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Thomas Morrison was born around 1814 and emigrated from Greencastle/Moville area to the U.S. in 1841 arriving May 9, 1841 via Liverpool according to his naturalization papers and he listed County Donegal as his home. He was married twice-first to Catherine Leslie and they had 5 children; John (b. 1841), Elizabeth (about 1842), George (1843), James (1847) & Henry (1849). Then to my gr-gr-grandmother Jane Jameson Henry Craig Morrison and they had 2 children; William & Anna Helen. I found a record in the local German Catholic church (written in Latin and trans by a priest) that they had a third child Ellen in 1864, but that is IMPOSSIBLE because Thos died in 1859, so not sure where this child came from. He worked as a laborer in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania and settled there. Catherine & Thomas's first child John was born in Aug 1841, so they must have already been married (in Ireland) when Thomas and Catherine arrived in America. According to the one census record that were taken during his life in the States, four of the children of the first marriage were born in Pennsylvania, except James (his birth in Ireland was also noted in James' obituary, I'm thinking maybe NOT their child, but a son of a relative?). Also, according to that census, there was a Cochran Leslie living with the family, unsure if he was Catherine's brother/cousin? Catherine died sometime after the 1850 census. Thomas married Jane sometime after the death of her second husband Alexander Craig in 1851 (prob in 1855). Thomas & Jane's son William was born on June 1, 1856, their daughter Anna Helen on May 5, 1859. I have found that Thomas died in October 1859, as a result of drowning in the Lehigh canals in Mauch Chunk, however I can't find a burial, most likely in Upper Mauch Chunk Cemetery in PA, USA. Jane Jameson Henry Craig Morrison died in 1886 and is buried in that cemetery. I am unsure what church Thomas & Catherine belonged to, but Jane Morrison belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Mauch Chunk. Cochran Leslie was also a Presbyterian.

LSDeWire

Thursday 12th Jul 2012, 03:50AM

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  • Hello, I have been asked to look over older queries that were not answered, however I have been unable to locate the marriage you mention, there are plenty of Morrison and Leslie marriages in Donegal. Both Church of Ireland and Presbyterian, over 40% of C of I records were lost in the Civil War when the PRO was blown up. 

    I can find no birth either on Roots Ireland but a there are 3 John Morrison's born 1838 to 1841, one in St Johnston to a John Morrison and a Fanny Jamieson. 

    As we cannot locate the correct record it is unlikely we will pinpoint the parish etc but the 3 names you mention are all in Donegal and some Presbyterian records where available are not digitised.

    Goo Luck

    Pat

    Pat O Holloran, IrelandXO Volunteer

    Wednesday 21st Feb 2024, 11:19PM

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