Hello, Looking for baptism of William Mullins in 1861 with father Thomas Mullins. Also, his mother Mary Reardon. Thanks, Maureen

looking for baptism for patrick mcgovern feb 1860 jane philips aug 1860 Births/Christening for Patrick McGovern start in 1864 Births/Christening for Patrick Mc Govern start in 1828 - closest is MC GOVERN, Patrick Christening Gender: Male Christening Date: 17 Feb 1859 Recorded in: Loughglynn, Roscommon, Ireland Collection: Roman Catholic Father: Joannis MC GOVERN Mother: Brigidae MC CANN Source: FHL Film 989753 Dates: 1849 - 1863 NEXT IS: MC GOVERN, Patrick Birth Gender: Male Birth Date: 10 Aug 1866 Birthplace: 162, Castlerea, Ros, Ire Recorded in: Roscommon, Ireland Collection: Civil Registration Father: Patrick MC GOVERN Mother: Margaret REGAN Source: FHL Film 101138 Dates: 1866 - 1867 Birth/Christening for Jane Phillips also start in 1864

Well said David, I have been doing LOOKUPS and have been away for a week, now back and would like to add my two sense .. David's thoughts are good ones - Names in CAPS and as much info as possible is helpful as the lookups are time consuming and frustrating when one can not find anything for you .. ...I have found that most (9 ot of 10) requestors have sent me a "thank you" on receipt of something or even nothing .. Most appreciated . I will catch up on request still open this weekend .. MaryPat May I suggest that you provide more information than this, such as a > County, Parish or Townland if known. Surnames should also be in CAPITALS. > Also, at the risk of inciting some adverse comment may I suggest you > phrase your request with courtesy and politeness. I usually ignore this > type of curt request, however on this occasion I felt some 'soap-boxing' > was needed. It is also good manners to acknowledge ANY reply you may > receive with thanks, as the person replying to you has spent their > valuable time trying to assist you. > If you do not receive a reply, do not despair. Wait a few weeks and then > try again. I try to help where I can but I do have a life, which takes > just a bit more of my time than I would like, and so I cannot reply to > many enquiries and often can do nothing for weeks at a time. > I say this not so much as criticism but rather as instruction so that you > and others reading this might understand why your request might not > attract any reply. > > David Mangan > Mudgee > New South Wales > Australia >

Hello David: WELL SAID !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Specially the notation: 'Surnames should *always* be in CAPITALS'. Bev ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Mangan" <dalmaks@hwy.com.au> To: <IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 5:20 PM Subject: [IRELAND] Re: CD LOOKUP - McGovern, Philips > May I suggest that you provide more information than this, such as a > County, Parish or Townland if known. Surnames should also be in CAPITALS. > Also, at the risk of inciting some adverse comment may I suggest you > phrase your request with courtesy and politeness. I usually ignore this > type of curt request, however on this occasion I felt some 'soap-boxing' > was needed. It is also good manners to acknowledge ANY reply you may > receive with thanks, as the person replying to you has spent their > valuable time trying to assist you. > If you do not receive a reply, do not despair. Wait a few weeks and then > try again. I try to help where I can but I do have a life, which takes > just a bit more of my time than I would like, and so I cannot reply to > many enquiries and often can do nothing for weeks at a time. > I say this not so much as criticism but rather as instruction so that you > and others reading this might understand why your request might not > attract any reply. > > David Mangan > Mudgee > New South Wales > Australia >

SNIPPET: Australian libraries have extensive biographical-type resources, and a "Google" search will turn up many websites devoted to this subject with updates. To celebrate the Australian Bicentenary of 1988, many convict records were microfilmed and a computerized database of the surnames they contained was created. Copies of the microfilms and the database were presented to the Australian Government and can now be found in many state archives. The National Archives, Ireland, Bishop St., also retains copies. The databases can save a great deal of time and effort and supply enough details from the originals to identify the relevant record. The LDS (Mormon) Family History Centers have similar information on microfilm. Because of the distance involved, very few emigrants to Australia and New Zealand could afford the journeys themselves, and most, whether assisted free settlers or transported convicts, are therefore quite well-documented. Transportation from Ireland, or for crimes committed in Ireland, lasted from 1791 to 1853, ending some 15 years earlier than transportation from England. The only mass transportation later than 1853 was of 63 Fenians who were sent to Western Australia in 1868 aboard the last convict ship from England to Australia. The records of the Chief Secretary's Office, which had responsibility for the penal system, are the major Irish source of information on transportees. Not all the relevant records have survived, particularly for the period before 1836, but what does exist can provide a wealth of information. The records were formerly housed in the State Paper Office in Dublin Castle, which is now part of the National Archives and is situated at Bishop St., Dublin 8, per John Grenham. The principal classes of relevant records are as follows: 1. Prisoner's Petitions and Cases, 1788-1836: Petitions to the Lord Lieutenant for commutation or remission of sentence, and record of crime, trial, sentence, place of origin and family circumstances. 2. State Prisoners' Petitions: Specifically concern those arrested for participation in the 1798 Rebellion, and record the same information. 3. Convict Reference Files from 1836: These continue the EARLIER petitions and may include a wide range of additional material. 4. Transportation Registers from 1836: Record all names of those sentenced to death or transportation, giving name, age, date, county of trial, crime and sentence. Other details sometimes given include the name of the transport ship or the place of detention. 5. Male Convict Register, 1842-47: This volume also gives physical descriptions in addition to that data supplied by the Transportation Registers. 6. Register of Convicts on Convict Ships, 1851-53. Gives names, dates and counties of trial of those transported to Van Dieman's Land and Western Australia for the period covered. 7. Free Settlers' Papers, 1828-52. Per John Grenham, after serving a minimum of four years, a male convict had the right to request a free passage for his wife and family. The Papers contain lists of those making such a request, along with transportation details and the name and address of the wife. A number of petitions from husbands and wives and prisoners' letters are also included. Records relating to free settlers are more scattered and less easily researched. The single most useful source for early settlers, also invaluable for convicts, is the 1828 census of New South Wales, published by the Library of Australian History in 1980. Although the precise place of origin is not recorded, the details include age, occupation, marital status and household. For later settlers, the University of Woolongong in Australia has produced on microfiche a complex index and transcript of all information concerning immigrants of Irish origin recorded on ships' passenger lists between 1848 and 1867. The Genealogical Office, Dublin, has a copy of this. The later lists in particular are extremely useful, often recording the exact place of origin as well as parents' names. Other resources: 1. David T. Hawkings, "Bound for Australia," Sussex: Phillimore and Co., 1987. This book, found in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, contains some of the information in #2 below. 2. Colonial Office Papers of the United Kingdom Public Record Office at Kew, class reference CO 201. This class contains a wide variety of records including petitions for assisted passages, emigrants' lists, records of emigrants on board ship, petitions from settlers for financial assistance, etc. 3: Other books re Australia and New Zealand found in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, and in large genealogy libraries elsewhere: Cleary, P. J. S., "Australia's Debt to Ireland's Nation-builders," Sydney, 1933. Coffey & Morgan, "Irish Families in Australia and New Zealand, 1788-1979", 4 vols., bio. dictionary, Melbourne, 1979. Curry, C. H., "The Irish at Eureka," Sydney, 1954." Hogan, J., "The Irish in Australia," Melbourne, 1888. Hughes, Robert, "The Fatal Shore," London, 1988. Kiernan, C. (ed.), "Australia and Ireland, 1788-1988," Dublin, 1986. Kiernan, T. J., "The Irish in Australia," Dublin, 1954. McDonagh and Mandle, "Ireland and Irish-Australians," Sydney, 1892. O'Farrell, P., "The Irish in Australia," New South Wales, 1987. Robinson, P., "The Hitch and Brood of Time: Australians 1788-1828," Oxford, 1985. Robson, L. L., "The Convict Settlers of Australia," Melbourne, 1965. "The Ulster Link," magazine of Northern Irish in Australia and New Zealand. Keneally, Thomas, "A Decent Set of Girls, The Irish Famine Orphans of the "Thomas Arbuthnot," 1849-1850. (In late Oct., 1849, 81 girls between the ages of 15 and 18 were rescued from workhouses of Ennis, Scarriff, Ennistymon, Co. Clare, and Cos. Galway and Kerry, given assisted passage, finally arriving in Yass, NSW, Feb. 1850; females survived in good condition and raised families in Tumut, Boorowa, Jugiong, Gundagai, Binalong, etc.) Contact Yass Heritage Project, POB 471, Yass, NSW, Australia 2582 for info. regarding copies of their publication regarding same. Also, copies of "Irish Roots" periodical with article on same may be requested from pub. of "Irish Roots," ask for issue #2, 1997. Johnson, K. and Saintly, M. "Genealogical Research Directory," pub. yearly, (1997 vol. has article on Convict Transportation from England to America, 1611-1776). POB 795, North Sydney, NSW, Australia 2060. Periodicals published in Ireland include Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes," interesting articles about Irish towns, people, past and present, with many colorful photos. Cork's "Irish Roots," genealogy publication regarding surnames, Irish counties and history. "History Ireland," for serious students of in-depth Irish history. "Gould Catalogue," yearly book catalogue with monthly supplements contains much information on genealogical material in Australia, also England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, several European countries, North America, India and New Zealand. Gould Books, POB 126, Gumeracha, South Australia 5233. (Also on the Internet, I believe). New Zealand Society of Genealogists, POB 8785, Auckland 3, NZ. Society of Australian Genealogists, Richmond Villa, 120 Kent St., Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia, publishers of "Descent." (Please check for recent changes in addresses!)

