Hi Bob Sorry about delay in responding: your message got lost in this weekend's email rush. Others may be interested in this information so I am also posting it on the Fermanagh list. You asked In about 1690 - 1710 Ireland; was Enniskillen a town, Tyrone a county, Fermanagh a county. How do these relate to each other. (i.e., the city of Enniskillen was in the County of Fermanagh) ? Because I have seen where an ancestor of mine was born in Tyrone; and I have also seen where this same person was born in Enniskillen? Thanks, BOB By 1600 Queen Elizabeth's chief administrator in Ireland, Sir John Perrot, had finished the long drawn out task of setting the whole island out into 32 administration areas which were called Counties, and Ireland thus became a united political entity for the first time. One of these Counties, roughly the same as the former territory of the Gaelic Maguires, is Fermanagh. Tyrone is another. Elizabeth and her predecessors also set Ireland out in four Provinces. Fermanagh, Tyrone and seven other Counties made up Elizabeth's Ulster. Today's Northern Ireland is sometimes called Ulster as a short name, but it is made up only of 6 of Elizabeth's 9. They are Antrim, Down, Londonderry, Armagh, Fermanagh and Tyrone. To this day there are strong provincial and county loyalties in Ireland. Next weekend in Dublin, the Ulster Rugby Team play a French team in the final of the European Championships. The Gaelic Athletic Association, which organises football and other games and is closely associated with the Catholic Church is organised into Counties, and so is the Orange Order, which is an odd case of two very much opposed groups with a common loyalty to Elizabeth's royal County system! And, of course, at family level, there are great attachments to one's own Townland, and this remains very strong in Fermanagh.. The main subdivision of Elizabeth's Irish County system in the Townland. There are over 60,000 Townlands among the 32 Counties. Townlands were used for all sorts of local workings, such as allocation of lands, postal address etc. Their names are local, often from the Gaelic and descriptive of the area. For example, my house is on a hillside where the soil is wet heavy clay, poorly drained, only able to grow grass and rushes, a wet-loving plant. My Townland is Ardlougher, meaning hill of the rushes. Other bits of townland names include say 'moin (bog) or slieve (mountain) or bally (settlement or town) or mor (big) or drum (hill or ridge). In Dromore they are keen on country and western music and so called their local hall in American English the 'Big Ridge' ballroom, not realising that this was actually the town's own name Dromore translated! The Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic churches each have parishes, typically comprising up to say 25 townlands. Now your actual question. In 1700 Enniskillen was an important town, well placed on a major river crossing. It was the main town in the county of Fermanagh. It was a Protestant town that had recently been in successful rebellion against King James, whose army of loyal Irish Catholics they attacked. The rebels supported William who defeated James at the Boyne (his army including wild Enniskillers) in 1690. William then became king of Britain and Ireland but the war went on for a year or so as Catholics still loyal to King James, including Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan, fought until defeated at Aughrim. Only some very big towns are Cities in Britain and Ireland, usually made so by royal decree in past centuries. If apparently the same person was born in both Tyrone and Enniskillen, perhaps is was two persons same name? Michael

Susan - My g-grandmother was Mary Montgomery (baptised July 2, 1825) dau. of James and Elizabeth Montgomery a farmer in Knocknamoul, Magheracross. I believe Elizabeth may have been a Graham but no proof yet. Graham was listed as the landlord of the Montgomery farm. Eliz. was b. 1786 and died February 3, 1853. Mary's brothers & sisters were: John and Isabell (twins) bapt. March 27, 1813; Ann, bapt. March 9, 1819. Mary m. Charles Walmsley in Ballinamallard. Charles took over the Montgomery farm. Dot

