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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Donegal => Topic started by: ZiggyZipgun on Monday 12 September 11 04:32 BST (UK)
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Hello everyone!
I'm trying to find any details about my great-great-great-grandfather, James Hart, and his father, Samuel. The family lived in Magherashanvalley between approximately 1785 and 1834; prior to that, they had lived in Scotland, and in 1834 they sailed to New York on a brig named Ontario and settled in the western part of that state.
Samuel Hart was born about 1789; his son James was born about 1813. On the 1796 Spinning Wheel Premium list, a Samuel and a James Hart are both listed in Donaghmore Parish, and in the 1826 Tithe Applotment Book, both a Samuel and a James are listed in Magherashanvalley, and a Thomas Hart was living in Corcullion. My great-great-great-grandfather would've been a little too young to be paying tithes in 1826, and no ages are ever given on these records, so I can't even take a wild guess who Samuel's father might've been, especially since Samuel's father would've been born in Scotland, and I have no clue what part of Scotland.
Also, in The Family History of the Hart of Donegal, they mention a Thomas Hart that lived in "Maughrysharwely" who left a Dublin will in 1815, but it convinced the researchers that he was "of Jewish extraction" - which doesn't necessarily mean he's not related to my Harts, since the recurring names in my line are Solomon, Moses, Samuel, James, Joseph, etc., though they are consistently listed as Church of Ireland, and have been Methodists for longer than anyone can remember. Unfortunately, I've had no luck finding any other mention of that will, let alone any mention of Samuel, James, or Thomas, outside of these very unhelpful records.
I'm eager to find the name of my 5th-great-grandfather, but I've searched every record I've ever heard of, and spent quite a few €'s in the process. I've even taken a 67-marker DNA test, which has only confirmed that I'm not related to the vast majority of the Harts in America that have also taken the DNA test. Where else can I search? I've been staring at this brick wall for two years now, even after driving thousands of miles visiting the original farms in Kendall, New York, and Smiths Creek, Michigan, and contacting living descendants of all but one of Samuel's nine children.
At this point, any suggestions at all could be a big help! Thanks!
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Hi, I think I see Samuel's marriage record from 1807 St Columb's Cathedral, Londonderry, Samuel Hart = Charlotte Harrow, doesn't seem to be any parents names on this record however
Although you say family came from Scotland in the 1780's there are Harts recorded in the Cathedral registers back to the 1650's,
Regards
Joe
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That is the correct marriage record, though his wife's name is later spelled Marrow on their youngest son's 1911 New York death certificate. There is a fairly large book from 1907 called The Family History of the Harts of Donegal, but there is apparently no relation, since they are descendants of a British officer that was assigned to Donegal - and they don't mention any Harts from Magherashanvalley in the book. The Michigan branch of the family formed a reunion committee in 1925, and were trying to contact their cousins that had remained in New York; they announced the election of reunion officials in the local paper, and mentioned that they traced the family back to Scotland, and that it moved to Ireland in 1785, and left for America after two generations - this is the only mention of Scotland we've found, and even though my grandfather attended a lot of those reunions in the 1920s and '30s, we have yet to find any surviving documents from that committee.
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You may already have this piece of information but in case you do not I'll forward it here, it refers to a mortgage that your Samuel Hart arranged in 1823, I am unsure if this is all the information contained within the document but would be worth checking out, the document is held at PRONI in Belfast.
PRONI Reference : D3608/2/100
Title : Assignment of a mortgage by Samuel Hart
Dates : 29 September 1823
Description : Assignment of a mortgage by Samuel Hart of Magherashanvally, Co. Donegal, to Alexander Humfrey of Dublin and James Murray Barton of Dublin, trustees of the marriage settlement of Mary Keys and Captain Benjamin Geale Humfrey. The mortgage relates to lands at Cavancor, Co. Donegal.
PRONI Reference : D3608/2/74
Title : Deed of mortgage between George Keys, Nathaniel
Dates : 3 August 1795
Description : Deed of mortgage between George Keys, Nathaniel Keys and William Keys, all of Cavanacor, Co. Donegal, and Thomas Hart of Magherashanvally, Co. Donegal, on lands at Cavanacor, Co. Donegal.
Again I would question the ascertain that the family came from Scotland in the 1780's, there were 5 Hart families living in Donaghmore Parish in the 1760's, among them a Samuel Hart, these Hart's are the only Harts that appear in Donegal in that Census.
