Irish in Co Durham

[Mr J T Arthur]

Not safe at all, it depends where they settled. For example a large community from Co Waterford in the Province of Leinster first settled Whickham/Sunniside and a large community from Co Galway in the Province of Connaught first settled Blaydon/Winlaton followed by chain migration. Also some parishes spanned not just Counties but Provinces as well. For instance my grandfather's sister married a neighbour yet she was from Co Monaghan in the Province of Ulster and he from Co Louth in the Province of Leinster, both in the parish of Inniskeen who had lived no more than two miles apart.

[Mr J T Arthur]

Before somebody corrects me, Waterford is in the Provence of Munster not Leinster.

[MK201]

The Dowdle (Dowdall) family lived in both Hartlepool and Sunderland.  The Dowdalls come from certain areas in Ireland and if the Irish immigrants in Hartlepool and Sunderland mainly come from certain counties in Ireland it would be helpful to know which ones.  Of course like you mentioned there are some exceptions and nothing can be assumed

Thank you,
Margaret

[Mr J T Arthur]

I can see your problem; though Dowdall is not particularly common in Ireland it is a very widespread name and as the two Durham towns you mention are ports of entry many did not go any further if work was to be found; however, within these towns some groups of families known to each other prior to emigration would have settled in close proximity and intermarried, you just need forever to be looking for clues.

If you can provide more information someone might be able to help.

J.T.A.

[MK201]

Dear J.T.A.

The following is the information I have, which makes me think they might have possibly come from Drogheda or Dublin since both had ports.  JAMES HENRY DOWDLE was born in Hartlepool in 1904.he worked in the shipyard as did his father Patrick Dowdle and his grandfather Patrick Dowdle(Sr).  His father PATRICK DOWDLE was born in Sunderland, Co Durham in 1875.  Patrick Dowdle married Catherine Keechen in Sunderland in 1873.  Keechen is obviously misspelled.  The Irish brogue  lent itself to a lot of interpretation to various spellings. PATRICK DOWDLE SR. was born abt 1850 in Ireland. They had cousins in Scotland by the name of McDonnell who were born in Ireland.  Since McDonnell is an Ulster name it gives more weight to the idea that this Dowdle family came from Ulster but..........

Thank you,
Margaret

[rac1473]

Dear Mr Arthur

I was wondering if you would be good enough to look at the marriage records for the felling parish of St Patricks.

In particular the Surname "Luke", the earliest date would be 4 Oct 1874, David Luke (Irish) married a Barbara Winship, I know they lived in felling and run the Malting Inn Pub he was also an undertaker. I am after details for him and his father Henry. Also if any of the Luke Children grew up and married there also. It is because of the Irish side that Im having difficulty tracing any further back

Many thanks

Roy

[Mr J T Arthur]

Sorry Roy but the marriage took place Newcastle 1874 so wrong side of the Tyne and I have not come across the name Luke in the Catholic records of St Patrick's.

Good luck,

J.T.A.

[diplodicus]

Earlier on in this thread, someone asked about any news on Mackin.

Honoria Mackin (born c1888) in Felling. I think that she was the daughter of John (born Ireland 1843) and Mary A (born Heworth 1852) but am not sure. Honoria married Patrick Murtha (b 1890 Sunderland). Patrick is the grandson of Michael Murtha (b1819 in Dundalk, Co Louth). There are many Murtha descendants from Michael (lots of sons!) and his brother John (b1823) who both left Dundalk in 1855/56.

They probably travelled on a boat from Dundalk owned by the Dundalk Steam Packet Company which merged in 1871 to form the Dundalk and Newry steam Packet Company and which merged into the British and Irish Steamship Company. Sailings between Dundalk and Liverpool ceased in 1968. Dundalk would have been the nearst port from Connaught "as the crow would have flown".

[Mr J T Arthur]

For those who could it afford it, the Connaught folk sailed from the the Port of Sligo via Derry to Glasgow and from there a short railway journey to Edinburgh where they would catch another boat to wherever they were going down the east coast.