I am researching the family of Ellen McClusky, sent to Australia in 1849 as part of the Potato Famine Orphans programme. She appears to have been born at Tara, Co Meath around 1831; had a younger sister Catherine also sent to Australia and was sent on the ship William and Mary. If anyone can give me a lead to her parents (Michael and Mary) or other possible relative it would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Raymond,
I searched baptisms/births on www.rootsireland.ie/ for Ellen McCluskey in Meath born 1831 + - 10 years but got no matches.
I also tried Catherine but got no matches.
However, when I searched all counties I got matches for both Catherine and Ellen; there were 4 Ellens (2 in 1830 & 2 in 1831) and 4 Catherines 1 in 1832 2 in 1833 and 1 in 1834.
I notice all the family trees on ancestry have Ellen's birth in Meath but none gives the source of this information. Is it set in stone?
Enjoy your travels.
Col
Hi Col,
Thank you for the quick reply. My original information did prove sketchy, but based on the shipping record (which I posted when posting the message) Ellen and Catherine were both listed as "Terragh Co Meath" as place of origin. I could only find Tara Co Meath, which corresponded to another family members research (Kay Purnell), as she had done much more than I on Ellen I therefore trusted her research. However looking at Ellen's death certificate it lists her place of birth as Dublin and her fathers name as Clusky. Copy of death Cert. is now uploaded also.
To add to the confusion on the shipping records her surname is given as McCluskey (note added e). All in all from the Australian end it is difficult to trace.
Hope this may help a little.
Regards
Ray