My great grandfather Charles Baxter came from Drumliff, Lisnaskea and was Catholic. Two brothers also came to Iowa, James and John, and they were Catholic too, so I assume these (obviously) Scotch-Irish Baxters converted somewhere along the way. These men were probably all born between 1810 and 1825, and appear to have arrived in the USA probably sometime in the late 1840s or early 1850s. Charles' obituary says he arrived in 1847. According to a 1936 letter from Ireland, Charles had six brothers. The other three were Patrick, Thomas and Robert. Their only sister married a man named Reilly but they did not have children.
Due to the fact that all of the Iowa Baxter brothers had an eldest son named John and a daughter named Sarah, I strongly suspect that their parents were John and Sarah.
I have a little more information, not enough, but would dearly love to know more and would love to connect with anyone who might know. I thank you baxterlittle@gmail.com
Kathleen Baxter
Wednesday 24th Oct 2012, 11:53PMMessage Board Replies
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Hi
Do you know much about their emigration? Dates, the reason why they left, etc.? Generally more information was given at the port of arrival rather than the port of departure. If you knew which city they arrived at (e.g. Liverpool), this could be a good place to find more information.
Have you tried checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffith's Valuation (1848-64)for other relatives? The Tithe Applotment Books are available online - http://www.genealogy.nationalarchives.ie/ Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at.
Remember to post as much information as you can regarding the people you are researching. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.
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,
Genealogy Support
Ireland Reaching Out
Tuesday 13th Nov 2012, 02:53PM -
I have looked and looked for their emigration and immigration. They obviously did not come together nor did they come to Iowa together. I have no idea from which city they left or in which city they arrived.
I have checked the Tith Appointment Books and the late Griffith's valuation. I will check again. I do have a 1937 from a John Baxter in the same location which gave me the names of all the siblings which I included. My cousin and my father both visited this house, one in the 1970s, one in the 1990s and no one there knew anything--not there or in the community.
The Baxters being Catholic is challenged by everyone I asked. They tell me it is not a Catholic name and i should check. That is why I wished to emphasize the Catholicism. One of them must have married a strong Irish Catholic woman.
I have done everything I can think of, and really feel I posted a LOT of information--the information I did not include is all about Iowa.
Thank you for your email.
Kathleen Baxter
Tuesday 13th Nov 2012, 04:01PM