Riddle, Oliver born 1815 County Tyrone, moved to Canada about 1932

Hi Kathy,

Here is a little information about the Church of Ireland records:

Records of the Established Church, the Church of Ireland, generally start much earlier than those of the Catholic Church. From as early as 1634, local parishes were required to keep records of christenings and burials in registers supplied by the church authorities. As a result, a significant number, especially of urban parishes, have registers dating from the mid seventeenth century. The majority, however, start in the years between 1770 and 1820; the only country-wide listing of all Church of Ireland parish records which gives full details of dates is the National Archives catalogue, copies of which are also to be found at the National Library.
 

You could check the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64) for more information. Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com

You could also check the Spinning-Wheel Premium Lists (1796) for information. 7,150 names are listed for County Tyrone. You can check this here: www.failteromhat.com

Hopefully, someone in the Tyrone area is also reseaching the same family and can offer you further help.

Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

HI
Thank You so much for all that info.  It has been suggest that since he belonged to the Church of England (at least he lists that in the Canadian Census)) that he may be of English heritage and just happened to be born in Ireland.  I have checked all the lists but I have no clue on what his parents or siblings names may be or where in Tyrone he was born.  One researcher has down the first name Henry as Oliver's real first name but he is elderly and doesn't remember where he got that.
Thanks again
Kathy

Hi Kathy,

Who suggested that he may be of English heritage? He may have been Church of England here, but still be Irish. He may as you suggest, have been born here but brought up in England, but how do you know this?

Although it is no harm to bear the hearsay in mind when carrying out your research, I would be very careful about hearsay and be more reliant on documented fact. Check both Oliver and Henry as first names when carrying out your reserach.

Did you find any additional information on the marriage record? Marriage records can often give lots of extra information, including parents names. Perhaps there was an announcement of this in the local newspaper there?

Please feel free to contact me again if you find out more information.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

Hi,

Another Riddell researcher suggested it as I have been searching for him for many years and have turned up nothing about him prior to his life in Canada.  I was so disappointed as the marriage documents from the church had nothing on them.  Also there is a book on Riddell's written in 1880 but author reports that the Canadian branch would not cooperate/  I only know he was born in Ireland as it says he is a native of County Tyrnone on his grave.  I thought maybe since Oliver is an unusual name in Ireland that maybe he is English. but I believe it is not his first name but a middle name as most people in this family go by their middle names.   His son was William Oliver but went by Oliver.  This was his youngest son. I haven't been able to locate where or when he came to Canada.  His son did change the spelling from Riddle to Riddell and started listing himself and Oliver Sr. also as Scottish so I don't know why that was done either.

Thanks so much

Kathy