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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: Farellton QC on Wednesday 06 July 16 12:38 BST (UK)
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I am researching family history. My great, great grandfather was Patrick McCloskey 1811-1895, born in White Hills, Aghadowey, County Derry. He emigrated to Quebec (Canada). His father was Richard McCloskey from the same area. Patrick married a Catherine Kennedy from Belfast in 1846 in Ireland. Can you help me find out more?
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Welcome to Rootschat :)
I know of 2 places called White Hill in Aghadowey Parish- one in Aghadowey townland and the other in Bovagh townland.
White Hill (Aghadowey) is on the present Ardreagh Road here-
https://www.townlands.ie/derry/aghadowey/
White Hill (Bovagh) is on the Mullaghinch Road along the Agivey River just south of the present Ballygawley Road
https://www.townlands.ie/derry/bovagh/
I have details of some McClosekys in the area- Agivey, Mullamore, Ballybritain, Ballygawley, Caheny, Cullyramer, Mullaghinch, Mullaghmore, Lissaghmore- but not the ones you've mentioned.
The Catholic church registers are online here- unfortunately baptisms only 1843-1881 (as far as I'm aware there aren't any earlier records)-
http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0341
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Welcome to RootsChat Farellton QC
I have just moved your post to Derry for you.
Regards
Sarah :)
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I too am a descendant of the same Patrick McCloskey. He is my great great grandfather too so we are 3rd cousins! My deceased aunt, Sister Isobel McCloskey, always spoke of Aghadowey as the home of Patrick. I don't recall her mentioning White Hills. Aghadowey is a tiny hamlet so it's a pretty precise location.
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Welcome to Rootschat :)
Unfortunately, Farellton QC posted once last month and hasn't been back since but hopefully they will see your reply and respond.
Aghadowey is the name for a townland and a parish but isn't "a tiny hamlet." I did give the location of 2 White Hills in the parish but unfortunately the earlier church records don't survive.
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Hello Michael McCloskey, yes we are very likely to be third cousins. I am now in Northern Ireland.wearestaying at friends not far from County Derry. We will be visiting Aghadowey tomorrow. Patrick's father was named Richard and I will search for his grave. My grandmother was Alice " Annie" McCloskey married to John Kennedy. My dad was James Kennedy.
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Hello Michael McCloskey, yes we are very likely to be third cousins. I am now in Northern Ireland.wearestaying at friends not far from County Derry. We will be visiting Aghadowey tomorrow. Patrick's father was named Richard and I will search for his grave. My grandmother was Alice " Annie" McCloskey married to John Kennedy. My dad was James Kennedy.
You never mentioned what religion your McCloskeys were. That will make a huge difference where the family would have gone to church/be buried. I am in Aghadowey and have transcribed most of the local gravestones but it's quite likely no headstone exists for the family. Have you found any further details since your original post?
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I was in Aghadowey today. My McCloskeys were Catholic when they were in Canada. I checked the Catholic, Prebyterian, and Church of Ireland graveyards in Aghadowey today. we are now inColraine to check the Catholic graveyards here. There were very few old graves at the Catholic graveyard in Aghhadowey and the church was built in the late 1800s. I am looking for graves in the early 1800s so may not have much luck.
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St. Mary's in Aghadowey was built after your family left Aghadowey- earlier chapel was in townland of Mullaghinch (also called Bovagh Chapel) but after the old chapel fell into disrepair and before new one was built masses were held in various places. No burials at Bovagh Chapel and Agivey graveyard would have been used by all denominations so that's where you should have gone.
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Thank you -we may try tomorrow morning.
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Agivey graveyard is very overgrown and now virtually in the middle of a field with cows grazing through it. Best to bring a stout stick, wellies and watch out for badger and rabbit holes but don't expect to find a McCloskey stone.
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Just noticed the post today as I am looking into my background as well. My great, great, great grandfather was Patrick McCloskey from Chelsea as well. So we must be related somehow. Let me know ho the trip went and if you were successful in finding out any more info from Patrick's home.
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Hello Mathew, - I did get to the Aghadowey area but did not find anything in any of the graveyards that we found. I did not try the one that is quite old at Agivey because it had been quite wet the day before and I did not bring my wellies and did not fancy stomping around amid the gopher holes - it was very unlikely I would have found anything. Our Patrick McCloskey came so long ago to Canada and it looks like the whole family left Ireland. Also many of my ancestors were likely to be very poor so gravestones were unlikely. I will be going back to that area though and may try to do some further digging around (no literally). My husband is from Northern Ireland and we have a good friend that we stay with not far from the Aghadowey area.
My grandmother was Aliice (Annie) McCloskey (1876 - 1903) and so my great, great grandfather was Patrick McCloskey. My father was James Kennedy (Joseph Patrick James Kennedy 1917-1964).
The area around Aghadowey is lovely (as is all of Ireland). Thank you for keeping in touch.
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There aren't any legible McCoskey headstones in Agivey graveyard (if there ever were any).
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Thank you for checking1
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Too bad! I am still trying to find out where Patrick McCloskey lived. I read a couple of memoirs (which I would be happy to share if you would like them) that they came from White Hills, Agadowey. When I try and find Patrick in Griffith's Valuations,it says Gortnahey Beg, District of Bovevagh. Is Bovevagh in Aghadowey? The reason I think this particular entry may be him (rather than the other large number of Patrick McCloskey's!!!), is that the he listed with Barney McCLoskey (Barney was the brother who came with them to Quebec).
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There are 2 places in Aghadowey called 'Whitehill' (one word, no 's' at the end) but neither are townlands. See reply #1 on this thread for their locations.
I too am a descendant of the same Patrick McCloskey. He is my great great grandfather too so we are 3rd cousins! My deceased aunt, Sister Isobel McCloskey, always spoke of Aghadowey as the home of Patrick. I don't recall her mentioning White Hills. Aghadowey is a tiny hamlet so it's a pretty precise location.
Aghadowey is a parish NOT a 'tiny hamlet.'
Bovevagh Parish (mainly north of Dungiven) is not near Aghadowey- location of Gortnahey Beg-
https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/bovevagh/
https://www.townlands.ie/londonderry/keenaght/bovevagh/gortnahey-beg/
Griffith's Valuation for Aghadowey was printed in 1859- when did your McCloskeys leave Ireland?
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Thanks. I am new to this genealogy stuff, so I apologize for being an amateur. You must be rolling your eyes at my attempts...haha.
Patrick left in 1851 (1852 at the latest.) So are you saying that the Griffith's Valuations would have occurred after that? Apparently he also had a brother Manus McCloskey who stayed in Ireland. However, my skills are not good enough correlate all that !!!!
Tx again for you help.
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Griffith's Valuation for Aghadowey was printed in 1859
Several Manus McCloskeys in County Derry in Family Search- https://www.familysearch.org/hr/search/
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Much appreciated. Too bad, I was really hoping i could determine the exact plot of land that Patrick McCloskey had before he left during the famine.
However, it sure doesn't help that everyone is named Patrick! (Although I shouldn't complain as I have one of those as my brother and son!)
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My Manus/Manassus McCloskey was from Teavin/Tyavin just south of Dungiven. Daughters Martha and Jane emigrated to US (Ellis Island) and on to cousin John McCloskey in Philadelphia in 1901
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My Manus/Manassus McCloskey was from Teavin/Tyavin just south of Dungiven. Daughters Martha and Jane emigrated to US (Ellis Island) and on to cousin John McCloskey in Philadelphia in 1901
Also posted on another old thread-
I have Manus & Nancy (Pierce) McCloskey, Martha, Jane, John, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth & Manasses from Tyavin/Dungiven.
Jack