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My great granddad was Hugh Doherty married to Shelia Gillespie.

At the 1901 Census they were living at No.15  Cashel Kilmacrennan along  with daughter's Mary aged 16, Rose 13. and Sarah 12. Hugh's age is given as 54 and Sheila as 52. On the 1901  Census,Sheila is called Cecilia and  on other certificates  I have tracked her as  Gillie, Giles,Jilly,and Jiolly.  I have been told all nicknames for her and that Cecilia was Sheila with the Irish accent. On the 1911 Census it is now just Hugh aged 71 and Shelia aged 72?

Sheila died June 1917 at Cashel and her daughter my Great aunt Rosie Boyle was present.  Hugh died Nov 1922  aged 77 in Cashel and again G.Aunt Rosie was in attendance. 

The Census of 1901 shows Peter Gillespie and family living at No 16 and Anthony Gillespie and family living  at No 17 Cashel  GRIFFITH VALUATION  shows a Peter Gillespie at Cashel in 1875.

Hugh and Sheila first son James was born in Leat Beg Fannet in 1868 and in 1871 daughter Sarah was born in Cashel  with her granddad  JOHN GILLESPIE registering the birth. ( I think this Sarah died as a second daughter is also called Sarah).

 1874 son Hugh was born in Helensburgh Scotland. I am told that the family had been evicted  by the Earl of Leitrim for over holding and presumably this was the reason for going to Scotland  - to look for work.  Where were they evicted from? Griffith has was one entry for  Kilmacrennan and shows Cool Lower with a Hugh Doherty as a tenant. Was this my great grand dad  Hugh? Or was it his dad my great great grand dad? Would depend on the date of the the  Griffith Valuation  which was around 1858 for  County Donegal. Can I access eviction documentation?

 Hugh and Sheila returned to Cashel and daughter Annie was born in Cashel in 1876,  Annie went to the USA  and in 1903 married James McMackin in Pennsylvania in 1903 sadly she  died in after childbirth to a stillborn son. Who did great aunt Annie go out to in the USA and when did she go? 

Please can anyone help me make a connection with the Gillespie family living next door to Hugh and Sheila. Was John Gillespie the father of Anthony and Peter and was  Sheila their sister?

Sheila had a sister who was Bridget?  married to an O'Donnell and had 13 children one of the children being named Kate. This Kate O'Donnell married a James O'Donnell and around the 1940/50's lived in Glen with her family, Owen, Willie , James and Norah. They later moved to Scotland.

The other Gillespie connection was a Rita Gillespie  married to a William Moore thought to be living around Cashel until Rita died possibly within the last 12 years. Has Rita children or grandchildren still in the area?

Again I was told by relative that as far as she knew the Doherty family originally came from somewhere around Cashel / Kilmacrennan.  I would love to know which Townland  great granddad came from.

 Great Aunt Rosie married Patrick (Ty) Boyle and they had 10 children. Great aunt Rosie lived in Cashel and the original old thatch cottage  backed onto Doe Loch. As a child in the 1960's I stayed with her when my parents  were visiting.The original  house has since been demolished and a new house is on the footprint of the old.

Great Aunt Sarah  born  1890  married Joe Langan and settled in Creeslough and I belive the Langan's had a butchers shop in Creeslough.

Hopefully with the information I have given someone, somewhere, will be able to help me fit a few more pieces to the jigsaw. Looking forwards to hearing from you.

 I think this idea of  'Ireland Reaching Out' is brilliant.   I only wish I had asked my parents and grandparent a few questions. If only.......

 Thank you for reading this.

Eilean

Saturday 18th Feb 2017, 05:55PM

Message Board Replies

  • Eilean:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    I can help in a small way and hopefully others will comment. Research is hampered by the late start on Kilmacrenan RC records: 1862 for baptisms and 1863 for marriages. www.irishgenealogy.ie is a great resource for images of civil records. Birth images are available from 1864-1915, marriages start in 1882 and deaths in 1891. 

    I was unable to locate a civil marriage record for Sheila and Hugh even though according to the 1911 census the marriage occurred around 1867. The civil record would show the name of Sheila's father. I did find Peter'smarriage record which is below and his father was Patrick, I also did not find the Anthony marriage record.

