So in advance of #RootsTech, I spent Wednesday in the Family History Library. I went with a couple things to look at, and ended up spending 10 hours researching!!
Spent the morning organizing all my various Hurrell notes.....I had scraps of paper, various Excel files and other notes about the Hurrell's. I finally put them together, organized into families, etc. I also found 2 great "Friends of the Devon Archives" documents --- they had a listing of all the people who signed a "Loyalty Pledge" to King George I in 1723. Found my William Hurrell of Sherford and others. They also have listings of people who were taxed to support the Militia, prior to 1723 -- and again found my William Hurrell of Sherford (6th Gt Grandfater). I need to explore both these resources further as there are many other family names (Nathanilel Shepherd of Stokenham for example).
After lunch I tackled Mary Rodda marrying Richard Firstbrooke/Furstbrook on Dec 30, 1815 at St Erth. I had my doubts that this Mary Rodda was really mine from St. Just in Penwith --- but after much tracking, I found an Ancestry tree that had her dying in Madron in 1855, after her husband had died previously. When I checked the 1851 Census for Madron, lo and behold, there she was living with an Elizabeth Warren (wife of Archaleus Warren). Mary was listed as her Sister, and both were listed as born in St. Just in Penwith!!!! YES! The connection was complete, and proved Mary's marriage in St Erth to be true.
From there I followed down the lines of both Mary and Elizabeth's families. Lots of movement to Australia and New Zealand!!
I also found my 9th Gt Grandfather!!! I was searching Elizabeth Nicholls born 1743, and found her parents, which led me to John Lean born 1622 in Uny Lelant, my 9th Gt Grandfather.
My 6th Gt Grandmother was Jane Curgenven! What a unusual name. She had a sister Tamson Curgenven -- now that is a genealogists dream, unusual!!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Walsh family breakthrough
OMG.....
Searching a common name like Walsh in the wilds of rural Connemara Ireland can be a challenge to say the least. Add in common names like Mary, Patrick, William and Bridget -- and you get a big headache and a lot of brickwalls.
Thankfully DNA has come to the rescue and helped me discover a NEW sibling of my Great Grandfather, Patrick Walsh (born about 1844).
A few months ago I got a 2nd cousin hit on Ancestry DNA from a Craig Walsh. I asked him to transfer his data to FamilyTreeDNA and GedMatch, and voila, he matched other known Walsh cousins at a further distance. From his information his Grandfather was born in Letterfir, Co. Galway. It is not too far from my Gt Grandfather's small village of Muckanaghkillew, so looked promising. Now to try and find the link!
I forwarded the message to a cousin in Galway, who said "Letterfir is just up the road, and there is a Walsh family there". He promised to go and visit and see what he could find out. Heard back from him today, and what a bonanza!!!
"I took a walk today up to Letterfir I went ill prepared because I thought of all the questions I should have asked on the walk back any way here is what I learned from John Walsh who is still living there . His grandfather Peadar was a brother of Paidin Liam Walsh from Muckinagh coille , he moved to Letterfir circa 1850 , he married when he was 21 to Norah Connelly from Cnoc na Greine near Furbo and they had 11 children . Dudley , Craigs Grandfather would be one of them".
From this information I was able to find Peadar's marriage n 1865, and the baptism of the first 5 children, and filled in the rest of the children's names from the 1901 and 1911 census. They were the only family living in Letterfir for both years. Peadar was born about 1839, if his age in 1911 is accurate, so he would be an older brother of my Great Grandfather.
So now I have a new Great Grand Uncle and 11 new cousins!! Now to try and track all their descendants! Amazing that my family lived through the famine in this rocky, remote part of Ireland
Searching a common name like Walsh in the wilds of rural Connemara Ireland can be a challenge to say the least. Add in common names like Mary, Patrick, William and Bridget -- and you get a big headache and a lot of brickwalls.
Thankfully DNA has come to the rescue and helped me discover a NEW sibling of my Great Grandfather, Patrick Walsh (born about 1844).
