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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: RitchieC on Wednesday 22 July 09 13:29 BST (UK)
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Hi there, my name is Richard Conaghan and I have info that my ancestors were from Londonderry. Are there any Conaghans out there that can help me trace my Irish roots.
Many thanks Richard.
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If you could give us some names, dates, places we might be able to get you more information or suggest where you could search.
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Hello Richard and welcome to Rootschat.
I am sure if you give as much information as you can on your Conaghan family we on this Board will help as much as we can.
Good luck,
DoireM
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Hi There, many thanks for your quick reply, my 4 x Great Grandfather was William Conaghan and he was married to Helen Docherty. I dont have any info at all on them but got there names from Death Certificates here in Scotland. My 3x Great Grandfather was John Conaghan(c1793-1866) and he had a brother Hugh(1804-1876) and a sister Helen(1807-1867) who married a Daniel Hill. I have 3 wives for John...Margaret Gallagher and Susan Gallagher who both died quite young and Margaret Ford who outlived him by 12 years. He had at least 17 children that we know of...that is if he started a family at the age of 35..which I doubt.
On one of his sons birth certificate from 1855 it states that he was from Co Derry and on his brother Hughs Poor relief records that Hugh was from Londonderry. Hope this helps
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'Londonderry' can refer to either the county or the city but to trace the family in Ireland you'll need a more exact location. Docherty/Doherty, etc. is probably the most common surname in Co. Derry but Conaghan (if they stuck to that spelling and all the records here also used that spelling) might be easier to search but generally for pre-registration (1864) information you need to check church records (if they exist).
IGI (www.familysearch.org) lists some Conaghans in Co. Londonderry (mostly after 1864) and even more in Co. Donegal.
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We have quite a few spellings for my surname..Conaghan, Connachan, Conahan, Connaghan and just about every other combination that you can think of...but they mostly settled for Conaghan..I was over in Londonderry last July to try to find somewhere to start, but everywher was closed cos it had been the walk at the weekend, so I was no further forward. If I dont have a rough area to start in what could my options be?
Cheers Ritchie
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You really can't start doing much research in Ireland without a townland or at least parish to search for church records, etc. so you need to go through all possible Scottish records (civil registration, census, etc.) for any clues. Is there a possibility that William and wife Helen also moved to Scotland?
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Searched high and low, and all the info seems to suggest that they weren`t here..there are 3 William Conaghans in the 1841 Scotland Census and they are related but are far too young to be Old William and there are 2 Helens aged 7 years and 1 year so no sign of her either. The only William Conaghan that I can find any trace of in Ireland is in the Flax Growers list and it states that he is from Donegal, but all of our info points to Derry/Londonderry.
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Ellen is used far more often in Ireland than Helen so you might want to try that one as well.
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Richard,
Some names from the 1831 Census for Co Londonderry. All are in the parish of Templemore,ie the city of Londonderry. I have tried all your spellings and included some others.
Conachan Owen
Conaham Eliza
Conaghan James
" John
" Michael
" William
Regards
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Are there any ages or occupations listed in the census, as we know that William was, surprise, surprise a Farmer.
Cheers, Ritchie
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1831 census only lists head of household, number of males and females in the household and religon (number of R.C., E.C., Presbyterian, other).
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Sorry Richard, my CD is only an index which lists head of household only.
Regards
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Thanks for the info...are there any websites that I would be able to search for any more info..similar to Scotlands People over here?
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Index to civil registrations (free) online-
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;t=searchable;c=1408347
See here for search tips-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,357532.0.html
Very few census records pre-1901 survive.
See here for some Londonderry sources-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,390488.0.html
and here for church records-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,369044.0.html
You might find it useful to read about how to research Irish records (although the title says Donegal much of it also applies to Londonderry)-
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/genbooklet.pdf
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The original post was from my husbands family, but we now have more information from Scottish birth certificates and poor relief applications if anyone can help. I have a birth of a Henry Revie in Glasgow and it states that his mother Helen (ellen) Hill ( daughter of Daniel Hill and Helen Conaghan) married his father John Revie( Reavie,Revey, McArevie, McReavie) in Londonderry on 20th October 1858. The poor relief and marriage certificates all say Londonderry, can anyone tell me where to look, would it be the Cathedral or are there many RC churches in Londonderry or is there a central place where the records are kept. I have had a look on the IGI and can't find any info so any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks. Lorna
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http://derry.rootsireland.ie/
This is a good database but it costs to access the material. Use advanced search facility to narrow down search results. Searching is free after registration.
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Icon,
I can find a marriage of Ellen Hill to John McErevey on 28 Oct 1858 in Long Tower ( St Columb) Roman Catholic Church, Londonderry City.
Regards
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Many thanks, do you know if there is an image, I was just about to join Emerald Ancestors, because I found a marriage on this site for 1858. Thanks again
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Lorna,
I will send you a PM.
Regards