Hello Folks Joining the throng of "foreigners"of Irish origin on the List, I live in South Africa. We have here, at the bottom end of Africa, a fine selection of Murphys, O'Reillys, Duffys, O'Callahans, McBrides, Earlys, et al. During the Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902) many Irishmen fought for the Boers against the British. The Boer forces considered their Irish Regiment to be highly effective. But, I digress. I'm hoping to find background on my g-grandfather, Francis EARLY, b. 1826 or 27 in Lisburn. I know Lisburn isn't in Tyrone, but it's not far away. Can't find a trace of the family in Antrim or Down. Griffiths Valuations lists a lot of EARLYs in Tyrone, so.... Francis EARLY was enlisted in the British Army (54th Regiment of Foot) at the age of 7 or 8. He was shipped off to India with the Regiment and raised in a Regimental boarding school. His Army record does not name his parents. During his time in the 54th, he was stationed in India, Malta, West Indies, Canada. While based in Quebec City in 1853, he met and married Lillian KING, a 16 year old Irish girl (no parents or birthplace named) Then to Gibraltar, to Essex in England, and finally to Lanarkshire, Scotland, where most of the couple's children were born. From Scotland 6 EARLY brothers migrated to South Africa. Ring any bells? Best wishes Frank Early South Africa

Hello Frank. Great to read something from you after a very long silence from your end. Thank you for mentioning about the Irish who fought on the side of the Boers in the Anglo-Irish Boer War. That gives me an insight into it which I was previously unaware of. With gratitude: Ray in Oz. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Lyn" <franklyn@tiscali.co.za> To: <COTYRONEIRELAND@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 7:45 PM Subject: [CoTyIre] The Irish Diaspora > Hello Folks > > Joining the throng of "foreigners"of Irish origin on the List, I live in > South Africa. We have here, at the bottom end of Africa, a fine selection > of > Murphys, O'Reillys, Duffys, O'Callahans, McBrides, Earlys, et al. During > the > Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902) many Irishmen fought for the Boers against > the > British. The Boer forces considered their Irish Regiment to be highly > effective. But, I digress. > > I'm hoping to find background on my g-grandfather, Francis EARLY, b. 1826 > or > 27 in Lisburn. I know Lisburn isn't in Tyrone, but it's not far away. > Can't > find a trace of the family in Antrim or Down. Griffiths Valuations lists > a > lot of EARLYs in Tyrone, so....