There are a number of historical societies in Northern Ireland. One of the oldest and biggest is the Clougher Historical Society which is based on the church dioceses of that name and takes in Fermanagh, Tyrone and parts of Monaghan etc across the border in the Republic. Johnston is a common name here and, sure enough, the Honorary Secretary of the Clougher Historical Society is Jack Johnston, Ratory, Clougher, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK. The Society has a small annual subscription and publishes a twice-yearly journal packed with the results of members' research. The list of members in the journal shows many local names of course, but also a number from abroad. Michael Clarke Irvinestown -----Original Message----- From: Pike, Brian, HMR/CA <Brian.Pike@hmrag.com> To: FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com <FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com> Date: 15 January 1999 06:21 Subject: Johnston family history >Dear Sirs, > >My name is Brian Pike and my mother's name was Miriam Johnston. I am >currently involved in preparing our family tree and part of our family >originated in Fermanagh. >Between the period 1850 and 1857, four brothers from this district by the >names of George, Arthur, Alexander and Thomas Johnston emigrated to Canada >in the province of Quebec. >We are attempting to determine as much information as possible on these >brothers especially George who is my great grandfather. Any information that >you could provide would be greatly appreciated. If any relatives of these >individuals still reside in the area of Fermanagh could you please let us >know so that we may correspond directly with them. > >Sincerely, > >Brian Pike >brian.pike@hmrag.com >Calgary, Alberta, Canada >

I am researching events in Brookeboro during the famine and was wondering if any historians out there know of a large skirmish around Christmastime 1849 in Brookeboro that the "Orange party" may have lost. Also in Lisnaskea was there a yearly fair held in January? And does the reference "Lough Side Boys" mean anything to anyone from early 1850. Thanks, JK

In a message dated 1/23/99 12:51:17 PM, michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net wrote: <<Several folk on the list live in the Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis area.>> Hmmmnn---anyone related to Patrick CASSIDY (1804-1894) born near Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh, emigrated to Us in 1842, He supposedly went first to Emmitsburg, Md, (his wife Mary McCAFFREY may have been a relative of Rev. John McCAFFREY , pres of St Mary's seminary, whose family came from Termonamongan, Tyrone). By 1845 Patrick and Mary were living in WashDC, eventually in Georgetown, where Patrick was sexton of Holy Trinity RC church. Mary's cousin Rev Peter B. O'FLANAGAN, was pastor there. Mary and Patrick had children: Mary, Peter Augustus, Charles I., Patrick Francis, Ann Virginia, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mary Catherine, Edward Francis. Contact me if this rings any bells for anyone. Janet C-S

Could someone be kind enough to find William Woods around 1862 in Irvinestown for me. Father James Woods and mother Margaret Coyle. Joanne

Hi Dot My interest is yacht history and I am not greatly informed on family research. However the following may be helpful. I have cut up your message and mixed in my responses. I am copying this to the Fermanagh list as some of the information may be of use to others. -----Original Message----- From: DSexton420@aol.com <DSexton420@aol.com> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 23 January 1999 03:33 Subject: Re: Fivemiletown phone book-Brownes >Michael, my name is dot donnelly-sexton. I'll be coming to your part of >Ireland in Feb where is the best place around you to find info. on my family >that was from Cavanalough. I have the name of the RC church in ivinestown, I'm >sending a letter to father this week to see if my family are in the old church >records from Coa and Trillick. I'm also writing to the priest in Trillick. A good contact to write to might be the retired Parish Priest in Irvinestown. He is Rev Fr Timmoney. You may like to call me when in Irvinestown 01-3656-21436 but I will be away in Belgium from 9 to 23 February. The best general contact for accommodation in Fermanagh is the Visitors Centre, Fermanagh District Council, telephone 01-365-323100. In Irvinestown itself the main place is Mahon's Hotel, Mill St. Irvinestown, telephone 01-3656-21656, and there numerous Bed and Breakfast places in and around the town, ordinary homes offering budget accommodation. Irvinestown's resident historian is Breige McCusker, Drumharvey, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, UK, phone 01-3656-21430. She has written a number of books and made videos about the area and its history. When in Belfast you might find it useful to visit PRONI the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland. It has also got a WWW page. Indeed it would be an idea to look at this first so as to have a target for any PRONI visit. the time period is the 1850-1930's. any other place that will have old records >that I can look at that you know of? I'm starting in Dublin then my next stop >is Belfast then the Enniskillen area. I have places in Dublin and Belfast but >i don't know of any in your area. any help there. >thank you >dot >