(Protestant Census 1766),
John Hart
Thomas Hart
James Hart
Barclay Hart
Samuel Hart
(All Parish of Donaghmore, Donegal)
Unfortunately this Census does not have townland data for the area, if Thomas Hart (b.1811) was Samuel's eldest son then there is a good chance that Samuel's father was also called Thomas in the Irish/Scotish traditional naming pattern, if so then the Thomas Hart who appears in the 1766 Census, or the Thomas Hart from the above PRONI document from 1795 may be Samuel's father. Without further proof it may be as near as you get.
Regards
Joe
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Let's step back a minute...where are you seeing Thomas (b.1811) mentioned? Because that is indeed his eldest son, but I don't know where you'd see that other than the 1834 passenger list, or the subsequent U.S. census records.
Still, thanks for that very helpful bit of information!
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Hi, I did a quick google search for Samuel Hart and saw a post from another forum where it lists his children,
don't have anything else at the moment apart from the marriage of Thomas Hart = Martha ? in 1777 St. Eunan's Cathedral Raphoe, maybe the same Thomas from above, again marriage doesn't list fathers name and I don't have a surname for Martha, had a glance through the genealogical data from the 'Harts of Donegal' book and your correct the families don't seem to be directly related, wouldn't rule out the possibility that they may be related at some level however.
Glad my previous post may have been of some use, from the PRONI records it seems the family may have been of some means, this should help with hopefully some other records surviving, Captain Benjamin Humfrey mentioned in the document from 1823 was a Magistrate in County Donegal.
Regards
Joe
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Oh, that explains it - I'm sure it was one of my posts, as I have yet to encounter anyone else that ever traced their Harts back as far as Samuel, and it was only after I teamed up with my aunt and my cousin that we were able to piece that much together. I believe I've looked around on the PRONI site before, but was never able to find anything until you came along. I'm surprised to not find any mention of the surname Harrow or Marrow...I figured that even with a transcription error, one or the other would be correct.
Now, I tried posting the image of this, but the 500KB attachment limit prevented that, so here it is. A distant cousin of mine was kind enough to share this poem that was passed down through the descendants of Samuel's son, Moses - who is the only one of Samuel's children not mentioned here, which we suspect was Moses' choice when he made copies of it from the original in 1856. It was written by a school teacher named McKinney that was a friend of the family.
LINES COMPOSED OF THE ANCIENT PROPRIETORS OF SHANVALLEY NOW PREPARING FOR AMERICA.
By MCKINNEY
Shanvalley once the pride of all these parts,
And flourish’d long beneath the Race of Harts
As if in sorrow at their going away,
Now clouded seems, and falling to decay.
The fertile fields and meads so gay so green,
Where winter’s withered face could scarce be seen,
A different aspect here of late assumes
All of their verdant beauties clad in gloom.
Here oft the needy and the neighboring poor
Found sure relief and still an open door;
The stranger too benighted sought the road,
To Mr. Hart’s of Shanvalley’s abode.
But now no more the sprightly dance or songs,
In blameless mirth, goes round the cheerful throng;
No more at setting sun or rising moon,
We hear the viol’s brisk enlivening tune.
You charming fair still with abundance blest,
Of beauty, grace, and modesty possess;
Entitled to unclaimed respect beside,
And always free from vanity and pride.
Farewell, be happy in a foreign land;
Eliza fair and noble Mary Ann.
Seven blooming youths of fair unblemished fame,
Recorded here, each by his proper name.
The first is Thomas, sober, wise and grave,
In person, graceful, and in conduct, brave.
Well skilled in that most useful of all arts,
To mortals, most essential in all parts.
The second, James, the noblest of our youth,
Fames for true valour, dignity and truth;
A faultless form above the middle size,
A face like Phebus beaming in our eyes,
Where Mars and Venus both united shine,
To render him complete in every line.
Two absentees already have crost o’er,
And point the way to freedom’s native shore;
Samuel and Joseph, sacred names we find
That bode success to those here left behind.
Solly and William, comely, fair and young,
The last that from a worthy mother sprung;
In them already independence glows
And their success through life hereafter shows.
Shalt thou Miss Charlotte here forgotten be
Seeing removed from those but one degree;
Delightful pratter innocence so sweet,
Might render short the passage o’er the deep.
Now to you all a long last adieu;
And if the good be happy so will you.
I did find one reference to a David McKinney that was mentioned in the 1826 school census, but I haven't found any other records that might pinpoint who wrote the poem.
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I'm surprised to think that they "may have been of some means" - in the Civil Ejectments record, James is listed twice in 1830, and Samuel is listed once in 1832 - both in Magherashanvally, and both for "overholding" which was apparently the way to evict people for no real reason at all. The landlord in each case was James Boyle Delap.