SNIPPET: Patrick CAHILL from County Galway arrived at the coastal port of Maryborough after a journey through the Torres Strait and south along the Queensland, Australian coast. No doubt because free or assisted passages were available to the agrarian workers so badly required in the colony, Patrick had given his occupation as a farm laborer. After several years as a stockman, he applied to join the police force in 1894. Three years later he was serving in Longreach, Western Queensland, when he drowned while endeavoring to rescue a stranded family when the Thompson River flooded. His grave was discovered in Australia in 1989 by a retired Garda sergeant and former curator of the Garda Museum in Dublin who was intrigued to find a young Irish constable from the Mitchell District buried in a remote area in the outback; he subsequently was able to piece together the story of CAHILL's life and it was published in the February 1998 edition of the journal of the Royal Historical So! ciety of Queensland, copies of which may still be available for four pounds from the Society at POB 12057, Elizabeth Street, Brisbane 4002, Queensland, Australia. By 1860 over 44% of the police force in the colony of Victoria, then at the peak of the gold fever, were Irish born. From the early 1860s, in the last of the Australian colonies to be declared, Queensland attracted large numbers of Irish, especially during the two decades of the 1860s and the 1880s. As in the southern districts, large numbers became associated with various branches of law enforcement throughout the enormous area of this NE colony which covered 22.5 percent of Australia. A portion of CAHILL's story and photo of his memorial appeared in the 1998 #1 issue of "Irish Roots" periodical, Belgrave Publishers, Cork, and the original photo is also located in the Queensland Police Museum. A "Google" search of the Internet will likely turn up related information.