Castle Archdale today is a country park with marina, caravan and camping site, woodland walks and a youth hostel (which provides cheap, clean, cheerful accommodation). It was a flying boat base during WW2 and some artefacts of that period remain, in particular the caravans are parked on concrete originally laid for parking Sunderland flying boats that patrolled the Atlantic protecting convoys from U-boats. A number of airmen killed in that war, and from Canada in particular, are buried in both churchyards in Irvinestown, and are commemorated on Remembrance Day each November. The Archdall or now Archdale family built up this estate over a couple of centuries. It was largely sold off to tenants in the early 1900s. Edward Archdale built a small church just beside the present day entrance and which is still in use. Nearby is the tower of the earlier church. As far as I know there are no, or only a very few, burials at this church. There is a larger old burial ground at the church south along the road about 3 miles at Kiladeas. You might get more information by writing to the Rev Thompson, Church of Ireland, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, UK. There are a lot of Johnston families in present day Fermanagh, including my next door neighbours. One set of Johnston families were traditional boatbuilders, fishermen and lake island dwellers in the early 190s and perhaps earlier, and there might, only might, be a Castle Ardchdale connection here, since the estate included a number of islands in Lower Lough Erne. Some of these Johnstons live today in Lack. Irwin is also a common name, though not nearly as numerous as Johnston. I have a vague memory of a project some time ago in which inscriptions on gravestones in Fermanagh graveyards were recorded in a database. You might find out more on this and your other queries from The Visitor's Centre, Fermanagh District Council, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, UK, or from The Curator, Fermanagh, Museum at the same address. -----Original Message----- From: M. J. Stone <mjs@abelink.com> To: michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net <michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net> Date: 23 January 1999 05:22 >Noted your address at Irvinestown on a post to Fermanagh on Rootsweb. >Wonder if you could help me with a bit of local geography. I know where >Irvinestown is on the map and Castle Archdale is about 3 or 4 miles west on >Lough Erne. Where from there would be the Castle Archdale burying grounds >(pre 1850)? Is/was there a church there? I am looking for records of a >James and Christiana (Irwin) Johnston supposed to be buried there. Thank >you. mjs@abelink.com >

In a message dated 1/23/99 7:40:57 AM, retz@mns.net.au wrote: <<Could someone be kind enough to find William Woods around 1862 in Irvinestown for me. >> It is unclear what you want people to look in. Your best bet would be either to the parish priest in Irvinestown, or to the Town Hall in Enniskillen for the marriage record of his parents. While births only started in 1864, marriages for Protestants were recorded from 1845 . Good luck, Janet C-S

In a message dated 1/23/99 10:11:21 AM, michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net wrote: <<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>> The Ordnance Survey Maps of NI are also very good. Mine has back roads and things such as churches, crannogs, castles, and raths noted, as well as many Townland names. The one I have is sheet 17, for Lower Lough Erne, on scale of 1:50 000. Janet C-S

In a message dated 1/23/99 7:23:00 AM, michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net wrote: <<I have a vague memory of a project some time ago in which inscriptions on gravestones in Fermanagh graveyards were recorded in a database. You might find out more on this and your other queries from The Visitor's Centre, Fermanagh District Council, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, UK, or from The Curator, Fermanagh, Museum at the same address. >> The Heritage Center in Dungannon, Co Tyrone is supposed to have over transcribed and computerised over 300 gravestone inscriptions for NI. They charge a fee for a search, of course. You could always write and ask first whether they have the graveyard you are interested in. Also, many of them have also been published in various sources, such as the Clogher Historical Society's Clogher Record. John Grenham's Tracing your Irish Ancestors includes a list of what has been done for each county, but I don't see any listed for Kiladeas. Janet C-S

