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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Louth => Topic started by: SearchingJerry on Friday 09 January 09 15:01 GMT (UK)
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Dear experts,
Can any one advice me. I am looking for Matthew Fortescue Wood from county Louth. I have seen that there are very many Matthew Fortescue's in Louth. Does this name have a special meaning? Might I be able to use it to get more information about this person?
Kind regards,
SearchingJerry
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Matthew Fortescues were 3 members of a family who were landowners in County Louth at Stephenstown. They were very generous landords and went broke eventually. See www.fortescue.org. Searching for Irish relatives is very difficult as most of the Irish records were destroyed in the "Troubles" I do not know of any Matthew Fortescue Wood. There was also a Matthew Fortescue Of Dundalk - of the same Fortescue Branch
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Welcome to Rootschat to both of you.
Jerry- you haven't mentioned any dates but do let us know and we'll try to find you information or suggest where to search next. Your Matthew Fortescue Wood could have been named for a relative, friend of the family, local doctor, teacher, landlord, etc.
hedgehog- Irish research is difficult wthout knowing a family's name and religion to start with (as it probably would be in any country) but most Irish records were not destroyed in the 1920s. Some census, church records (C. of I.) and other documents were but other census records were pulped by the government after population figures were extracted. Civil registration of births, deaths and Catholic marriages started in 1864 (other marriages from 1845) and all these records survive.
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Hi Aghadowey and Hedgehog,
Thanks for getting back to me ;D
Matthew Fortescue was born in 1829 in Louth
His Father was Robert Bruce Wood in 1780 in Sephenstown, Louth
His Mother Grace Ferguson in 1788 in Neilston, Scotland
So I guess their religion was Protestant
SearchingJerry
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To find church recods, if they exist, you need to know what religion they were such as Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, etc.
Have you searched any Irish records looking for Matthew, his parents, family, etc. already or are you just wanting to know about the story behind Matthew's name?
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I am trying to track down his ancestry. I have not visited Louth for this purpose, I think I will in the coming years. I have tried all the on-line sources that I am aware off.
He was buried. St. Nicholas in Dundalk, which due to your kind suggestion I have just found out is a Roman Catholic Church.
Any tips would be most gratefully received. ::)
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There's also a Parish church of St. Nicholas (Church of Ireland) in Dundalk. Based on your thought that the family were Protestant you might want to consider there-
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/church_gallery_popup.jsp?church_sakey=86
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Index to civil registration is online (starts 1864) and I can't find a death for a Grace Woods but there's one for a Robert Woods died 1864 Dundalk district age 82 (so born c1782 which isn't far off your date) volume 2 page 732. Unfortunately death certificates don't give much detail so even if it's your Robert Bruce Wood it may not help. See here for Intro to Irish records-
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,442233.0.html
I can't see an obvious death registration of Matthew but perhaps he didn't stay in Ireland or didn't die in Co. Louth?
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Thank you very much, that makes more sense. :o
Would you have any more recommendations (links, organization I might contact) how I might progress with my research.
J
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Our posts crossed.
Thanks for the look up.
He died in England and Grace his mother in Edinburgh.
What I am really interested in, is Robert Bruce Woods parents.
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Re Irish Records - OK not all the records were destroyed - only two thirds of them which I still think makes it difficult for research. However, recently there has been some progress see :
http://www.from-ireland.net/gene/churchrecrds.htm#chrchirl1
Cheers
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Dear Mr. Hedgehog,
Thank you very much. Great to know.
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Re Irish Records - OK not all the records were destroyed - only two thirds of them which I still think makes it difficult for research. However, recently there has been some progress see :
http://www.from-ireland.net/gene/churchrecrds.htm#chrchirl1
Cheers
that's two thirds of the original Church of Ireland registers..
many parishes made copies before depositing their records with the record office. Plus the majority of the population were Catholic, and none of these records were effected by the events in 1922.
Shane
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Hi Shane,
Can you suggest where I might look for the copies, would they be in local parish churches
all the best
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three possibilities that I can think of -
The Representative Church Body Library (Rathfarnham)
The National Archives
and some in local custody
I have some details on records available for Co. Louth - do you know a parish or area for the family you are interested in ?
Shane
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If he lived in the Dundalk area and was Church of Ireland, then these are the detail Ryan's Irish Records lists for available CofI records :
Baptisms from 1729, marriages from 1755, and burials from 1727
These are apparently available in Representative Church Body library on Microfilm and in Local custody. He also mentions these are available on microfilm in the 'SLC' .. not sure where he means by that..
Shane
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Hi Shane,
I believe Robert Bruce Wood was born in Stephestown, Louth.
I have one of his children Marrion Grace Elizabeth Wood born in Dundalk in 1926
but for Matthew Fortescue Wood I only have Co Louth abt 1829
If your CD has any information on these I would really love to learn of it ::)
Are any of the CofI records available on the internet or remotely?
Kind regards
SearchingJerry
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Ryans Irish Records is a book detailing available records ... some extracts of this are available on google books.
I'll check the parish for Stephenstown.. it's close to Dundalk, so that could cover the area. For Matthew's baptism you will need to establish where they were living at the time... there are quite a few parishes in Co. Louth.
The only Louth parish records online that I know of online at the moment are RC and on the IFHF website.
Shane
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Stephenstown is in the Civil parish of Louth, which was based in the town of the same name, and about 7km to the west of Stephenstown. Records for this parish only seem to have survived from the 1880s (available in the same locations as the Dundalk records) Dundalk town is about the same distance from Stephenstown and to the north east, so might be worth checking, especially as a family member was buried there.