January 17, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away, about the first of November last, from the Subscriber, living near Bladensburgh, in Prince George County, Maryland, a Convict Servant Man, named Patrick Carroll, born in Ireland, by Trade a Butcher; he is a lusty well set Fellow, about 5 Feet 8 Inches high, he has lost the fourth Finger of his left Hand, has remarkable black Hair, which he wears short, and is pitted with the Small Pox, is very talkative, and excessive fond of strong Liquor; had on, when he went away, a dark Cloth Coat, Check Shirt, and a Pair of Boots, the rest of his Apparel I cannot describe; he carried with him a dark Chestnut sorrel Horse, about 13 Hands high. He obtained a Pass from a Magistrate of this County, by making him believe he was a Free man. Whoever takes up the said Servant, and secures him in any Goal, so that I get him again, shall receive Two Pistoles Reward, from NATHANIEL POPE. January 24, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette Joppa, December 19, 1765. Committed to this Goal as Runaways, the two following Persons, viz. a young man, who calls himself John Wilson, born in Ireland, about five Feet nine Inches high, much pitted with the Smallpox, and badly cloathed. And a Negroe Man, who has been in Goal about two Months, five Feet ten Inches high, has a small round Mark over his left Eye, speaks bad English. Whoever owns the said Runaways, may have them again by applying to JOHN TAYLOR, Goal keeper. February 7, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette THREE POUNDS Reward. RUN away, from the Subscriber, living in Warminster Township, Bucks County, an Irish Servant Man, named James Ferguson, it is thought he will change his Name; he is about 20 Years of Age, fresh Complexion, a thick spoken Fellow, about 5 Feet 8 Inches high, midling thick set, wears his Hair tied behind, but perhaps he may cut it off; had on, when he went away, a good Felt Hat, a thin white Shirt, a light blue Cloth Coat, with Metal Buttons, a brown jacket, without Sleeves or Skirts behind, he took with him a brown Worsted Jacket, lined with light red, a white Leather Apron, a good Pair of Buckskin Breeches, with flat Metal Buttons, grey Yarn Stockings, a Strong Pair of Shoes, with Pinchbeek Buckles in them. Whoever takes up the said Servant, and secures him, so that his Master may have him again, shall have the above Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by JONATHAN WALTON. N.B. He came from Ireland in the Jupiter, Capt. Hawthorn. February 14, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away last Summer, from the Subscriber, in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, a Servant Man, named Thomas Newlan, born in Ireland, speaks with the Brogue, about 5 Feet 5 Inches high, marked with the Small Pox; had on, when he went away, a Provincial Regimental Coat. Whoever takes up the said Servant, and secures him in any County Goal in this Province, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by TIMOTHY GREEN. February 14, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette FORTY SHILLINGS Reward. RUN away, the 28th of January, a certain James Bell, but may change his Name to Johnson, or Thompson, as he has gone by both, was born in Ireland, 5 Feet 6 or 7 Inches high, thin Visage, brown Hair tied behind; had on a Felt Hat, and wore the Peak behind, a brown Coat, blue Jacket, Ditto Plush Breeches, Leather Apron, Check Shirt, and Ditto, blue Yarn Stockings, old Shoes, round Steel Buckles, by Trade a Coach and Harness maker, and took sundry Tools with him, a Handsaw, Chissels, sliding Gunter, and a Common Rule, some Awls, &c. very subject to Drink, and perhaps may pawn or sell them for Liquor. Any Person that will apprehend said Fellow, so as his Master may have him again, shall have the above Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by JOHN WITHY, in Chester, Pennsylvania. February 28, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away from John Pierse, on Sunday the 24th Instant, about Three o'Clock in the Morning, an Irish Servant Lad, named Archibald Kelly, between 16 and 17 Years of Age, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, of a fair complexion, long Visage, down Look, has dark brown hair, but it is likely he may have it cut off; had on, when he went away, a blue Surtout Coat, with gilt Buttons, a blue Cloth Coat, with Brass Buttons, a scarlet Cloth Jacket, without Sleeves, both Coat and Jacket have been turned, blue Cloth Breeches, with washed Buttons, Worsted Stockings, Check Linen Shirt, and Pinchbeck Shoe Buckles. He is very much given to lying, and will persist in a Lie a long Time. It is supposed he intended going off in one of the first Vessels to Ireland, or else is gone in the Stage to New York. Whoever takes up said Servant, and brings him to his Master, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by JOHN PIERSE. N.B. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry him off. May 2, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away from on board the Ship Sarah, James Drew, Master, lately arrived from Bristol, two Servant Men, one named Fergus Kagan, born in the County of Kildare, in Ireland, and bred a Coachman, is about 26 Years of Age, 5 Feet 8 Inches high, rather of a slender make, wears black Hair, which curls in Ringlets down his Neck, has a smooth Face, and appears a likely active young Man, he was dressed in a Check Shirt, blue Cloth upper Jacket, and under Jacket of blue and white stripe, coarse Kersey Breeches, Yarn Stockings, and had also a coarse Drab coloured Kersey Jacket, the same of his Breeches. The other named Patrick Lachay, of Tyrone, in Ireland, a Linen Weaver, about 25 Years of Age, about 5 Feet 5 to 7 Inches high, square set, and a little round shoulder, fair Complexion, has dark brown Hair; had on a light grey Cloth Coat, brown Linen Jacket, scarlet Plush Breeches, and Worsted Stockings. Any Person that delivers the above Servants to the Subscribers in Philadelphia, shall receive Eight Dollars Reward for each of them, with reasonable travelling Charges; but if secured in any of his MajestyGoals at a Distance, so that the Subscribers may have them again, Four Dollars Reward for each, from WILLING and MORRIS. N.B. It is said these two Servants went off on Sunday Evening last, in Company with William Mallet, an Apprentice to Nathaniel Cope, Blacksmith on Society hill, and that the said Mallet had a forged Pass, for three People. May 16, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away from the Subscriber, living in Mount Bethel Township, in Northampton County, on the 17th Day of March last past, a Highland Servant Man, named Donald McDonald, about the Age of 25 Years, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, of a fresh Complexion, fullfaced, pretty much pitted with the Small pox, has a Scar on the fore Finger of his Left hand, speaks between the Highland and Irish Dialects; having lived about three Years and an Half in Ireland, and pretends to be a Shoemaker by Trade; Had on, when he went away, a old blue Broadcloth Coat, stained with Tar, with carved Brass buttons, an Orange coloured Thickset Jacket, with blue Lining, good Buckskin Breeches; had two Pair of pale blue Stockings, one pair ribbed, with a Darn in the Middle of one of the Stockings, having cut it, with his Leg, last Winter; it is supposed he will change his Name and Clothes the first Opportunity; he enquired the Way to Baltimore Town. Whoever takes up and secures the said Servant, in any of his MajestyGoals, so that his Master may have him again, shall receive Five Pounds Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by me WILLIAM MILLER. N.B. All Masters of Vessels, and others are warned on their Peril not to take the said Servant off. June 6, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away, the 26th of May last, from the Subscriber, living in Philadelphia, an Apprentice, named Claudius Taylor, a native of Ireland, about 23 Years of age, 5 Feet 5 or 6 Inches high, round visaged, Pock marked, and marked on his Left hand, by his Thumb, with Powder C T, brown Hair; had on, when he went away, a blue Saggathy Coat, brown Cloth Jacket, black knit Breeches, new Castor Hat, and new Pumps, with Steel Buckles; it s very likely he may endeavour to get Work at the Carpenter Trade, he says he served some Time to it in Ireland; he is fond of Liquor, very talkative, and given much to Swearing. Whoever takes up and secures said Apprentice, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and all reasonable Charges, paid by EDWARD BONSALL. N.B. It is thought he is gone to New York, as he was seen going that Road, in Company with another Man the same Day, and it is likely he will call at Amboy Ferry. All Masters of Vessels, and others, are forbid to harbour or carry him off at their Peril. June 6, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away, on the 15th of May, from the Subscriber, living in Uwchland Township, Chester County, a native Irish Servant Girl, named Catherine McLoy, about 23 Years of Age, dark brown curled Hair, speaks very much with the Brogue, born near Kilkenny, in Ireland; had on, when she went away, a Calicoe Bedgown, two quilted Petticoats, the one black, the other yellow, no Shoes nor Stockings. Whoever takes up and secures said Servant, so that the Owner may have her again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by ROBERT SMITH. June 27, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette Trenton, June 24, 1765. ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS Reward. MADE his Escape from Samuel Tucker, Esq; of Trenton, Sheriff of the County of Hunterdon, in New Jersey, in April last, one Hugh McCan, but has changed his Name, and now calls himself Hugh Johnson; he sailed from Philadelphia about the 20th of April last, in the Sloop Adventure, Captain Matthews, for St. Kitts, and returned again in the same Vessel to Philadelphia on Tuesday last; he was born in Ireland, is near 60 Years of Age, about 5 Feet 7 Inches, has black or hazel Eyes, large black Eyebrows, wore his Hair when he went away, which is grey, sometimes wears a white Cap, or black or brown cut Wig, takes Plenty of Snuff, fair Complexion, addicted to strong Liquor, and very talkative when intoxicated; he can scarce write his Name intelligibly, but pretends to be well versed in Trade, which he has followed in the Retail Way, together with the manufacturing of Wheat, at his late Gristmill at Almetunk River; he also had Sawmill and Fulling mill, is a Fuller by Trade, and will brag largely of his Knowledge in dying Cloths of two Colours, the one Side scarlet, the other blue. Whoever apprehends and secures the said High McCan, alias Johnson, and causes him to be delivered to the Sheriff of Philadelphia, shall receive One Hundred Spanish Dollars, and all reasonable Charges, paid by the Subscriber. It is hoped that all Persons will be diligent to apprehend him, with a View to detect a person of such vile Principles, that deserted the said Sheriff, who placed a Confidence in him out of Compassion, and let him pursue his Business, rather than lock him in Goal, which he was liable to, and justly deserved. SAMUEL TUCKER, Sheriff. June 20, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away, the 9th of this instant June, a Servant Man, named Robert Jones, born in Ireland, about 5 Feet 3 or 4 Inches high, full Visage, black hair, and much pitted with the Small pox; had on, when he went away, a half worn Felt Hat, grey Coat, whitish Jacket, with Sleeves, white Tow Trowsers, hemp Shirt, white Stockings, and Shoes tied with Strings. Whoever takes up said Servant, and delivers him to the Subscriber, living in Lebanon Township, Lancaster County; or to Jacob Barge, at the Sign of the Lamb, in Philadelphia; or secures him in any Goal, so that his Master may have him again, shall have THREE POUNDS Reward, and reasonable Charges paid by JOHN SMITH. August 29, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette EIGHT POUNDS Reward. RUN away, in the Night of the 21st of August, from the Subscriber, living in Cecil County, Maryland, two Convict Servant Men, one named William Callahan, born in Ireland, by Trade a Plaisterer, about 30 years of Age, about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, wear an old grey cut Wig, a light coloured short Kersey Coat, with Metal Buttons, Ozenbrigs Shirt and Trowsers, old Shoes, and Yarn Stockings; he is of a swarthy Complexion, has grey Eyes, pitted with the Small Pox, very talkative, much given to Drink, has served some Time on board a Man of War, and came in the Country about 12 Months ago. The other named Edward Thompson, a Convict, lately imported, an Englishman, a very lusty well looking Man, with black Beard and Eyes: He had on a light coloured Jockey Coat, blue Serve Vest, with Leather Buttons, Shoes and Stockings, an old fine Hat, with a black Crape Band round it; he also took with him a light coloured Bearskin Great Coat, a Snuff coloured Thickset Coat, and sundry other Things, likewise a small old sorrel Horse, with a Star in his Forehead, paces slow, and very stiff; he is a stout resolute Fellow, is apt to drink, and then very insolent; they are both well acquainted with the Water, and may probably pass for Sailors. Whoever takes up and secures the said Servants in any Goal, so that their Masters may have them again, shall have Five Pounds Reward for Thompson, and Three Pounds for Callahan, if taken out of this Province, paid by ANDREW PEARCE, HENRY W. PEARCE and JOHN WARD. August 29, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away, in the Night Time, between the 25th and 26th Day of the 8th Month, 1765, from George Ashbridge, of Goshen, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a Servant Man, named Cornelius Leeson, but may be likely to change his Name; he came from Ireland, and has been on Shore but about twelve Days; is about 5 Feet 8 Inches high, in chinned, and a little out mouthed, pretty full breasted, and walks a little stooping, wears brown hair; had on, and took with him two Check Shirts, a Pair of old Velvet Breeches, and Linen Trowsers, one old light grey Nap Jacket, the Nap partly wore off, not made for him and one old dark coloured SailorJacket, a Pair of brown Yarn Stockings, and half worn Shoes; he has been in this Country a Servant some Years ago, served Part of his time in Bucks County, and ran away from thence, and got to Ireland again, so that it appears he is an old Offender, and acquainted with this Province; it is suspected that he will make for the back Parts of this Province, of Virginia, or to Sea again. Whoever takes up and secures the said Servant in any Goal, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Forty Shillings Reward, and reasonable Charges, paid by GEORGE ASHBRIDGE. September 26, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette RUN away from the Subscriber, living near George Town, in Kent County, Maryland, a Convict Servant Man, named John Malone, about five Feet seven Inches, about 20 Years of Age, born in Ireland, but speaks good English, has a flat crooked Nose, is much pitted with the Small pox, knock kneed, was in the Transport Service last War, pretends to be a Seaman, and it is thought will endeavour to get on board some Vessel in Philadelphia, as he was near being taken at Chester and Schuylkill, on the 23d and 3d Instant but escaped; the Little Finger on his Left hand grown fast to the next, as far as the Middle Joint. He stole and took with him, a new blue homespun Frock Coat, lined with coarse Sheeting, with long Cuffs to the Elbow, and white Horn Buttons, a white Shirt, and a Check Ditto, Tow Linen Trowsers, Worsted Stockings, old Shoes, and a Felt Hat, also a Kersey Great Coat, and a Hanger or Cutlas, with a Snakeskin over the Scabbard. Whoever secures said Servant, in any Goal, so as his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pistoles Reward, paid by JOHN SEWELL. All Masters of Vessels are forbid to carry him off. November 28, 1765 The Pennsylvania Gazette Philadelphia, November 25, 1765. RUN away, on the 16th Instant, from John Faries, a Servant Man, named Edward Carlow, but has changed his Name to Collins, and may go by some other Name; he is a spry Fellow, and wears his Hat Soldier like, on his Right Eye, has a brown Wig, red Hair, white Eyebrows, Freckles on the Back of his Hands, is about 5 Feet 6 Inches high, wore a brown Coat, blue Velvet Jacket, red or brown Breeches, commonly wore white Thread, or black Silk Stockings, walks fast, when he travels, speaks good English, pretends to have two Uncles in New London, both Ministers, says he has a small Estate in Ireland, and is well beloved amongst the Women. Whoever secures said Servant in any Goal in this Province, so that his Master may have him again, shall have Three Pounds Reward, and if out of the Province, Five Pounds, paid by me JOHN FARIES. N.B. All Masters of Vessels, and others, are forbid to harbour or carry him off, as they may expect to be proceeded against as the Law directs. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

