Donegal Ancestors Mystery

[pharmaT]

I am working on my daughter's tree.  I'm not very experienced with Irish research and have not had much success so was wondering where to go next.

Here is what I have so far:

John McCorgray  married Catherine McGinnes in Hamilton, Scotland on 16 Oct 1855.  He gave his age as 23 and Catherine as 20.

John gave his place of birth as Co. Donegal, Parish of Donaghmore and his parents as Daniel McCorgray and Ellen Sweeney.  Catherine gave her place of birth as Co Donegal parish of Inishowen and her parents as John McGinnes and Sarah Hurl.

In 1851 census John is living in Blantyre, Scotland with both his parents (Ellen is given as Eleanor).  All birthplaces are given as just Ireland.  When Daniel died in 1882 his parents were given as Hugh McCorgray and Margret Donnell. When Ellen died in 1890 her parents were given as James Sweeney and Margaret Bonder.


John McGinnis and Sarah Hurl also ended up in Scotland.  On John's death certificate his parents were Michael McGines and Bridget McCalligan and on sarah's her parents were Daniel Hurll and Mrs Hurll M.S. Docherty.


I've done some searches on Ancestry and tried the spelling variations for the names that I can think of and haven't had much luck.  I have noticed that one of the townships in Donaghmore parish is called Corgary and wondered if that is a connection.  I don't know if there are no surviving records or if I'm just making mistakes.  Any ideas?

[Sinann]

One of the most important things to tell in Irish research is the religion of the people involved.

If RC the NLI site and the link on the bottom of the page to Irish Ancestors will tell you what records survive.
https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0362

[pharmaT]

They were RC.  Looks as though the births and marriages I can link to are too early to be on there

[Sinann]

Sadly the case with most of the parishes which had the highest emigration.
Inishowen is a bit more difficult as it's a peninsula so there are several parishes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inishowen

[hallmark]

There are resources BUT are they correct ones for you??

EG     http://donegalgenealogy.com/dungloeceminscr.htm

 In Loving Memory of James Sweeney Died 18 May 1895
Margaret, His Wife  Died 17 May 1875

Their Children  Catherine, Anne, Mary  Also Their Grandchildren Peter Anthony
Died 20 Jul 1914

Bridget Annie  Died 5 Apr 1919

Teresa Catherine Died 26 Sep 1921

Elizabeth Frances  Died 5 Jan 1925

RIP


....but without researching they may not be yours!!




http://donegalgenealogy.com/    I tried     McCorgray        but no results!!

[pharmaT]

I'm not sure that that's the correct family, would mean James living to a very old age and the children too.

McCorgray I'm wondering if they came from the township Corgary and changed their name when they moved to Scotland.  To date (18 years research) I haven't come across a single holder of the name who isn't descended from Daniel and Helen.  Just a 'what if' in my head I have no proof one way or another.

[hallmark]

That was just an example of what can be found!!

Hence the EG in my post!

[hallmark]

If everyone went to Scotland and married and died there then all you can look at are Parish Registers.

[pharmaT]

If everyone went to Scotland and married and died there then all you can look at are Parish Registers.

I don't know for sure if everyone went to Scotland.  It's just that all the records I have personally found for descendants are in Scotland, England, US and New Zealand.