Dockerty/Docherty, Michael

[Piesang]

Hello,

I am trying to find any reference to a Michael Docherty (or spelling could be Dockerty) born 1850, Breenagh, co. Donegal. Married Mary (don't know year and marriage could have been in New Zealand). I don't know Mary's maiden name but do know she was born around 1856 and was from co. Kerry. I also know that Michael was a building contractor, so is quite possible that his father was.
If anyone has any information or is connected to the family in any way I would love to hear from you.

[aghadowey]

Unfortunately Doherty (and all it's variations in spellings) is probably the most common surname in County Donegal.
If Michael was born around 1850 there will be no birth certificate for him but his marriage certificate (if in Ireland) should list his father's name and occupation. If Michael was a building contractor in New Zealand it may not have been his occupation (or his father's) in Ireland.
To find information on the family in Ireland you need to know at least his father's name before searchig for church records (if they exist) as the surname is such a common one.

[derrylass]

Checkout the 1901 census in parish of Conwal at Lindel's Donegal resources site
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/1901breenagh.htm

[aghadowey]

Interesting link but if Piesang's Michael Dockerty was born 1850 the Michael Doherty age 65 (born c1836) in 1901 census would probably be a bit young to be his father although he could possibly be a cousin or uncle.

[Piesang]

Thanks so far for your responses and help.
Maybe I should look at it a different way. Is there any way of finding out shipping passenger lists for 1850's onwards. I am guessing that Michael Docherty and his wife Mary were married in Ireland and that they had a daughter Kathleen who I know was born in NZ. Kathleen married a Robert James Young, also born in NZ but whose father, Robert Young was from Leeston (anyone know where that is?).
I found some passenger lists for ships going to USA and Australia but nothing to NZ.
Also, I don't know a great deal about Irish history around this time, except that the Potato Famine hit around 1875. Is it possible that Michael & family moved to Engalnd first to escape this. If this is the case, then maybe I need to look up English passenger lists instead?

[derrylass]

Again Lindel's Donegal resources site for passenger lists
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/donpassnz.htm
Have you looked for Michael's death cert which may give his parent's names.

[Piesang]

This was a great help, thank you, I may have found something, as there are 2 Michael Doherty's listed, both ages are slightly out, but there is also a Mary Donaghy whose age fits and  sailed on the Oamaru (town where they both finally settled - might not mean anything but nice coincidence) Don't have Michael's death certificate and couldn't find any reference to it in NZ archives, but will have to have harder look.

[aghadowey]

Also, I don't know a great deal about Irish history around this time, except that the Potato Famine hit around 1875. Is it possible that Michael & family moved to Engalnd first to escape this. If this is the case, then maybe I need to look up English passenger lists instead?

Irish Potato Famine was much earlier in 1840s. To go to Australia or New Zealand they probably would have left from an English port.

[derrylass]

A diary of the journey on Invercargill in 1878
http://www.jhdiary.info/diary09.html