I am searching for information regarding my Great Grandmother, Sarah Jane Leslie, who I believe was born in Mallaun in 1856 and travelled to New Zealand with her brother John. Her father was John Leslie who married a lady named Margaret Harper in Dromara, Down, on Jan 20th 1847 but I don't know what year or where John Snr was born.
Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Have you tried looking at church records in Kilronan for more information? Most Catholic records are held locally so you may need to write to the local parish priest for possible assistance. One website that you may find useful is the Irish Times where they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. It also shows you where copies of the records are available. For Kilronan parish, follow this link:
As you can see from the above link Roscommon Heritage and Genealogical Centre have copies. Here is their email if you would like to contact them, however a fee may apply: info@roscommonroots.com
You could also try looking at church records in Down. Perhaps if you can find her father?s marriage certificate ift may give you some more information on him.
Civil registration began in Ireland in 1864 so any births, deaths or marriages in the family after this date would be recorded in these records. Civil records are available from the General Register?s Office in Dublin. Here is their website:
http://www.groireland.ie/research.htm
You can search the indexes to these records up to 1958 online at:
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1408347
Have you tried looking in Griffith's Valuation? this is a property valuation that was carried out in Ireland 1848-64. There were no Leslie households recorded in Co. Roscommon, however a few were recorded in Dromara, Down.
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
Family Search: www.familysearch.org
Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/index.html
Historic Grave: www.historicgraves.ie
Irish Newspaper Archives: http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/
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.
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support
Sarah Jane Leslie married Charles Sutton in Blenheim NZ