Looking for a John Stewart b. 1767 and Mary Lewis b. ? Descendants of John Stewart 1 John Stewart b: 1767 in Scotland d: May 12, 1848 in Ludlow, Windsor Co., VT . +Mary Lewis b: in Ireland d: 1822 in Ireland ..... 2 Rebecca Mary Stewart b: July 03, 1806 in Donegal Co, Ireland ......... +Samuel Hanley b: August 1803 in Ballymagee, Ireland ..... 2 John Stewart b: Bet. 1798 - 1800 in Donegal Co., Ireland ......... +Dorcas Baxter b: Bet. 1804 - 1805 in England ..... 2 James Stewart b: in Donegal Co., Ireland ..... 2 Alexander Stewart b: Abt. 1805 in Donegal Co., Ireland ..... 2 Robert Stewart d: in Ireland ..... 2 Catherine Stewart b: in Donegal Co., Ireland ..... 2 Mary Stewart b: June 23, 1811 in Donegal Co., Ireland ......... +Joseph Piper b: Abt. 1811 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Ireland ..... 2 Elizabeth Stewart b: August 10, 1815 in Donegal Co., Ireland ......... +Thomas Jefferson Fullam b: 1807 ..... 2 William Henry Stewart b: 1807 in Ireland ......... +Elizabeth Farrell b: March 1818 in Ireland A Joseph Piper b: Abt. 1811 in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh who married Mary Stewart. There is a letter stating that John Stewart lived about 7 miles from the bridge in Enniskillen. Not sure which direction. Jerry

I am looking for any information about my G G G Grand mother Margaret Rebecca Cunningham. She married Samuel Browne Dunsmore , place & date unknown. They had at least one child, my G G Grandfather, James Dunsmore he was born in County Derry in 1836. The family emmigrated to Australia in 1837. Any help would be appreciated, Mike Dunmore

>Just a note from a Genealogist to tell you how very much I enjoy your history >letters regarding the Fermanagh area. I have saved them as they contain >excellent resource addresses. <<<<<<<<<<sniped out >>>>>>>>>> >Best wishes, Helen M. Manley hmm789@aol.com > >Hi Helen Thanks again for the flattery! Among lesser known resources for Fermanagh family history, may I mention Breege McCusker's delightful book Irvinestown Through The Years, printed by the Impartial Reporter in 1984, Reference ISBN 0 9510109 0 5. It has lots of lists of former schools, churches, graveyards, townlands and people, garnered from a variety of sources and all woven into the story of the people of the town and northern Fermanagh from the 17th to 20th centuries. The book also had an excellent bibliography of many other sources. Breege lives at Lack Road, Irvinestown, and is an early-retired teacher now (almost) a full time historian. Others may be interested in this so I am copying it to the Fermanagh list. Michael

Ted, some of the information below may be useful to others so I am copying our messages to the Fermanagh list. -----Original Message----- From: Ted <tedlunny@istar.ca> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 24 January 1999 20:37 Subject: Location of Fermanagh Townland >I saw your post whereby you have access to some maps of the area that may be >helpful to finding roads to access locations of townlands. I will be >visiting Fermanagh and am wondering if you could lookup the townland I am >interested in, so I can see if I could drive to it on my own. > >The townland is Drumhose (Drumhoas), which is south of Lisnaskea toward >Newtownbutler, I'd say about 2 miles south of Lisnaskea. I see a main >highway (A34?) that I would probably start on, but after that my map is just >too large in scale. It may be helpful to know that this townland seems to be >next to a small lake, (Carragh?). >Any help you can give would be most appreciated. > >Ted > Hi Ted I live in Fermanagh and sail on Lough Erne so I have a copy of both of the big Outdoor Pursuits maps that show north and south Fermanagh. My main interest is the history of yachting here - were any of your ancestors involved? If they were from Drumhose it is near to Upper Lough Erne. It is likely that they were involved in fishing etc on the lake. Pat Lunny, for many years an elected member of Fermanagh Council was a keen lake boating person. Your geography is almost right. A the southern end of Lisnaskea, out past the high school on your right, do not stay on the main road but take a right turn just after a garage and which is signpost Crom etc. Take the third main right turn about a mile and a half along this road. The road that you turn on to is a more minor one but quite straight. About half a mile on you will find yourself crossing a small drain or river, ignoring a right turn, go straight on ,up a hill, to find a sharp left turn and some buildings. You are in Drumhose. Drum is an old Irish word meaning a hill just like this one. Caragh Lough is in the fields away on your right. In wet weather this low lying area can be very muddy wet and even flooded. Apart from keeping to the correct side of the road, I see no difficulty for you in driving this way. By the way, the map I am using is very good. It is big and detailed and even shows individual field hedges etc and the townlands. It is the Fermanagh Lakeland Outdoor Pursuits Map and Navigation Guide, Upper Lough Erne. You will be able to buy it in any good bookshop here - I recommend Halls (the old shop not the new one) in Enniskillen. Give me a call for a chat when you are here - provided I am not away on holiday myself. Irvinestown 01-3656-21436. Michael >

