SNIPPET: In the May-June 2001 issue of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine is an article by Alf McCreary of a wonderful project that came together at Camphill Community at Mourne Grange, near Kilkeel, using the ideas, talent, skills and cooperation of a variety of individuals. Clifford Paterson, originally from Dalbeattie in SW Scotland, has been a creative force in the development of the original Celtic Lyre in a workshop near the heart of the beautiful Mourne Mountains in Co. Down The lyre has the appearance of a small hand-held harp with 35 strings and has the versatility suitable for concert or solo work to music therapy and traditional folk music. Mr. Paterson has helped to manufacture the instrument, an Englishman, John Billing, the world's first professional lyre player has given advice on tone and sound, and an Ulsterman, Sam Irwin, designed the instrument. The Camphill Movement began when a small group of young people from Vienna arrived in Scotland in 1939 and under the leadership of Dr. Karl Konig (1902-1966) founded the first Camphill Community near Aberdeen in 1940. Now Camphill is a worldwide movement with almost 100 centers in 20 countries. The insights of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) provide the foundation for their work in Curative Education and community building. Camphill caters to children, young people and adults in need of special care, because of their various mental, emotional, and behavioural handicaps. The able-bodied and the disabled live, work and share together in a spirit of community! Mr. Paterson brought the insight he had gained from helping to look after his own father for 15 years after a stroke and enjoys his meaningful, mid-life career change from his high-powered motor bike family business and his life in the "fast lane." "The first time I set foot in Northern Ireland, I felt at home. I find the Mournes particularly beautiful. I ride my bike first thing every morning and head up into the hills, where there is a great beauty and stark cleanliness. When you live and work amid such beauty it helps the creative process. The Celtic Lyre Project encompasses not only all my ideals but also my energy as well." Clifford Paterson first heard the sound of the lyre when he attended a concert at Mourne Grange, given by the much-travelled John Billing. Billing was leading a "lyre" group of people with special needs, and Clifford suggested to John that they should be making lyres in the workshop, so that every disabled person who wanted to play could be given an opportunity to do so on their own lyre. Sam Irwin, a Bangor man who has spent a lifetime making highly-crafted musical instruments was contacted. He had already started to design a "modern" lyre some years earlier. From that contact the Celtic Lyre began to take shape. The high-quality lyres are constructed mainly from Irish hardwoods, especially elm and sycamore. Selected European spruce is used for the soundboards and bracing. Each instruments takes three or more months to complete. The switch from making garden seats to the high-quality musical instruments gave adults with special needs an opportunity to be more creative, more involved in the entire production process, from choosing the tree to playing the finished instrument. In May 2000 a number of people from Mourne Grange attended the first-ever Lyre Conference in Hamburg, which was attended by 400 enthusiasts from all over the world. Paterson states, "It is also our intention to form, at the right time, our own Lyre Orchestra where disabled and able-bodied people will play together at Belfast Waterfront Hall, Fiddler's Green International Folk Festival at Rostrevor, and ultimately to perform at the World Lyre Conference in New York in 2003. In summary, he states, "It is remarkable that the people involved have come together unexpectedly in the way they have done..it is sheer magic. There is no other way to describe it." Visit the Camphill Communities main website: http://www.camphill.org.uk

Could you tell me what list might include County Down. I believe my great grandfather James DORAN was from there. Thank you. Barb

