Hi all,
I live in Co. Durham in northern England and a large section of my family came over from Ireland at the turn of the last century.
After years of waiting I have finally had a look at the English 1911 census and much to my delete the place of birth was finally on their census details. Up until now all I've ever had is just Ireland.
Now I have 'Derry' as a place of birth. I know it’s not much, but it’s a heck of improvement from Ireland :0) I have a mother Martha, and three sons Thomas, Joseph and William Crawford all sons were born in the 1870’s. I think I have found 2 sisters as well, but I’m not 100% sure as they arrive in England already married.
The family was called Crawford and they moved to England in the 1890's. One of the sons came over first then everyone else followed apart from their father, William Crawford. I think he must have died in Ireland as their mother Martha Crawford is referred to as a widow on the 1901 census. I have checked my local records and he did not die here in Co. Durham. I suppose he could have died on route.
That is the sum total of my knowledge. I don’t even know how they got over here. Could someone suggest where to go from here? Are their any passengers’ lists available online? Is Derry to Co. Durham, via Liverpool their most likely route? Could they have coe over via a coastal town in Cumbria
Are there any surviving Derry records that may be of use to me?
They were C of E. in England so I presume they were Protestants while growing up in Ireland.
Any suggestions welcome. And I do mean anything. I am well and truly at a dead end.
