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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: ladyk on Friday 30 October 15 13:09 GMT (UK)

Title: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Friday 30 October 15 13:09 GMT (UK)
Hello! I have not had to look for many ancestors in Ireland, but those that I have looked for, I have not been able to find. I would like some advice on how to begin searching for James Alexander Rowan, b. abt 1842 in IRELAND (no, I don't know where!) who left Ireland for Scotland where he married Elizabeth McCaig and had 2 children (first born in 1868). What I'm hoping to discover is if he had any siblings, as I'm following a dna match trail. The only documents that I have on James are the 1871 Scotland census, which gives his age and his birth place as Ireland, and the birth/baptism record for his second child, which only gives the names of parents and child. Any ideas on how I might narrow down a search for this needle in a haystack?
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ShaunJ on Friday 30 October 15 15:01 GMT (UK)
Do you have the marriage record?  That should show the names of his parents.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: gaffy on Friday 30 October 15 15:12 GMT (UK)
Just to be aware that a James Alexander Rowan was baptised on Christmas Eve 1843 in 1st Magherafelt Londonderry (presbyterian), the parents were Hugh William Rowan and Elizabeth McCormick, is that a possibility?

Also this article from the Londonderry Standard of Wednesday 21 December 1842, might be unconnected, but just to note:

PARTNERSHIP DISSOLVED

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Partnership hitherto existing in this City, between HUGH WILLIAM ROWAN, & WILLIAM WILKINSON, as Haberdashers and Silk Mercers, and carried out under the style of ROWAN & WILKINSON, has this day dissolved by mutual consent.

Signed,
HUGH WILLIAM ROWAN 
WILLIAM WILKINSON.

Londonderry, 9th Dec. 1842.
The business will in future be conducted by H. R. Rowan on his own account.


 
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Friday 30 October 15 16:00 GMT (UK)
Do you have the marriage record?  That should show the names of his parents.

No marriage record as of yet, but still looking.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Friday 30 October 15 16:02 GMT (UK)
Excellent starting point, i shall pursue this and see if it could be the man! Thanks for this tip and the additional notice which could also be related. I will follow up and post if I find anything!
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: hallmark on Friday 30 October 15 16:42 GMT (UK)
A lot is based on Religion to start with...
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: conahy calling on Friday 30 October 15 17:53 GMT (UK)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=498742.0

"My ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?"  link from Irish resources board.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=442233.0

Introduction to Irish records.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: gaffy on Saturday 31 October 15 03:05 GMT (UK)

... No marriage record as of yet, but still looking ...


9 September 1867, Dalbeattie, she listed as Caig:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTRS-WJM

This should help you find it on the ScotlandsPeople website.

Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 11:49 GMT (UK)
A lot is based on Religion to start with...

Yes, and I'm not sure about their religion!
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 11:49 GMT (UK)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=498742.0

"My ancestor came from Ireland - where do I start?"  link from Irish resources board.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=442233.0

Introduction to Irish records.

Thank-you, good resource!
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 11:51 GMT (UK)

... No marriage record as of yet, but still looking ...


9 September 1867, Dalbeattie, she listed as Caig:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTRS-WJM

This should help you find it on the ScotlandsPeople website.

Thank-you gaffy! Found the record, but it is maddeningly difficult to read! Cannot make out names of the two mothers of bride & groom! Going to play with shading and see if I can figure it out.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: gaffy on Saturday 31 October 15 12:01 GMT (UK)

... No marriage record as of yet, but still looking ...


9 September 1867, Dalbeattie, she listed as Caig:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTRS-WJM

This should help you find it on the ScotlandsPeople website.

Thank-you gaffy! Found the record, but it is maddeningly difficult to read! Cannot make out names of the two mothers of bride & groom! Going to play with shading and see if I can figure it out.

Post a snippet for deciphering, if you like  :)

 
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 22:20 GMT (UK)
Great idea, gaffy! Anyone passing by this thread, tell me what you think the maiden names of the 2 mothers of the bride and groom are! This column is supposed to be father's name and profession with mother's name and maiden surname beneath that. Good luck, I can't figure it out! (the groom's parents are Hugh Rowan and Margaret ? (maybe Christie?) and bride's parents are Robert Caig and maybe Margaret ? (maybe Leed?)

(http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee65/ilo1940/miscellaneous/rowansnippetgif_zpshj4b9p7u.gif)
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: aghadowey on Saturday 31 October 15 22:45 GMT (UK)
I think it might be Lees rather than Leed.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: hallmark on Saturday 31 October 15 23:23 GMT (UK)
Hugh Rowan
Hawker
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: eadaoin on Saturday 31 October 15 23:23 GMT (UK)
Margaret Crosbie?
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 23:25 GMT (UK)
Hugh Rowan
Hawker
Thank-you! What's a hawker, like a street vendor?
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 23:25 GMT (UK)
I think it might be Lees rather than Leed.

Thanks! I'll try Lees.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Saturday 31 October 15 23:27 GMT (UK)
Margaret Crosbie?

Thanks! I'll try Crosbie instead of Christie
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: hallmark on Saturday 31 October 15 23:29 GMT (UK)
Hugh Rowan
Hawker

Pic smaller...
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: hallmark on Saturday 31 October 15 23:31 GMT (UK)
Hugh Rowan
Hawker
Thank-you! What's a hawker, like a street vendor?

Yes... a Del Boy!!  :-))
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: gaffy on Sunday 01 November 15 03:54 GMT (UK)
Well that would seem to rule out Hugh William Rowan and Elizabeth McCormick...

What is the word after hawker?
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ladyk on Sunday 01 November 15 04:49 GMT (UK)
I think that says "AND", referring to his wife on the next line.
Title: Re: How to begin researching in Ireland?
Post by: ShaunJ on Sunday 01 November 15 08:17 GMT (UK)
The 1871 census lists  a Hugh W Rowan, 48, married, traveller, from Ireland, in a boarding house in Stranraer

The 1861 lists Hugh William Rowan, 37, married, dealer In pictures and picture frames, from Ireland, in lodgings in Old Cumnock

The 1851 lists Hugh William Rowan, 29, married,    book canvasser from Ireland, as a visitor in Kirkcolm