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I am considering a research trip to Belfast in October to look into my McFadden line.

What I know or believe:

Edward McFadden (1804-1887) and Alice Collum (1804-1886) and their children John McFadden (1842-1863) and Dennis (1847-1924) were all born in Ireland and all first appeared in the US in the 1860 Census for Vinton County, Ohio. They also had a daughter Margaret (184?-1905) who married a Manus Ferry. The earliest record for them in the US was when they gave testamony in John's Civil War pension application in the 1870s. The family was Catholic but I have not found  anything in the US diocese where they lived.

 

According to a cousin they were from Falcarragh, Cloughaneely Parish, Co. Donegal  but so far I've been unable to confirm this in the historical record.

 

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

dmsbr549

Thursday 14th Mar 2019, 08:39PM

Message Board Replies

  • dmsbr549:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    Your ancestors are likely from Tullaghobegly civil parish in northwest Donegal. The RC parishes for Co. Donegal start very late compared to other parishes across Ireland. Gortahork records start in 1849 and the other nearby parish, Gweedore, has records starting in 1868. Just to be sure, I did check the subscription site Roots Ireland for a baptismal record around 1847 for Denis or Margaret with a father Edward but got no record. There are many, many McFaddens in that area. One of my great-grandmothers was a Catherine McFadden from the next civil parish to the north and east-- Raymunterdoney. She emigrated to Philadelphia in the late 1860s.

    Have you had your DNA tested? You can also add the McFadden emigration story to our XO Chronicles site  https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

    Let us know if you decide to come to Ireland this year.

    Roger McDonnell

     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 14th Mar 2019, 10:58PM

  • As Roger has said, there are many McFaddens in the Falcarragh area. If Edward McFadden was a farmer, then he should be in the 1830 tithe applotment records. There are 33 McFaddin farms in Tullaghobegley in 1830. 3 headed by an Edward. One in Bunaninver, one in Knockfolla and the last in Leitheathach.

    http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

    There are about 10 Edward McFaddens in the parish in Griffiths Valuation for 1857, so identifying the right family may be tricky.

    http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameSearch

    There’s about 12 Collum households in Tullaghobegly in Griffiths so both names are found in the parish, giving some support to the belief that they came from the Falcarragh area. The name Manus Ferry is also found in the area. So you are probably in the right area but identifying the family born over 200 years ago can be hard going.

     

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 14th Mar 2019, 11:16PM

  • Thanks for the replies Roger and Elwyn. It sounds like I may not be able to find my folks in the historical record, but I still want to make the trip. I'll definitely include time to visit Tullaghobegly and the area to see the general area they might have lived in. Who knows, I may even run into a distant cousin in a pub while I'm there.

    dmsbr549

    Monday 18th Mar 2019, 02:49PM

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