Thomas Donnell & Mary Ann Bridges of Beragh & Clogherny

[Josephine]

Hello, Rootschatters!

I am trying to help a cousin find out more about his Donnell family from County Tyrone and I wonder if you could give us some help and advice?

I’ve suggested that my cousin write to the church in Clogherny (I found the address online).  Is there anything else he can do or anyone else he can contact for help?  We are in Canada. 

I’m finding it all bit confusing.  It looks as if there is a 1901 census of Ireland but that it’s not available online anywhere.  Is that correct?  Is it available on disc for sale anywhere?

This is all we know:

My cousin’s great-grandparents:

Thomas Donnell
Mary Ann Bridges


According to the LDS website, they had at least three children:

Jeremiah Donnell
Baptized 23 April 1873
Clogherny By Beragh, Tyrone

Robert Donnell (my cousin’s grandfather)
Born 6 May 1876
Beragh, Tyrone

Eliza Donnell
3 March 1880
Beragh, Tyrone


Robert Donnell came to Canada in 1893 on board The Parisian, which left Londonderry, Ireland on 14 July and arrived in Quebec on 31 July.  He is the only Donnell listed on that journey.

Robert Donnell got married in Canada; his marriage record lists his parents as above.  According to the 1911 census, he was Anglican.  We have his marriage record and the birth records for most of his children (in Canada), and we have him in the Canadian census in 1901 and 1911.  Unfortunately, he didn’t talk about his family back home in Ireland and there are no letters or other documentation to provide any clues.

Thank you!   
Josephine

[BCullen]

You should order a birth certificate from  the General Record Office in Roscommon or Belfast. The 3 records you found at the LDS website were copied from Irish records so you can be sure the birth record exists. It will provide a specific townland where the family lived, and the occupation of the father. Since you have specific dates, there shouldn't be a problem locating the record.

Given the dates of the births, Thomas and Mary Ann were probably married in 1872 or not too much earlier. They should have a marriage record that you can also order. It will list their townland of residence, names of  fathers of each of them, give the names of two witnesses, and give the chapel and religious denomination where the wedding occurred.

Given the townland you can order a microfilm of the 1901 census to see if any of these people were still living and in Ireland. Once you have the townland locating the family on the census microfilm is quite easy.

Bernie

http://www.groireland.ie/
http://www.groni.gov.uk/index.htm

[Josephine]

Thank you for your help, Bernie!

Regards,
Josephine

[J.J.]

Hi J. ...Perhaps one of these may prove to be helpful:
http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/tyrone.htm

Moderator's Note: the page has been moved and the above link no longer works

[Josephine]

Thank you, J.J., I will look at that website!

 

Regards,
Josephine