Hello! First, thank you for taking my message. I have been trying to find where in Ireland where my ancestor Sarah Hunter is from. She was born around 1815 in Ireland. It was told to me that her parents were Robert Hunter and Sarah Stewart/Stuart.... Sarah Stewart/Stuart's parents were James Stewart and Margaret McFarlane if that helps the search.
Thank you for your time and assistance!
Miranda S.
Miranda,
You can use this website to see where the 2 surnames were most common in Ireland in the mid 1800s. Both are largely associated with the counties of Ulster, so that seems the area to focus your search.
https://www.johngrenham.com/surnames/
You haven’t said what denomination your ancestors were, but that is another important factor. I suspect they were Presbyterian or Church of Ireland (ie Episcopalian). If so that also points towards Ulster (being the area where most Protestants settled).
Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. 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 in conjunction with FTDNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price. http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).
Was Sarah Hunter married in Ireland? If so, around when and to whom?
Thank you for the information Elwyn.
Patricia,
I am not 100 percent sure Sarah Hunter was married in Ireland or the United States. I know she married in 1836 to another Irish immigrant who was from County Derry. All of Sarah Hunter's children were born in the United States. I strongly believe her and her family were Protestant. I did find a Sarah Hunter that was born around 1812 in County Antrim to a William and Sarah Hunter but the man she married was incorrect. If you need any other information please let me know.
Miranda S.
Finding records for someone born in Ireland in 1815 is not easy, especially if you don’t know where the person lived. Many churches didn’t keep records in the early 1800s and many Church of Ireland churches lost them in the 1922 fire in Dublin. Added to that is that many surviving church records are not on-line. (To access them you often need to go to PRONI in Belfast).
Hunter and Stewart are both very common names in Ulster. That doesn’t help either. Though it tends to confirm the area of Ireland your ancestors came from. But a very large area for all that.
If you can’t find any documentation in the US (eg a gravestone) with information on their place of origin, I suspect you’ll need to rely on DNA.
From what you have said, your ancestors were probably what in North America are called Scotch-Irish and which we in Ireland tend to call Ulster-Scots. So descendants of Scots who came to Ulster in the 1600s.
What was the husband's name? Her children's names?
Where did she live in US?
I know it has been difficult since the last names are common. DNA might be the best bet if I cannot find it through the paper trail.
Patricia,
Sarah Hunter's husband was actually mentioned by another relative of mine who I saw posted a question on this board earlier. His name was Peter Fee. The family lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and all their children were born there. William born 1837, Robert born 1838, Martha born 1841, Mary born 1843, Sarah born 1844, Rachel born 1849, Elizabeth born 1850, Margaret born 1852. Thank you again!
Miranda,
Have you looked at the marriage and death records? Place of origin and parents' names are sometimes included.
I recommend you also look at the baptismal records for each child. Last year I came across a baptismal record that said the parents were born in Co. Longford.
Finally, have you seen every census record that Sarah was recorded in? Sometimes you'll find relatives--say, her mother or sister. And occasionally the census lists the place of origin in Ireland.
Good luck.