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Seeking Butterly family, Togher County Louth

Good Day

I have been actively seeking an Irish connection formy Canadian Irish family. We are currently over 150 Butterly dependents of Bridget Butterly born in Togher parish in the late 1870's.

My Great Grandmother worked in Harrogate, England where she met and married my Great Grandfather Patrick Guckian.The married couple set sail for the new world but I have never located the record.

I have travelled to Ireland in search of my family but sadly I was only able to locate the grave stones of those who passed before us in an old grave yard in Togher before I had get on a plane home.

If you are a Butterly or know any Butterly's please contact me. We have no contact with our Irish family: it is told that Bridget was the oldest of 15 children so we must have a very large family..... Just waiting to connect. In the past I also attempted to connect through the special "Gathering" project launched a few years ago. I have written genealogy libraries, parishes, groupsetc. and I still have not connected to my living Butterly family.

I'm really looking forward to meeting you...... With love from Bridget on behalf of your 150+ Irish Canadian Aunts, Uncles and Cousins

b-macdon@hotmail.com

15 replies

Can you give us Bridget’s parents names? Her father’s name should be on her marriage certificate which I see was registered in Knaresborough Apr – Jun 1907 Volume 9a page 223. If you don’t have it already, you can get a copy of that from the GRO in Southport, Lancs for £9.25p.

I see what might be her in the 1901 census at 2 Claremount Villas, Clarendon Rd, Leeds. “General Servant domestic” to the Anell family. Age 20 so born c 1881.

There were 3 Bridget Butterly births in Co Louth around 1881 but the nearest is one registered in Ardee Jan – Mar 1880 Volume 2, page 416. But you need her father’s name from her marriage or death certificate to confirm it’s the right one.

With that information and her townland in Louth it should be possible to pick up her family in the 1901 & 1911 censuses.

The Togher baptism registers show a Bridget Margaret Butterly bapt on 8.1.1880 to Mathew Butterly and Ann Cooney. The townland is hard to read though it looks to be Skeaghmore.  So that seems to be this family in 1901:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Drumcar/Skeaghmore/1565589/

 and in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Drumcar/Skeaghmore/649352/

If that is the right family, Mathew died 7.12.1906 and his will was probated on 11.12.1907. There should be a copy of that in the National Archives in Dublin.

 

 

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Good Afternoon Elwyn

I am so excited to connect. I do have the additional information for both Bridget & Patrick's fathers (Thomas & William)  and have located census info from the 1901 and 1911. My Grandmother was the first born child to Bridget & Patrick, she was born in December 1907 in Toronto,  Ontario, Canada. 

We never had any contact with our Irish family after their migration, we literally don't even have their siblings names and all info we do have is delivered in a heresy manner followed with an I  think by the family story teller.  As well Bridget & Patrick changed their surname..... to Hackett and first generation never knew/never told - an there is no documentation just stories. 

So they came to Canada, I have never been able to locate their immigration or shipping date or year. My aunt & I located a record of Bridget arriving via Ellis Island with some of her children from Ireland at which time using census records we guess she returned home when her father Thomas may have died. 

After over 100 years we still do not have any relatives to connect with, to learn the real story that may have disconnected us so very ago. I have a family tree that tracks over 150 Hackett decendents from 1876 - 2016, all from the arrival of a poor Irish couple in Toronto Canada.

Elwyn, I  am typing this on a tablet, it's quite challenging so I will send this note now and sign in on my laptop. I will continue in an additional note and hope a relative also sends me note. 

I'm not sure how much info you can direct me to, this is first response I've had so I am uber excited....... Over 20 years I've worked on this in my spare time. 

Thank you. Thank you Thank you Have a beautiful day.  Sincerely Bridget 

b-macdon@hotmail.com

Hi Bridget

 

the online phonebook gives 10 hits for Butterly in Ardee including some in Togher, be sure to select residential, see

http://www.eirphonebook.ie/ addresses are given and you may wish to write. The area has a lot of Cooneys.