A few months ago I got a 2nd cousin hit on Ancestry DNA from a Craig Walsh. I asked him to transfer his data to FamilyTreeDNA and GedMatch, and voila, he matched other known Walsh cousins at a further distance. From his information his Grandfather was born in Letterfir, Co. Galway. It is not too far from my Gt Grandfather's small village of Muckanaghkillew, so looked promising. Now to try and find the link!
I forwarded the message to a cousin in Galway, who said "Letterfir is just up the road, and there is a Walsh family there". He promised to go and visit and see what he could find out. Heard back from him today, and what a bonanza!!!
"I took a walk today up to Letterfir I went ill prepared because I thought of all the questions I should have asked on the walk back any way here is what I learned from John Walsh who is still living there . His grandfather Peadar was a brother of Paidin Liam Walsh from Muckinagh coille , he moved to Letterfir circa 1850 , he married when he was 21 to Norah Connelly from Cnoc na Greine near Furbo and they had 11 children . Dudley , Craigs Grandfather would be one of them".
From this information I was able to find Peadar's marriage n 1865, and the baptism of the first 5 children, and filled in the rest of the children's names from the 1901 and 1911 census. They were the only family living in Letterfir for both years. Peadar was born about 1839, if his age in 1911 is accurate, so he would be an older brother of my Great Grandfather.
So now I have a new Great Grand Uncle and 11 new cousins!! Now to try and track all their descendants! Amazing that my family lived through the famine in this rocky, remote part of Ireland
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Grandfather Toulson -- genealogy bonanza
It's been a week of genealogy bonanzas.....and today was the ultimate!!! On a visit to see my 94 year old Uncle and his 90 year old wife, I gleaned some great nuggets about my Grandfather (who died long before I was born), and even a PHOTO!!!!
I'd always heard the story that my Grandfather was about to emigrate to Australia, but met my Grandmother, got her pregnant, married her and stayed put in California. My Uncle said (completely unprovoked about this story), that as a young Farm Boy, he and a friend had flipped a coin to determine whether they'd emigrate to America or Australia from England. America won the coin toss, but maybe Australia was never far from his mind (or after 20 years in America, he was ready for a new adventure).
This means I could've been an Aussie!!! Which may explain my obsession with Oz!!! I've been there 6 times and absolutely love it!
When quizzed about what she remembered about my Grandfather, my Aunt said "I think he's in my wedding photos" --- what???!!!! OMG!!!! We finally found her wedding album from 1945, and lo and behold there he is!!! I'd never seen any of these photos, and I'd never seen a photo of my Grandfather without a hat on!!!
She said he was shorter than his boys, thin, wiry, quiet but very friendly. She also said that he was convinced his first Grandchild, my cousin was going to be a champion jockey, since he was small with bandy legs and lots of energy! (That didn't turn out to be true, but I think he was projecting -- since he loved the horses, and died on his way to the track!)
This is the same Aunt that also produced an Autograph Book that my Grandmother had brought over from England in 1915!!! What other treasures does she have???!!!!
I'd always heard the story that my Grandfather was about to emigrate to Australia, but met my Grandmother, got her pregnant, married her and stayed put in California. My Uncle said (completely unprovoked about this story), that as a young Farm Boy, he and a friend had flipped a coin to determine whether they'd emigrate to America or Australia from England. America won the coin toss, but maybe Australia was never far from his mind (or after 20 years in America, he was ready for a new adventure).
This means I could've been an Aussie!!! Which may explain my obsession with Oz!!! I've been there 6 times and absolutely love it!
When quizzed about what she remembered about my Grandfather, my Aunt said "I think he's in my wedding photos" --- what???!!!! OMG!!!! We finally found her wedding album from 1945, and lo and behold there he is!!! I'd never seen any of these photos, and I'd never seen a photo of my Grandfather without a hat on!!!
She said he was shorter than his boys, thin, wiry, quiet but very friendly. She also said that he was convinced his first Grandchild, my cousin was going to be a champion jockey, since he was small with bandy legs and lots of energy! (That didn't turn out to be true, but I think he was projecting -- since he loved the horses, and died on his way to the track!)
This is the same Aunt that also produced an Autograph Book that my Grandmother had brought over from England in 1915!!! What other treasures does she have???!!!!