Stephenstown is included in the Ardee/Louth section on directories - Slater's 1846. There are a few Fortescue surname entries listed in the area which may account for the unusual middle name for Matthew. Could it be his mothers maiden name ?
Ardee/Louth Page 1 (http://www.failteromhat.com/slater/0350.pdf) Page 2 (http://www.failteromhat.com/slater/0351.pdf)
Slater's 1870 lists two Fortescues in the area, with one in Stephenstown, so possibly close to where your Woods family were located :
Colonel Fortescue, Stephenstown
Right Hon. Samuel Parkinson Fortescue M.P., Red House
Shane
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I found the library in Dundalk helpful. I had to pay a one-off charge but they then send as many extracts from their database as you need. You can either phone or email them
http://www.louthcoco.ie/Services/Library/Reference-Local-History-Library/Local-History-Sources.html
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Wow :o , that is great thank you all so very much. :D
I have mailed the Louth county council.
If anyone has further tips they are most welcome. But in any case these are all great leads.
Kind regards,
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My Father was Robert Bruce Wood born 19Feb 1896 my Grandfather was Robert Bruce Wood born 3 May 1856 at Four Mills Crediton dont know date of death my great grandfather was Matthew Fortescue Wood lived at Four Mills and was an Engine driver on the North Devon and Dock railway. Does this help or can you help me further.
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Great :D
In that case we are 2nd cousins once removed ;D
I have our history going back quite some time.
How can I contact you?
Kind regards,
Jeremy
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After moascar has made a few posts you can use PM (personal message) system to exchange email addresses or other recent family details which aren't allowed to be posted here.
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Hi Moascar
I was hoping you would reply to my private message. I have just learnt that everyone must make 3 posts before one can use the private message system.
I would love to be in contact with you. If you post twice to this message, i think we should then be able to contact each other privately.
All the very best cousin
SearchingJerry
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Hi
There is a very impressive photographic tour of the abandoned Stephenstown House on www.abandonedireland.com .I remember Stephenstown and an old Ms Fortescue,and her Sister, being there in the 60s. Also there was a relative, Major Digby Hamilton in residence there ,early sixties.
Many of the Fortescues are interred behind the Church at Heynestown ,Co Louth, near Dundalk.
Their graves are quite conspicuous by their ornate design and size.
As far as I can remember their surnames sometimes were Pyke - Fortescue.
Brunosean
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hi jerry
yes we can exchange messages, about matthew fortescue wood, but you will have to help me with what have to do I'm a bit of a plonker on the machine
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Hi
That is great news. ;D
If you post one more time, you should get access to private posts.
Then we can share our normal emails.
Once you have sent one more post, then click on my searchingJerry name and a new window will open. At the bottom of that window you should find
a link with the text "Send this RootsChatter a personal message."
This is where you can send me a private message.
Looking forward greatly to hearing from you.
Jerry
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Hi Moascar, (or is it Robert Bruce, like your father?)
I really hope you read this, as we are 2nd cousins once removed and I would love to learn about your side of the family.
I would love to make contact wit you but this is proving to be impossible. If you provide one more public post then we can exchange private postings.
Can anyone else advice me. Is there a way via Rootchat to privately share my email address with Moascar.
Kind regards,
Jeremy
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moascar should be able to send and receive private messages once they have made 3 posts, then you can send details directly - including your email address
see : http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
Shane
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Hi there, I have just come across this site whilst researching the Wood/Ferguson family, and have some info which may help you. I have been working from the Ferguson family bible. It starts in 1783 with the marriage of Hugh Ferguson and Grizzell Robertson 2.5.1783 in Neilston Renfrewshire Hugh 1762-1831 and Grissel 1767-1851. They had 10 children, all born in Neilston, Renfrewshire. Grizzell, their 3rd daughter born 8.3.1788 married Robert Wood on 19.7.1806. Robert Wood was born 15.5.1782 Corbieshaw? Lanarkshire. Robert and Grizzel had 12 children: Grizzel b. 1806, James b. 1809, both born Fauldheads, Neilston, Renfrewshire. Robert b.1811, Hugh b. 1814, Ann b. 1816, thomas b. 1818 and Margaret b. 1820. All born in Ayrshire. John b. 1822, Agnes b. 1825, Marion Grace b. 1827, Mathew Fortescue b. 1829 and Robert b. 1831 All born in Louth, Ireland. Their daughter Margaret married a Thomas Robertson in Glasgow 27.10.1870 and they lived in Edinburgh. It was in their home that Grizzel/Grace died in 18.8.1878. On the death certificate it is recorded that she was the widow of Robert Bruce Wood, Land Steward and Farmer. This is the first time Robert Wood is referred to as Robert Bruce Wood. I have been unsuccessful in tracing Roberts parents, but he did have an elder brother James b. 1781 Lanark and I have been successful in tracing his family to present time in Lanark/Edinburgh and Fife. I hope my info is of help to you. regards Shiela
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Hi Shiela.
This is absolutely fantastic. ;D ;D ;D. Thank you so much.
I think we might be able to help each other. I have additional information, as I spent the last two summer holidays researching and learning more. (2009 in Scotland and this year in Ireland).
I would like to exchange information with you privately.
After one has made three public posts we can communicate privately between each other. Thus if you reply to this twice, I think that would be sufficient.
I would LOVE to hear from you.
Kind regards,
Jeremy
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Thank you for replying to my message so quickly Best wishes Shiela
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Thank you for replying so qickly to my message Shiela
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Hi Moascar - I'm interested in your progress on the the Matthew Fortescue line - I have the details 5 MFW's from 1860 onwards.