John Francis Benedict Cunningham - born mayo

[jax]

hello

Im trying to help my friend trace her father's background.

His name John Francis Benedict Cunningham  born 28th March 1923 in Killala,Mayo,Ireland.

His parents were John Cunningham and Agnes Bourke..

She knows that he came to the UK on his brother's passport as he was under age and it obviously intrigues her as to the reason why he wanted to get away while so young...

does anybody have any advice or tips as to where to start our research or any easily accessible searches we can do via online (as we live in Kent UK - its not easy to search records in Ireland)

thank you for any help in advance

jax

[dee melody]

Jax,
Try 1901 Census
www.leitrim-roscommon.com/1901census

The phone book may help if you are looking for family or relatives
www.eircomphonebook.ie


Griffiths Valuation which was a land valuation around 1850s has an index at :
http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php

There is also the LDS site www.familysearch.org 

Try 'googling' Killala there are plenty of sites with Genealogy information.

This is a start.  Happy hunting.

Dee

[heywood]

Hi,
if you can get to a LDS family history centre, you can search the indexes to the BMD or just send off for his birth certificate to get a more specific address - you may also be able to find the marriage certificate of his parents which would have their fathers' names.

The site Dee gave you for 1901 census is complete for Mayo - there is a young Agnes Bourke in Killala town - your friend may be able to verify re the age. There is nothing as obvious for John Cunningham.

best wishes with your enquiries - you could always visit when you have some info  - it's lovely!

heywood

[jax]

thank you for your replies, I really appreicate it..

at least I can give her a few pointers and yes I would love to visit mayo sometime - i have googled it in as suggested and it looks great

this may be a good idea for next summer for me and my friend to take a long weekend..  my own research goes to Cork and I've always left it on the backburner, but funny that I would be willing to visit ireland for somebody else.

thanks again for help- you guys are great