DOHERTY / O'DOHERTY

[SimonandKitty]

Hello,

My paternal g-father was a dodgy character!  He lived in Coventry since the late 30's but (when he actually spoke about the past) claimed to have been born in Sligo or County Sligo.  He said his family were "tinkers" or travelling farm labourers.

He was called Harry James Donal O'Doherty or just plain Doherty.  Whether this is true or not is subject to discussion.  He was chattiest after a few whiskies and then or course his memory affected!   Our family is known as DONAL.  This is allegedly bacause Doherty pronounced with a heavy Sligo accent was inpronouncable to the building site managers he worked for, so he just used DONAL.

So any clues to a travelling DOHERTY or O'DOHERTY family would be greatly appreciated.

Simon (and Kitty)

[k8ren]

Hi Simon and Kitty
This is just a shot in the dark -- don't know if this might help-- but my g-grandfather Charles Doherty/Dogherty was born in Sligo in 1832, married Mary Kelley and had 6 children in Foxford, Mayo between 1861-1877.  He died in the Swinford workhouse in 1883 and the family came in stages to Philadelphia.  There were 10 Charles Doherty/Doghertys born in Ireland in 1832-1837.  None in Mayo, 7 in Antrim, 1 in Louth, 1 in Sligo and 1 in Kildare.  Because Sligo is adjacent to Mayo, I paid for his BRS record and found:

Church Baptism Record Name:Charles Doherty  Date of Baptism / Birth:07-Aug-1832
Address:Parish / District:SLIGO
Gender: MaleCountyCo. Sligo Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Charles Mother:Anne Walsh Occupation: Sponsor 1 /Informant 1:Peter Gandly  (Could be Ganley, a common Sligo name) Sponsor 2 /    Informant 2:Margaret Lang
1858 Griffiths for Sligo/St. John’s  Only ONE Charles Doherty/Dogherty in all of Sligo.  Town of Sligo is about 50 miles from Foxford.

I then checked Griffiths Valuation for Sligo town and St. Johns and found:
Dogherty          John                 Sligo Charlotte-Street                        St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           Charles              Town of Sligo Lower Quay Lane                 St. Johns     Sligo (I think this must have been my gg-grandfather.)
Doherty           Henry                Town of Sligo Castle Street                   St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           James                Sligo Abbey Street                            St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           James                Town of Sligo Church Hill (North Side)        St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           James                Town of Sligo William Street                  St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           Mary A. E.           Town of Sligo Castle Street                   St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           Michael              Town of Sligo Georges Street (North Side)     St. Johns     Sligo
Doherty           Patrick              Town of Sligo Old Gallows-Hill                St. Johns     Sligo

I hope that helps you track your guy.  I think Doherty was a very common Sligo name, not so much in Mayo.
Kate