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Fairclough/Feirclough/Faircloth

CavanBailieborough (Cavan)

I am interested to find any information relating to an ancestor Mervyn Fairclough, born 8 Dec 1824.  (Both first and last names have several spelling variants.)  We had believed that he was born in Drutamon.  But we know that he was married, in a Presbyterian ceremony, on 8 Jan 1848 in Bailieborough.  (His name was recorded as Fairlough.)  At the time he was recorded as residing in "Durtamin."  We believe this to be  Drutamy, near Bailieborough, and there may/may have been some mistranscribing of "Drutamon" for "Drutamy/Durtami." in subsequent records.  Adding weight to the idea that he was born in (or at least moved to) Drutamy is the fact that his bride, Sarah Henry, resided in "Graghadiff", believed to be Greaghaduff which is very close to Drutamy. Given the marriage in Bailieborough I wondered if his family may have been members of the Presbyterian congregation there.

Mervyn's father was recorded as Francis.  His mother may have been Mary Crawford and he may have had a sister Ann Faircloth (sic.) born in 1820 in Ballyjamesduff.  Mervyn migrated to Australia in 1849.  (Sadly, his wife died on the voyage.)  Ann, his presumed sister, migrated to Australia in 1840.  At the time of her arrival both parents were reported to be dead.  Thanking you.  Arthur Tansley.

IrelandXO member

3 replies

Hi Arthur,

 

I will try and help you,

 

There is a Robert Henry in Drutamon see attached link, in 1833

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

A John Henry is in Greaghaduff here

http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/results.jsp?…

Henry / McHenry turns up 47 times in 1901 Census, varying religions in Co Cavan & they are in a few clusters.

First name Mervyn would be used mainly in Presbyterian or Church of Ireland families.

Crawfords on the census are here http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=19…

I did not have great luck with the name Fairclough, but this is what is in all of Ireland in 1901

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=19…

It is not a common name so you should be able to narrow down the search.

Perhaps start & look for the death of Francis Fairclough, hopefully he died after 1864, I usually guess that a parent is around 30 when child is born, which would take him into his 70's.

Civil registration records are available from the General Register Office (GRO). These start from 1864. You can access the website here:http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm Or you might try Valuations office in Dublin (http://www.valoff.ie) which will have a record of the land registry from 1855 to modern times. This will assist in seeing what happened to any land the familymay have owned (as it usually passed on to a relation).

You could also try contacting the Cavan Co Library for further assistance.

Cavan Genealogy,
1st floor,
Johnston Central Library,
Farnham Street,
Cavan Town,
County Cavan.
Tel: +353 (0)49 4361094
Fax: +353 (0)49 4331494
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net

Do let me know if you have any success.  Regards Carmel

 

Bailieborough CavanIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Carmel

Thank you very much for your advice.  Unfortunately, we believe that both Francis and wife Mary were dead by 1840.  The landing record of Ann Faircloth (sic.), Mervyn's presumed sister, recorded that both parents were dead when she arrived in Australia in 1840.  However, I am actually visiting Cavan later this month - hopefully including a side trip to Bailieborough - and will look to pursue my enquiries further with the genealogy centre.  Again, many thanks.  Arthur Tansley

IrelandXO member

Hi Arthur

My name is Brendon Fairclough and I am a direct descendant of the Mervyn Fairclough who I think was the one you were researching a few years back.

I was looking for some information going back to Mervyns family in Ireland and was wondering how your research was going and if I could provide you with any information.

Kind Regards

Ben Fairclough 

IrelandXO member

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