Hey---tried to send you a reply but mail came back, get back with me JPCald51@aol.com

I'm researching my family from the Enniskillen area (Tullycreevy townland) of County Fermanagh. Surnames from Fermanagh I am interested in are PATTERSON, WILKINS, OVENS, & IRWIN. I am currently trying to get information prior to 1770 and to fill in some missing info after 1770. Is anybody else researching ancesters from the same area ? Summary of the my information is: First Generation: Alexander PATTERSON - born about 1770, Tullycreevy, Devenish Parish, Co. Fermanagh. Spouse unknown - One known child - (+/- 500 descendants) Second Generation: George PATTERSON (b. 4 Apr 1798, Tullycreevy, Devenish Parish, Co. Fermanagh, married Elizabeth WILKINS (b. 1795, Monea? Co. Fermanagh, d. 12 Jun 1847, Monea, Devenish Parish, Co. Fermanagh) seven children - Third Generation: John, George (1829-1893), Alexander (1831-1913), James(1834-1908), Elizabeth(1837-1917), William(1840-?), and Mary(1841-?). Of these, three emmigrated in 1860 to Ontario, Canada -- Alexander[& wife Isabella OVENS ], George [& wife Mary IRWIN], and James. Anyone have any connections to these names? Dave Patterson DavePatterson@csi.com Vancouver, BC Canada

Hello all, I have a John GLENN married to Jane STEWART in Beleek in 1829. They were both born in 1810. According to Griffith's Valuation, there is only one GLENN in Beleek, a James Glenn living in TULLYCHURRY. There are numerous STEWART's, most notably in Tullyfad, Tullynabohoge, Derrychulloo, and Rossharbour. John was Methodist, and Jane was Presbyterian...Any suggestions re: where I should look for church records for this marriage. John and Jane emigrated to Canada in 1840 and settled in Huron Co., Ontario. I also have a William and Christina GLENN (both born approx, 1785) and their son, Thomas GLENN, all of FERMANAGH (parish and townlans unknown) who emigrated to the same region in Ontario. Many thanks for your support, Penny Parker Alberta, Canada pparker@compusmart.ab.ca

i have been reearching my gggrandmother and her second husband. i have his naturalization papers and the info is that his entry was to portland ME. i have searched and found no ships coming to Portland ME. Would there have been a time when some ships could not enter the port of Boston because of illness?? could that have been a reason that the ship was diverted from Boston to Portland?? Also I could not find any ships coming in the year his papers state 1873. any help would be appreciated Patricia