An interesting Louth site is here http://www.jbhall.freeservers.com/

Regards

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Bridget,

I should also have asked what Bridget’s father’s occupation was as per her marriage cert, and also whether her father was noted as deceased? But anyway, here’s the only Thomas Butterly, of an age to be her father, who was married and RC, in Co Louth in the 1901 census. He was a farmer.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Louth/Dysart/Ballynagrena/1569835/

This doesn’t mean it’s Bridget’s family. Just that it’s the only one I have found who is alive and fits the other information you gave. Same family in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Dysart/Ballynagrena/573821/

The above family appear to be Thomas Butterly who married Rose Murphy. Their marriage was registered in Drogheda 1877 Vol 12, page 434. Their marriage is in the Togher RC marriage records for 11.9.1877 but you’ll get more detail from the civil marriage cert eg father’s names, so you might want to order it.

Going back to the birth records, Ballynagrena falls within Drogheda’s registration area. There’s just 1 Bridget birth there around the time we are interested in. So that’s Jul-Sept 1878 Volume 2, page 481. I looked in the Togher baptism records and sure enough there is a Bridget baptised to Thomas & Rose on 19.8.1878. So she was their first born child.

The above Thomas Butterly appears to have died in Apr – Jun 1910, Drogheda Vol 2, page 352, aged 66. Does that match with the journey you found in Ellis Island, when you think she was returning from her father’s funeral?

So this doesn’t prove that this is your Bridget’s family, just that the information may fit. In particular it’s important to know whether Thomas is recorded as a farmer on the Knaresborough marriage certificate? Was he alive at that time (it’ll say deceased or dcd after his name if dead)?  Do you have any documentation that records Bridget’s date of birth (ie around mid August 1878)? The date in the church record is her baptism date. She was probably born a few days before that. Her civil birth cert should have the actual date. Do you have anything that gives her mother’s maiden name? Did she name any of her children Thomas or Rose, or nay of her siblings names?

Ballynagrena is down a minor road to the east of Dunleer. You’ll be interested to know that a Sean Butterly is listed in the current phone book, living there today.  (Pat’s given you the link to the phone book in the post above this). If writing to him, the address would be Sean Butterly, Ballynagrena, Dunleer, Co. Louth, Ireland.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Good Afternoon Elwyn and Pat

Thank you so very kindly for all your assistance, I am beyond excited about connecting, verifying my records and being given the opportunity to find my Irish roots.

I would like to apologize for my earlier posts as they were composed on my new tablet and some sentences, words and information were omitted or changed; I am now on my laptop.

To verify some details from my records;

  • Bridget’s parents were Thomas Butterly & Rose Murphy – Louth records acquired Dundalk 2004
  • Louth Marriage record; Thomas Butterly- Milltown & Rose Murphy – Annagassan – 11-09-1877
  • 1901/1911 Census list Rose Murphy’s birth location as County Meath – Just found that!
  • Louth Baptism record; Bridget Butterly – Gallagh – Togher Parish – born/baptised 19-08-1878
  • I recently received a copy of Bridget & Patrick’s marriage record in Knaresborough which my Aunt located.
  • Thomas Butterly is listed as a Farmer on Bridget’s marriage record and Rose Butterly as her Witness
  • Bridget travelled to Ireland, returning via Ellis Island in the Spring of 1910 with her first 2 children; Mary (age 4) and Rose (age 1) which lines up with Thomas Butterly’s death in 1910

Elwyn, with respect, may I ask a question about Bridget & Patrick’s marriage record. Although I have a copy of the entry and have studied it with a magnifying glass as well as printing zoom text to verify the date - is it 1904 or 1907. I have also done the math but do not want to be incorrect regarding a sensitive topic from 1900 -

This could be the reason Bridget & Patrick migrated to Canada, changed their name and never connected the families – My Grandmother Mary Catherine Hackett was born in Canada in December of 1907.