BALLINA CHRONICLE Ballina, Mayo, Ireland Wednesday, April 17, 1850 BARBAROUS MURDER IN CLARE On the night of Wednesday, the 10th inst., as Arthur O'Donnell, Esq., of Denrynalicka, was returning home from his herdsman's house, he was met on the road within a few perches from his own house, when he was murdered with stones, and some other sharp instrument, the upper part of the head was nearly severed by a blow, as if from a hatchet, his brains were besmeared upon the road and the body had several large wounds. Such an appalling murder the records of agrarian outrage never chronicled, and his body was so disfigured that it was some time before the inmates of his own house were able to recognize him, and his head was so lacerated that it appeared one mass of piecemeal. The supposition is that this deed was committed by recipients of relief whom Mr. O'Donnell was wont to strike off the lists at the weekly revision by the Board of Guardians in Kilrush union. The murdered gentleman was son of the late John O'Donnell, of Ennis, banker and brother of Capt. O'Donnell, formerly of the 25th. A man is arrested on strong suspicion. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

Freeman Journal Dublin, Ireland Thursday, August 18, 1764 Last Friday, an Adjournment of the Quarter Sessions for the City of Dublin, was held at the Tholsel, when Cormick Murphy, Mary Duffy, Bridget Rathgan, and John Shaughnassy, were tried and found guilty of different Felonies, and ordered for Transportation; and Judith Corrogan was also tried and found guilty of Felony, and burnt in the Hand; after which the Court adjourned to Friday next. Last Monday, Michael Cosgrave, Michael Rigney, and John Higgins, who were to be executed on the 15th of September next, for Robbery, were reprieved on Condition of Transportation. MARRIAGES] A few Days ago, Mr. Kennedy to Miss Frances Fergus, Daughter of the late Dr. John Fergus. - In Meath-street, Mr. Ephraim Bewly, to Miss Polly English. - Mr. John Archbold, of Grafton-street, to the agreeable Widow Owens, fo the Walsh's Head in Smock-alley. - Mr. Simon Fleming, Merchant, in Phrapper-lane, to Miss Custis, of Fither's lane. - Mr .Thomas Grumley, of Elbow-lane, Clothier, to Miss Carpenter, of the County of Meath. DEATHS] A few Days ago, in Digges's-street, the Relict of Daniel Brown, Esq; of Riverstown in the King's County. - In College-green, the Widow Bamburt, an eminent Grocer. - In Chancery-Lane, John Onge, Esq; Counsellor at Law, a Gentleman whose Death is greatly lamented. - At his A???? on the Batchelor's-quay, Mr. Oliver Bird, Merchant. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

