Anne
I don’t think that I can help directly in helping you find your ancestor, Thomas Crumlish, but I have come across three people with the same name in my researches. One may be able to provide a clue that could help you.
Today, in Ireland, there are two distinct branches of the family, grouped around Moville and Letterkenny, both in County Donegal. Most of the following information comes from the latter side of the family. It appears well researched, but I have not checked any of the information myself. I’ve seen only patchy evidence of the use of naming patterns in this family, but it is enough to suggest that there may be links going back to previous generations. However, given the lack of records in Inishowen, we’ll probably never know!
Thomas Crumlish (Moville)My grandmother was born Mary Anne Crimlisk in Moville, County Donegal. In this area the name changes on various documents from Crimlisk to Crumlisk and eventually to the present day usage Crumlish. I am told that her brother was called Thomas Crimlisk and that he lived in the townland of Stroove, at the north-easterly tip of the Inishowen Peninsula. I have no dates, but as my grandmother’s parents did not marry until 1876, it will be too late for your ancestor.
Thomas Crimlisk (Ardara to Leeds)Thomas Crimlisk was born into the Catholic faith in the village of Ardara, County Donegal in 1804. In 1825, he married 17 year old Catherine McDevitt and in the same year enlisted in the Coastguard Service in Killybegs. In June 1825 he was posted to Dunaff Head, guarding the entrance to Lough Swilly. As five years was the maximum length of posting, to prevent the Coastguards getting too friendly with smugglers, he moved again in 1830, his time to Dunkeehan, County Mayo. In the next six years the family moved twice more – to Dulough, County Mayo and Claggan, County Galway.
In 1838, Thomas left Ireland, being posted to Rottingdean, Sussex on the French facing coast of southern England. The tour of duty on this coast lasted only fifteen months, because of the high level of smuggling across the Channel. The following year the Crimlisks moved again, this time to Flamborough on the east coast of Yorkshire.
The fifth and last son of the family was born at Flamborough on 10th August 1841 and was named Thomas. The birth was registered at Bridlington by his mother Catherine who, evidently, was unable to write since instead of a signature she made her mark in the form of a cross. On this birth certificate the occupation of the father is given as 'Preventative Service'. The baptism of Thomas took place in St. Peter's Church, Scarborough, on the 6th September 1841 and the godmother was Mary McDEVITT.
In 1842 the family moved to Filey, staying there for nine years until they returned again to Flamborough. In 1857 Thomas retired. He died on 14th March 1886 from chronic Bronchitis at 27 Union Street, Leeds, the home of his son-in law William Day.
I have a copy of a photograph of four of Thomas' sons, James, John, Francis and Thomas if you would like a scan. It was reproduced in "Patterns for Guernseys, Jerseys and Arrans" by Gladys Thompson (1969: Batford - London: Dover Publications Inc. New York) ISBN: 0-486-22703-0.
Thomas Crimlisk (Flamborough to Sheffield)I know little about his son, Thomas, except that he was born in Flamborough, Yorkshire on 10 August 1841, and died on 24 October 1922 in Ecclesfield, Sheffield, Yorkshire. He had married Elizabeth Jenkinson (1841-1916)
I hope that something in this rather lengthy posting will be of some help to you. If you want (a little) more information about the family, please let me know.
Ben
http://www.benpalmer.co.uk/movillerecords.htm