Sherlocks and Kearns of Dublin Ireland

Hi Ellen,

I am interested in your research of the William Sherlock and wife Teresa Kearns family.

I have a 3rd GGrandfather Robert Sherlock who immigrated to Canada in the early 1830's, married a widow from Dublin named Maria Rachel Dunn nee Bolton.  They named their first born son William but, unfortunatley none of the daughters was named Teresa - not that they had to stick to the native naming tradition.

As per my post on 28 Oct 2017, I am trying to find the birthplace of my Robert.  Canadian census records and his death registration suggest Robert was born in Ireland circ 1811.

Would you be willing to share whatever details you have uncovered regarding William and Teresa to see if I can rule in/out a connection to my Robert?

Best,

Kevin Sherlock

Auckland (but born and raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)

ps how did you get on trying to find more details regarding your Catherine Sherlock?

Hi, Kevin (and Roger if this response goes to both who responed to my post) -

I haven't gotten any further with the William & Teresa Kearns Sherlock family.  I suspect, unless I hear from a 'relative' who has proof, only a marriage certificate or DNA match can prove a relationship to this family.  

I have done DNA testing with multiple companies:  the original National Geographic project which got transferred to Ancestry.com (I then paid for an upgraded DNA test), 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA.  Also posted results to GedMatch.com. Both autosomal and MtDNA tests. Catherine Sherlock is my direct maternal ancestor, so her Haplo group is also mine.  While I've gotten hundreds of matches, and some people have even responded to my inquiries, there is a missing gap we haven't been able to fill.  FYI, there weren't all that many direct descendants to start with, let alone who are searching other than the 1/2 dozen or so that I knew about before the DNA testing.   I have the family fairly well documented once they came to America.

What intrigues me, Kevin, is your Ontartio immigrant.  Hugh & Catherine supposedly met in England (London); eloped in 1828, son Hugh born in England.  They immigrated to TORONTO ONTARIO IN EARLY 1830's (!!). Hugh was a merchant at 38 Yonge Street in York.   Mary Ann born about 1833, my great grandmother, Elizabeth born March 1835 in Toronto.  Baptised at St Paul Catholic Basilica on April 3, 1835.  Other children: James, Catherine, Joseph, Frances Philomena, and unnamed girl.  Unnamed girl's birthplace unknown; other children all born in Dubuque, Iowa. 

FYI, FindaGrave has some of these people on their (free) website:  Careful, someone has posted that Catherine Sherlock Treanor was born in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland with an exact birth date. I believe the date and birth place to be totally unfounded. Husband Hugh was born in Northern Ireland, County Down per his tombstone. But then his tombstone possibly doesn't even have his correct birth date!  The name Treanor was 'fairly' common in Kilkeel in Down, but I have yet to proof, my clan hailed from there.  And I have found very few Sherlocks in all of NI. 

I wish FaG would be more responsible about insisting on proof or at least, post info as 'not confirmed'.  

Family folklore said Catherine was living with aunt and uncle in London when she met Hugh (she was shopping for her trousseau to marry some old duffer - a sea captain) when she met Hugh who was working as a draper in the linen shop.

Have you or any any female (Sherlock) relatives had their DNA done?  Maybe we could prove/disprove a relationship. You are my best lead in 20+ years. I am happy to share what I have if you'd like.  There are some very interesting stories!

Ellen (born in Dubuque Iowa, now living in Virginia USA)

 

Hi, Kevin (and Roger if this response goes to both who responed to my post) -

I haven't gotten any further with the William & Teresa Kearns Sherlock family.  I suspect, unless I hear from a 'relative' who has proof, only a marriage certificate or DNA match can prove a relationship to this family.  

I have done DNA testing with multiple companies:  the original National Geographic project which got transferred to Ancestry.com (I then paid for an upgraded DNA test), 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA.  Also posted results to GedMatch.com. Both autosomal and MtDNA tests. Catherine Sherlock is my direct maternal ancestor, so her Haplo group is also mine.  While I've gotten hundreds of matches, and some people have even responded to my inquiries, there is a missing gap we haven't been able to fill.  FYI, there weren't all that many direct descendants to start with, let alone who are searching other than the 1/2 dozen or so that I knew about before the DNA testing.   I have the family fairly well documented once they came to America.

What intrigues me, Kevin, is your Ontartio immigrant.  Hugh & Catherine supposedly met in England (London); eloped in 1828, son Hugh born in England.  They immigrated to TORONTO ONTARIO IN EARLY 1830's (!!). Hugh was a merchant at 38 Yonge Street in York.   Mary Ann born about 1833, my great grandmother, Elizabeth born March 1835 in Toronto.  Baptised at St Paul Catholic Basilica on April 3, 1835.  Other children: James, Catherine, Joseph, Frances Philomena, and unnamed girl.  Unnamed girl's birthplace unknown; other children all born in Dubuque, Iowa. 

FYI, FindaGrave has some of these people on their (free) website:  Careful, someone has posted that Catherine Sherlock Treanor was born in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland with an exact birth date. I believe the date and birth place to be totally unfounded. Husband Hugh was born in Northern Ireland, County Down per his tombstone. But then his tombstone possibly doesn't even have his correct birth date!  The name Treanor was 'fairly' common in Kilkeel in Down, but I have yet to proof, my clan hailed from there.  And I have found very few Sherlocks in all of NI. 

I wish FaG would be more responsible about insisting on proof or at least, post info as 'not confirmed'.  

Family folklore said Catherine was living with aunt and uncle in London when she met Hugh (she was shopping for her trousseau to marry some old duffer - a sea captain) when she met Hugh who was working as a draper in the linen shop.

Have you or any any female (Sherlock) relatives had their DNA done?  Maybe we could prove/disprove a relationship. You are my best lead in 20+ years. I am happy to share what I have if you'd like.  There are some very interesting stories!

Ellen (born in Dubuque Iowa, now living in Virginia USA)

 

Hi Ellen,

Thanks for getting back to me.

Very interesting that your Kearns/Sherlock family was in Toronto in the 1830's.

My Robert and Maria were married there on 14 Feb 1835, had a parcel of land north of Toronto near Lake Simcoe and then saw themselves to Niagara-on-the-Lake (my hometown).

I have been building a family tree on Ancestry (KevinSherlock53) for the past five years and took an AncestryDNA test in 2016.

I have uploaded my Ancestry raw data to MyHeritage and also plan on doing an upload to GEDMatch.

This past weekend I ordered a Y-DNA kit from Family Tree DNA and have joined their Ireland Project in the hope that I can find a home town for my Robert.

This past weekend we had a Family History Expo in Auckland and I was able to take in six lectures.  The DNA side of things really interests me - even though it is a lot to get your head around!

I am still digesting all that I took in on the weekend so haven't really had time to process the details that you have posted.

That said, I find it very intriguing about Robert and Catherine being in York (Toronto) about the same time and would like to carry on sharing details with you.

I'm thinking that it might be easier to carry on via email.  If that works for you, I am at k.sherlock@xtra.co.nz

Looking forward to having a closer look at the information that you have provided. I too have not had anyone Sherlock-related to really compare notes with and, therefore, look forward to hearing from you again.

Best,

Kevin