SHAW ROBERT 28/01/1842 06/07/1842 MARTIN MARY ROSSGOLE MARTIN ISABELLA 21/04/1838 29/04/1838 CHRISTOPHER MARY COLLINS KIMMID Above is from the records I had sent to you & which is posted on the FG website. I think this is your Robert, except that whoever transcribed it showed the father as Martin and not Matthew. If the record above is your Isabella, you are lucky that the mother's maiden name was included, Collins. - Jane > Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 15:15:06 +1200 > To: FERMANAGH-GOLD@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: FERMANAGH-GOLD William Mathew Shaw & Isabella > From: fermanagh-gold@rootsweb.com > > Thanks to all those who have fed back re William Mathew Shaw and Isabella Martin, our maternal great grandparents. > > Special mention to Robyn who scored me a copy of the original marriage register with signatures that matched those on their wills.!!! Felt like a BINGO/Eureka moment!! That is prima facie evidence that I have connected the right dots to Ireland! > > They are definitely From Boa Island/Pettigo (William) and Inischin/Pettigo Isabella not Enniskillen as recorded in some transcribed documents in NZ. > > So we have established our home base in Ireland with 100% certainty!! A definite Ireland/NZ connection and a definite Shaw in Boa Island and Pettigo. > > > Now to go back in time one step further. > > William was born circa 1845-7, he had an older brother (Robert) about 2 years older. > > William's father was Mathew... Mother still unknown > > Isabella was born in c1860... was the fifth child... mother ?? Margaret Mulholland > > Any more candidates for another Eureka moment would be welcome. Once this next one is nailed we have all ancestors back to at least the very early 1800's... some back to the 1482... Birth of Joan Cocking in Cornwall, England, my 11 times great grandmother! > > > > Thanks again... > > a very grateful Ron Law > ================================== > > https://www.google.ie/ > ================================== > http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/placenames/ > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to FERMANAGH-GOLD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Willie Carlin writing in the book Workhouses of the North West tells of unearthing this sad story from the files of a local newspaper the Tyrone Constitution. The title for the report "A sad Christmas" is I think somewhat understated and in our World of plenty it is hard to imagine or comprehend such hardship and suffering. Thomas Gilroy, a native of Manorcunningham County Donegal, left his home with his young wife and six children in search of employment in the City of Glasgow. He arrived there early in August 1847 but by the time November came there was little work to be had and no food or shelter. His wife was taken ill with fever,followed by Thomas and three of the children, two of whom died. Weak and straving,unable to care for his wife and four remaining children,Thomas was given the sum of two shillings and sixpence and he and his family were put on a boat to Derry Quay. When they arrived at the Londonderry Workhouse they were refused admission because they had no transfer documentation. They were told to go on to Strabane 14 miles away. After sheltering overnight from the cold and miserable weather, the sad bedragled little group set out the next day to walk the 14 miles to Strabane. The only food to be had was raw turnips which they found growing in fields along the way. They were barely able to stand when they got to Strabane Workhouse on the 10th of December. When they asked to be admitted they were again turned away because they had no official identification. Eventually they found shelter at Melmount with an old woman who had little food to spare herself. Starved and exhausted Thomas Gilroy lay down on the damp earth alongside his family. Early on the morning of the 17th of December Thomas and his youngest child, died. The inquiry that followed found they had died from starvation. The gate keeper at the workhouse was reprimanded for ignoring the plight of the Gilroy family,and Mrs Gilroy and her three surviving children were taken into workhouse care. The old lady whose cabin they had shared at Melmount was given a subscription for laying out the bodies of Thomas and his child,before they were carried to the paupers graveyard for burial After this the Guardians of Strabane Workhouse adopted a policy of assisted emigration. More able bodied inmates were sent to New South Wales, New Zealand and Quebec. It was well known that on the journey they were accompanied by an assortment of prisoners from Lifford Jail. Willie Carlin describes the frequent overcrowding in the house and recounted an unauthorized custom. On wet cold nights the destitute paupers and their children were permitted to shelter outside by leaning tight against the workhouse walls. For this privilege they paid the Workhouse Porter the sum of one penny. It was known to all as "The Penny Lean" best regards Robert www.ulsterancestry.com