Freeman Journal Dublin, Ireland Tuesday, August 14, 1764 COUNTRY NEWS Limerick, August 6. In May last a Thorn pierced into the Eye of Maurice Wall, which brought on a violent Inflammation and Distention of it; and the Sight of the other Eye became obstructed. Friday last the Cornea was entirely cut off at our Hospital, and the Thorn found adhering to its Inside; in an Instant he got Ease, and the Use of the other Eye, and there is a great Reason to hope he will have the Sight of both. Yesterday, one M'Carty a Butcher, died in Blarney-Lane. His son is suspected of having been instrumental in the Cause of his Death. Michael Sampson, convicted in May Sessions, at the Old Baily, of forging a Note on Mess. Boldero and Co. is to be transported for Life. The late Reverend Doctor Thomas Smyth has left by will, 100l. to each and every Hospital and public Charity in Dublin, besides considerable Benefactions to the Poor of St. Ann's, and also to the Parish Poor of Dromore, of which Diocese he was a Chanter. - We hear that he will be succeeded in the Vicarage of St. Ann's by the Rev. Dr. Cobbe, Curate of St. Bridget's. The late Colonel Joshua Paul hath been asked to Mercer's, the Inn's-quay and the Lock Hospitals, 100l. each; 200l. to the Charitable Loan; 20l. to St. Andrew's Parish poor; 10l. a Year to the Widow's Alms-house; and 20l. a Year to the Schools of said Parish. One Knightly, who escaped out of the Four-Courts Marshalsea, arrived from the Isle of Man, where he was delivered up to James Dexter, Esq. Last Week John Putland, Esq; gave a Benefaction to the Governors of Doctor Steeven's Hospital of two hundred Pounds, being the Endowment of one Bed in said Hospital, for him and his Heirs for ever, and the said Governors gratefully acknowledged the Receipt of thirty Guineas, by the Hands of the said John Putland, Esq; being a Benefaction intended and set apart for that Purpose by the late Mr. Putland. DEATHS] A few Days ago, at Killester near this City, the Reverend Thomas Smyth, D.D. Vicar of St. Ann's Parish. - In Cavan's-port, Miss Jones. - At his House at Kilmacud near this City, John Dexter, Esq, a celebrated Commedian, and a Gentleman of a very good Character. - In Golden-Lane, Mrs. Henzel, Wife to the Rev. Dr. Henzel of Dunshagblin in the County of Meath. - In Capel-street, Mrs. Dixon. Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/

Hi List This is my first time at this so please excuse me if I get it wrong .I'm looking for information on my great grandmother Margaret Hodgins she was born abt 1820 in Dublin ?and emigrated about 1839 she married my great grandfather John George Rowlands on the 25th October 1843 in Whittington NSW Australia, this is all I know of her .Can anyone shed some light on her background ?family?parents?Regards Ena

Hello Jean, I have found the information about Irish ancestry interesting and have now compiled as much history on my father's line as I can. I am now heavily involved with other things - like a new full time job - and the constant barrage of emails is becoming annoying. how can I get off the list??? Sincerely, Patricia. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <jeanrice@cet.com> To: <IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 7:24 AM Subject: [IRELAND] Writer "Frank O'CONNOR" (Michael O'DONOVAN) - born Cork 1903 > SNIPPET: Frank O'CONNOR was the pen name of a well-known writer born in > Cork in 1903, the only child in the family. Michael O'DONOVAN was very > close to his mother Minnie, and took her maiden name for his literary > work. He is best known for his tender short stories about life in > Ireland, much of his material taken from his own experiences. Born into > poverty with an abusive, alcoholic father, he was to go on to become a > librarian, a member of the IRA during Ireland's Civil War, director of the > Abbey Theatre in Dublin, translator of Gaelic poetry and self-taught in > several languages, a talented writer. He lived and taught in the USA > in the 1950s, dying at his Dublin home in 1966. > > O'CONNOR's bittersweet short story, "Christmas Morning," is about a poor > Irish family with two boys - the narrator, Larry, who doesn't do well in > his studies, skips school, gets into fights and other minor trouble, and > his "perfect" little brother, Sonny, who likes school, is good at spelling > and is never in trouble - a fact, that Sonny loves to point out to his > mother, much to Larry's chagrin! Their father is a moody alcohol who > spends his money at the pubs, angering his wife who now finds herself > worrying how they are going to get through Christmas with so little. She > manages to scrimp and save for a candle, a little cake and a present or > two for the children. Meanwhile, Larry reasons that if he is going to get > anything from Santa in his stocking he had better stay up all night so he > can explain away his bad behavior and convince Santa to give him a model > railway. He is counting on the fact that Santa is "a reasonable guy." > Father hasn't come home by the time Lar! > ry and Sonny go to bed, and Larry falls asleep despite his best efforts to > stay awake. At dawn he gets out of bed to see what is in his stocking > and is bitterly disappointed ... "Santa had come while I was asleep, and > gone away with an entirely false impression of me, because all he had left > me was some sort of book, folded up, a pen and pencil, and a tuppeny bag > of sweets. For a while I was too stunned even to think. A fellow who was > able to drive over rooftops and climb down chimneys without getting > stuck - God, wouldn't you think he'd know better? Then I began to wonder > what that foxy boy, Sonny, had. I went to his side of the bed and felt > his stocking.... he hadn't done so much better than me, because, apart > from a bag of sweets like mine, all Santa had left him was a popgun, one > that fired a cork on a piece of string and which you could get in any shop > for sixpence. All the same, the fact remained that it was a gun, and a > gun was better than a book any day of t! > he week. The Dohertys had a gang, and the gang fought the Strawberry Lane > kids who tried to play football on our road. That gun would be very > useful to me in many ways, while it would be lost on Sonny who wouldn't be > allowed to play with the gang, even if he wanted to. Then I got the > inspiration, as it seemed to me, direct from heaven. Suppose I took the > gun and gave Sonny the book!. .... He was fond of spelling, and a > studious child like him could learn a lot of spellings from a book like > mine. As he hadn't seen Santa any more than I had, what he hadn't seen > wouldn't grieve him. I was doing no harm to anyone; in fact, if Sonny > only knew, I was doing him a good turn which he might have cause to thank > me for later ... Perhaps this was Santa's intention the whole time and he > merely became confused between us. It was a mistake that might happen to > anyone. So I put the book, the pencil, and the pen into Sonny's stocking > and the popgun into my own, and returned to bed a! > nd slept again. As I say, in those days I had plenty of initiative. It > was Sonny who woke me, shaking me to tell me that Santa had come and left > me a gun. I let on to be surprised and rather disappointed in the gun, > and to divert his mind from it made him show me his picture book, and told > him it was much better than what Santa brought me. As I knew, that kid > was prepared to believe anything, and nothing would do him then but to > take the presents in to show Father and Mother. That was a bad moment for > me. After the way she had behaved about my lying, I distrusted Mother, > though I had the consolation of believing that the only person who could > contradict me was now somewhere up by the North Pole. That gave me a > certain confidence, so Sonny and I burst in with our presents, shouting: > 'Look what Santa Claus brought!' Father and Mother woke, and Mother > smiled, but only for an instant. As she looked at me her faced changed. > I knew that look; I knew it only too well. ! > It was the same she had worn the day I came home from playing hooky, when > she said I had no word. 'Larry,' she said in a low voice, 'where did you > get that gun?' 'Santa left it in my stocking, Mummy,' I said, trying to > put on an injured air, though it baffled me how she guessed that he > hadn't. 'He did, honest.' 'You stole it from that poor child's stocking > while he was asleep,' she said, her voice quivering with indignation. > 'Larry, Larry, how could you be so mean?' 'Now, now, now, ' Father said > deprecatingly, ' 'tis Christmas morning. 'Ah,' she said with real > passion, 'it's easy it comes to you. Do you think I want my son to grow > up a lair and a thief?' 'Ah, what thief, woman?' he said testily. 'Have > sense can't you?' He was as cross if you interrupted him in his > benevolent moods as if they were of the other sort, and this one was > probably exacerbated by a feeling of guilt for his behavior the night > before. 'Here, Larry,' he said, reaching out for the money! > on the bedside table, 'here's sixpence for you and one for Sonny. Mind > you don't lose it now!" But I looked at Mother and saw what was in her > eyes. I burst out crying, threw the popgun on the floor, and ran bawling > out of the house before anyone on the road was awake. I rushed up the > lane behind the house and threw myself on the wet grass. I understood it > all, and it was almost more than I could bear; that there was no Santa > Claus, as the Dohertys said, only Mother trying to scrape together a few > pence for the housekeeping; that Father was mean and common and a > drunkard, and that she had been relying on me to raise her out of the > misery of the life she was leading. And I knew that the look in her eyes > was the fear that, like my father, I should turn out to be mean and common > and a drunkard. After that morning, I think my childhood was at an end." > > > ==== IRELAND Mailing List ==== > Ireland Mailing List website..surname registry, links, lookup > volunteers,unsubscribe, change your subscription from L to D or D to L > http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/IrelandList/ > >