The farm in Michigan that Samuel's son James built is still in our family, and owned by a 3rd-cousin of mine, who told me that he'd heard that James' wife was ashamed of their farm, and didn't want her relatives in Donegal to come visit - but they may have been referring to their homestead in Western New York, where they lived immediately after arriving in America.
What do you think the chances are of finding some record of the 1815 will that was mentioned in the 1907 Harts of Donegal book?
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The fact that Thomas Hart was involved in the purchase of land in 1795 was the reason I thought the family may have been of some means, on closer examination of the transactions it looks like Keys gentlemen mentioned sold the land at Cavancor to Thomas Hart. The fortunes of the family may have waned over the following generation as the second transaction the land seems to be resold by Samuel Hart in 1823. By 1830 the family was in real difficulties as they were charged with 'Overholding', this means they must have been at least 6 months in arrears with their rent, it was the last stage before eviction.
It's doubtful whether or not the Will will have survived, if it was held in Dublin then it was probably destroyed in 1922 in the fire at the Four Courts where so much invaluable genealogical data was stored
Regards
Joe
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http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal
Samuel Hart mention parish of Donaghmore
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Rathmore, which page is he mentioned on?
I've never found anywhere to search online for documents that survived the Four Courts bombing, but the LDS' FamilySearch site states that: "Many records were destroyed but not as much as commonly thought. Most probate documents were lost but these losses can be worked around. Only some church records were burned. Many were still with the local church and not at the Four Courts building at the time of the fire." This gives me enough of a glimmer of hope to make an effort to find it, but I don't know where to begin.
About the Civil Ejectments: The Landlord had a choice of proceedures when he wanted to eject a tenant: if he wished to eject for non-payment, the tenant was served with a process stating the amount of rent and costs due; if he wanted to get rid of a tenant who was not in arrears, he had to give six months notice to quit, followed by a process for overholding. Both processes summoned the tenant to appear in court to show why he had not paid his rent, or given up the holding. The difference between them however, was important: the ejectment for non-payment could be stopped by the tenant paying his arrears and costs; the ejectment for overholding could be stopped only if the landlord gave up the case or the tenant got out.
(Source: Landlords and tenants in mid-Victorian Ireland, by William Edward Vaughan)
Naturally, I'd like to think that my ancestors weren't kicked out for not paying their rent, but since they're not listed earlier for non-payment or a specific amount due, I'm further led to believe that they weren't in arrears. This would particularly be a kick in the pants for them if they'd previously left Scotland for the same reason, during the Highland Clearances - but I'll have to find some more documents before I can jump to either conclusion.
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unrelated to previous post but I think I see 2 more references to the family, you may already be aware of them but in case not:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/1822castlefinschool.htm
Looks like the Hart family examination results from 1822 Castlefin school, I think the F. Hart may be a transcription error may be S for Samuel, if this is the family, initials seem to fit, again it would be unusual for the time period for a poor family to be receiving an education, this may support my earlier assumption about the families status at this time.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/ActOfUnion1800b.htm
Thomas Hart appears in the list of supporters of the Union in 1800
I also just read your original post again the Thomas Hart who left the Will in 1815 would seem to be the key, if the Will survived, the Jewish connection seems strange for the area however, but you never know!
Regards
Joe
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I have seen both of those records, just last week - which is slow progress considering I found Samuel's marriage record two years ago. The "F. Hart" is a mystery to me, since that doesn't ring any bells, but I don't know if that could be a transcription error since it was taken from a newspaper (must've been a slow week in the news) and they appear three times. I also don't understand why the specify that "F. Hart" was from Magherashanvalley, and not the others...are they implying that the others are also from there, or that they're not?
Also, a James Hart appears in Castlefinn on the Griffith's 1857 Valuation, years after my family had settled in New York; I'd love to find descendants of his.
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Going back to the mid 1820's I can see 6 baptisms from Donaghmore Church of Ireland (St. Patrick's)
the fathers would have been contempories of your Samuel, probably related, baptism records for the church go back to 1818, there burial register dates to 1825.
Father Child
Joseph Hart Margaret Hart 1825
Elizabeth Hart 1827
Sam/Samuel Hart John Hart 1824
William Hart 1827
Thomas Hart Elizabeth Hart 1827
James Hart Eliza Jane Hart 1828
There were no more Harts baptised in the church after 1828, which would make me think the families left the area shortly after this date. There seem to quite a few old gravestones in the church yard, i'm unsure if these have ever been surveyed, don't see any links online .
