Back to Message Board

Dugan/Gallagher/Ferry

DonegalKilmacrenan (Donegal)

No one knows the history of the Irish line of my family. Which makes the research difficult. Donegal comes up regularly when searching through various sites such as Ancestry, and others connected to it. However, I'm not finding a lot of solid evidence to back things up. My direct line is through a Hugh Dugan who was possibly born in 1825, and married a Letitia Gallagher in Mauch Chunk, PA, or possibly in Ireland. I've seen birth dates for her of 1834, and the 1850 census lists her as 19, while her death certificate from 1915 says she's 78. Letitia is the one I find the most on where Donegal comes up. Brief searches have me finding information in many different spots in Ireland, so I may not always be tracking the right one.

Hugh and Letitia had a son in the US named John, who married a Cecelia (Cicilia) Dugan, whose parents are listed as John Doogan and Honora Hannah Ferry, who may have come over from Ireland as well. What little I find on Honora mentions Donegal as well. Though for these two, I'm finding information on opposite ends of America and in Ireland and Scotland at the same time. So there's still a lot to sort out.

If anyone has any suggestions of where I might be able to find more information, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have one grandmother left, and she's always wanted to know where the Irish side comes from, so I'm hoping to be able to tell her at some point. Thank you for your time.

kr0ssk0untry

5 replies

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

All of the surnames you mention are Co. Donegal surnames. Researching in Co. Donegal is very difficult because almost all parishes do not have records until 1850 or later. For example, you posted in Kilmacrenan parish and their records do not start until 1862. I did search on the subscription site Roots Ireland but did not find any records for Hug Dugan, Leitita Gallagher or Cecelia Dugan.

I would consider posting Hugh's emigration story on our XO Chronicles site and possibly someone will see a connection.https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

I would also consider DNA testing. You may get matches with other with Donegal connections and can get more info on the origins of your family in Donegal.

Roger McDonnell 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you. I'm in the process of doing an Ancestry DNA test right now, and I've got a little time off from work coming up where I will be traveling to the area in Pennsylvania where my ancestors spent several generations living and working. I appreciate the information on Donegal records, and am not surprised you did not find anything on Cecelia. I believe she was born in America, and it was her parents who were born in Ireland. At the moment, I just have their names as possibly being John Doogan and Honora Hannah Ferry. Right now that is all speculation. Thanks again.

 

Jay

 

kr0ssk0untry

Jay,

Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project and can offer FTDNA testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

The surnames Duggan or Doogan, Ferry, Gallagher etc are very common to the North West area of Donegal especially Cloughaneely [Falcarragh/Gortahork], Gweedore and The Rosses [Dungloe].

Indeed a Letitia Gallagher lived in Tullaghobegley Irish [Oldtown] c.1878- a christian name that is quite rare so perhaps there is a connection there??. A Letty Gallagher, Tullaghobegley [daughter of the late Philip Gallagher ] died on March 10th  1890, most likely the same lady.

As far as its known, there are no iknown immediate relations of Letitia living in the area now but perhaps DNa might discover otherwise ?.

Dónal Ó Gallachóir

breachmhaigh

Thanks for this update. I just browsed back, and somehow the reply I typed up never posted, so here it is again. 

Since the original posting, I've visited the area in Pennsylvania that most ancestors stayed for several generations, and was able to find more information. The additional placenames you list have given me a bit more information to use when digging. Also, I've not done much research since shortly after this original post. My last grandmother was the one who had the Irish ancestry, and my aim was to find out as much as I could and tell her. Thankfully, I was able to do that before she passed. Since then, I've not had much motivation, but it's starting back up, and this information you've shared is helping that along. 

The Letitia and Letty you mention are not likely the one I'm after. I have the death certificate for the ancestor of mine from 1915 in Pennsylvania. After the death of her first husband, my direct ancestor, she remarried, and I have records from that line. 

The two sons she had with her first husband, once I realized that a lot of information was listed under their nicknames, I was able to find more. Also, the woman at the Catholic church in the town I visited made copies of the baptismal records, and I have some more names from those. Godparents are listed for the first son as Anna McFadden and a John Mc...(blurred out). The second sons' godparents are a Sara Curran and a Neal Friel. 

I have two main dates for Letitias' possible birth, but one date that lines up with many records, and that one also has a 12 year old Letitia emigrating in 1847 on a ship named the Hartford with another passenger listed as a John (M?) Fadden, and a 60 year old Letitia Gallagher. 

Your post was a surprise to see, and a welcome one. I've been writing down more notes and making more plans of where I could dig more. I have done the dna matching in the past, and even had some matches in the Donegal area, but the few replies I received simply did not know how the connection was made. I've saved my dna data, and have seen several Irish ancestry sites where one can see if they match to others in the country. This may be a route I take here shortly as well as finally making a visit Ireland just to explore and maybe learn a little as well. Thanks again. 

kr0ssk0untry

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.