Hi Patricia - I see you live in Australia and we haven't had much on Irish to Australia on the list. If you need to unsubscribe, you have to do it from the address at the bottom of this note. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patricia & Peter Deering" <evergil@dragnet.com.au> To: <IRELAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 11:53 PM Subject: Re: [IRELAND] Writer "Frank O'CONNOR" (Michael O'DONOVAN) - born Cork 1903 > Hello Jean, > I have found the information about Irish ancestry interesting and have now > compiled as much history on my father's line as I can. I am now heavily > involved with other things - <snip> ==== ==== IRELAND Mailing List ==== > Ireland Mailing List website..surname registry, links, lookup volunteers,unsubscribe, change your subscription from L to D or D to L http://www.connorsgenealogy.com/IrelandList/ >

SNIPPET: "Ah, the long and short of it is that we're the end of the line. When we die, to hell with it, it's gone." Patrick Murphy, all of 81 years old, and for the last 62 a tailor, pressed a button on the old iron, releasing a cloud of steam that enveloped his presence completely. "At that moment, it seemed as if he had gone back in time to another age. Indeed, in this room of ancient pattern books and bolts of exclusive cloth, with names like "Keeper's Tweed" and "Bedford Cord," I felt as if I'd gone back too," wrote Patrick Cooney, for "The World Of Hibernia." "Back to an age of hunt balls and dressing for dinner. Here, in this basement room at Hawkins of Dublin, the remnants of that age are still catered to, along with an ever-growing number of converts jaded with throwaway shirts and self-destructing suits." Messrs. Des Leech and Patrick Murphy are the last of the great gentleman's tailors in Ireland, per Cooney in his charming 1998 article. William Hawkins established the shop in 1916; his son retired a few years ago, but Leech and Murphy retained the name. One glance at the Hawkins client book proved that their reputation had spread far beyond their tiny shop near Dublin's Parnell Square. Dublin's Gate Theatre, long known for its high production values, has commissioned them to make costumes for its period productions, as have several of the current crop of Hollywood films being shot in Ireland. The fine actor Liam Neeson, a native of Ballymena, Co. Antrim ("A perfect gentleman," said Leech) was kitted out for "Michael Collins." With more than 100 years of tailoring experience between them, these sage-like gentleman constantly underplay the importance of their position. There is no stuffiness in their salon, there are no private fitting rooms, and the work room has the pleasin! g disorder that only the truly great encourage. "When we're gone, you'll get the professors looking at our work on a scientific basis asking, "How did they do this?" They'll be ripping coats apart to see the skill, because that is where it is - hidden," said Leech, drawing on his curved pipe. Murphy's face suddenly emerged from the steam cloud. "I've worked here 30 years," he announced, "and I've never seen a coat come back with the pocket ripped." Who are these clients, the last fragments of the old Anglo-Irish ascendancy? "Oh, they're the greatest bunch of characters you're ever likely to meet." Leech enthused, "Horsey people, a lot of them. Some of them love the horse more than the missus...," he pointed out mischievously. A fascinating double act to watch, they have an endearing, unstudied comical air. Leech has the slightly distracted air of a frayed Oxford don, while Murphy, short and dapper, bustles around with sinister-looking implements of the trade. Yet all comedy is gone when they set to work, plotting lines on exquisite cloth like field marshals or railroad pioneers. Now it seems that their skills will die with them. There are no apprentices to carry on the art. "You'd like to pass it on," Leech said, "but who's going to come and work for you for buttons? Kids would make more stacking shelves in a supermarket - and they wouldn't have the patience. I couldn't train a tailor in four years; it isn't possible. It'll be sad to see it die, because you know no one will ever have that kind of skill to take it up again." So, before the shutter comes down and the dream is lost, what suit would Leech choose for himself? "A three-piece business suit, quite formal in cut, a three-button in worsted. And I like a pinstripe running through it." And the craftsman to carry out the task? "I'd choose meself, I wouldn't trust anyone else to make a coat for me. I'm a tailor's nightmare with my shape. Sloping shoulders, hollow chest." Murphy emerged through the steam with a doleful expression. "Ah, the ravages of time." Cooney's tender observations were accompanied with equally wonderful photographs by Seamus Murphy of these two distinguished gentleman, members of that vanishing breed that once suited up Dublin's beau brummels, in the Spring 1998 issue of "The World Of Hibernia" magazine.