SNIPPET: A charming story by Maureen CHARLTON appeared in the Dublin Swan Press poetry book, "Duet For Two Dubs" (1997). Ms. CHARLTON has written extensively for the stage, has been a frequent broadcaster, has written several books of poetry and is founder of "Martello Magazine." Perhaps her story will bring back memories .... "A long time ago in those faraway days before television and videos and discos and bowling alleys, when pocket money was doled out not in pounds but in dearly earned pennies, the chief amusement available for many a suburban child during that seemingly endless span of time between the end of June and the beginning of Autumn was to go to the seaside. Northsiders could sample the delights of Dollymount, Clontarf or the majestic grandeur of Howth. Geography is destiny as Dr. Freud might have said and as it would take a vodka and valium for a true Southsider to cross the Liffey, we Mt. Merrion kids had to content ourselves with the Blackrock Baths. We chose the Baths rather than the open sea as the vagaries of the tides were an annoyance and a mystery to us. Some days you would have to trudge two miles before even getting up to your waist in water. No walking to eternity along Sandymount Strand for us! Four old pennies got you into the Baths with its three spacious pools of varying depths. The highest diving board in the country was formidably poised over the deepest pool and we looked on with a mixture of terror and admiration when a virtuoso of diving skill made a descent. Splash! Awesome in its audacity and courage it was a circus turn. In that amazing flight through the air what would happen when that swallow like silhouette went under the water? Would it crash to the bottom never to turn? What a relief when after a few seconds a reassuring head bobbed to the surface. The ritual of going to the seaside was always the same. After dinner every day we retrieved our very often still damp bathing suits from the line in the garden, grabbed a bath towel from the bathroom rail, rolled them into a great sausage and away with us. The seldom sighted No. 17 bus which now ambles its eccentric way from outside Blackrock Railway Station to Rialto and Dolphin's Barn was then not even a twinkle in the eye of C.I.E. or whatever it was called at the time. And so we 'legged' it down leafy elegant Mt. Merrion Avenue past the spacious houses demurely set back from the road and the high stone walls with trails of Albertines and Victorian rambles peeking enticingly over them. Viewed through the long corridor of time those daily excursions blur into a happy monotony but there is one particular day that is forever locked in my memory. That morning I had been brought into town where in Bradley's, a children's clothes shop in Nassau St., my mother had bought me a new pair of shoes. Oh what shoes! What a pair of beauties! Glistening black patent leather, pristine, without a single crack. A T-strap on the instep with a black bean button fastening on the side and a blue bird stencilled on the toe cap. Even Imelda Marcos with her vast repertoire of shoes could never have possessed such an enchanting pair. We arrived at the Baths, paid our entrance fee and adjourned to the Ladies Changing Rooms which had in former times been presided over by the legendary Mrs. Byrne who had acted in the capacity of chaperone and security officer. In the soggy cabin with its damp slatted floor we undressed, leaving our belongings on the seat and went off to disport ourselves in the pool in which we felt safest and where our feet could always touch the bottom. On returning to my booth after about two hours, I found to my dismay that, although my clothes were still there, the wonderful shoes had gone. Oh if only Mrs. Byrne had still been there. There was no redress, nobody to whom I could report the crime. Gone too with the shoes was the money for ice cream which I had rolled up in a handkerchief and stuffed into one of the toes. Oh the misery of it! I would now have to face the walk home in barefooted dejection and without even the consolation of an ice cream cone or bag of jelly babies. But my best friend Marie proved herself to be a 'brick' (as a girl in one of the Swiss Chalet books would call another if she did something really generous) and decided to take off her shoes and give me more support. So together barefooted, we walked up that long Avenue home. Surely greater love than this no girl has than that she lay aside her shoes for her friend."

THE GIRL WHO TALKED TO PRIMROSES To be indifferent to people Was her need and choice And when her mother wanted her To join the party sing-song She ran crying behind the piano; Hollyhocks, sweet pea and mallow Were too authoritarian and tall; Pansies and violets might have made Suitable reticent confederates; But choosing primroses instead, She bent down beside a hedgerow And blurting out her secrets, Listened for the answering fragrance Of a silent voice. -- Maureen Charlton, "Duet For Two Dubs," Swan Press 1997.

Thought you'd like to know that next Friday, October 27, at 10:15pm ET David Rencher will be giving a special talk entitled "Using the Irish Resources at the LDS Library." All are welcome.  This is a part of the 2006 Online Genealogy Conference being celebrated from Oct. 1-Oct. 31 at http://www.genealogyforum.org.  If you have any questions about this announcement, please contact [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]  David's impressive bio follows: David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, is employed by the Family and Church History Department in Salt Lake City where he is the Director of the Records and Information Division. A professional genealogist since 1977, he is an Accredited GenealogistCM with ICAPGenSM in Ireland research and a Certified Genealogist with the Board for Certification of Genealogists. > > David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, is employed by the Family and Church History > Department in Salt Lake City where he is the Director of the Records and > Information Division. A professional genealogist since 1977, he is an Accredited > GenealogistCM with ICAPGenSM in Ireland research and a Certified > GenealogistSM with the Board for Certification of Genealogists. He is the Irish course > coordinator and instructor for the Samford University Institute of > Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated from > Brigham Young University in 1980 with a BA in Family and Local History. He is a > past-president of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 1997-2000, > a national genealogical society umbrella organization, a past-president of > the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA) 1993-1995 and a Fellow of that > organization. He is a vice-president of the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU). He is > currently serving as the Chair of the joint Federation of Genealogical > Societies and National Genealogical Society committee for Record Preservation and > Access and serves as a Director for the National Institute of Genealogical > Research Alumni Association (NIGRAA), and Trustee for the Umpstead, Jr. and > Elizabeth Jemima Philpott Rencher and the Winslow Farr, Sr. Family > Organizations. >

