Joe, Do you know in what area of Donegal they lived, died? Do you know the maiden names of the mothers/wives from Ireland? Civil Registration started in 1864 for Ireland. Marriages for Non Catholics, meaning CofI and some others in 1845. Therefore any (if they registered them) BMD after 1864 should be in the Registers for Ireland. The surname Hamilton is very common and will present some problems without knowing the Parish. The best place to start is always in your backyard and check the BMD data of all those who immigrated. These docs may give up a place of birth (other than Donegal Ireland), the local marriage certs may give the names of the father and mother in Ireland. Familysearch website pages: (tinyURLs) Bapt, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Registration http://tinyurl.com/4f3weza Did they die in Ireland, where they married in Ireland. Did a check for the death of David since it was in 1865 but unable to come up with a hit. I would visit my local FHC and review the Index films for your people. There are many Hamiltons in Donegal during the GV recording period so we need a Parish/Townland. but only one Joesph Hamilton shows up in Donegal http://tinyurl.com/6xxk2p3 Hamilton, Joesph Donegal Drumhome Village of Laghy If you check the RootsIreland.ie Donegal site you will get hits on some names that match the dates eg. James Hamilton 1830: 10 Bapt/Birth matches but only one with father Joesph 1830 ±2 yrs. Church Baptism Hamilton James 1829 Co. Donegal http://donegal.rootsireland.ie/quis.php?page=0&prevStartQuery=0 You will have to register to use the account, Free to Search, Pay to View the actual images and it is not cheap. The search can get you in the ball park. There is another person on our list looking for Hamiltons in Donegal, download the db at the following URL http://tinyurl.com/5h3k83 Instructions are listed on the page --Red Box and instructions just below the Red Box. Lots of luck Have a great day Bob CDN ========================= On 15/02/2011 9:19 AM, Joe H. wrote: > I have traced my family (Hamilton) back to to the 1830's in Donegal, Ireland > Joseph d:27 Apr 1863 his son James, b:1830, d:1903 > Joseph had two brothers : David, d: 18 Jan 1865& James, d:11 Nov 1861, also > sister Catherine, d: 29 Oct 1859