MEMORY LANE: John McGAHERN, perhaps Ireland's best known author, was born in Dublin in 1934. He became a primary teacher and taught successfully in Drogheda and Dublin. His teaching career came to an abrupt end when he was dismissed, on the instruction of the Archbishop of Dublin, following the banning of his controversial novel, "The Dark." He subsequently taught in England, at first and third levels, before returning to Co. Leitrim, Ireland, to live and write. He has written many successful novels and short stories including the much-acclaimed "Amongst Women," published late 1990s, "The Leave-taking" (1974), "That They May Face The Rising Sun" (2001), considered one of the best novels from that year, and "By The Lake," (2002), which takes place in rural Co. Leitrim near Drumshanbo. McGAHERN recalls, "I remember very vividly a certain day in school when letters on the page that until then had been a mystery, just signs, suddenly started forming into words and making sense. I experienced a feeling of triumph, or the coming into knowledge. I suppose I was four or five at the time. My mother was a teacher and I went to school whenever she taught, which was in a lot of schools. She had a permanent job, but it was in a small school and the number fell. She always had to go where there was a vacancy at the time, because of a thing called the Panel. In one school, I remember, there was a very wicked teacher called Mrs. McCANN and I thought I'd pacify her, maybe, because my own mother was a teacher. I decided to bring her flowers, but the only flowers that were growing around our house were thistles. I thought these purple flowers were quite beautiful and I brought her a big armful. She took it as an incredible insult and I got an extra biffing for that. I thin! k that nearly all the children of that generation went to school in fear. The war was going on in England and there was always the "hope" that one of the bombs would be dropped on our school. My mother was a very gentle sort of person. She came from a very clever family, but they were poor and they came from the mountains. She was the first person from that mountain ever to take up the King's Scholarship, but I think that it was a hard thing for her, in that she was uprooted from her own class and sent to boarding school in Carrick-on-Shannon. She had seven children in nine years and then she died. We had a farm as well, because in those days it was easier to buy a farm in the countryside than it was to buy a house...she had a very busy life. My father was a Garda sergeant and again it was a very strange house in the sense that we used to go to the barracks in the school holidays and he would come to the farm on his days off. He was stationed about 22 miles from home and of course there were no cars then. He often used to come home on wet nights and I remember still the blue glow of the carbide lamp on his bicycle and its strange hissing noise. I had a distant relationship with my father. He was an only child himself and didn't relate very easily with people. To a certain extent I suppose he was, with the great influence of the Church at the time, very much a kind of symbol of God the Father. My father was very conventional in the sense that he would do whatever what be approved of. He was exercising the law and he was going to see that he set an example, first and foremost. There was a lot of superstitious talk then. For instance, we were told that the sun danced in the heavens for joy of the resurrection at Easter. I was always getting up early to see if the sun actually danced. I heard so much about heaven that I went in search of it. We had a rushy hill at the back of the house and I remember climbing it and being terribly tired and thinking I would never get to the top. Eventually, I reached the top and there was as valley and an enormous disappointment to find another hill at the end of the valley. I remember falling asleep and alarming everybody because they couldn't find me. My mother died when I was ten. When the news of her death came, I was shattered. Our farm was sold and we went to live with my father in the barracks. There was a succession of maids, as they were called then, or servant girls who looked after us. The barracks was a very interesting place. We lived in the living quarters and all the activities of the police station actually happened in the house. It became part of our domestic lives. We would see the few prisoners that were there and we would witness the routine of the barracks. Nobody had anything much to do. They used to cycle around the road and they used to write reports, which I think were one of my first glimpses of fiction. They used to call them the patrols of the imagination! On wet days they would hole up in some house, but then they would have to pretend that they cycled and had to dream up what they had seen along the way. These reports were quite long, often a page and a half of the foolscap ledger. Often in the evenings the policemen would be bored, because one of them always had to be in the barracks. They would come up to play cards in the living room. We would hear them thumping up the stairs with their bed in the morning and taking it down again at n! ight, where they slept beside a phone that never rang. There would be enormous excitement on a court day, when they would be all polishing themselves up. They had to go into town to the court and they would put a few bets on the horses. There would also be great excitement when the superintendent came on inspection. He used to line them up and comment on their dress and that sort of thing. They also had to measure the rainfall. There was a copper rain gauge out among the cabbages in the garden and that was one of the daily rituals. There were a whole lot of pointless ceremonies. They had to put out the thistle, ragwort and dock posters and notices about dog licences too..."

Can SKS tell me how I would find more information on a Marriage of a Robert Mc MILLAN and a Nancy DICKEY which took place on 17 Aug 1838 in Millrow Presbyterian Church Antrim.. cheers Jan.

SNIPPET: Frank O'CONNOR was the pen name of a well-known writer born in Cork in 1903, the only child in the family. Michael O'DONOVAN was very close to his mother Minnie, and took her maiden name for his literary work. He is best known for his tender short stories about life in Ireland, much of his material taken from his own experiences. Born into poverty with an abusive, alcoholic father, he was to go on to become a librarian, a member of the IRA during Ireland's Civil War, director of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, translator of Gaelic poetry and self-taught in several languages, a talented writer. He lived and taught in the USA in the 1950s, dying at his Dublin home in 1966. O'CONNOR's bittersweet short story, "Christmas Morning," is about a poor Irish family with two boys - the narrator, Larry, who doesn't do well in his studies, skips school, gets into fights and other minor trouble, and his "perfect" little brother, Sonny, who likes school, is good at spelling and is never in trouble - a fact, that Sonny loves to point out to his mother, much to Larry's chagrin! Their father is a moody alcohol who spends his money at the pubs, angering his wife who now finds herself worrying how they are going to get through Christmas with so little. She manages to scrimp and save for a candle, a little cake and a present or two for the children. Meanwhile, Larry reasons that if he is going to get anything from Santa in his stocking he had better stay up all night so he can explain away his bad behavior and convince Santa to give him a model railway. He is counting on the fact that Santa is "a reasonable guy." Father hasn't come home by the time Lar! ry and Sonny go to bed, and Larry falls asleep despite his best efforts to stay awake. At dawn he gets out of bed to see what is in his stocking and is bitterly disappointed ... "Santa had come while I was asleep, and gone away with an entirely false impression of me, because all he had left me was some sort of book, folded up, a pen and pencil, and a tuppeny bag of sweets. For a while I was too stunned even to think. A fellow who was able to drive over rooftops and climb down chimneys without getting stuck - God, wouldn't you think he'd know better? Then I began to wonder what that foxy boy, Sonny, had. I went to his side of the bed and felt his stocking.... he hadn't done so much better than me, because, apart from a bag of sweets like mine, all Santa had left him was a popgun, one that fired a cork on a piece of string and which you could get in any shop for sixpence. All the same, the fact remained that it was a gun, and a gun was better than a book any day of t! he week. The Dohertys had a gang, and the gang fought the Strawberry Lane kids who tried to play football on our road. That gun would be very useful to me in many ways, while it would be lost on Sonny who wouldn't be allowed to play with the gang, even if he wanted to. Then I got the inspiration, as it seemed to me, direct from heaven. Suppose I took the gun and gave Sonny the book!. .... He was fond of spelling, and a studious child like him could learn a lot of spellings from a book like mine. As he hadn't seen Santa any more than I had, what he hadn't seen wouldn't grieve him. I was doing no harm to anyone; in fact, if Sonny only knew, I was doing him a good turn which he might have cause to thank me for later ... Perhaps this was Santa's intention the whole time and he merely became confused between us. It was a mistake that might happen to anyone. So I put the book, the pencil, and the pen into Sonny's stocking and the popgun into my own, and returned to bed a! nd slept again. As I say, in those days I had plenty of initiative. It was Sonny who woke me, shaking me to tell me that Santa had come and left me a gun. I let on to be surprised and rather disappointed in the gun, and to divert his mind from it made him show me his picture book, and told him it was much better than what Santa brought me. As I knew, that kid was prepared to believe anything, and nothing would do him then but to take the presents in to show Father and Mother. That was a bad moment for me. After the way she had behaved about my lying, I distrusted Mother, though I had the consolation of believing that the only person who could contradict me was now somewhere up by the North Pole. That gave me a certain confidence, so Sonny and I burst in with our presents, shouting: 'Look what Santa Claus brought!' Father and Mother woke, and Mother smiled, but only for an instant. As she looked at me her faced changed. I knew that look; I knew it only too well. ! It was the same she had worn the day I came home from playing hooky, when she said I had no word. 'Larry,' she said in a low voice, 'where did you get that gun?' 'Santa left it in my stocking, Mummy,' I said, trying to put on an injured air, though it baffled me how she guessed that he hadn't. 'He did, honest.' 'You stole it from that poor child's stocking while he was asleep,' she said, her voice quivering with indignation. 'Larry, Larry, how could you be so mean?' 'Now, now, now, ' Father said deprecatingly, ' 'tis Christmas morning. 'Ah,' she said with real passion, 'it's easy it comes to you. Do you think I want my son to grow up a lair and a thief?' 'Ah, what thief, woman?' he said testily. 'Have sense can't you?' He was as cross if you interrupted him in his benevolent moods as if they were of the other sort, and this one was probably exacerbated by a feeling of guilt for his behavior the night before. 'Here, Larry,' he said, reaching out for the money! on the bedside table, 'here's sixpence for you and one for Sonny. Mind you don't lose it now!" But I looked at Mother and saw what was in her eyes. I burst out crying, threw the popgun on the floor, and ran bawling out of the house before anyone on the road was awake. I rushed up the lane behind the house and threw myself on the wet grass. I understood it all, and it was almost more than I could bear; that there was no Santa Claus, as the Dohertys said, only Mother trying to scrape together a few pence for the housekeeping; that Father was mean and common and a drunkard, and that she had been relying on me to raise her out of the misery of the life she was leading. And I knew that the look in her eyes was the fear that, like my father, I should turn out to be mean and common and a drunkard. After that morning, I think my childhood was at an end."