This could also be the reason I have never been able to locate any travel records for either Bridget or Patrick.

Can you tell me why there are no Butterly’s that show up in the earlier Census records? I keep running into the same road block; County Louth is not listed so I searched some of the most likely County’s but am unable to locate any. Can you tell me the name of the area in the earlier census’ ?

I have a list of some of Bridget’s siblings but I have no dates of birth that would assist me in locating additional relatives. I see a 4 year gap between Bridget & her brother Peter and wonder if there are other children between them or if they passed. I noted on some Census the # of children born/living are listed but not all. Can you give me any suggestions for these dilemmas? I have just read that the census following 1911 will not be released until 2027.

As suggested I am writing a snail mail letter to Sean Butterly of Ballynagrena.

I am unable to locate the full record of Bridget’s entry in Leeds for the 1901 Census.

I seem to be unable to access the eirphonebook.ie link from any of my gadgets to search for the 10 Butterly hits in Ardee, including Togher that Pat sent me. I also searched independently of the link and it does not seem to be accessible.

I am eager to learn the names of the next generation working backwards of course, and can’t thank you enough for all the information that has inspired me to pick up my favourite hobby again. I now have over 175 Descendents of Bridget & Patrick.

Sincerely

Bridget

b-macdon@hotmail.com

Good Morning

Thank  you to those who have assisted me. Recently I received information from Irelandxo with tips for searching for your relatives. I went through the email and located areas to search for my Irish Grandparents, using the National Archives search engine I am unable to locate records for Bridget Butterly or Thomas Butterly.

This continues to be my dilema throughout my experience in searching for over 20 years; "There are no records that match"!

I signed up with Irelandxo because I do not seem to know what I'm doing or I am approaching my searches with the wrong information but I have come up empty handed, again!

How is it even possible that there are no records for Thomas Butterly?

Can someone please pass me tips or info to assist me. I am attempting to locate living relatives for my trip to Ireland.

Also, I don't seem to be able to find a link to create a NEW post as I have not had any replies to my most recent postings

Thank you kindly

Bridget

b-macdon@hotmail.com

Bridget

Irish records are scare, firstly civil records for catholics commenced in 1864 so all BMDs after this should be available providing they were properly registered. If you search here http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ when you select civil records you will find a number of Thomas Butterlys in Louth but not a lot of other information. Short versions of certificates can be purchased here https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx you will have to down load forms and write but if you supply an email they will send them that way but you must send the money in some format, be sure to ask for the short version which is a copy of the register entry only and costs €4 as against €20 for the long version but the same information.

Other than that you have to hope the baptisms were registered and available, they are now online here but to have it easy you need to know the date, http://registers.nli.ie/ togher is in Louth but for church purposes it is in the diocese of Armagh so do not be put off by see Armagh. Only the two full census are surviving for 1901 and 1911, you are correct in stating the 2016 census will not be released until the 100 years are gone despite previous promises to do so.

The phone company here recently changed their name to Eir so Google Eir Phonebook but here is the link again http://m.eirphonebook.ie/ I see it starts with m.eirphonebook.ie/ 

Togher is still a very rural area.

Regards

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Pat, Thank you so kindly for you assistance, I really appreciate your help.

and.....so sorry but I am completely unable to access any of Ireland's phone service on-line from Canada. I have tried multiple computers and multiple search but keep coming up with no data returned error message. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. Also, I don't seem to be receiving email's advising me that a post has been left for me...

I have taken Elwyn's advise and written to a Butterly living at the same address as my GG's, still have my fingers crossed that I might hear back from them.

This is such a wonderful way to connect, learn to research properly with all the links and info provided by your wonderful volunteers and genealogy enthusiasts.

If I may add a lesson I learned; I signed up for a free weekend at My Heritage and have been charge almost $200 for a years subscription to their services BECAUSE it was up to me to CANCEL my subscription that I did not sign up for - you are required to register when using their free weekend services - IN CANADA - this is illegal so it did not occur to me.....just an FYI for other enthusiasts.

