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Hello all.  Looking for any help with my ancestor John Shields who was born approximately 1825 in County Derry.  He emigrated to the United States sometime before 1856 (I know that because that was the year he married in the U.S.).  I am not sure of his church affiliation, but family lore said he was an Orangeman, but you know how that works....stories are stories.  Hoping I can find some help here.  Thank you.

Tuesday 28th Jan 2020, 01:48AM

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  • www.rootsireland.ie/ has 5 John Shields (+ surname variants) Derry baptisms 1825 + - 10 years; 2 are R C: 

    Name:John O'ShielDate of Birth:
    Date of Baptism:21-May-1826Address:
    Parish/District:LONG TOWERGender:MaleCountyCo. Derry
    Denomination:Roman Catholic
    Father:Manasses O'ShielMother:Ann O'DoghertyOccupation:
    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:Francis ByrneSponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Mary Byrne

    Name:John ShieldsDate of Birth:
    Date of Baptism:26-Jul-1831Address:GlebeParish/District:TAMLAGHT FINLAGANGender:MaleCountyCo. Derry
    Denomination:Church Of Ireland
    Father:James ShieldsMother:Martha Mcfarland

    Name:John SheilDate of Birth:
    Date of Baptism:29-Apr-1832Address:DrumParish/District:DUNGIVENGender:MaleCountyCo. Derry
    Denomination:Roman Catholic
    Father:Michael SheilMother:Mary BradlyOccupation:
    Sponsor 1 /
    Informant 1:James KaneSponsor 2 /
    Informant 2:Biddy Sheil

    Name:John ShielsDate of Birth:
    Date of Baptism:10-Mar-1833Address:
    Parish/District:CUMBER LOWERGender:MaleCountyCo. Derry
    Denomination:Church Of Ireland
    Father:Edward ShielsMother:Bridget Cairns

    Name:Johnnie ShielsDate of Birth:08-Nov-1834
    Date of Baptism:27-Nov-1837Address:BallylishParish/District:PORTSTEWARTGender:MaleCountyCo. Derry
    Denomination:Presbyterian
    Father:John ShielsMother:Elizabeth Beers

    IF he applied the Irish naming pattern in naming his children, his first son & second daughter would be named after his own father & mother

    Col

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 28th Jan 2020, 05:18AM
  • Thank you very much Col. 

    A question;  the fourth John listed here.   Father Edward Shiels, Mother Bridget Cairns.  By any chance could that Cairns be "CAIN" possibly.  The reason I ask is I am researching a DNA lead, where the mother was Bridget Kane, father Edward Shields.  It's pretty close.  Are you looking at handwritten records or translated digitized.  I haven't tried to look at "www.rootsireland.ie" before.  Also, in my DNA research, this Edward and Bridget had other children in Lower Cumber.   This could be a good lead/match.

    I very much appreciate your help. 

    Linde

    Tuesday 28th Jan 2020, 03:27PM
  • Hi Linde,

    rootsireland.ie/ is a subscription site but has some less expensive options such as 24 hour and 1 month plans. The records are transcriptions of the originals.

    Bear in mind that due to illiteracy, mispronunciation, misspelling, mistranscription etc there can be a lot of variation in surnames so it's hard to rule things out 

    I assume you are aware of the R C Registers for Cumber on https://registers.nli.ie/

    Col

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 29th Jan 2020, 10:11AM
  • Thanks Col,

    I'm just now exploring Irish Genealogy sites.  I've got a lot to learn.  I appreciate any tip. 

    I was going to mention another conundrum of this John Shields.  I understand the pattern of naming the first children.  So far that hasn't panned out.  Their first child was named Henry.  So far that hasn't fit anything I've run across.  Definitely a work in progress. 

    Thank you again for your help. 

    Linde

    Wednesday 29th Jan 2020, 04:33PM

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