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Identifying ancestor's location in Derrynoose

Hello -

I am researching my ancestors who emigrated to the United States through Canada in the 1840s. I have found good records of their life in upstate NY from 1850 onward and have also found several baptism records including the attached one of my great-great grandfather Thomas Murray (sometimes spelled Murry).

The records I have found of Thomas and his siblings list the Civil Parish as Derrynoose. I am wondering if you have tips for further defining their location if not to their actual village location then at least to the church where their baptisms occurred.

Thank you,

Patrick Murray

pm4605@protonm…

1 reply

Patrick,

No easy way of finding the family if no townland was  given for the baptism. If the family were farmers then they should be listed in the 1825 tithe applotment records. Unfortunately Murray is a very common surname in that parish and there were around 25 Murray farms:

https://www.irishgenealogyhub.com/armagh/tithe-applotments/derrynoose-parish.php

Ronaghan was almost equally common as you will see.

If the family were labourers then they are harder to trace as they tended to move to follow available work and show up in fewer records.

Any idea when Thomas and Ann died?

Griffiths Valuation (1864) lists 2 Thomas Murrays, both farmers, in Derrynoose. One lived in Doohat (also known as Crossreagh) and the other in Crossbane.  Both had 10/11 acre farms. The Doohat Thomas died in 1886 and probably isn’t old enough.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1886/06252/4790292.pdf

The Crossbane Thomas was even younger though he had a wife named Nancy (which is an alternative name for Ann).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1884/06339/4817756.pdf

If either died before 1864 (when death registration started) they will be difficult to trace. Most RC parishes didn’t keep burial records. and so unless there was a gravestone, there might be no record.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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