Help: Where to start? FALLEN

[Boongie Pam]

Hi,

I'm after a bit of help with where to start trying to breakthrough a brick wall.

I have a quite well developed family tree in Scotland, England and Wales but my actual "name line" is from Ireland but I have no idea where.

The first showing I have of the Family is in Troqueer, Kirkcudbright on the 1841 census:-

Howgate

Thomas FALLIN/26/Ag Lab/I
Bridget FALLIN/26/ /I
Catherine FALLIN/3/ /I
Michael FALLIN/2m/ /Y (born at Troqueer)

Then in 1851:-
23 Market St, Maxwelltown

Thomas FALLEN/M/40/Head/Ireland
Bridget FALLEN/M/40/Wife/Ireland
Catherine FALLEN/13/Daur/Ireland
Michael FALLEN/10/Son/Troqueer Kbt
Margaret FALLEN/3/Daur/Troqueer Kbt

From this I can ascertain that they came to Scotland between 1837 and 1841 and I think Catherine maybe the key to finding who Thomas and Bridget are.

I have tried to follow Catherine and Margaret to a marriage or death in Scotland with no luck - any of these should give me Bridget's maiden name.

What is the best way to find Catherine's birth records or Bridget's maiden name?

Thanks in advance.
Pam
 

PS FALLEN stuck as a name for some of Michael's children but others (my line) started to use FALLON around 1880.

[Christopher]

Hello Pam,

It would appear as though you need to find some families with the name Fallen in Ireland and hope that they are connected to Thomas and Bridget. That may establish the area in which they lived. Whilst it looks as though you may have a lengthy search you may strike lucky since the family moved to Scotland. It may not be a case of searching through Griffith's for the whole of Ireland. Start in Co. Antrim and Co. Donegal. There was a lot of movement to and fro between those counties and Scotland. If nothing appears in those counties search through the other counties in Ulster.

Griffiths Valuation 1848-1864 http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths.htm
Griffiths Valuation - Antrim 1861-62 http://www.failteromhat.com/antrim.htm
Griffiths Valuation - Donegal 1857 http://www.failteromhat.com/donegal.htm

John Fallen was shown as being in High Street, Enniskillen in 1852.
You get on with the search through Antrim and Donegal.
I'll look through Fermanagh. I'll post again if I have any luck in that county.

Don't worry. You should find most of the details eventually.

Best Wishes,  Christopher

[scotmum]

If you go to

http://scripts.ireland.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm

and type in Fallen, you will get a table with spread of name over the various counties mid 1800's (slightly beyond your timescale but would at least give an indication of where it appeared). Repeat for Fallon (which was by far the more popular spelling).

[scotmum]

I have tried to follow Catherine and Margaret to a marriage or death in Scotland with no luck - any of these should give me Bridget's maiden name.

Have you found Scottish death entries for the parents themselves, ie Thomas and Bridget? These would also hopefully give you lots of info (ie their parents' names, thus Bridget's maiden name, and possibly townland/county). I know with some of my own Irish lines that it has been the Scottish death certificates of the parents that have given me the breaks to go further.

[Christopher]

Hello Pam and Scotmum,

That's a very neat gadget. I've just tested it as it's new to me.
I've been checking through Co. Fermanagh and Co. Antrim.
Apart from John Fallen in Enniskillen the name elsewhere in the county is spelt as Fallon.
Sorry about that comment. I've just found Patrick Fallen, Cleenish, Co. Fermanagh
Do a Google search using the words - Flax growers on record 1796
The situation differs in Co. Antrim. The odd Fallon appears but generally the name is spelt as Falloon.

Best Wishes,

Christopher

[Boongie Pam]

Wahaey - thanks guys for your time, thoughts and efforts - and I very much appreciate ideas as I have no idea about Irish research that long ago.

The name is a right royal pain - I know I'm constantly having to spell it out.

I thought the mis spellings on various census should help me understand where it originated.

Scotmum,

I have exhaustedly searched for death certs for Michael (my direct) his sisters his parents (Thomas & Bridget) nowt.

I did find Michael's second marriage by licence in Glasgow and he names his parents as Thomas Fallon & MARGARET LONG

Both deceased before 1897.  Margaret?  Odd I thought but then did realise his first born daughter was called MARGARET.  Since there are only 2 families in the county with a similar name I'm confident I have the correct census.

Michael's daughter Margaret - a lady with many illegitimate children, ended her life calling herself FAULLIN at least on certs I have.

I think some deaths may end up registered under a name beginning with the letter "S".  There is a Bridget PHELAN in a workhouse in 1861 but the age is many years too old and teh death cert doesn't give any details.  Typicla workhouse death cert.

I know Michael died between 1923 and 1954 but I'll be darned I can't find him.

I do thank you for your time and effort.

Pam
 

[Boongie Pam]

I've done Donegal - nada.

Hmmm - I know teh name is supposted to centre around Galway but I assumed a Northern connection dued to the frequent back and fro with SW Scotland.

Pam
 

[Boongie Pam]

Hi Scotmum,

New info has highlighted that my family seem to be from Sligo.  At least that is where Catherine was born.  So your map site was very useful.  Sligo came up middle of the table.  Thank you.

I've posted in the Sligo section so this thread is effectively done.

Ta,
Pam