First Irish ancestor - now what?

[spook]

Hi all

One of my paternal GGrandparents was Irish. I've checked out the pinned websites but am still scratching my head as to the way forward.

The facts are:

Mary Dunn (maiden name) born 06 March 1867. Family lore states that she came from Ireland to England to work as a domestic servant. She presumbably settled in the North East as she married John Douglas in Alnwick in 1886. I haven't sent off for the marriage certificate yet and this is my next move.

Any suggestions as to how I can progress tracing Mary in Ireland?

[Christopher]

Hei Spook,

There may be problems finding Mary. Have a look at the number of Dunns in Ireland during the period 1848-64. I assume Mary is your brickwall. Could you post the information that you have on the family? There may be something there that to you seems obvious but someone else looking at the information would say  "Oh that is where we should look next." I would look for Christian names that look like surnames and Christian names of her children (if she had any) that might point to their grandparents.  http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.php

All the Best, Chris

[Ticker]

Hi Spook

Yes the marriage certificate would be a good start.  It may be that she was born in England of course.  Personal experience tells me that family lore is often close to the truth but no always spot on! It may be that the family lore is a generation out perhaps.

Do you know any of Mary and John's childrens names as this would help to find them in the census for 1891.  There is a Mary Douglas I can see in Alnwick in 1891 but she was born there rather than Ireland.  Children's names might confirm.

Best wishes

Ticker

[spook]

Thanks for the tips guys 

Their children were (or at least the ones I know about):
Mary Esther (my Grandmother) born in 1906
Doad
James
Lizzie (Elizabeth?)
Peg (?)

Unfortunately I don't know anything about them or their dates of birth so not sure whether that takes me any further 

[Christopher]

Hei Spook,

You can narrow the field of search slightly.
What branch of the Christian faith was followed by Mary and John?

All the Best, Christopher

[spook]

Hi Christopher

Just been checking through my records from when I was a kid when I first started tentatively digging  and I've got written down that Mary was Catholic and John was Anglican.

Matt

[Christopher]

Nice One Spook,

Back to where we started. I would suggest looking at the Catholic records but we do not know what county in Ireland.
That looks like a peculiar Christian name ..Doad? Are you sure of that? It could be a surname type Chistian name? I do not know of Doad but possibilities are Doab, Doag, or Doak

Best Wishes,

Chris

[spook]

I know - I've never heard of it either, in fact I'll see if I can find him on the BMD databases.

[teap78]

Their children were (or at least the ones I know about):
Mary Esther (my Grandmother) born in 1906
Doad
James
Lizzie (Elizabeth?)
Peg (?)

The Peg usually Stands for Peggy which is Margaret

  Colette