    Roger McDonnell

    Date of Marriage:04-Mar-1889
    Parish / District:ROSGUILL
    County:Co. Donegal
    Husband PeterGilespy  Address Cashel
    Wife MaryFerryAddress:Cashel

    Civil RecordOccupation:FARMER
    Not RecordedAge:Full Age (Over 21)
    Full Age (Over 21)Status:Bachelor (Previously unmarried)
    Spinster (Previously unmarried)

    Husband's Father:PatrickGilespy
    Wife's Father JamesFerry

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Saturday 18th Feb 2017, 06:42PM

  • Hello Roger

     Thank you for a very swift response.  I too have prowled  the Irish genealogy site for dozens of records and have managed to put quite a few together. Brilliant site and best of all its free.  Scotlands People site is expensive and their prices have gone up. Well done Ireland for your initiative.

     I am hoping that some relatives will still be in the vicinity of the places mentioned and be able to give me a few pointers. You replied within an hour, what will a week bring! Heres hoping. Again my thanks.

    Regards Eilean

    Eilean

    Saturday 18th Feb 2017, 07:13PM

  • Hello, Eilean,

    Have you any info on your Doherty side?

    My gggrandmother was Mary Doherty, b. 1830-1850.  She married James Callahan and they had 4 daughters: Annie in 1868, Hannah in 1870, Bridget in 1872, and Mary in 1873 or 74.  Annie said my father had a look of her Uncle Hugh.  She also said she had an Aunt Grace, but I don't know if either Hugh or Grace or both are Dohertys.

    I can not find a marriage for Mary and James or birth records for Annie or her sister Mary.  I found marriage listings on Donegal Resources for Bridget and sister Mary; the former to Bernard Connaghan, the latter to John Callaghan.  Hannah died in U.S. in 1883; Bridget in Ireland in 1902.

    There is a possibility that Mary is daughter or niece of Michael and Hannah Gibbons Doherty.  3 of their sons went to Australia and the family of Mary Callahan Callaghan still had an 1890s newspaper clipping about one them in the 1980s.

    Thank you!

    Meg

    MegMS

    Friday 21st Apr 2017, 06:01AM

  • Eilean,

    I just stumbled upon your post this evening. My great-great grandfather is Hugh Doherty. My great-grandmother is Hugh's daughter, Mary Doherty. She moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her sister Annie did as well, and died on 26 March 1906. Mary married Christopher Carr (from Dublin), with whom she had 8 children. Our family always heard that Hugh was married to a "Julia Gillespie", so I was interested when I saw the name Sheila listed. The name Julia is listed on both Mary and Annie's Death Records, and Mary's Marriage Record. You outlined Sheila's nicknames, which probably explains the name being used as "Julia". I was amazed to see your post's information, which aligned with a lot of family information we have here in the US. I know you wrote your post a year ago, but if you do see this message, please do share any information you may have found on the Doherty's!

     

    Best,

    Mike

    mike

    Wednesday 14th Mar 2018, 01:33AM

  • Hello Mike,

    Apologies for the late reply. I am unable to sign in using Google,it tells me there is a Error, I wonder if anyone else is experiencing this problem. ?

     I received an email today showing your post and  it looks as if we have a definate  connection.  I would love to compare notes with you.  Hopefully  we can be put in touch to  add to the jigsaw.  

     Kindest Regards 

    Eilean

    Eilean

    Wednesday 14th Mar 2018, 07:06PM
  • Attached Files

    Hello Mike and Eilean,

    Just to let you know Mike, that Eilean has left her contact details with me for safe keeping.

    If you don’t ’t mind, you can always add your email address to this message or privately perhaps by forwarding your contact details to clondavaddog@irelandxo.com and I will be sure to

    put you and Eilean in contact, so you can compare notes and share information. I only ask that you come back and perhaps tell how you get on some time!

    Best Regards, 

    Seamus Callaghan

    Parish Liaison for:

    Parish of Clondavaddog, (Fanad & Glenvar), Donegal

     

    P.S, Just a suggestion to you both, why don’t you consider creating a profile for one or two of your family members up on the Ancestors Page HERE for the Parish of Kilmacrenan. You have a wealth of information and if you do not have a profile photo to add to it,  I will add a local photo up in its place.

    Clondavaddog Donegal, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 15th Mar 2018, 04:09AM

  • Thanks Seamus.  Hi Mike, hope you are in touch soon.

    Eilean

    Eilean

    Thursday 15th Mar 2018, 08:56AM

  • Thanks Seamus.  Hi Mike, hope you are in touch soon.

    Eilean

    Eilean

    Thursday 15th Mar 2018, 08:56AM

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