MEMORY LANE: Jimmy Reilly, the eggler, sat in a comfortable seat, like a king on his throne, in the middle of the neatly packed boxes as he drove his horse and cart from the local town, arriving in our townland every Thursday. A white-haired man in a raincoat, he steered the heavy load of groceries and the boxes he used for collecting the eggs, up the hills and down the hollows of the pot holed country roads. He brought us the Irish Press, the only daily paper purchased during the week and we read it from beginning to end, trying to grasp the stories with foreign place names and learn about the big world that seemed so distant to us then. We had no radio to interrupt our childish vision and we had little time to read but the fashion photos excited my eyes. On wet days we spent the hours indoors cutting our pictures of hats that looked like up-turned flower pots and skirts that were pencil slim over smooth legs that wore stockings with seams and spiky heeled shoes. Admiring these designs I pasted them neatly into my old school copy-books from time to time. The eggs were collected during the week from nests in the henhouse by us children, where we regularly placed golden straw or fresh smelling hay and made the nests cosy for the hens to lie down and wait to lay their eggs. Some of the hens preferred open spaces and we might find the warm eggs in ditches or in part of the hayshed and ran home excitedly carrying them in our up-turned skirts. My mother, after they were cleaned, gave them to the eggler in exchange for goods needed for the week for our family. Prices varied and the big worry was always "what price are the eggs today?" The price went down the more we had and up if they were scarce. I looked forward to the juicy tomatoes for tea that evening with the large plain loaves of bread. Empty packets of jelly and custard were used for playing shop under the big sycamore tree at the top of the garden. We kept an eye out for new boxes to add to our stock. Sometimes salt with Lot's wife would be among the groceries my mother bought, along with packets of green peas, Indian tea and sugar. The caraway seed cake was a special treat but it was often sold out by the time the eggler travelled the four miles to our house from the local town. On frosty days the horse had to be led sideways up and down the steep hills and when the roads were slippy or fully of snow Jimmy never got as far as our house and the number of eggs built up and the bucket got heavy to carry out through the lane. One time my sister tripped and the eggs got broken and the rich yellow yokes spilled onto the stony path. With tears in our eyes we managed to save some of the eggs and enough were left to buy food for the week. After all those years, sometimes I hear a whistle in the distance, and a touch of excitement comes over me as I remember the gentle warning that the eggler was on his way. The best memories are of the white horse standing quietly and watching Jimmy finding the groceries among all the boxes in the windings of the maze of his loaded cart. -- Mary Guckian, b. 1942 Kiltoghert, Co. Leitrim, "Perfume of the Soil," Swan Press, 1999.

SNIPPET: "Irish, The Remarkable Story of a Nation and a City," by John BURROWS (Mainstream Publishing) ISBN 1-84018-685-2, h/b, is a 2003 book that tells the story of post Famine emigration from Ireland to the Scottish city of Glasgow. It begins with an account of a hellish sea voyage long faded from the pages of history. The small ships sailing to Scotland were grossly overcrowded , i.e., 'the whole length and breadth of the steerage presented a mass of human beings literally packed together...in fact the appearance of that vessel was that of a shipload of heads and faces.' No one could move, had there been an emergency. On 1 Dec 1848, the "Londonderry" sailed for Glasgow out of Sligo into a raging sea, her deck packed with people. As the storm worsened, they were forced down into the ship's hold to avoid being washed overboard. The hatches were sealed against their frantic protests. When the ship sheltered in Derry harbour it was discovered that 72 souls had suffocated out of the estimated 200 forced below the deck. Other ships carried thousands of Irish to the haven of the city on the "Clyde." The story of the Irish in Scotland is not easy to tell. There was a famous riot, the Battle of Patrick's Cross, in which no one died, nor were fires lit, nor barricades erected. There were gawkers, knockers and mockers, navvies and skivvies, Orange and Green. And there were the amazing adventures of Hannah, the story of an Irish girl in Glasgow which ran for months as a serial in the Glasgow Catholic Observer a century ago. Glasgow, however, was not overcome by poverty, plague and popery as some dreaded it might be. There are still unpleasing local eruptions, generally connected with football. The Irish immigrant, survivors of the most harrowing experiences in the most wretched of times permanently changed the face of the city which became their home. Perhaps you can find a copy of this book if the subject interests you.