The Archdale's at Riversdale were certainly a sailing family - Sir Edward A was Commodore of your Club towards the end of last century. They owned a boat called 'Spook' which I think they kept at Killadeas. His father, Captain Mervyn Archdale, had a steam yacht named 'Camilla' which cost over £1000; but in November 1882, having been only a few years in use, she was burned whilst anchored off Castle Archdale, and a quantity of luggage belonging to the Captain's guests, was destroyed. He also had the steamer 'Rossclare', about 70ft long and owned originally by Henry D'Arcy Irvine, after whose death in 1870 she was purchased by the Captain. On the latter's death, this vessel passed to a local Company and re-named 'The Lady of the Lake' and plied the Lough for many years. I would be most interested to know if you have any details of any Archdales at your Club. Hope this helps. Peter Archdale > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Clarke [mailto:michael.clarke@swiftsoft.net] > Sent: 21 January 1999 21:21 > To: FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Fermanagh's Yachting Families > > > In 1818 a number of Fermanagh gentlemen set up 'The Subscribers > to the Boat > races on Lough Erne for the encouragement of Fast Sailing Boats and the > Improvement of the Navigation of the Lake'. There is a subsequent and > continued history of yacht racing that makes today's Lough Erne Yacht Club > the oldest yacht racing club in Ireland. It involved various Big House > families, who owned the yachts, and other families, many were employees at > the Big Houses, who built the yachts and crewed in them. > > Big House yacht owners included the following: Saundersons of Castle > Saunderson; the Crichtons of Crom Castle, Tippings of Rosferry, Irvines of > Rockport, Folliot-Bartons of Waterfoot, the Massey- Beresfords, and the > Richardsons of Rossfad. Boat building families, usually also carpenters, > included Maguires at Bellisle, Craigs at Crom, Goodwins, and Johnstons, > some of whom lived on Lower Lake islands. Ternans on Owl Island, > Lower Lake > and Cathcarts of the Upper Lake were famous rowing families, as were many > who lived on Boa Island, Ireland's largest inland island. Charlie McCabe > built numerous racing yachts for the lakes and the sea in > Enniskillen in the > late 1800s. > > Johnston is a very common name in present day Fermanagh. It is a > long shot, > but the Rod Johnstone who built the first of the famous international J/24 > keelboats in Connecticut in 1977 believes that his ancestors came from the > north of Ireland. > > May I ask folk on the list seeking out family histories to look > out for the > yachting connection. Especially in the early 1800s when Fermanagh's > population was three times that of today, there was a substantial > and active > fleet, likewise in the late 1800s. > > Michael Clarke > Historian LEYC > Irvinestown >

My gg grandfather's death certificate says his parents were born in Co. Fermanagh. That's all I have for a location. John Bryan was born in 1829 or 1830 and died in Brooklyn in 1969. He was probably not a Catholic since he is not buried in a Catholic cemetery. He was buried in a plot owned by James Gilfillan. James also was his witness for naturalization. James and John were about the same age. Is someone able to check the 1851 census for Bryan and Gilfillan? John arrived in NY in 1851 but family may still have been in Fermanagh. I'm wondering if Gilfillan is a Fermanagh name. Thanks for your help.

There are about 60 Browns and Brownes in Fermanagh in the Northern Ireland phone book. About a dozen are in Fivemiletown (just over the Fermanagh border in Tyrone) and nearby, for example, Lisbellaw. There is one main phone book for the whole of Northern Ireland, population about 1.6 million. The population of Fermanagh is about 54 thousand. Occasionally a local printer produces local telephone directories, but they are not updated regularly the way that the official British Telecom book is updated. Michael Clarke Irvinestown -----Original Message----- From: Sask <djsk@home.com> To: FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com <FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com> Date: 22 January 1999 20:21 Subject: FiveMiletown phone book-Brownes >If there is someone with access to a phonebook for fivemiletown, could you >please tell me if there are Browne's in the phone book? Of course I am >hoping for about 20, but I realize there could be hundreds. > >Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Joy Irene >

If there is someone with access to a phonebook for fivemiletown, could you please tell me if there are Browne's in the phone book? Of course I am hoping for about 20, but I realize there could be hundreds. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Joy Irene

