Back to Message Board

Madden / Chambers Brick Wall - Seeking Clogher Connections for October Visit

Tyrone

Hello volunteers, My husband and I are traveling from Australia to visit Ireland from October 12th to October 16th, 2026. We are planning to spend time in the Clogher Valley, County Tyrone, to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors. I have confirmed via DNA testing that I am a direct descendant of John Joseph Madden, born in County Meath circa 1778. He was transported to New South Wales, Australia, as a convict aboard the ship Archduke Charles in 1812 and later lived in Kurrajong, NSW. While my DNA securely ties me to this Madden line, I am trying to resolve an 18th-century brick wall regarding John Joseph’s parents. I have found a surviving record index entry on Ancestry for the "Ireland, Indexes to Wills, Probate Administration, Marriage Bonds and Licences, 1591–1866" collection, which points to: • John Madden (1745–1783) and Ann Chambers, who married in Clogher, County Tyrone, in 1771. Given the overlap of the Madden/Maddin/Mattin and Chambers surnames in the Clogher Valley during the mid-to-late 1700s, I am eager to know if any local parish registers (Church of Ireland or Catholic), land records, or estate papers can help shed light on this family group. We would love to connect with any local researchers, distant cousins, or volunteers while we are visiting the area in mid-October. Any guidance on specific graveyards or townlands to visit would be greatly appreciated! Kind regards, Lisa Kalwy (KweenieK)

P.S. I have attached screenshots of the two conflicting family trees I am trying to sort out. One shows the Tyrone marriage record index, and the other shows the alternative Galway theory.

KweenieK

10 replies

For reference that 1771 marriage Licence Bond Index record relates to the Established Church Diocese of Clogher.

The Diocese of Clogher mostly covered parts of counties Monaghan and Fermanagh and small parts of County Louth and Donegal, and a few parishes in Co. Tyrone : Portclare, Kilskerry, Errigal-Trough (Tyrone/Monaghan) and Clogher

(Ancestry)

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

KweenieK,

I would endorse what Shane has said. A diocese is the area administered by a bishop. In this case the bishop of Clogher. I have attached a list showing all the parishes in the Clogher diocese. Today there are about 30. The surviving records you have located do not record where in Clogher diocese your ancestors married. There were/are at least 100 churches within that fairly large area. The diocese more or less stretches right across Ireland from Ballyshannon on the Atlantic Coast to Dundalk on the Irish Sea. Don't assume your ancestors married in the Clogher Valley itself from this information alone. They could have married anywhere within that whole diocesan boundary.

https://clogher.anglican.org/Parishes/index.php?p=ParishesList

Map here:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1DtbIi9oOnIMJTYHWipw_iadala8&msa=0&ll=54.23736992629081,-7.448730000000001&spn=1.183136,2.458191&z=9

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for your help ...I would really like to find his parents names, looks like it will be a long search :)

KweenieK

According to the Australian Convict Database this John Madden was convicted at Dublin City :

The same system mentions a Patrick Madden sent on the same ship voyage and also convicted at Dublin City...

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

There are 844 trees on Ancestry for John. Various parents' names are identified. How did you identify John and Ann as his parents?

Record from Ancestry

New South Wales, Australia, Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930

NameJohn Madden
Birth PlaceMeath, Ireland
Arrival Year1813
Arrival CountryAustralia
Vessel Arrived InArchduke Charles
Date of Admission/Photo28 Nov 1837
GaolSydney
Gaol LocationSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Record TypeEntrance and Description Book

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Patrick Madden, convict Shane mentioned.

New South Wales, Australia, Certificates of Freedom

NamePatrick Madden
Age59[59]
Birth Year1770
Native PlaceWestmeath, Ireland
Arrival Year1813
VesselArchduke Charles
Certificate Date13 Nov 1829

@@@@@@@@@@

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Yes, thanks, that's the record I have - he is my x4 Great Grandfather

KweenieK

MaryTV

I had originally used the information my cousin had given me but when i researched myself i tend to think his parents were Thos & Margt Maddin if this paper trail is correct...?

KweenieK

If this is correct, believe that his father, Thomas Maddin died in 1806, Ballinasloe, Galway, Connacht, Ireland.

Would like to find his burial spot if possible or any more information regarding it and also for Margrt...

KweenieK

Thank you :)

KweenieK

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.