Hi Fredreica - If you know where they settled (did they go to relatives?), found them on serial USA Federal Censuses, you could enlist the help of the county historical society in the USA county in which they lived for any length of time for information on your particular family. You could also check the census indexes in book form on the Index Shelves in your local USA genealogy library for their names in old NY volumes. Earlier than what you are looking for, but you might want to find Brian Mitchell's book, "Irish Emigration Lists 1833-39 (pub. Baltimore 1989, as it includes information on emigrants from Co. Antrim during that time period. May have some remarks on emigration after that time. Perhaps you can find more about the boat "Annie." You'd be surprised what you can find by clicking on the "Go" button near the Google search field which brings up the advanced search feature. May be another way to do the Google advance search to cut down on hits but that is the way I access it. There are many old Irish directories with Belfast information on microfilm in the National Library of Dublin and likely at the LDS (Mormon) FHCs. You could collect Moran information, in the event that the family lived in/near Belfast. Those in your time period of interest would include: William Matier's "Belfast Directory," published in 1839, 1841 and 1842. Slater's "National Commercial Directory of Ireland" in 1846. For any Morans left behind, check out James A. Henderson's "Belfast Directory" in 1850. Griffith's Valuation of Belfast householders wasn't taken until 1861-2. Consult John Grenham's excellent "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors," with a chapter on each Irish county, resources for Co. Antrim and FULL lists of directories, census substitutes such as voter's lists, books, journals available to researchers/ Interestingly, while the clergy, gentry, nobility appeared in early Irish directories, beginning in 1846 directories included the names of schoolteachers for the towns treated, a practice continued in following editions. Long shot, but perhaps your Isabella was a schoolteacher? Note is made that in the 1881 and 1894 directories principal farmers are given. It is possible that her husband's first name was James, the name of the eldest son you have found. Perhaps you can find a marriag between a James Moran and an Isabella shortly before the birth of their children. Interestingly, young Isabella and James may have the result of a twin birth, something that might help pin them down. You can be pretty certain there were other James and Patricks in their line. Unusual name Isabella Moran is another good clue. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fredreica Speyer" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2006 6:14 PM Subject: [IGW] Immigration > My Ancestor, Patrick Moran, along with his mother and siblings (I assume) > left Ireland from the Port of Belfast in 1849. How would I find out where in > Ireland this family lived before sailing from Belfast? Where would I find > census records for Ireland immediately prior to 1849? Thanks for your help! > Fredreica Speyer > > > > New York, 1820-1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists > > Name Arrival Date Age Gender Port of Departure Place of Origin Ship > > Family Identification: 1511112 > > Microfilm Serial Number: M237 > > Microfilm Roll Number: 78 > > Isabella Moran Apr 7, 1849 25 F Belfast Ireland Annie > > Isabella Moran Apr 7, 1849 50 F Belfast Ireland Annie > > James Moran Apr 7, 1849 25 M Belfast Ireland Annie > > Maria Moran Apr 7, 1849 20 F Belfast Ireland Annie > > Patk Moran Apr 7, 1849 24 M Belfast Ireland Annie > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. >

SNIPPET: Readers of Dublin's "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine expressed their impressions of the Emerald Isle in the July-Aug 2006 issue: Trevor GORDON, Capetown, South Africa wrote: "Your 'Bits & Pieces' feature on the 'Irish Welcome Awards' in your March/April 2006 issue prompted me to write to you. Three years ago my wife and I decided to get to know your country and we went to live in Tralee for a year. Tralee is a gateway to some of Co. Kerry's most spectacular coastline, especially around the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry, and a good place to base oneself. We travelled extensively during our stay and were overwhelmed by the beauty and diversity of the country. What impressed us tremendously was the kindness and warmth of the Irish. We stayed in many B&Bs during our travels and the friendliness of our hosts was very sincere and we were always greeted with 'you're very welcome.' We have done a fair amount of travelling both at home and abroad, but never have we been bid farewell with a hug and a kiss or trusted to lock the house and drop the keys in the letterbox when there was no one at home to see us off on our travels. We plan to visit our family in Britain again this year, but we will also go back to Ireland to visit some of our old haunts and recapture the magic of Ireland." Mardella BROWN, Blue Grass, IA shared: "For the past two years, I have enjoyed a gift subscription to IOTW from my sister. I was very pleased to read the March-April 2006 'Byways rather than Highways' article covering County Carlow. I've found that County Carlow is not highlighted very often in publications on Ireland, so this was a real treat. I had been searching our Irish roots for several years, but sadly have come to a dead end. We knew our great-great-grandfather, Benjamin Redmond RYAN, married Mary CONNELL and their ten children were baptised in Hacketstown, County Carlow. Late last year my sister took me to Ireland for the trip of a lifetime. We flew to Shannon and drove across to County Carlow to concentrate our search in Hacketstown. We spent most of our time chasing leads for relatives, but sadly didn't get to any of the interesting sites highlighted in your article. Everyone was so interested in our story and suggested various people to talk to and places to visit. However, unfortunately, we didn't find any living relatives, but it appears we are related to the CONNELLs who lived in the DWYER/McALLISTER Cottage. Both of us felt so at home in Ireland and can't say enough about how kind and helpful everyone was to us during our visit. We are just so proud of our Irish heritage and thankful that we could walk the lands our ancestors did. We can hardly wait to visit again. In the meantime, I will be waiting for my next issue of IOTW."

