Hello Kay. A few thoughts to run past you. Firstly, the Strabane BDM Registration District, and the Strabane Poor Law Union, although primarily based in County Tyrone, took/takes? in parts of County Donegal also; AND from stuff which I found from a google search for Strabane Poor Law Union, also seems to take in part of County Londonderry! (quite a mixture there). So this MIGHT explain why you have County Donegal, but also Strabane in your records for the same person. Here is link to the web-site of the wonderfully knowledgeable and helpful Jane LYONS, which shows some of that: http://www.from-ireland.net/don/civ.htm And whilst at it, here is a link to the Strabane Historical Society's web-site; although the few items in there might not be too helpful to you; although the item on Strabane in the 1840s might also provide some locality details for you: http://www.strabanehistorysociety.com/local_research_index.htm And this link to the Donegal County Council about its Poor Law archives is fascinating in many respects. I could not find their having holdings of the Strabane Poor Law records -- which I would expect might instead be in PRONI (the Public Record Office of/for Northern Ireland). http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/communityculturalenterprise/Archives+Service/archivescollection.htm (and BTW, I had a laugh at the 'coco' name in this link above; seemingly for COunty COuncil. Perhaps that is normal in Ireland, but it made me think of a monkey! haha) SECONDLY: Research in Oz. Are you familiar with Oz research? If not, then I would suggest a few of the following, for trying to locate the immigration records for your people. 1. Queensland state archives in Brisbane. http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/indexes.asp and their guides and information leaflets etc.: http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/research/briefguides.asp 2. The NSW State Records' online records; http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/indexes-online as well as their information leaflets on Immigration and Shipping records. http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/state-archives/guides-and-finding-aids/archives-in-brief 3. The Society of Australian genealogists' web-site, for their information leaflets, http://www.sag.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=44 and perhaps some other online records. http://www.sag.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=44 4. The microfiche indexes issued by Pastkeys, to the Immigration Deposit Journals. These are indexed by the surname of the Immigrant, and also by the surname of the 'depositor' in Oz who paid for their passage out. If you find any references of interest in there; then you will need to go to the microfilm records for the various shipping arrivals -- which are in the NSW State Records' series called the ARK -- formerly called the GRK (Genealogical Research Kit); which will be in the Queensland State Library in Brisbane (perhaps in the Oxley Library there); and I expect that many local libraries, historical, and family history societies may also have copies. HTH: ray in oz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Laurie Topping" <laurie@topping.com.au> > I have recently discovered that my great grandmother Ellen Hastie (nee > Beattie) was born in Strabane, Donegal in 1867. I have been told that this > would have been part of County Tyrone, not Donegal as I had previously > thought. Ellen's parents were Edward Beattie (farmer) and Grace McCarthy. > Ellen travelled to Australia and married my great grandfather James Hastie > on 13 February, 1889 at West End, Brisbane. The ceremony was performed by > a > Presbyterian minister. I believe that Ellen may have been a domestic > servant. I have had no luck in finding any information about Ellen's > parents > and hope that someone may be able to assist or advise me as to how best to > do this. ... Kay Topping