Hello Suzanne I have cut your message up and inserted responses. Suzanne --- I was interested in your use of the term "Big House" Michael ---- I use it as a convenient short description of the homes of gentry, landlords, bishops etc. By the early 1800s after more than a century of peace and relative prosperity the population of Fermanagh rose to 150 thousand (today is is only about 54 thousand). It was largely a rural community with tenant farmers and others paying rent to land owners who lived in 'Big Houses'. I am copying Mary Roger's use of the term in her important history book Prospect of Fermanagh, Watergate Press, Enniskillen 1982 ISBN 0 903856 01 X. Suzanne ---- tradition that George Montgomery, b. 1815?, a gardener, married Elisabeth >Montgomery of the "Big House" in 1840/1 in Lisnaskea. Michael ---- in 1815 the Big House in Lisnaskea might have been any of several. The biggest was Lord Erne's Crom Castle and he owned Lisnaskea town. But there were other Big Hoses, for example Armagh Manor, near Ballagh Cross about 5 miles out where the Haire family lived, and still live to this day. Suzanne - - - -Have you any references to a Montgomery or Scott subscriber to the Boat races on Lough Erne? Michael --- not at present, but research continues. If found I expect that your Montgomery would be an employee of one of the subscribers, as they were the gentry who owned the yachts - and, in most cases, also a Big House. Suzanne -- - I am aware that Montgomery was an important name in Fermanagh but have not >made any connections to the branches of the Plantation Montgomerys. Michael -- yes Montgomery is a common Ulster name - the most famous Ulster Montgomery being General Montgomery who led the British in the Normandy landings in 1944 ( I believe there were a few folk from the USA there as well) Michael --- there is an awkward rocky reef on Lower Lough Erne to be avoided by yachts racing called Montgomery Rocks. If you ever get this far I will take you out in my J/24 racing keelboat to sail round them - not hit them! They are probably named after a Montgomery who did hit them. Not far away are Sandys Rocks named after A Saunderson who hit them in a yacht about 1820 and further to the west Bingham's Rock, where he and six companions drowned about 1710. Best Wishes Michael Historian LEYC

Hello Michael Clarke I was interested in your use of the term "Big House" because there is a tradition that George Montgomery, b. 1815?, a gardener, married Elisabeth Montgomery of the "Big House" in 1840/1 in Lisnaskea. His birth place was given as Clay, Fermanagh, and hers as Drumharriff, Fermanagh. Her parents were William Montgomery and Catherine Scott. George's may have been Charles and Mary ? This Montgomery family was in Glasgow by 1846. I have them traced after that. Have you any references to a Montgomery or Scott subscriber to the Boat races on Lough Erne? I am aware that Montgomery was an important name in Fermanagh but have not made any connections to the branches of the Plantation Montgomerys. Thank you Suzanne Sommerville In Michigan Message text written by INTERNET:FERMANAGH-L@rootsweb.com >In 1818 a number of Fermanagh gentlemen set up 'The Subscribers to the Boat races on Lough Erne for the encouragement of Fast Sailing Boats and the Improvement of the Navigation of the Lake'. There is a subsequent and continued history of yacht racing that makes today's Lough Erne Yacht Club the oldest yacht racing club in Ireland. It involved various Big House families, who owned the yachts, and other families, many were employees at the Big Houses, who built the yachts and crewed in them. Big House yacht owners included the following: Saundersons of Castle Saunderson; the Crichtons of Crom Castle, Tippings of Rosferry, Irvines of Rockport, Folliot-Bartons of Waterfoot, the Massey- Beresfords, and the Richardsons of Rossfad. Boat building families, usually also carpenters, included Maguires at Bellisle, Craigs at Crom, Goodwins, and Johnstons, some of whom lived on Lower Lake islands. Ternans on Owl Island, Lower Lake and Cathcarts of the Upper Lake were famous rowing families, as were many who lived on Boa Island, Ireland's largest inland island. Charlie McCabe built numerous racing yachts for the lakes and the sea in Enniskillen in the late 1800s. Johnston is a very common name in present day Fermanagh. It is a long shot, but the Rod Johnstone who built the first of the famous international J/24 keelboats in Connecticut in 1977 believes that his ancestors came from the north of Ireland. May I ask folk on the list seeking out family histories to look out for the yachting connection. Especially in the early 1800s when Fermanagh's population was three times that of today, there was a substantial and active fleet, likewise in the late 1800s. Michael Clarke Historian LEYC Irvinestown <

