Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Have you tried looking at church records in Kilmacrenan to see if you can find Samuel and Elizabeth?s marriage record and possibly their birth records?
Do you know the family?s religious denomination?
Unfortunately, copies of Catholic records for the area only start in 1862, you can see this at the Irish Times website:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Donegal&parish=Kilmacrennan&churchid=1021
However, you could try writing to the local parish priest to see if the originals go back further.
For information on Church of Ireland records check: http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/.
There are some records available online also at www.familysearch.org and www.rootsireland.ie (please note that you have to pay to use the latter website)
You could also check for record of the family in the land acts pertaining to Ireland in the 19th century. There are two:
The Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1838) found at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp
and Griffith?s Valuation (1848-1864) found at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Some other websites that you may find useful are:
The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/
The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx
The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/
The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm
The Library & Archives of Canada - http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/index-e.html
Genealogy links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/donegal/index.html
Alternatively, you could contact Donegal Ancestry Centre for assistance- a fee may apply. Herre are their contact details:
Donegal Ancestry Centre,
The Quay,
Ramelton,
Co. Donegal.
Phone: +353 (0) 74 9151266 Email: info@donegalancestry.com
I hope this is helpful. Please be patient - as our programme has only begun to rollout across the island of Ireland and volunteers in some areas may not yet be organized.
Best of luck with your research!
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
