Hello. I am a Canadian descended from John Greer and Bridget Conboy.
They came to Canada around 1842 and settled in South Sherbrooke Township in Ontario. They are reported to have come from Sligo or Connaught. If there are suggestions on how I might learn more, I would be grateful.
Thank you!
Gary Greer
Gary:
The subscription site Roots Ireland does not have a marriage record for John Greer and Bridget Conboy in Co. Sligo. Also, no baptismal records for any children. You didn't mention the religious denomination but many parishes do not have records back to the time before 1842.
The Tithe listings from 1833 show a number of Greers in Kilglass ciivl parish particularly in Leaffony townland. There is a John Greer as well as Michael Greer and William Greer. I don't think the John Greer listed was your ancestor because someone leasing land would likely not be inclined to emigrate. However, your anestor may have been a son of one of the Greers and had no opportunity to obtain land.
Have you considered DNA testing?
Roger McDonnell
Thank you Roger for your work and very kind response. I suspect (as you do) that the Greer's came from very humble circumstances. In the 1871 census John and Bridget were listed as unable to write, suggesting no formal education. The census records offer Church of England for the elder John and Wesleyan Methodist for the younger John as the religious affiliation. In a pioneering community, they may have had to adapt to the ministers available. I will consider a DNA test. It will be interesting to see what happens as I am descended from a broad mixture of Irish, Scottish, English and French ancestors. My sister did one a few years ago, but I suspect that the technology has moved so rapidly that a new one would be warranted.
Again, thank you for your kind response.
Gary Greer
Gary:
You are eligible to take a Y-DNA test which tracks your pure paternal line but I would recommend against that test since it is expensive and in my experience the data was not very helpful.
I don't know what company your sister tested with but her results should suffice. What I would do is contact the closest matches from her test and see if they have Irish connections on your Greer/Conboy line. Maybe you will find someone who has a tree on Ancestry or some other site that has more info on the origins of your family in Ireland.
Roger
Thank you for that helpful advice.
Gary Greer