Thomas Duffy and Brigid McArdle

Hi Christine & Miriam, I have visitors currently as the Fleadh Ceoil is here in Drogheda and I am entertaining my friends of old. I have been gathering the certs for the children Miriam identifed to locate the area they lived at the time, it appears to me the graveyard is probably St Bridgids of Faughart which I think is also Kilcurry and Bridge A Crinn, a lot of graveyards are transcribed but I do not have that one, the website for there has been hijacked, Old Casltetown has been transcribed in 1922 I think so would only have Bridget if she is there, it is on your left as you go out the Castletown road from Dundalk, still in the town boundary. The library in Dundalk has the research section where these books are kept and you can email them or view the catoaogue online. The website Miriam sent has them abbreviated beside the name.

The address of Bridget McArdle is Lurgankeel or Lurgankiel, you can see the areas on this site which shows you were the townland is and it may be possible to locate the plot they lived on in the 1850s but I will return to it. There is a private Facebook page called Louth Genealogy and another mainly photos called Dundalk North End. https://www.townlands.ie 

Based on the assumption Thomas would be buried with Bridget I cross referenced the deaths of them both with that name from transcribed graveyards (not all transcribed) so you can see the graveyards with the matches, you could be doing a lot of walking.

 

Duffy Bridget, Knockbridge, HKb   /  Duffy Thomas, Knockbridge,  HKb

Duffy Bridget, Bridge-A-Crin  Old), FHPPS  /   Duffy Thos., Bridge-A-Crin (Old), FHPPS

Duffy Bridget, Darver Old Graveyard, MICHDVR

Duffy Bridget Ann, Castletown, Dundalk, CGD / Duffy Thomas, Castletown, Dundalk, CGD

Duffy Bridget [McEntegart], Castletown, Dundalk, CGD assume maiden name in brackets

Duffy Bridget [McGuinness], Castletown, Dundalk, CGD assume maiden name in brackets.

Duffy Brigid, Haggardstown (Old), H&B Duffy Thomas, Haggardstown (Old), H&B

Duffy Thomas, Kilsaran, HK

Duffy Thomas, Fochart, CLAHS

Duffy Thomas, Haggardstown (Old), H&B

Duffy Thomas, Kilcurry, FHPPS

Duffy Tom Ju., Dunbin, HKb

As an aside my mothers maiden name was Thomas, assume your Thomas is not from the west of Ireland.

Regards
Pat

 

 

Hi Christine, my Thomas came to Galway circa 1650 or at least I see the name mentioned in some non genealogical records and a voters list in 1728, no direct link but an unusual name for the west of Ireland, I was in the Manuscripts earlier this year and came across the registered coat of arms for Thomas, they allowed me take a photo but on strict condition I would use it publically.

I downloaded all the births as per Miriams list and the number born listed on the 1911 census. Plus the marriage, mainly to see the addresses at birth and if you check the actual baptism you can see the witnesses etc. The registers are here and you can look at the map to see the parishes and there are Faughart; Ballymascanlon which is in Lordship parish and Dundalk parish.  https://registers.nli.ie/ 

I also notice on the census that Thomas was a labourer and then domestic, this could explain why it is difficult to locate a family on Griffiths Valuation, are you familiar with this resource from the 1850s. There are McArdle and Duffy families but not Pat, it is mainly heads of house and a map of where they were living then, ask if you want some guidance, it is free on the website Ask About Ireland but I understand the maps on that site are from the 1800a but the earlier ones are available too. 

You should also consider that there may not be a headstone if the family could not afford one, the main graveyard on the north side of Dundalk is the one I assume the cousins took you too, I still think he would be buried with his wife, I could ask for the reference books to be sent to Drogheda but they then might still be here when you go looking so leave it to you. There should not be an issue to visit the library, it is more or less in the centre of Dundalk opposite the courthouse, new entrance beside a church.  While perusing the civil records online I came across the marriage of the man who died in 1937, she was from Dowdallshill which is in the same area. 

It is possible the Castletown graveyard is closed but there appears to be a small gate in from the Castletown road. The county Louth history society have been producing journals since 1904 and they are available on the academic site J Stor, subscription required but not expensive. Another avenue Miriam mentioned that may have a death notice is the newpapers both local and national, pre 1921 the British Newspaper Archive is best but later the Irish Newspaper Archive is good, both are subscription but you can join for a short period.

Feel free to follow up Christine I have some historical stuff if that interests you, also about 10 miles from where they lived there was a number of murders in 1816 I think and there is a book and Netflix film done locally a few years ago, Wildgoose Lodge Murders, I enjoy doing local history around ancestors areas.

Regards

Pat

 

 

Hi Christine, hope it is fun for you indeed, oddly I have ancestors from around Belturbert myself, Callaghan and Erwin, have had a lady on from the US telling me I have native Americans cousins on that line I think, have many odd names from Cavan. Your ancestor from Cavan is not listed on the Down Survey of people that got land during our plantation period in the 1600s. Presbyterians moved to Ireland for religious freedom from England / Scotland, however these freedoms were curtailed in Ireland too at a later stage and they went to the US, so called Scotch Irish, there is a museum in Northern Ireland called the Ulster Folk Park for these people, it is not too far from Cavan in Fermanagh, see https://www.nmni.com/our-museums/ulster-american-folk-park/Home.aspx I ahve never been there but an American neighbour from Nevada tells me he enjoyed it. I also searched the Registry of Deeds Project, https://irishdeedsindex.net/index.php a volunteer group transcribing land records, it became possible to register land in the 1700s and see a number on Ingham entries, the last one is from Cavan, Templeport area beside Belturbert in 1814, I have attached the extract it is very little but names townlands where Ingham's had land, there is a website on the area but they were obliged to remove death records etc by the local churches I was told but you may see something of interest.http://www.bawnboy.com/History-Heritage-Folklore/index.html 

Kilmessan is in Meath as you know and the old railway station is I am told a lovely restaurant, not sure of its opening hours but you need not go hungry while there, here is a link to it in case you want to plan a stop https://www.stationhousehotel.ie/history.html defaulted to history section but click home.

The Tithe Applotments were a tax levied to support the Church of Ireland between 1824 and 1838 and there are Ingham entries but not real assistance excepth they are in Annagh parish which is near Belturbert and also Drumgoon which is a parish better known as Cootehill (Lord Coote was the main man back in the day). http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/index.jsp 

Our national mapping service is here https://www.osi.ie/products/professional-mapping/historical-mapping/

Good Luck Christine and do'nt overdo the fun!!!

 

 

Hi Christine, a late update, I have been deleting my email notifications and reading over the queries and replies before doing so. I notice you mention a Belturbet ancestor and I have one from nearby too, so keep an eye on historical stuff to areas my ancestors most likely caused trouble in, anyway I see here they are publishing a book on the foundation of the place and you can order it here, I have done so but it will be later in the year when it is published, the meaning of the name where you see Bel is from the Gaelic Beal for mouth, so the mouth of turbert. https://www.fourcourtspress.ie/welcome/ the catologue is on the right hand side of the page. It is on page 24. 

You are lucky you visited last year as it appears we are all stuck where we live for a bit now.

Regards

Pat