SNIPPET: In the 18th and 19th centuries the vast majority of the Irish population lived as small tenant-farmers on large estates owned for the most part by English or Anglo-Irish landlords, per genealogy expert John GRENHAM. The administration of these estates inevitably produced large quantities of records -- maps, tenant's lists, rental account books, lease books, etc. Over the course of the 20th century, as the estates were broken up and sold off, many collections of these records have found their way into public repositories, and constitute a largely unexplored source of genealogical information. There are, however, good reasons for their being unexplored. First, it was quite rare for a large landowner to have individual rental or lease agreements with the huge numbers of small tenants on his land. Instead, he would let a significant area to a middleman, who would then sublet to others, who might in turn rent out parts to the smallest tenants 'at will.' A related problem is the question of access. The estate records in the two major Dublin repositories (the National Archives and the National Library) are not catalogued in detail. The only comprehensive guide is given in Richard HAYES' "Manuscript Sources for the Study of Irish Civilization" and its supplements, copies of which can be found in the National Library and the National Archives. This catalogues the records by landlord's name and by county, with entries such as 'NL MS. 3185. Rent Roll of Lord CREMORNE's estate in Co. Armagh, 1797.' HAYES gives no further details of the areas of the county covered, and it can be difficult to ascertain from the Tithe Books or Griffith's Valuation just who the landlord was; Griffith's only supplies the name of the immediate lessor. The holdings in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland present similar problems, with access depending on a knowledge of the landlord's name. Additionally, many of the collections in the National! Li! brary have still not be catalogued at all, and thus remain completely inaccessible. The largest single collection in the National Archives is the Landed Estate Court records, also known as the Encumbered Estate Courts, which are not catalogued in HAYES. The court was set up to facilitate the sale of estates whose owners could not invest enough to make them productive, and between 1849 and 1857 oversaw the sale of more than 3,000 Irish estates. Its records contain many rentals and maps drawn up for the sale, but are so close in time to Griffith's as to make them of limited use except in very particular circumstances. Once again, the principal problem of access is in identifying the relevant landlord, since they too are catalogued by the landlord's name. There are a number of ways to overcome, or partially overcome, this obstacle. It is often possible to identify the landlord by examining Griffith's for the surrounding areas - the largest lessor is the likeliest candidate. If the immediate lessor in Griffith's is not the landlord, but a middleman, then it can be useful to try to find this middleman's own holding or residence and see who he is leasing from. Two publications may be of value: O. H. Hussey de BURGH's, "The Landowners of Ireland" provides a guide to the major landowners,, the size of their holdings, and where in the country they were situated. Also "Landowners in Ireland: Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards...." London: 1876 - (note, subsequently republished. by Genealogical Publishing Co.) - is comprehensive but organized more awkwardly, alphabetically within county. Despite all the problems, research in estate records can be very rewarding, per Mr. Grenham - especially for the period before the major 19th century surveys. For example - the rent rolls of the estate of Charles O'HARA in Cos. Sligo and Leitrim, which date from c. 1775, record a large number of leases to smaller tenants, and supply the lives named in the leases, often specifying family relationships. It must be emphasized, however, that information of this quality is rare: the majority of the rentals and tenants' lists surviving only give details of major tenants. A more detailed guide to the dates, areas covered, and class of tenants recorded in the estate papers of the National Library and National Archives are in the process of preparation by the Genealogical Office. (As of the mid 1990s, Cos. Cork, Leitrim, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo had been covered). You might want to see what your local LDS (Mormon) Family History Center has regarding the above. SPECIAL NOTE -- The Valuation Office (Dublin) also has maps and record books from the time of the mid 1800s Griffith's Valuation to the present with all transactions on particular parcels of land. This information can be extremely useful, but you do need to have a very good idea of location beforehand, and there is a charge. Check out their website for more details.

May I suggest that you provide more information than this, such as a County, Parish or Townland if known. Surnames should also be in CAPITALS. Also, at the risk of inciting some adverse comment may I suggest you phrase your request with courtesy and politeness. I usually ignore this type of curt request, however on this occasion I felt some 'soap-boxing' was needed. It is also good manners to acknowledge ANY reply you may receive with thanks, as the person replying to you has spent their valuable time trying to assist you. If you do not receive a reply, do not despair. Wait a few weeks and then try again. I try to help where I can but I do have a life, which takes just a bit more of my time than I would like, and so I cannot reply to many enquiries and often can do nothing for weeks at a time. I say this not so much as criticism but rather as instruction so that you and others reading this might understand why your request might not attract any reply. David Mangan Mudgee New South Wales Australia

looking for baptism for patrick mcgovern feb 1860 jane philips aug 1860