Doug - what a small world it is: the global village of the internet makes us next door neighbours. I am also posting this to the Fermanagh list because some of your information will be of wider interest - about the abandoned Castle Archdale graveyard which I had not know was there and its but a mile away from my house! Others on the list may find your Ulster Historical Foundation information of interest. If anyone needs an address for this body please email me. Small world: the family now living at 'Fletcher's Farm' are called Knox. One daughter is married to the local Presbyterian Minister and the other is Headmistress of the small primary school in Lack. Both are young women in their late 20s and both have been members of the five person crew of my J/24 racing yacht on Lough Erne. Fletcher's Farm is only a couple of miles miles up round the corner from my house in Ardlougher. IN past centuries rowing on Lough Erne would have been a widespread practice. The traditional local boat type is clinker built with a fine stem and stern shape to make her easily driven. Your Grandfather's rowing would have been across the main river channel and perhaps trough the several small islands in that very scenic part of the lake. In the fine summer of 1997 I took a couple of boats full down there on an overnight cruise - we had a moonlight singsong at which another of my crew Jane met Graham another sailor. The are to be married next July, 2 years later. There must be something in the night-time air afloat down there! The Yacht Club is at Gublusk, next townland to Kiladeas and it will have been our boats that you saw out racing. Mine is a J/24, white hull, blue deck, a baldy guy steering in the back and an athletic crew of girls doing the work and telling him what to do too. -----Original Message----- From: Doug Fletcher <dfletche@compusmart.ab.ca> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 24 January 1999 05:55 Subject: Old Castle Archdale/Lisnarick graveyard >Michael......I have followed your recent messages on yachting with >interest. Keep up the good work and make liberal use of "cut and paste" >or you will spend all day at the keyboard. I don't believe any of my Co >Fermanagh ancestors enjoyed any pleasure time on the water although >there is one family story of my grandfather who used to row across Loch >Erne near Belleek to court my grandmother. > >I noted your response on the question regarding the graveyard for Castle >Archdale. I had the good fortune to visit the area in 1994 (staying at >Fletcher's Farm B&B, a.k.a. the ancestral home). The post office at >Lisnarick told me that the 'old' Castle Archdale graveyard was just >behind the Drumshane Hotel. This is about a mile north of the current >church on the Kesh road. It unfortunately is quite overgrown and not >maintained at all; being in the middle of a field and surrounded by a >fence. I had great difficulty in reading many of the upright stones and >the flat ones were totally covered in grass. You can't even find most of >them. However, I did find the stone I had been told was there, being a >Fletcher stone from 1770. I was also told by some locals that the last >Fletcher to live at Fletcher's farm (Drumadravey) and who died in 1966 >was buried in the old cemetery. It was apparently not used much after >the 1960's. The Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast has a >transcription of the MI's and will do lookups for a charge. They may >cover the other cemeteries as well (new Castle Archdale and Kiladeas). > >The graveyard at the current Castle Archdale church is, as you noted, >small. At the time I was there, it occurred to me that people must be >either not dying anymore, it was a very small congregation or they were >having themselves buried elsewhere. I did not know about the graveyard >at Kiladeas (so thank you) and I suppose that will now have to wait >until my next visit. Perhaps I can spend a relaxing afternoon on the >water with you talking about the history of the area. I seem to recall >having tea with a friend Lottie Armstrong at a gorgeous hotel on the >water near Kiladeas. There were many sailboats and yachts moored along >the shore near the hotel. Was this your Club? > >Feel free to modify this message and forward to your contact who was >inquiring. > >Regards, Doug Fletcher, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada >

The Cassidy Clan is proud to announce its new website is up and running at http://www.cassidyclan.org Its just a start, but we hope to have more soon. It has pages on Cassidy family history, the Clan, Clan news, maps of Northern Ireland (including Ballycassidy), places of interest in County Fermanagh, a profile of Devenish Island and useful contact e-mail addresses and links. It is our hope that the website will promote greater kinship among Cassidys, participation in the Cassidy Clan and attendance at the annual Clan Gathering (the next one is August 21-24, 1999). Also, anyone researcing Cassidy (or any variant spelling) is invited to join the Cassidy list. Send SUBSCRIBE to Cassidy-L-request@rootsweb.com (There is a digest version, too.) Janet C-S