Bottallack Mine Disaster -- Poldark popularity and my ancestors that died there
With the popularity of the BBC and PBS drama "Poldark" there has been much interest in the scenic Cornish coastline where it was filmed. A central theme of the show is the mining industry and the hardships of the miners. One of the mines used in the show is the Bottallack mine, near Pendeen, Cornwall. This was the site of a mine disaster in April 1863, where 7 men and 1 boy were killed by the breaking of the drawing chain.
Those who lost their lives were:-
John Chapple aged 50 years of Naucherrow who left a widow and several children. He was a widower and his wife a widow when they re-married.
John Chapple aged 16 years, his eldest son.
Peter Eddy aged 17 years of Nancherrow, the son of a widow with six or seven other children. Michael Nicholas of Botallack who left a widow and seven children. (His widow, Elizabeth Ann Thomas - my 7th cousin 4x removed)
John Eddy of Botallack aged 18 years.
Thomas Wall aged 46 years of Carnyorth who left a widow and several children.
Richard Wall aged 19 years, his son.
Thomas Nankervis of Trewellard. He had worked in the Wheal Hazard part of the mine but this was his first day in this mine. (My 6th cousin 3x removed)
Richard Nankervis of Bojcwyan
I can only imagine how this affected the whole community. There was a collection fund for the widows and orphans, but money can't replace a loved one. Some of the Nicholas family, without benefit of a Father, did what many did -- emigrate to Australia.
Another mine disaster, at the Levant Mine in 1919 affected even closer family members. My 1st cousin twice removed (Mt Great Grandmother's niece), Gracie White lost her husband John Kevern (he my 4th cousin twice removed).
Those who lost their lives were:-
John Chapple aged 50 years of Naucherrow who left a widow and several children. He was a widower and his wife a widow when they re-married.
John Chapple aged 16 years, his eldest son.
Peter Eddy aged 17 years of Nancherrow, the son of a widow with six or seven other children. Michael Nicholas of Botallack who left a widow and seven children. (His widow, Elizabeth Ann Thomas - my 7th cousin 4x removed)
John Eddy of Botallack aged 18 years.
Thomas Wall aged 46 years of Carnyorth who left a widow and several children.
Richard Wall aged 19 years, his son.
Thomas Nankervis of Trewellard. He had worked in the Wheal Hazard part of the mine but this was his first day in this mine. (My 6th cousin 3x removed)
Richard Nankervis of Bojcwyan
I can only imagine how this affected the whole community. There was a collection fund for the widows and orphans, but money can't replace a loved one. Some of the Nicholas family, without benefit of a Father, did what many did -- emigrate to Australia.
Another mine disaster, at the Levant Mine in 1919 affected even closer family members. My 1st cousin twice removed (Mt Great Grandmother's niece), Gracie White lost her husband John Kevern (he my 4th cousin twice removed).
Mell Family
Another random message via Ancestry --- someone inquiring about my Mell family. Turns out she has PHOTOS!!!! Love when that happens. She just sent over five photos -- including one of a 1st cousin 3x removed, Thomas Wesley Mell. He was the son of my GG Grandmother's half brother. Thomas was born about 1846 in Aunsby, Lincolnshire and died in 1926 in Iowa. The family emigrated to Canada in the mid 1850's, and he lived in a variety of places, Canada, Kansas, Illinois and finally Iowa.
There are also several photos of his daughter, Emma Blanche Mell Ruple, who died in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Always so interesting to put photos to names!
There are also several photos of his daughter, Emma Blanche Mell Ruple, who died in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Always so interesting to put photos to names!
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Mary Toulson to Australia.....a long journey with a sad ending
I love when a random inquiry comes in via Ancestry --- just the other day I had a message from a woman in Australia, asking if her ancestors marriage to a Mary Toulson was possibly one of my Mary's.
