that, there is in the American Records of Rt Rev. John Lancaster Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, President of The Irish Catholic Colonisation Association, information that from 1851 to 1887 the sum of $30,000.000 (thirty million dollars) donated to Ireland in the New York area, donated chiefly by servant girls who incidentally were those who contributed most to the building of the churches, hospitals and schools in USA. that was not counting the donation from Boston which had an even higher population of Irish Immigrants.
In the Chicago Daily Jounre 21 April 1852 it says The United sons of Erin sent all funds that they had to Parnell to be used by him wherever it would do the most good.
Now I haven't done a conversion to present day money but that was an enormous amount. why did the people starve?
Where did it go?
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Hello all, I know how frustrating Irish research can be. My husband's people were Potato Famine Irish who came to the USA via Canada. Our experience has been that virtually everyone of his Ireland-born ancestors has placed on their tombstones, very prominently, their home county, and in some cases, even the parish! The cemetery in which virtually all are buried indicates that this was very common and the counties in that cemetery are wide-ranging from all parts of Ireland. So, there is lots of pride and it may be worth your while to try to find those MIs (tombstones as we call them). Many answers are there for all to see. I hope this helps in your quest. Pat
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hi jillie42,what a horrible experience for you,sounds like
you strayed into a(pub) den of real 'dinosaurs'.
having said that these types can be found on both sides
of the irish sea,seems like they would be just as ignorant to anyone
even if they were not english.what somebody should enlighten them
about is that most irish people have ancestors who were from england
wales scotland not to mention other nationalities as well, this includes
my own family.I love to see people coming to ireland to trace their families.
I hope that at some stage in the future you will return and have a more
positive experience.
regards.anne
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Yes, I think wounds run deep on both sides, however, it is incredibly ignorant and incredibly naive to blame visitors to your country for things their ancestors did.
It's just backward mentality, you'll find it anywhere, it's like English people who continue to refer to German people as Nazis or whatever other derogatory term they can think up - despite the fact 60 years have passed since then and the whole country has changed etc etc.
May I ask when you went to Ireland? From what you said about money, sound like you may have gone during the 80s, that was a pretty hectic period and probably not the best time to conduct such research. A lot's changed now, the economy is booming and the place has become incredibly multicultural.
Either way, I'd just hate to see you put off the beautiful country by a few morons.
C (partner)
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Jillie, I've had English people sniff when I mention being from Ireland, someone from the British Tourist Authority telling me 'you don't want to go there' and even English people being surprised we have washing machines, microwave ovens, computers & have shops where we can buy lovely outfits for weddings here in Ireland!
Funny.....cos that's certainly not how I veiwed the Irish before I got there. I've always had a love for irish music and all things Celtic have always had a fascination. I called my daughter Cara before I ever know I had any irish roots because it sounded musical and I loved it's meaning. I've known for years that Irish monks kept the candle or knowledge and education burning long after it had gone out in the rest of Europe. I've also read about the kind of reception my Irish would have got when they moved to London and believe me, it make me angry - but I wasn't personally responsible :( I wasn't around then.
I'd gone hoping to find the warm welcome, the oft-quoted Irish genial nature.
As I've already said, I'm certain that the "welcome" we got was probably not typical but where do we go to make sure we don't get a repeat performance?
I realise that I'm going to have to go to Beara to get a look and a feel for where my ancestors came from - but the thought of another week of insults is not appealing.
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May I ask when you went to Ireland? From what you said about money, sound like you may have gone during the 80s, that was a pretty hectic period and probably not the best time to conduct such research. A lot's changed now, the economy is booming and the place has become incredibly multicultural.
C (partner)
It was two years ago :( In a place called Tullamore and although I'm certain there is poverty (there is anywhere you go) there, there did seemed to be a lot of very nice detached houses standing in several acres of land being built while we were there. Property was considerably cheaper then in Cambridgeshire and wages seemed to be comparable to England.
Don't misunderstand me. I'm really pleased to see a place becoming prosperous but was really angry to think that for all the bleating about English prosperity my family certainly couldn't afford to have a new house built - not in Cambridgeshire and certainly not on our wages. My parents were council all their life and my grandparents lived in the roughest bit of South London.
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Jillie,
I'm sorry you had a difficult time when you visited Ireland. My father was born in Ireland and I have been 'over' many times.
Earlier this year I was in Dublin, on my own, for 5 days. People could not have been nicer!
The office at Mountjoy cemetery had sent me very promptly [for a fee!] the info. I wanted and a plan of the cemetery, and were helpful when I arrived.
The man at the bus info. office actually made a phone call to the caretaker at Finglas graveyard and made sure he would be in to give me the key. The caretaker's wife gave me lots of local info.
When I went north the post mistress in Forkhill was very kind, gave me post cards of the area and refused payment. The landlord in the pub was very welcoming and helpful.
The staff in the Archives and Reg. Office were helpful and efficient.
I am already thinking about my next trip!
Please do not give up on Ireland. Try again soon :)
Kooky
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Jillie 42,
Very sorry that you had such an off putting trip.All i can say is that as a C of E family we moved to Ireland to manage a factory in the troubled times of 1968, our children went to a convent school, and were taught through Gaelic, at the time of "Bloody Sunday" we and several other Brits were subjected to some slogan painting and damage to our cars, the local people apologized for what had occurred and told us that it was a crowd of Civil Rights protesters who were the perpertators. With the exception of 1983/6, when i returned to England for family reasons nothing to do with Ireland, we have lived and enjoyed our life here, on the occasion of rugby matches i wear my English shirt with pride, ok, the recent matches for England have given me some stick from the Irish supporters, but all in good fun, I recently held my 70th birthday in a local bar, receiving greetings and presents from all & sundry.
I also have visited and drank in Tullamore , and the reception was just like the rest of Ireland extremely friendly, after all, as the adage states: There are no strangers in Ireland,, only friends who haven't met:
Bodger
PS we have a daughter b. in Galway who is proud to be Irish, and travel with her Irish passport, and of course she gives me grief when Ireland win at anything
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Ok!! Ok!! I give in!!! :D ;D ;)
Ireland is a wonderful place and you are all wonderful people ;)
I shall be sure to give it another go (maybe next year when I've saved up enough money for a holiday) however, there IS a proviso................all of you living in County Cork have got to be at the airport to give me and hubby a rapturous Irish welcome, then you have to take us to the livliest, friendliest pubs.......after all, it's not much to ask if you want to put right the wrong you county Offaly cousins did us ;D :D ;)
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sounds like a good excuse for a cork rootschat meet,
why not copy this subject to the cork board as well. ;D
regards.anne
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sounds like a good excuse for a cork rootschat meet,
why not copy this subject to the cork board as well. ;D
regards.anne
I might just do that. Not sure how welcome I'll be in the emerald Isle now though :-[ ;)
Except I have absolutely NO idea how I copy this thread onto another board
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I learned that when I call over to Ireland and depending if I'm doing my catholic research or my protestant research I always say my last name the way each religion would say it ;D
Karen
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Cork rootschat meet sounds great!
If there's one in August I'll be there!
As a side comment, I think it's less of a religious thing as it is a political thing, I think people have just got used to using the whole Catholic/Protestant divide as a reference point - Protestant for obvious reasons as CoE and CoI are linked historically with the English monarchy. With pronounciation do you mean Gaelic pronounciation as opposed to Anglicised pronounciation?
That's just a thought though.
At least all of us here get along great, if other people want to be silly leave them to it.
Just don't forget, the majority of people all over the world are quite warm and welcoming. :)