I am trying to trace John and Isabella Smith (don't everyone laugh at once), both born about 1769, came to southeastern Pennsylvania probably just before 1790, as they appear to be mentioned under free servants of the people they worked for for a time, since they allegedly arrived with barely the clothes on their backs, before they bought a small farm, in 1798 (according to the deed); for which they paid cash. They would have been barely 20 when they arrived, were married in Ireland, and buried a little baby named William on the voyage over. Isabella's parents were William Smyth or Smythe and Elizabeth King. And they were staunch Presbyterians, travelling many miles to attend a different church then the much closer one their employers attended. The other clue I have is that John Smith, who was barely 20 when he left Ireland, was a weaver. Local documents identify him as such, and he primarily paid taxes on his loom. His farm was tiny by the standards of that town; 29 acres where a typical farm was 300 acres, and never less than 100 acres for any person who primarily made a living as a farmer, and he also paid taxes on his one horse and one cow. In an area where most people had large, nice, houses, many of which still stand, he built a log cabin - and remains of a fireplace in the basement indicates where the family consisting of husband, wife, and one or two babies, spent their first winter in their new home that probably wasn't quite built yet! (Eventually, twenty years after the Smiths sold the farm, a proper house was built AROUND the log cabin!) But he must have trained as a weaver in Ireland. The people he worked for in London Britain were never weavers, and specialized in crops and dairy, as well as ownership of slaves, and Evangelical Christianity, and local politics! Either his family were weavers, or he apprenticed as a weaver, and if his family were weavers, it is not unlikely the Smyths and Kings were weavers, too! I do not know if John Smith specialized in weaving wool or linen or even cotton, but he may not have woven the same thing as in Ireland. Also, clearly the family were Scotch-Irish. Presbyterian weavers did not hatch on Irish soil. Family traditions say he came from "Ireland" or "Northern Ireland". But patterns of association suggest Fermanagh County as of more than average probability. Are there any records of weavers and of apprentices for Fermanagh County? Would his Scotch-Irish ethnicity have made a differnce? Also, are Presbyterian records available in Fermanagh County for ca 1769, and what substitute censuses would there be for 1760 to 1790? Yours, Dora Smith

In a message dated 1/23/99 7:57:09 PM, finigan@tiac.net wrote: <<However, in my search of the internet for the correct townland name, etc., on http://proni.nics.gov.uk/geogindx/ferm.htm, I drew a complete blank. None of the Parishes listed on the map include AUGHAVASS. All I know about the area came about when I attended my nephew from CO Cavan wedding last July at St Patrick's Church in Holywell, Belcoo, and the invitation came from the bride's mother: "Brigid Magee & Family, Aughavass, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh". >> Ed, I did a quick look in the Belcoo book, and there is a townland of Aghavass. It is in the parish of Cleenish. Btw, its name means "the field of the nut trees." Perhaps AUghavass is an alternate speling, but it is listed in this book and on my ordnance survey map as Aghavass. Janet C-S

In catching up with old mail from the Fermanagh List, I was excited to read about "The Fermanagh Story" as well as "If Only: Historical Sketches of the Belcoo Area". However, in my search of the internet for the correct townland name, etc., on http://proni.nics.gov.uk/geogindx/ferm.htm, I drew a complete blank. None of the Parishes listed on the map include AUGHAVASS. All I know about the area came about when I attended my nephew from CO Cavan wedding last July at St Patrick's Church in Holywell, Belcoo, and the invitation came from the bride's mother: "Brigid Magee & Family, Aughavass, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh". Any suggestions for tracking down "Aughavass" before I invest in one of these books. Thanks, Ed Finigan Lynn, MA USA finigan@tiac.net (My wife was born in Co. Cavan.)

In reference to Michael Clarks letter about Beleek. I have the book about Castle Caldwell by John Cunningham----anyone want any look ups I will be glad to do them. However the book is pretty much about Caldwells, Archdales, Belmores etc. My Caldwells are from the area and cannot find a postive connection to Castle Caldwell but believe there may be a collateral connection. My James Caldwell Born 1724 , married to Eliz Alexander in 1752 was from Ulster, Tyrone County---any, I say any help anyone can give me on this I would so great grateful----my question is ---where was my James born and who were his parents!!!! Happy Hunting to All Pat Caldwell

Folk planning a visit to Northern Ireland often intend to visit the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI). It has a website which can be used for an initial search to target further searches and document identifications to seek when you get there. The website address is http://proni.nics.gov.uk Several folk on the list live in the Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis area. For fun look up on the PRONI website the estate papers for the Brook family, who had and still have the 'Big House' in Brookborough, Fermanagh. One of them was a senior officer in the British Army when they landed in the USA from Chesapeake Bay in the 1812-14 war. They burnt Washington, besieged Baltimore, and lost the Battle of New Orleans, actually after the peace had been signed. Michael Clarke Irvinestown