I had a quick look at the possibilities and did find a Mary Toulson that had "disappeared" after 1861. I'm not sure if I'd assumed she married and didn't look very hard for a marriage or what. Because, lo and behold I immediately found a marriage for her in the Summer of 1862 in Grantham, to James Alexander Stow. Makes perfect sense, as he lived in Caythorpe, and she lived in Hough on the Hill (neighboring villages). It also makes sense, as her sister Alice Toulson married Samuel Stow, a brother of James Alexander Stow. So, we have 2 Stow brothers marrying 2 Toulson sisters -- keeping it all in the family.
It looks like they married and immediately left for Australia. Not sure if it was a "paid emigration" scheme by a Parish (to remove the poor from their rolls), or if it was by choice. In any case, sure enough there is James and Mary Stow emigrating on the Ivanhoe from Southampton to Melbourne and arriving in Feb 1863. And shortly thereafter, in April she gives birth and dies. The child, John Henry Stow, lives a month and then dies in May 1863. A long journey with a sad ending.
I had a quick look at the possibilities and did find a Mary Toulson that had "disappeared" after 1861. I'm not sure if I'd assumed she married and didn't look very hard for a marriage or what. Because, lo and behold I immediately found a marriage for her in the Summer of 1862 in Grantham, to James Alexander Stow. Makes perfect sense, as he lived in Caythorpe, and she lived in Hough on the Hill (neighboring villages). It also makes sense, as her sister Alice Toulson married Samuel Stow, a brother of James Alexander Stow. So, we have 2 Stow brothers marrying 2 Toulson sisters -- keeping it all in the family.
It looks like they married and immediately left for Australia. Not sure if it was a "paid emigration" scheme by a Parish (to remove the poor from their rolls), or if it was by choice. In any case, sure enough there is James and Mary Stow emigrating on the Ivanhoe from Southampton to Melbourne and arriving in Feb 1863. And shortly thereafter, in April she gives birth and dies. The child, John Henry Stow, lives a month and then dies in May 1863. A long journey with a sad ending.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Eureka Moment!!!!
The newly released Catholic Parish registers from the National Library of Ireland have been an eye-test to be sure, but they are yielding some absolute gems! One of those was the discovery of the marriage record from 1826 (yes, 1826!!!) of my GGG Aunt, Margaret "Peigen" Walsh to John Rainey in Gorumna Parish, Co. Galway.
We knew they were married, but didn't have a date or place.....and wouldn't have thought to look in Moyrus Parish -- and beyond that, Gorumna is not a Catholic Parish when most Catholic registers begin, as it is absorbed into Killanin or Killeen.
The witnesses are listed as Michael Walsh (probably her brother) and Peter Conneely.
This obviously set me off looking for other relatives in this old time Gorumna Parish (which unfortunately only has marriage records) -- and lo and behold, I found an Anne Walsh marrying Tom Folan in 1828 -- with the exact same witnesses, Michael Walsh and Peter Conneely.
This fits nicely as Folan's lived next to Walsh's in Lettercalla as early as 1850's in Griffiths Valuation. And there is a lot of conflicts between the Walsh's and Folan's all through the 1800's in the Petty Session records. Lots of throwing of stones, threatening each other with death by hatchett, etc. So obviously there was some bad blood between them!!
Next up, can I find any of spring of Tom/Ann, to further prove the connection via naming patterns, etc.
We knew they were married, but didn't have a date or place.....and wouldn't have thought to look in Moyrus Parish -- and beyond that, Gorumna is not a Catholic Parish when most Catholic registers begin, as it is absorbed into Killanin or Killeen.
The witnesses are listed as Michael Walsh (probably her brother) and Peter Conneely.
This obviously set me off looking for other relatives in this old time Gorumna Parish (which unfortunately only has marriage records) -- and lo and behold, I found an Anne Walsh marrying Tom Folan in 1828 -- with the exact same witnesses, Michael Walsh and Peter Conneely.
This fits nicely as Folan's lived next to Walsh's in Lettercalla as early as 1850's in Griffiths Valuation. And there is a lot of conflicts between the Walsh's and Folan's all through the 1800's in the Petty Session records. Lots of throwing of stones, threatening each other with death by hatchett, etc. So obviously there was some bad blood between them!!
Next up, can I find any of spring of Tom/Ann, to further prove the connection via naming patterns, etc.
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