help tracing James Heagan from Corssibeg?

WexfordWexford Town (Wexford)

Hi,

I have managed to trace my husbands family back to James Heagan who was born in Crossibeg, C Wexford in 1810. He left Ireland sometime before 1840 and moved to Workington, Cumberland in England where he was a Merchant Navy Seaman and later when he was older a labourer in the Iron works there. He died in Cumberland in 1870. He had a son named Michael born I think also in Ireland in 1840 who came over to Cumberland and worked on the ships there too from 1861. I would be really grateful if anyone has any information that would help me find out more about James and his family in Ireland? The surname morphed to Heagin later in the UK but I have now found the spelling for James as Heagan on the Merchant Navy Ships Register so assume this is correct for when he lived in Crossibeg.

(Oh and I need to thank Elwyn if he reads this for getting me to Crossibeg via the Navy records :) )

Thanks

Jan

IrelandXO member

13 years ago

4 replies

Hi Jan,

Thanks very much for your message. I hope that someone with information makes a connection with you.

I believe that the Crossibeg that you are referring to is Crossabeg Catholic parish in Wexford.

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/counties/rcmaps/wexfordrc.htm

You could try looking at the parish records 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 Crossabeg parish, follow this link:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&CityCounty=Wexford&parish=Crossabeg&churchid=577

You could also try searching online at:

www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.

www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.

You could also check for record of the family in the land records pertaining to Ireland in the 19th century. There are two:

The Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1838) found at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

and Griffith?s Valuation (1848-1864) found at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

Please note however that these records are divided according to civil parish and not Catholic parish. Here is a list of the civil parishes that fall under Crossabeg Catholic parish:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=rctocivil&churchid=577&church=Crossabeg

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

Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/wexford/index.html

From Ireland: www.from-ireland.net

Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/

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

Wexford Library: http://www.wexford.ie/wex/Departments/Library/YourServices/LocalStudies/

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support