My Ancestor, Patrick Moran, along with his mother and siblings (I assume) left Ireland from the Port of Belfast in 1849. How would I find out where in Ireland this family lived before sailing from Belfast? Where would I find census records for Ireland immediately prior to 1849? Thanks for your help! Fredreica Speyer New York, 1820-1850 Passenger and Immigration Lists Name Arrival Date Age Gender Port of Departure Place of Origin Ship Family Identification: 1511112 Microfilm Serial Number: M237 Microfilm Roll Number: 78 Isabella Moran Apr 7, 1849 25 F Belfast Ireland Annie Isabella Moran Apr 7, 1849 50 F Belfast Ireland Annie James Moran Apr 7, 1849 25 M Belfast Ireland Annie Maria Moran Apr 7, 1849 20 F Belfast Ireland Annie Patk Moran Apr 7, 1849 24 M Belfast Ireland Annie -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/475 - Release Date: 10/13/2006

Thank You so much to the kind people that replied to my querie. I think this one hits the jackpotl. As I have not yet experienced any research for my Irish ancestors could someone please give me some worthwhile site to start with. Also where would I start to find and obituary in 1864? Thanks again for your time, it is very much appreciated. Cheers Marg On 14/10/06, Jean R. <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Marg -- Not sure what time period you are referring to, but found a > couple books that might help sort things out: > > (1) "Holy War in Belfast," Andrew Boyd (1969); it contains a chapter > called > "O'Connell's Effigy." > > (2) "The Sieges of Derry," edited by William Kelly (2001). Note that > the > bibliography of that book refers to the following: J.S. Crawford, > Alleluia: the commemoration service, preached on 12 Aug. 1864, the 175th > anniversary of' the relief of' Londonderry, in the Strand Road > Presbyterian > Church (Derry, 1864). > > Perhaps you could also date the letter by finding an obit or death notice > for someone named "Hart Kerr." Jean > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marg Hope" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:41 AM > Subject: [IGW] Dating a letter > > > > Hi > > I have just been sent a copy of a letter that was sent to my ancestor, > whom > > I believe originated from Derry, Ireland. I am trying to date the > letter. > > The contents as follows:- > > "I sent you a small account of the Belfast riots which lasted for 14 > days > by > > the next mail you may expect a newspaper that you will get all trials > these > > begun all about the burning of Dan O'Conell's effigy. I aso sent you a > > sermon preached by the J Crawford on the 12 of August. > > I forgot to mention your old friend Hart Kerr were drowned bathing at > the > > far land of Burt about 3 months ago in the presence of this little > daughter > > and siste in lae, got entangled ina fishing net." > > > > Can anyone help. > > TIA > > > > -- > > Cheers > > Marg > > http://users.on.net/~hopemarg > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Cheers Marg http://users.on.net/~hopemarg

