RootsChat.Com
Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Derry (Londonderry) => Topic started by: smicker59 on Sunday 18 September 16 10:13 BST (UK)
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Im looking for anything on Paul Gurney and Sarah McCay from around Lower Cumber .... they had a child Martha dob 14/01/1807 who later married a Bernard Carten in 1833 but no info at all about her parents except their names x
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If it was yourself who posted on Belfast Forum previously, then it was suggested that you consider the Paul Gurney in Mullabuoy/Mullaboy townland in 1831. The townland was within Lower Cumber parish.
Having looked at the entry, I see that including Paul, there were a total of 2 males and 2 females in the house, no servants. A William Gurney was in another house in the same townland, with himself and one female noted.
This sounds a strong possibility for your Paul, given Martha married 2 years later.
Both Paul's household and William's were members of the established church.
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I wonder if the Sarah Curvey indexed in nearby Slaghtmanus townland during the Griffiths Valuation, might actually have been Sarah Gurney:
http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/derry/cumberlower.php
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A Hugh Gurney and Isabella Cannon (indexed as Canning in one of their children's records) also married in Lower Cumber in 1825. Possibly the same Hugh found in Ervey townland in 1831. Might be worth looking further into this couple too.
There is a birth entry in Lower Cumber for a Hugh, son of a Ford and Margaret Gurney, that might be the same chap as the marriage above.
This old post may be of interest:
http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/gurney/402/
especially
My father understood that, originally, (1)the family went to Ireland from Cornwall and (2)they were Quakers (they are listed in Church of Ireland records).
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This old rootschat post may also be of interest:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=524775.0
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Thank you scotmum. It's all still a muddle to me. Hugh is very much everywhere I look so not sure of the connection. Paul and Sarah I can find nothing at all except there names on my G Grandmothers birth I'll try to follow ur suggestions. Thank you very much x
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As the Paul in Mullaboy may also have had a son (as 2 males recorded in household in 1831), you could try a search in Scotland on off-chance he, if correct family and therefore a sibling of your Martha, also ended up in Scotland.
Certainly, in one of my own lines from the same parish, I discovered that whilst 2 brothers emigrated to America, a sister and her husband migrated to Scotland and settled in same town as my ancestor and her husband, who had migrated there a few years earlier.
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It's all so confusing at times. My Martha we thought only a sister so I wonder if Hugh is a factor here. I wish I cud tie him in lol x
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Unfortunately, the 1831 only listed one name from household and then total numbers of male/female/servants, so at best is only an indication of possibilities. For example, the other male could have been an adult sibling of Paul, an unrelated boarder etc.
Purely based on the not overly common surname in the timescale/area and there being others in the same parish, it is possible there were 'cousin' relationships around. I think it is more likely this is where Hugh would fit in. That is to say, possibly as a cousin to Martha, albeit there may have been no connection at all.
I would definitely try to pursue the other Gurney, ie William, who was in the same townland as a Paul in 1831, as judging by property numbers, they seemed to live near each other. Overall numbers of any surname in the townland were small, so I would think there was a high chance of a family connection between the two Gurneys.
Yes, it can at times be frustrating and/or confusing and often it is unfortunately impossible, in part due to lack of records in some areas, to ever make complete sense of a particular family group or their extended family, but it is always worthwhile extending searches out to 'nearby possibles', as sometimes they can ultimately provide a clue or missing link or if nothing else, perhaps even be eliminated entirely.
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You mentioned Martha possibly having a sister. Is it this record for a Margaret you are considering:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F5PV-GL
Also, re can find nothing at all except there names on my G Grandmothers birth
did Martha die in Scotland? If yes, did her parents names concur with those you have from birth details?
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Hi Scottmum yes both birth and death list parents as Sarah and Paul. Are u searching the same families in your own quest? X. Yes she did die in Scotland. Her daughter Martha is my GT grandmother who married John McLean in Scotland but they both arrived back in Ireland around 1900. I presume for shipyard work x
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Hi there,
The poster of the old message ( from genealogy.com link) is my cousin. I have done some further research,which may or may not be helpful to you. You can see some of my comments on posts on the seconf link ( rootschat board)I am wndering if Paul & Ford Gurney are brothers??
Cheers
Del
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Thanks del. That had crossed my mind too . The only ref to Paul I can find is an 1831 census. No birth, no death, no mother or father or brother or sister x
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Del, the worst thing of all is I live in Ireland and have been to visit this town land and can't even find grave with Gurney on it x. R they connected to ur family? X
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Del, the worst thing of all is I live in Ireland and have been to visit this town land and can't even find grave with Gurney on it x. R they connected to ur family? X
Yes Hugh who married Isabella is my 3rd great Grandfather, via their son James who came to New Zealand.