Searching for the origins of Thomas McGEOGH & Mary DEVINE
Hi,
For almost 20 years I have been trying to pin down my Irish Ancestry and I hope someone on XO may be able to help me. For most of that time all I knew was that Thomas McGEOGH and his wife Mary (maiden name DEVINE or DIVINE) had put Ireland as their birthplace in the Scottish Census. Their first child Mary was also given as being born in Ireland (in 1844). They appear to have moved to Scotland in the late 1840s. Gradually I discovered that Thomas was the son of Bernard McGEOGH and Ann BRADLEY and Mary was the daughter of Hugh DEVINE. The breakthrough came when I found a record which stated that they had married at Aughnacloy on 3 May 1844. Another record came to light which showed that Thomas was born in Aughnacloy in about 1824 and Mary in The Moy in about 1823.
However, finding any records to substantiate this information has proved difficult. Part of the problem is my ignorance of the relationship between parishes and townlands. Websites give different answers to the question of where Aughnacloy is in relation to townlands and parishes. I've tried Aghaloo and Carnteel and until recently had not found a record to substantiate the details Thomas & Mary have given in Scotland. I've only recently discoved about Moy but I've had no luck there either.
However, I finally think I've found their marriage. The Catholic Parish Register for Aghaloo shows a marriage between Thomas McGOUGH and Mary DEVIN. Ancestry's transcription gives the marriage date as 25 May 1844. That's confused me because that date seems to be attached to the following wedding, whereas Thomas & Mary seem to be one of 3 couples who married on 23 January. Neither date tallies with the information given in Scotland.
I've been unable to find any records which tie Thomas & Mary to their parents.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Kind Regards
Ian