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James Gallagher, son of Dennis and Helen (nee Ferrie)

Donegal

Hello,

I am looking for my Great great grandfather, James Gallagher from Donegal.According to his marriage registration, his father was Dennis Gallocher, a general labourer, and his mother's maiden name was Helen Ferrie. James married Annie Dougan at the Roman Catholic Chapel in Hamilton, Scotland 16 April 1874, noted as a 20 year old coal miner. From that I figure he was born around 1854.

The family lived in the Motherwell area until about 1885 after which time the marriage eventually broke up, Annie taking the 4 Gallagher children, Joseph, Mary, John and Annie, and entering into a lifetime relationshipwith FrancisDevine. Eventually they settled in Fife, then emigrated as a 3 generation family to NZ.

Mary was the only one to remain in Scotland, marrying Allan Wotherspoon in 1896 at Bellshill. On her marriage registration, her father is noted as James Gallacher, coal miner, deceased. Her mother as Annie Devine, formerly Gallacher, maiden name Dougan.

In 1888, Fanny Dougan, (nee Bonar), Annie's mother, noted in a Poor Relief Application that her son-in-law, James Gallagher, was back in Ireland with his family. At this time Annie was in Bathgate with all 4 children and heavily pregnant withFrank Devine's first child.

The Dougan family were also from Donegal. John Dougan, Annie's father was a farmer. In 1881 Fanny was head of her family at 40 Austine Street, Hamilton. James and Annie were living at 46 Austine Street Hamilton with 3 of their children.

In 1888, Fanny was noted in August on her Poor Relief Application, as a widow.

Fanny's eldest daughter married an O'Donnell and 2 more of her girls married Coyle boys.

My Mum is in her 80's now. She was raised as a Devine, as the Gallagher children of Annie and James, took on their step-father's name. She would dearly love to know what became of her real Great grandfather.

Gallagher is such a common name, and I don't knowwhere in Donegal his family actually lived.

Hopingsomeone out there might recognise the names and have more clues.

Cheers

Kerrie

kerriem

7 replies

Kerrie:

Welcome to ireland Reaching Out!

I checked on Roots Ireland but could not find a baptismal record for James or Anne. Co. Donegal RC church records start very late in general compared to other counties. 

My best guess based on the surnames: Ferry, Doogan and Bonar/Boner is that the families came from northwest Co. Donegal likely in one of these parishes: Templecrone, Tullaghobegley or Raymunterdoney.

Let me know if you have any questions. You may want to consider autosomal DNA testing.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

If James Gallagher was born c 1854, and dead by 1896, then he must have been 42 or less when he died. Though the name is pretty common in Ireland, when you narrow the search to deaths in Co Donegal 1888 – 1896, for people aged 42 or less, there were only 2. One died Jan – Mar 1891 aged 38 Donegal town (Vol 2, page 37). The other Apr – Jun 1893, aged 42, in Dunfanaghy (Vol 2, page 39). You might want to look at those 2 deaths to see if either fits your information. (He might have died in Scotland of course).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Col:

I had the same thought as Elwyn but had not done the analysis for death records. I looked up the 1893 record and it was for a bachelor. See below. The 1891 record was for a James Gallagher who was married to a Rose. He lived in Mount Charles which is west of Donegal Town. Maybe he was older than an 1854 year of birth or maybe as Elwyn indicated, he died in Scotland.

Roger

 

Name:JamesGallagherDate of Death:09-May-1893
Age:42Parish / District:GWEEDOREAddress:CotteenCounty:Co. DonegalStatus:Bachelor (Previously unmarried)Denomination:Civil RecordOccupation:SON OF A FARMERSex:Male

Name:JamesGallagherDate of Death:23-Jan-1891
Age:38Parish / District:MOUNTCHARLESAddress:MountcharlesCounty:Co. DonegalStatus:
Denomination:Civil RecordOccupation:CARMANSex:Male
GraveyardInformantGraveyard:
Relationship:WifeParish:
Name:Rose GallagherCounty:
Address:Mountcharles

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Roger and Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your help.

I have subscribed to Roots Ireland and will have a good look. 

It looks to me that there were quite a few fibs to save face, as there are discrepancies all the way through with Annie's age according to various Census. She had changed the date of her original wedding registration to match Francis Devine being her husband on birth registrations.

There were whispers that came down the line that James Gallagher was in strife and needed to escape Scotland, which is why I thought he may have stayed back in Ireland as his mother-in-law thought. I have been unable to find record of his death in Scotland to date.

Is it possible that even though he was listed as deceased on his daughter's Scottish marriage registration, he was perhaps still alive in Ireland in 1896? They wouldn't have to submit proof of a parent's death back then to have it written on the registration?

I am just waiting for an Ancestry DNA test result Roger. I don't think it will pick up exactly which parts of Ireland our ancestors lived, but perhaps if there are cousins still there who are on Ancestry and have had the DNA testing, that might help further.

Once again, thank you so much to you both,

Kerrie

kerriem

Kerrie:

When you get your Ancestry results, I would suggest you go to www.gedmatch.com  Gedmatch is a volunteer run web site where people can load their raw DNA data and see if you match someone who tested with another DNA testing company e.g Family Tree DNA. Gedmatch also has better analytical tools.

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

It's correct that the information on the marriage certificate was not supported by any documentation. The Registrar would just accept the informant's word that a parent was dead.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks Roger. I have also ordered a DNA kit for my Mum. She is very excited. That's really good to know about Gedmatch. 

And thanks Elwyn. That opens up a wider range for us to look into. 

kerriem

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