I hesitate to mention my vague Hamilton connection in Drumholm. Maybe it will profit someone. Our pioneer ancestors were Andrew Spence born about 1785 from Killymard, (died Norwood Ontario 1850) married Mary Griffith born 1792 Ballinakillew, Donegal, died Stanton NE. >From the names of the children Lettie Morrow said that she felt sure that Andrew Spence was the child of one WILLIAM SPENCE born about 1749 (died 14 June 1791 Carrickbreeny) and BARBARA HAMILTON (died 12 Apr 1786 Carrickbreeny). If this theory is true, Barbara must have died at the time of Andrew's birth. And perhaps he was cared for by Spence relatives in Killymard, making that his home townland. Some of the children named by the descendant in Canada did not come to America. Whether they died or just remained there, we do not know. WILLIAM SPENCE baptized 25 Mar 1821 and BARBARA SPENCE baptized 21 Apr 1824 Drumholm were the only ones named who did not come. The place in the family of JOHN (born about 1818) is not known. The oldest child to come to Canada that year of 1840 was this JOHN SPENCE who had just married JANE STRONG b. 1820 Aghadowey. The following are the notes for the elder William Spence and Barbara Hamilton which make sense to me. I've tried to run it by folks in Ireland, but have come up with no agreement. Drumhome Parish church records and personal input from Lettie Morrow, Church Registrar, 1987. See notes for wife, Barbara Hamilton Spence. Until we saw the Drumholm records and consulted with Lettie we had no clue about parentage of our Andrew Spence who came to Ontario Canada in 1840. !DEATH: Recorded as Barbara Spence (Hamilton) in Sylvia Arkison's Drumholm Graveyard Handbook. !DRUMHOLM RECORDS: Lettie Morrow, record keeper of Drumhome registers, sent this letter to us after our trip to Ballintra in September, 1987. Because there were several Andrew Spences recorded in the registers, born around 1790, we were completely confused. Here is a transcription of her letter stating her take on our Spence family. Our family records go back in Canada concern ANDREW & MARY GRIFFITH SPENCE who came from Ballintra in 1840. BARBARA SPENCE Carrickbreeny wife of WILLIAM SPENCE buried 12th April 1786 WILLIAM SPENCE Carrickbreeny buried 14th June 1791, children: HUGH SPENCE Carrickbreeny (F) WILLIAM SPENCE, married 25th Jan 1798 JANE HARRON - - (F) ANDREW HARRON, children: WILLIAM bapt 3rd March 1799, HAMILTON - 23 rd May 1801, ANDREW - 2nd Nov 1803 WILLIAM HARRON Carrick West (F) ANDREW HARRON, married JANE SPENCE Carrickbreeny (F) WILLIAM SPENCE married 30th June 1791, children: BARBARA bapt 14 Aug 1792, JANE - 23 Aug 1795, ISABELLA - 12th June 1798, MARY- 14th April 1801, WILLIAM - 4th Jan 1804 GEORGE SANDERSON Ballydermott (F) JAMES SANDERSON, MARGARET SPENCE Carrickbreeny (F) WILLIAM SPENCE, married 22nd Jan 1788, children: JAMES bapt 9th 1788, WILLIAM - 12th May 1790, BARBARA - 17th Nov 1793, JOSEPH - 15 May 1796, JANE - 16th Sept 1798, GEORGE - 28th March 1801 MARGARET SPENCE wife of GEORGE SANDERSON Ballydermott buried 11th Jan 1803 GEORGE SANDERSON Ballydermott buried 4th Nov 1811 ANDREW SPENCE **Parish of Killymard* married 9th Oct 1816 MARY GRIFFITH Parish of Drumholm, children: JOHN - (Lettie did not indicate date of birth or baptism) WILLIAM bapt 25th March 1821, BARBARA - 21st April 1824, HAMILTON - 16th Jan 1826, JAMES - 7th Dec 1828, SAMUEL - 20th Nov 1831, MARY - 3rd Aug 1834, ANDREW - 16th July 1837, JANE - June 1838 (Lettie's Remarks) William & Barbara Spence Carrickbreeny would be the father and mother of Hugh, James, Margaret, & Andrew as they have all got William & Barbara in their family's Hugh & Andrew have Hamilton their mother's maiden name The only conclusion I come to is that Andrew could be working in Killymard and then came back & married Mary Griffith and bought a farm in Knockbane (we will never know) I asked Canon Stewart if I could see the Killymard Church records. he told me that the old records were sent to Dublin and were all destroyed the ones he has got only go back as far as 1870 I went through all the burials in our books only got the ones I have listed In those times children were called for their grandparents so I hope this makes sense to you. Carrickbreeny is not far from where I live and close to Knockbane. Betty Ashley, Tollhouse CA Spence Family. Any discussion will be greatly appreciated.