Thank you again for all your assistance.

Bridget

b-macdon@hotmail.com

Bridget Hello and hope you had a nice Easter. If you email me at stpeters@irelandxo.com I will see if I can copy and paste the page. I was reading back over your email and see the name Hackett which has been in the news here recently from that time, a new bridge across the Liffey was named the Rosie Hackett Bridge after a lady who fought for workers rights and in our revolution of 1916 called the Rising currently been commerated here with gusto. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Hackett If you are interested.

Regards

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

Bridget if you email me at  togherlady@yahoo.com  i have some information regarding the butterly family of Bridget as i think we could be related looking foward to hearing from you soon, take care.

 

IrelandXO member

My father's original name was Kenneth Butterly and was adpopted by his aunt and uncle, changing his name to Weymouth. My grandfather was Peter James Butterly, born ( I believe) in Dublin. They eventually moved to Brooklyn, NY. H=My grandmother's name was Teresa Kenny. 

 

chrisweymouth1…

Hi there,
I have just come across this thread today, 10th of August, 2020....so I really hope the message gets read.
My name is Michele Fox, my mother's name is Fionnuala Butterly. Her father was Thomas Butterly of the Gallagh, married to Catherine Mcguiness. Thomas father was Thomas Butterly who was married to Rose Murphy so they were my great grandparents. I would love to make contact. My mum has a photograph of Bridget in the sitting room, with a large gorgeus family. Lots of love from all of us and would love to meet however it's possible in these covid days. Lots of Butterly family in Carlingford/Clogherhead/Dundalk....hope you see this XXX

bellshell87@yahoo.ie

Dear Butterly Cousin

Hello! From Canada!

Michele ~ I believe we are definitely Cousins ~ sharing Grandparents and family through Thomas & Rose.

I have sent you an email recently, hoping you locate my messages. Sorry for the delay, we only discovered your message board post recently.

My Grandmother is Bridget Butterly, first born Daughter of Thomas & Rose and oldest Sister to Thomas. In Canada we are aware of Bridget’s strong love for Thomas and a story that she wanted to adopt Thomas’ children when he passed away at a young age ~ she was prepared to adopt 4 children and bring them to Canada to join our family.

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story ~ I am excited to know what photograph your Mother Fionnuala has hanging in her sitting room ~ we are a very large family ~ descending from Bridget & Patrick.

My Grandmother was also born at Gallagh and we have Butterly family living there still, thank you to Elwyn IrelandXO volunteer who provided me with this information. I wrote to the Family and connected with Daniel Butterly for some time but have sadly lost connection with him since. I have been unable to reach him so I will write another letter and mail it to Ireland in hopes I can re-establish a connection.

We have a few family members here that are eager amateur genealogist trying to reconnect with our Irish Family and family history. When Bridget & Patrick emigrated to Canada in 1907 we eventually lost all contact and connections with our family and minimal knowledge was passed along ~ we didn’t know the area or our Grandparents names.

Over the years my Aunt & I have located some information, my Aunt has completed her DNA and has a Family Tree on Ancestry. We are slowly filling in the missing family pieces but we don’t have a direct connection with our Irish Butterly Family ~ we lost our connection over 100 years ago and we are so eager to connect and learn our family story.

When we started this journey so many years ago, I never dreamed we could ever connect & meet each other…..this is so wonderful.

Love from Your Canadian Irish Family

XO Bridget XO

b-macdon@hotmail.com

Dear TogherLady

Hoping to connect with you. I have email you directly a few times over the years since we posted on the board.

I am eager to connect with you regarding the Butterly family, the Murphy family as well as determine the family name of Thomas Butterly's Mother. I am also trying to locate the names of Thomas's siblings.

Looking forward to connecting.

Bridget

b-macdon@hotmail.com

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