Jean: Thank you so much. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "ef_mckee" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 2:14 PM Subject: Re: [IGW] Surname Gormly - Co. Derry C of I records - IdeasforResearch > Jean R, > I enjoy your missives on vatious topics! > > I send them forward to Nancy Brister, who is a gifted writer on her > own..She > is coordinator for RootsWeb for Pearl River County, and once each week she > sends out goof stuff/ > > Ed McKee > cc Nancy. pat creel, Sierra > > . > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jean R." <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 3:44 PM > Subject: Re: [IGW] Surname Gormly - Co. Derry C of I records - Ideas > forResearch > > >> Hi, William -- >> >> Generally speaking, the farther back you are trying to identify "your" >> line, >> and especially with common names, the harder it becomes. Researchers >> may >> have to settle for knowing that their people lived in Ireland, or in >> Northern Ireland, or in a particular county .... >> >> Well-educated families usually had middle names. An unusual given name >> (first or middle) in a son may hold a clue - may be a "surname in >> disguise," >> such as mother's maiden name or another surname of particular importance >> to >> the family. >> >> The Genealogical Publishing Company (LDS/Mormon) have published old city >> directories for major cities in the USA, many helping to fill in the gaps >> left by the loss of the 1890 USA Census. >> >> Check out www.cyndislist.com/ >> Cyndi's List of Genealogical Websites >> >> Gormley Total births:44 >> Matheson survey of births in Ireland (1890) >> Principally located during that time period in counties:Antrim and >> Tyrone. >> Ulster = 25 >> Total Leinster = 5 >> Total Connaught = 13 >> Total Munster = 1 >> >> There is a book by V. R. and T. M. SPEAR published in 1982 in California >> called "Descendants of Bernard Gormley in Brunswick," which may/may not >> be >> of help in your case. There is a copy in the National Library of Dublin, >> shelf number 9292 g 25. >> >> Per John Grenham's excellent "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" book, there >> are >> C of I parish records in the following repositories in Dublin: >> Templemore >> Parish (Derry Cathedral) births 1642-1703; marriages 1669-1800, burials >> 1669-1800 in a PRS publication (Parish Register Society). Maybe you can >> find something more about that publication. For Culmore Parish, there >> are >> births 1867-1920; marriages 1865-1935; no burials, found in the RCBL >> Representative Church Body Library (Dublin) on microfilm. Grenham's book >> has reader-friendly explanation of records in general and a chapter on >> Co. >> Derry in particular. Listed is information on available census returns >> and >> substitutes, local history books, local journals, trade directories >> dating >> back to 1820, estate records, gravestone inscriptions, placenames, etc. >> Check out the Irish Times website ancestor search for instances of your >> surname in Ireland mid-1800s. >> >> Check out the all-Ireland townland search engine at the Leitrim-Roscommon >> website. >> >> USA genealogy libraries have census books on their Census shelves dating >> back as far as the Revolutionary war (1776), also reference books with >> names >> of those who fought in that war. Collect Gormly and Gormley data from >> the >> Internet. Perhaps a kind lister in the USA will call their local >> genealogy >> library and ask for a Gormly/Gormley look-up on an early American or PA >> census. Also, check out the RAOGK website for volunteer look-ups. >> >> Prominent early settlers in Pittsburg may have a corresponding biography >> or >> autobiography or be mentioned in a PA historical society publication or >> old >> county history book. (I found two pages on one of my families I was >> researching in an IN county history book on a self in my library; they >> were >> mentioned because they were early settlers. >> >> Definitely contact the historical society in the USA county in which your >> family lived for a length of time. They should have a website (or you >> could >> phone or write). Society volunteers may very well be able to come up >> with >> documents and information pertaining to your particular family for a >> small >> fee. They are, after all, the most knowledgeable and interested in >> "their" >> particular county. I have done this with great success. To get any >> information, at all, on your particular family in the KNOWN places they >> lived is priceless. >> >> Jean >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "William Gormly" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:14 PM >> Subject: [IGW] Surname Gormly >> >> >>> I am seeking help in finding a man and his family with the surname >>> GORMLY. >> His son, William, was, I am almost certain, born in Western Pennsylvania >> in, circa, 1750. William was one of the first settlers of Pittsburgh, a >> major city right in the heart of the French & Indian War. He was a >> blacksmith, by trade. He died in 1828, of that I am sure. >>> >>> I am stumped going back further than William. His father would likely >> have had WILLIAM or JAMES as his first name. The Gormly home was in >> Derry >> (I visited the Church of Ireland in Derry about 20 years ago and, >> consulting >> their very old records, easily traced the family tree back to William, >> which >> may well have been who I am looking for). >>> >>> The GORMLY name, according to a historian in the Guild Hall in Derry, is >> an ancient Scot/Irish name going as far back, possibly, to the 400's). >> The >> family came to Derry from Scotland and were protestants. If William the >> younger was born in the US then, obviously, his father would have died >> there >> and would have traveled by boat to the US prior to about 1750. There is >> a >> slim chance the man I am looking for was also born in the US - in which >> case >> the search would still be the same, just 30 or so years earlier. >>> >>> Can you help me please? If you do find the elder Gormly and could >>> provide >> the names, etc. of his parents I would be grateful. >>> >>> Thank you very much. >>> >>> William M. Gormly >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

SHE WALKED UNAWARE O, she walked unaware of her own increasing beauty That was holding men's thoughts from market to plough, As she passed by, intent on her womanly duties And she without leisure to be wayward or proud; Or if she had pride then it was not in her thinking But thoughtless in her body like a flower of good breeding. The first time I saw her spreading coloured linen Beyond the green willow she gave me gentle greeting With no more intention than the leaning willow tree. Though she smiled without intention yet from that day forward Her beauty filled like water the four corners of my being. And she rested in my heart like a hare in the form That is shaped to herself. And I that would be singing Or whistling at all time went silently then; 'Till I drew her aside among straight stems of beeches When the blackbird was sleeping and she promised that never The fields would be ripe but I'd gather all sweetness, A red moon of August would rise on our wedding. October is spreading bright flame along stripped willows, Low fires of the dogwood burn down to grey water -- God pity me now and all desolate sinners Demented with beauty! I have blackened my thought In drouths of bad longing, and all brightness goes shrouded Since he came with his rapture of wild words that mirrored Her beauty and made her ungentle and proud. To-night she will spread her brown hair on his pillow, But I shall be hearing the harsh cries of wild fowl. -- Patrick MacDONOGH (1902- ).