Regards
Joe
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if you go through the address I have given you, once you are in the Donegal Rescoures site, first page go down to the little box that says search, type in box - Harts of Donaghmore parish
Samuel and John mentioned at Magherashanvalley
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or you can go on the site I mentioned and go down the page and click on Donaghmore
Magherashanvalley is mentioned on the Twin Valley site - http://www.finnvalley.ie (you might have to type this yourself)
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I see a Thomas Hart listed in the town of Ballibogan on the 1665 Hearth Money Roll; anyone happen to know how far Ballibogan is from Castlefinn or Magherashanvalley, and is there any other mention of Harts in Ballibogan? There is a Joseph Hart, b.1795, that turns up on the New York census living with Samuel's son, Joseph, which is somewhat puzzling, since there were a lot of wealthy Harts in and around that area, but none of them are related to us.
Joe, you've got a real knack for finding relevant information. Where did you find the 1777 marriage record for Thomas? I guess I'm just curious about your usual search methods, since I'm across the pond, and the only way I find out about a good public records site is if it's one that does a lot of advertising - and that typically limits it to the profit-driven, shamrock-and-leprechaun sites.
The birth/baptism records for Sam/Samuel don't match up with any of my 4th-great-grandfather's children, but I may have seen another reference to Joseph, father of Margaret and Elizabeth: a ship ironically named Dispatch sank in 1828 while en route to Quebec - where nearly all steamers stopped before arriving in New York - and the Strabane Morning Post published the names of the survivors, including a Joseph Hart and his wife Mary, their son Thomas, and their daughters, Margaret and Eliza; the lost two sons, whose names were not given. It seems the survivors were then put on the HMS Tyne, but I haven't yet found the passenger list for that.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tyrone/emigration/brig-dispatch.html
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Hi, Balibogan townland is an alternative spelling of Ballybogan townland it is situated in the Parish of Conleigh which is adjacent to Donaghmore, Magherashanvalley townland borders the 2 parishes the 2 townlands are about 3 miles apart, see screenshot from google maps
Interesting article mentioning a John Hart in 1637 from the Finn Valley site that rathmore supplied
http://www.finnvalley.ie/people/maryagneselliott/scots.html
Regards
Joe
Image removed
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When I was searching for the map above I remembered there was a townland called Scotland within a few miles of Magherashanvally, I am wondering was this the Scotland the descendants were referring to? I know it's a long shot but stories often get muddled over the generations so perhaps...
Image removed
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That would be a quite a twist, but anything is possible. One of Samuel's sons, Solomon, is listed on the 1880 census record as being born in Scotland, and it also says his mother and father were born in Scotland; prior to 1880, every census said he was born in Ireland. In 1890, the Michigan death index again says he was born in Scotland. I've wondered how that ended up on those two records, since he did not live far from two of his older brothers, and Solomon's wife outlived him by 49 years; up until she died in 1939, she was still telling stories about the indian village near the farm where her family settled in Michigan. I figured he might have claimed Scotland as his birthplace if his family never really thought of themselves as Irish.
Here's the article from 1925. The president of the committee, William H. Hart, has a daughter that's alive and well, who is 96 years old and has a lot of odd stories from her uncle and her grandmother, pertaining to her great-grandfather, James Hart, and his wife, Jane Kirk (not "Kerk").
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Hello,
This is a long shot, but I happen to have some information regarding a Rev. John Hart (spelled his own name as "Heart", but the records of the Presbyterian Fasti record it as "Hart"), who came from Hamilton, Scotland to the church at Taughboyne, County Donegal about 1655/66. (this was an area known as "the Laggan"). He ministered there for some 30 years, and died in 1687.
Rev. Hart had a son named Samuel born in Hamilton, Scotland, while he was a minister there (prior to that, Rev. Hart had been a Dunkeld, Dunino, and Crail, Scotland). He was a graduate of St. Andrew's University in 1637, and married in 1644 at Edinburgh, Scotland to Agnes Baxter (or "Backstare"). Rev. John was buried in the churchyard of Taughboyne (also called Monreagh). Agnes was buried in Greyfriar's Kirkyard in 1689, so it appears she returned to Edinburgh, where she probably still had relatives. John and Agnes had a daughter, also called Agnes, who married Rev. Robert Craighead, another Scottish minister who was appointed to the church in Donaghmore. Rev. Craighead married Agnes, daughter of Rev. Hart, and eventually, he became the minister of First Londonderry Presbyterian Church.
Your Harts in Donaghmore were there nearly a century later, and I can't make a connection, but I thought you might be interested in Rev. Hart/Heart.
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I am just getting started in this but descended from rev Thomas Craighead who immigrated to the United States with his son. I am now looking for information on his grandparents, and I only have the name John Craighead but do have information for Thomas Craighead and Janet "Ferguson" Craighead.