In 1818 a number of Fermanagh gentlemen set up 'The Subscribers to the Boat races on Lough Erne for the encouragement of Fast Sailing Boats and the Improvement of the Navigation of the Lake'. There is a subsequent and continued history of yacht racing that makes today's Lough Erne Yacht Club the oldest yacht racing club in Ireland. It involved various Big House families, who owned the yachts, and other families, many were employees at the Big Houses, who built the yachts and crewed in them. Big House yacht owners included the following: Saundersons of Castle Saunderson; the Crichtons of Crom Castle, Tippings of Rosferry, Irvines of Rockport, Folliot-Bartons of Waterfoot, the Massey- Beresfords, and the Richardsons of Rossfad. Boat building families, usually also carpenters, included Maguires at Bellisle, Craigs at Crom, Goodwins, and Johnstons, some of whom lived on Lower Lake islands. Ternans on Owl Island, Lower Lake and Cathcarts of the Upper Lake were famous rowing families, as were many who lived on Boa Island, Ireland's largest inland island. Charlie McCabe built numerous racing yachts for the lakes and the sea in Enniskillen in the late 1800s. Johnston is a very common name in present day Fermanagh. It is a long shot, but the Rod Johnstone who built the first of the famous international J/24 keelboats in Connecticut in 1977 believes that his ancestors came from the north of Ireland. May I ask folk on the list seeking out family histories to look out for the yachting connection. Especially in the early 1800s when Fermanagh's population was three times that of today, there was a substantial and active fleet, likewise in the late 1800s. Michael Clarke Historian LEYC Irvinestown

A few weeks, in all the discussion of Fermanagh Story, someone kindly gave the web address of Kenny's Bookshop as a good source for mail-order books -- and I can't locate it now when I need it. Would that person kindly repeat it? Thanks very much for your help!

Have connection with the ARMSTRONG, ALFORDS and WIGGINS of County Fermanagh and border of Monaghan (Clones) and Tyrone. All three names are intertwined in my family. Most of the families came to Canada and the united states. e,g, Arthur ARMSTRONG m. Isabella WIGGINS in Enniskillen. He remained in Ireland and his children came out to Canada, Hastings County, Ontario. Henry ALFORD m. Margaret JOHNSON in Clones, Co. Monaghan and he had one daugther and they came to Canada, Hastings County, Ontario. Henry also had 3 brothers, John, Joseph and William and they came out to Canada to Hastings County, Ontario. Henry's sister Jane ALFORD m. Thomas ARMSTRONG their children came out to Canada and the united states. If any interest please advise and I can send more info. Donald J. Boyle Brantford, Ontario, Canada

I am searching for information on Christopher Wilson b. January 18,1822 in Fermanagh County. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Wilson. Christopher married Cecelia Sidney Johnston b. November 9, 1835 also from Fermanagh County in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1858. Cecelia's parents were John and Anna Elliott Johnston who made their home at Greystone Manor in Ireland. Cecelia had a brother, John, who lived either in New York or New Jersy. She also had two siblings, Hugh and Marianna Johnston, who emigrated to Mansfield, Victoria, Australia about 1850. I would like information on them too. Thank you, Mary Lawrence Indiana, USA

Hi Brian: I read your listing from last Friday with interest. Mycousins and I have been researching the Barton name in Fermanagh, and have an association with the Johnstons from there. Specifically, our records show that AN Arthur Johnston married Elizabeth Paul in Fermanagh. Their children were: Isabella, Rebecca, Jane, Catherine, Elizabeth, Alexander, and Mary. Isabella Johnston married Thomas Barton at Tubrid Church. Co. Fermanagh, and emigrated to the Eastern Townships of Quebec (S. Durham / Melbourne area) in 1853. So, if we were to assume that Arthur emigrated with his daughter and son-in-law, the name and emigration date would match. This is a HUGE assumption though, as we haven't seen evidence that Isabella's father came with her. Let me know if these names sound familiar. Gregg Loane Toronto