TINKER'S MOON Four children on a rumbling cart, A woman trudging beside that load, A lank man leaving the horse to guide A wet road: a dry road: A gravelly road that a woman shall walk And a lank man leave the horse to guide; The tinker's children take their chance, and bide. A lane leads on to one more lane, An uphill to one more hill; A potato patch to thin on the way, a hen to kill, And hunger again: and sleep again: And a moonlight flit while the salmon leaps >From a smouldering spot by the riverside; The tinker's children take their chance, and bide. When Wicklow woods first seemed to wait, As still they wait tonight; I heard that creaking, rumbling cart, And stars the same were out. When you gave pennies to the youngest child, A silent child: a tawny child: The tinker's children meekly are, and mild. And still I hear strange woods among Whenever a creaking cart goes down; The singsong twang of that bawneen man: "Thank you my lady, thank you my lady." As when you gave the child a penny. I heard it in an Irish voice to-day, And saw again though long gone by Four children on a rumbling cart, A woman trudging beside that load, A lank man leaving the horse to guide A wet road: a dry road: A gravelly road for a moonlight flit >From a smouldering spot by the riverside; I saw the stony, rocky road where the tinker's children bide. -- Ewart MILNE (1903- )

William, I have US Federal Census Indexes on CD by Ancestry, for the years pre-1790 to 1840. Hopefully, your will find this info useful. Janet T. Smith Gloucester City, NJ, USA [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> There were no Gormleys or other spelling variations in the Pre-1790 index. The listings below are from Allegheny County and counties that share a border with Allegheny county. >From the 1790 index: Name: Gorley, Thomas Year: 1790 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 256 Location: Comments: Name: Gorley, Robert Year: 1790 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 257 Location: Comments: Name: Gorley, Thomas Year: 1790 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 256 Location: Comments: Name: Gornley, William Year: 1790 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 014 Location: PITTSBURGH TWP Comments: >From the 1800 Index: Name: Gormley, James Year: 1800 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 442 Location: Comments: Name: Gormly, James Year: 1800 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 3 Location: Comments: Name: Gormley, James Year: 1800 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 442 Location: Comments: Name: Gormly, James Year: 1800 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 3 Location: Comments: Name: Gormly, James Year: 1800 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 18 Location: Comments: Name: Gormly, John Year: 1800 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 8 Location: Comments: Name: Gormly, William Year: 1800 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Pittsburg Boro Page: 5 Location: Name: Gorely, Robert Year: 1800 County: Washington Co. State: PA Donegal Twp Page: 759 Name: Goreley, Robert Year: 1800 County: Washington Co. State: PA Donegal Twp Page: 759 >From the 1810 index: Name: Gormley, James Year: 1810 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 220 Location: PITTSBURGH BOROUGH Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, John Year: 1810 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 146 Location: MIFFLIN TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, Thomas Year: 1810 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 214 Location: PITTSBURGH BOROUGH Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, William Year: 1810 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 221 Location: PITTSBURGH BOROUGH Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, John Year: 1810 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 258 Location: MOON TWP Record Type: Comments: >From the 1820 index: Name: Gormley, Andrew Year: 1820 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 014 Location: PITTSBURG CTY W WA Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, John Year: 1820 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 133 Location: MIFFLIN TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, Willaim Year: 1820 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 122 Location: MIFFLIN TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, Patrick Year: 1820 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 244 Location: EAST BETHLEHEM TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, Sarah Year: 1820 County: BEAVER CO. State: PA Page: 097 Location: MOON TWP Record Type: Comments: >From the 1830 index: Name: Gormley, Francis Year: 1830 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 077 Location: EAST BETHLEHAM TWP Record Type: Comments: ame: Gormley, John Year: 1830 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 179 Location: NESTANNOCK TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, John Year: 1830 County: BEAVER CO. State: PA Page: 328 Location: HOPEWELL TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, Robert Year: 1830 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 176 Location: NESTANNOCK TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormley, Susanah Year: 1830 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 069 Location: EAST BETHLEHAM TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, James Year: 1830 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 057 Location: PITTSBURGH CTY W W Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, Thoams Year: 1830 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 267 Location: SMITH TWP Record Type: Comments: Name: Gormly, Thomas Year: 1830 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 253 Location: MOUNT PLEASANT TWP Record Type: Comments: >From the 1840 index: Name: Gormley, James Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 263 Location: ALLEGHENY Comments: Name: Gormley, Jane Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 293 Location: ALLEGHENY Comments: Name: Gormley, Samuel Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 101 Location: LOWER ST CLAIR TWP Comments: Name: Gormly, Andrew Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 338 Location: PITTSBURGH N WARD Comments: Name: Gormly, Samuel Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 355 Location: PITTSBURGH W WARD Comments: Name: Gormly, William R. Year: 1840 County: ALLEGHENY CO. State: PA Page: 348 Location: PITTSBURGH W WARD Comments: Name: Gormley, Adam Year: 1840 County: BEAVER CO. State: PA Page: 107 Location: BEAVER BOROUGH Comments: Name: Gormley, James Year: 1840 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 180 Location: E. BETHLEHEM TWP Comments: Name: Gormley, John Year: 1840 County: BEAVER CO. State: PA Page: 197 Location: RACOON TWP Comments: Name: Gormley, Samuel Year: 1840 County: BEAVER CO. State: PA Page: 126 Location: BRIGHTON TWP Comments: Name: Gormley, Susanah Year: 1840 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 180 Location: E. BETHLEHEM TWP Comments: Name: Gormley, Thomas Year: 1840 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 046 Location: SMITH Comments: Name: Gormley, Thomas Year: 1840 County: WASHINGTON CO. State: PA Page: 077 Location: MT PLEASANT Comments: Name: Gormly, John Year: 1840 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 299 Location: NESHANNOCK TWP Comments: Name: Gormly, John A. Year: 1840 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 300 Location: NESHANNOCK TWP Comments: Name: Gormly, Robert Year: 1840 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 299 Location: NESHANNOCK TWP Comments: Name: Gormly, Thomas P. Year: 1840 County: MERCER CO. State: PA Page: 299 Location: NESHANNOCK TWP Comments: ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Gormly" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> To: <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:14 PM Subject: [IGW] Surname Gormly > I am seeking help in finding a man and his family with the surname GORMLY. His son, William, was, I am almost certain, born in Western Pennsylvania in, circa, 1750. William was one of the first settlers of Pittsburgh, a major city right in the heart of the French & Indian War. He was a blacksmith, by trade. He died in 1828, of that I am sure. > > I am stumped going back further than William. His father would likely have had WILLIAM or JAMES as his first name. The Gormly home was in Derry (I visited the Church of Ireland in Derry about 20 years ago and, consulting their very old records, easily traced the family tree back to William, which may well have been who I am looking for). > > The GORMLY name, according to a historian in the Guild Hall in Derry, is an ancient Scot/Irish name going as far back, possibly, to the 400's). The family came to Derry from Scotland and were protestants. If William the younger was born in the US then, obviously, his father would have died there and would have traveled by boat to the US prior to about 1750. There is a slim chance the man I am looking for was also born in the US - in which case the search would still be the same, just 30 or so years earlier. > > Can you help me please? If you do find the elder Gormly and could provide the names, etc. of his parents I would be grateful. > > Thank you very much. > > William M. Gormly ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Marg -- Not sure what time period you are referring to, but found a couple books that might help sort things out: (1) "Holy War in Belfast," Andrew Boyd (1969); it contains a chapter called "O'Connell's Effigy." (2) "The Sieges of Derry," edited by William Kelly (2001). Note that the bibliography of that book refers to the following: J.S. Crawford, Alleluia: the commemoration service, preached on 12 Aug. 1864, the 175th anniversary of' the relief of' Londonderry, in the Strand Road Presbyterian Church (Derry, 1864). Perhaps you could also date the letter by finding an obit or death notice for someone named "Hart Kerr." Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marg Hope" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:41 AM Subject: [IGW] Dating a letter > Hi > I have just been sent a copy of a letter that was sent to my ancestor, whom > I believe originated from Derry, Ireland. I am trying to date the letter. > The contents as follows:- > "I sent you a small account of the Belfast riots which lasted for 14 days by > the next mail you may expect a newspaper that you will get all trials these > begun all about the burning of Dan O'Conell's effigy. I aso sent you a > sermon preached by the J Crawford on the 12 of August. > I forgot to mention your old friend Hart Kerr were drowned bathing at the > far land of Burt about 3 months ago in the presence of this little daughter > and siste in lae, got entangled ina fishing net." > > Can anyone help. > TIA > > -- > Cheers > Marg > http://users.on.net/~hopemarg

