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McCaughan / McCachan

AntrimCraigs (Antrim)

My Great Grand Father James McCaughan married Mary Morrison on 6th December 1869 at Dunseverick C of I and went to live at Craigs. Both parties were illiterate and the mariage was registered as McCachan. Several births of this mairage were also registered as McCachan and others as McCaughan.

On the Marriage certificate James Father was recorged as Robert McCaughan / McCachan. I would like to know more of this person, my GGGrand Father.

DNA testing shows me as a close match to Frank McCaughan farmer Whit park road and Caausway road.Any information on these people would be greatly apprciated.

Jim McCaughan

IrelandXO member

5 replies

What was Robert McCaughan’s occupation, according to the 1869 marriage cert, and what was James’ townland?

To trace the family back you would need church records. Dunseverick Church of Ireland (COI) was built some time after 1811. Its records date from 1833 onwards. Prior to that the congregation attended Billy COI. However sll their records prior to these years were destroyed in the 1922 fire in Dublin. All that survives is the 1803 census and poor lists for 1790 and 1819 to 1843.

The 1803 census has 2 Robert M’Caghans listed. One in Templeastragh and the other in Currysheskin. Both were COI. The census is on this site, and contains some siblings etc.

http://billmacafee.com

 

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn, thank you for responding to my message and the information you have provided, I have yet to study it in detail. and will get back to you once I have done that.

I don't know James's Town land but he was listed on the marraiage cert as a servant. His farther was shown as a farmer.

Regards and Thanks.

Jim McCaughan

 

IrelandXO member

Jim,

I think you have the date of the marriage wrong. It’s 6th December 1859, and registered in Ballycastle (Moyle). You can view the original certificate on-line on the GRONI website, using the “search registrations” option:

https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk

You will need to open an account and buy some credits. It costs £2 (sterling) to a view a certificate.

If you look at the certificate and let me know the townland, we may be able to obtain a little more information as his father should be in Griffiths if he is a farmer. May be able to get his age and death.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Elwyn,

I have a copy of the certificate and the date was my mistake, I can only put that down to poor eyesight.

James residence is shown as Dunseverick.

I have been told that Robert is not in Griffiths, I have not been able to check myself. If that is the case I can only suggest that he perhaps was only a farm labourer.

Thank you for your interest and help.

Jim.

 

IrelandXO member

Jim,

Yes I have checked Dunseverick in Griffiths (1861) and can confirm Robert’s not listed. That could be because he was in a house of too low a value to be recorded, or he could have been lodging with someone else. Only heads of household were listed in Griffiths.

 

Agricultural workers are notoriously difficult to trace.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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