Ancestors "Irish" , names Gorman,Kelly, Shields and Brannan

[joanne56]

Have reached the brick wall I have heard so much about. Have managed very successfully to find my ancestors back to 1871 in Scotland, but it seems they all originate from "Ireland". No mention of whereabouts in Ireland , just Ireland. Help! what do I do next? My g-grandfather was Michael Gorman, married to Margaret Shields in Scotland in 1871, birthplace Ireland, his parents Wlliam Gorman and maybe ,Helen Kelly. (I say maybe because cannot quite make out christian name on marriage cert of Michael) not in Scotland at that time, so am presuming still in Ireland. Margarets parents Charles Shields and Jane Brannen, in Scotland at the time but born in Ireland, no county, just Ireland. All seem to belong to a community of coal miners living in Edinbirgh area from1850's onwards and from cencus info. lots of Irish there at the time. Does anybody have any info or advice on this?
thanks Joanne.

[magsbutler]

Hi,
On the IGI there is a Michael Gorman, born 1847, co.Kildare Ireland, father William Gorman, mother Ellen Kelly - the date of birth would fit, so might be worth looking into?

Good luck,
Mags

[joanne56]

wow! how do i look at i.g.i? I had MIchael down as being born 1849 but 1847 seems close enough to me, bit of a novice at this but learning fast. many thanks for your help,
               Regards Joanne

[magsbutler]

Hi again
Glad to be of help - hope it turns out to be what you're looking for though!
Go to

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp

Choose 'International Genealogical Index'; enter the name, region, choose Ireland, and search!
(I think I put in the father's name to narrow down the search first)

Mags

[joanne56]

hi Mags,
              didn't let myself get too excited at first, told myself it was too easy and probably not my ancestors. But! on further investigation i found that the Michael you found for me had siblings named John, Catherine and Patrick. Guess what my Michael named 3 of his children? You have it ! John, Catherine and Patrick, along with an Ellen and a William That would be far too much to be coincidence so am now convinced it is right family. You are definitely a star, and i thank you very much.
         kindest regards Joanne 

P.S. What do i do now? can i access any more records with new info i have?

[magsbutler]

Joanne,
If all this info is indeed correct, then I'm so pleased for you. And thank you for thinking to get back to me so quickly, a little thank you goes such a long way!

A good starting point for further research may be to go to the Kildare page below (assuming your ancestors are definitely from this county!):

http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlkid/
and if you click on the 'useful Kildare addresses' link to the Kildare Heritage and Genealogy co. you may find how to get further back with obtaining parish records etc etc. Civil registration started in 1864 in Ireland, so you will be looking at parish records for the time span you are now into.
I don't know co.Kildare at all, so best of luck!
(I notice you have the Bailey name in your list, mine are from co.Limerick/Tipperary borders in the Galtees).

Unfortunately there are no surviving census records, apart from fragments here and there, for the 19th century in Ireland. The land valuations may also be a source of info though, go to


http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.htm
a most excellent site which has an explanation of what this survey was, and as you will see, you can trawl through all the parishes etc looking for the names you seek, and do searches.

Good luck!

Mags

[joanne56]

Hi Mags,
             Wiill try the links you gave me, see what i can find, thanks for those. My bailey side all come from Manchester, but may have originated in Macclesfield, still working on that one. Is Bailey an Irish name too ? Sometimes it seems that most of the world originates from Ireland, lol.
                          Joanne