I visited Carndonagh friday 4th July 2014, in hope of speaking to some one re the above names, but I was there on the wrong day, unfortunately on documents re my ancestors it never states where in Ireland they were from, so it;s like a needle in a hay stack I'm afraid. Robert Docherty was a shoe maker, on 1851 census in Dumbarton Scotland his widow Mary Docherty nee Dempsey, with 4 sons, John 21, James 15, William 13, and Henry 11, who were all born in Ireland. Is there any hope of finding out where. Thanking you in anticipation
Anne Brooke nee Docherty
Anne Brooke
Wednesday 9th Jul 2014, 01:08PMMessage Board Replies
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Anne,
I assume from the fact that this post is on the Donagh board that you have some information suggesting that?s where the family originated. I note that their youngest child was born in Ireland c 1840 and they evidently moved to Scotland sometime between 1841 and 1851. (I assume you have searched the 1841 census. If they are not there, it?d suggest they arrived after 1841).
The usual source of information for the era you need is church records. Unfortunately the RC records for Donagh don?t start till 1847. That?s going to make it very difficult to trace the family. It?s also fair to say that someone like a shoemaker wouldn?t leave too many documentary records of his existence in Ireland.
One Scottish source that sometimes is helpful is the Poor Law Records. If Mary was widowed, then she may have claimed under the Poor Law, in which case the records usually note the parish of origin in Ireland as well as other ancestral information eg surviving relatives. I have searched for Dunbartonshire Poor Law records. There are some minutes in the county archive but I can?t see any records of any actual applications. You could try the Mitchell Library in Glasgow in case they have them (they have the Glasgow ones).
Did Mary Docherty die in Scotland, 1855 onwards? If so, her death certificate should give you her parents names, which may be helpful. Check all Scottish censuses in case any of them give more information than just Ireland as the place of birth.
The spelling of Docherty may vary in Ireland. Expects Dougherty etc.
Elwyn
Ahoghill Antrim
Wednesday 9th Jul 2014, 03:18PM -
Anne:
I assume your ancestors were RC. Unfortunately, Co. Donegal is a very difficult county to find RC records in the early to mid-1800s. The RC records for Carndonagh/Donagh start in 1846.
The other constraint is the name Doherty (which I presume was their name in Ireland) is very common in the parish. I looked at the 1830 Tithe listings and there were 315 Doherty entries but no Richard.
If you haven't already you may want to visit this site
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/
Roger McDonnell
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Wednesday 9th Jul 2014, 03:22PM