Hi Janet Glad that you enjoyed my Fermanagh posts. As you know my main interest is yacht racing history and Lough Erne. I see that you are in New York state. Fermanagh yachting has several New York links, a couple of which I set out below. In the late 1830s Pat McGeighan from Balindrate, Donegal, a young carpenter, emigrated to New York. He became a noted designer and builder of 'sandbagger' racing yachts, a type peculiar to New York where each crew man sat over the side with a bag of sand in his lap to ballast the boat against the pressure of her large sails. In 1851 The Earl of Mountcharles, also in Donegal, brought a small one of these boats home called the Una as she had just one sail. He later sold her to a fellow member of Lough Erne YC and she sailed here until the late 1800s. This boat was the ancestor in European waters of today's widespread racing dinghy type, still shaped as Pat McGeighan and others devised, wide, flat, centre board, big sails and held up by crew weight over the side - but no longer are sandbags used! In the 1840s John Beavoir Webb came from Cork to Portora School in Enniskillen. Boating was on the curriculum. He went on to be one of the first professional yacht designers and moved to New York where he designed those fine steam yachts that millionaires had to commute down town before so many of today's bridges were build. He died in 1923. My information on Pat McGeighan came mostly from a book called Memories of American Yachting. I would like to be able to find more about him from American records. What sources etc would you recommend over there ? It may be that others on the Fermanagh list would be interested so I am copying this email to the list. Michael -----Original Message----- From: Caiside@aol.com <Caiside@aol.com> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 23 January 1999 17:25 Subject: Fermanagh list >Michael, >Thank you for your recent posts to the Fermanagh list. Your information has >been interesting and I'm sure very useful to many. It is great to have someone >locally based on the list. >Janet Cassidy-Stroh (from New York state, but a piece of my heart is in >Fermanagh!) >

Hi Betty My main interest is the history of yachting and Lough Erne and I have very little by way of family research. About Beleek as such, you could try writing to the local historian in that part of the country. J. B (John) Cummingham, The Commons, Beleek, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, UK. He has published a number of books and articles, about Beleek and Castle Caldwell history, most recently a book containing a delightful collection of annotated old photographs about Ballyshannon and around. Others on the Fermanagh list may find this book interesting so I am copying this message to the list. -----Original Message----- From: EClark5407@aol.com <EClark5407@aol.com> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 23 January 1999 15:57 Subject: McKenna from Belleek area >Dear Michael, I would appreciate it if you could check to see if there are >any McKenna's in your archives. Michael McKenna was born c. 1830 in Belleek >(or the nearby area.) He married a Jane McMahan and gave birth to the only >McKenna that I can trace, Elizabeth M. McKenna who was born Nov. 1853. She >came to the US. I am desperately trying to find our NI roots. My only clues >are the fact that she always told my grandmother how proud she was to have >come from Belleek in Fermanagh. Thanks for reading this. > >Betty Ann Clark >

Hi Mary about your query below. I am familiar with Fermanagh because I have lived here for nearly 20 years past. I find that the best map for both roads and townlands is the Fermanagh Lakeland Outdoor Pursuits and Navigation Guide, and there are two of them, one for the Upper and one for the Lower Lake, that is roughly Fermanagh south of Enniskillen and Fermanagh north of Enniskillen. There are a large number of townlands in the County and we pride ourselves in still using them when elsewhere such usage has been neglected or stamped out by postal authorities. >From your map, which you say omits roads, can you tell me where Killybane is relative to a town or village or some other landmark. I will then locate it on my copy of the Outdoor Pursuits map, which shows roads, and email you back with directions - and mind that you drive on the proper side of the road when over here, and round the roundabouts! Michael Please tell me where -----Original Message----- From: Mary McGinnis <maginnis@usit.net> To: Michael Clarke <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 23 January 1999 14:29 Subject: Re: Castle Archdale >Michael, > >Also am noticing your familarity with the geography of Co. Fermanagh. >Would you please tell me (I have the townland map but does not show >roads) how I would physically find Killybane, Co. Fermanagh? I know that >this is a small place, 73 acres, so would be similar to finding the >property that I live on. Also, would there be a city close to that >townland? > >Thank you for your knowledge and help!!! > >Regards, >Mary McG >in Tennessee >