RootsChat.Com

An old thread, but emmaodea111 and others, I am also researching Cunninghams from Clare, but living Turnpike in Ennis at least 1842 to after 1872. Not sure where from originally, though John O'Hart traces his grand-daughter Bessie Cunningham/son-in-law John Cunningham's line back to Rodger/Roady O'Cunnivane born 1680, four generations back from Thomas Cunningham who died 29 November 1869 at Turnpike aged 88 (informant: Mary Cunningham) - transcription from Rootsireland (Deaths Register for Ennis, Co. Clare, 1870, Vol. 4, page 179). From Roady we have Timothy, Darby, Mihil/Michael, Thomas (aforementioned) and then Michael Cunningham (married Mary O'Brien in 1842; likely the Mary Cunningham above).

The four previous names and indeed earlier Anglicisation of O'Cunnivane may be reliable enough given John O'Hart's direct relationship in this case (certainly I imagine he tried to go back further than Rodger). Maybe looking for O'Cunnivanes or variations will help with other Cunninghams in Clare?

I really don't have much to go on besides the descendents around Turnpike and possibly a couple of other Cunninghams as witnesses at births/marriages! Seems likely they didn't have roots all the way back specifically in the Turnpike area of Ennis. I've loads more info if anyone needs it on the events of that particular family from mid-19th C on though.

Regarding Pattons and Donaghadee, probably related to the Pattons of Ballyvester. James Craig, grandfather of the 1st Lord Craigavon, worked for James Patton, who married Agnes Veacock. James Craig improved his station by marrying her sister, Alice Veacock some time 1810s. Would need to check the book again, Craigavon: Ulsterman by St. John Ervine.

One James Patton was witness in 1858 at the wedding (civil record) of their son, James Craig (millionaire Whisky distiller, father of the future Lord Craigavon) to Eleanor Gilmore Brown.

New Zealand connection too - the daughter of the elder James Craig and Alice Veacock, daughter Alice Craig married Samuel Fergie (1864, record) and the couple emigrated to New Zealand. Alice died in NZ in 1905 (grave). Samuel Fergie returned to Donaghadee in his last years , dying with Lizzie Patton present (record).

Alice's sister Eliza Jane married Hutchinson Waugh - their youngest child born 1873 (record) was named Alexander Patton Waugh.

I hope this is of interest or useful to those looking up the Patton family around Donaghadee and links to the Craigs.

I've found several obituaries with addresses in my own research - crucial nuggets in my case to continue building up a picture (1939 registry request to PRO NI).

If they might have posted a condolence on another family members death during those years, then worth checking - even if the newspaper its published in isn't in NI (just might mention at least they were in a city/town in NI).

Regarding NI, while GRO NI for free only gives the most basic index info (names, date) this is still enough to check even poorly OCRed newspapers (e.g. load up obituaries in local paper for the surrounding few days) - I find this very useful as often others in the family are mentioned, even addresses, children etc.

You can also check Belfast city burial records; again these have an address. Also for cemeteries in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough there is a portal. You can check findagrave also in case it’s there, sometimes even a headstone photo (if not you can potentially add some particulars you’ve found on the other sources once you verify/cross reference with the rest of family history details you have).

Depending on the marriage year, you can validate GRO NI marriage names/event with potential death of one or both of the married individuals, can be useful when you only have a maiden name from the earlier free records. Again the newspaper obituary may make it very clear you have the right married name, where the marriage may not be in the earlier papers.

Also who people are buried with is really useful even if you have no gravestone photo. Check the plot itself not just the individual you searched for.

I think it’s pretty important to record and include the actual family names the individuals used day to day (as Gaeilge). Of course the “official” recorded version will have to be too, but those aren’t even always consistent. I mean even where the family spoke English and only used an Anglicised version it could vary in spelling even by quite a lot at the whim of the recording official when the individuals had no literacy.

John O’Hart of “Irish Pedigrees” has a tale in his Last Princes of Tara of how his elder brother the priest set the model for the family to use the version “Hart” or “Harte” under the theory that the “O” added too much distinction!! In any case he himself went by John Hart at the time of his Associate in Arts from Queens, and by John Harte through his organising with the teachers and publishing “ The duties and obligations of every system of primary education in Ireland : or, the Irish teachers' grievances” and stint as first secretary of what became the INTO. Indeed though I thought he learnt Irish as part of the Gaelic revival given his involvement in such societies, he says clearly that he spoke most, prayed always and thought in Irish when he was a child. His mother refused to speak English on principle (see ainm.ie bio in Irish ), so rather than Nora Kilroy before she married she was Nóra Nic Giolla Ruaidh.