Perhaps just a clue: http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Newry/1828/18280325.html Don ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marg Hope" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:41 AM Subject: [IGW] Dating a letter > Hi > I have just been sent a copy of a letter that was sent to my ancestor, > whom > I believe originated from Derry, Ireland. I am trying to date the letter. > The contents as follows:- > "I sent you a small account of the Belfast riots which lasted for 14 days > by > the next mail you may expect a newspaper that you will get all trials > these > begun all about the burning of Dan O'Conell's effigy. I aso sent you a > sermon preached by the J Crawford on the 12 of August. > I forgot to mention your old friend Hart Kerr were drowned bathing at the > far land of Burt about 3 months ago in the presence of this little > daughter > and siste in lae, got entangled ina fishing net." > > Can anyone help. > TIA > > -- > Cheers > Marg > http://users.on.net/~hopemarg > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.3/473 - Release Date: 10/12/2006 > >

Hi I have just been sent a copy of a letter that was sent to my ancestor, whom I believe originated from Derry, Ireland. I am trying to date the letter. The contents as follows:- "I sent you a small account of the Belfast riots which lasted for 14 days by the next mail you may expect a newspaper that you will get all trials these begun all about the burning of Dan O'Conell's effigy. I aso sent you a sermon preached by the J Crawford on the 12 of August. I forgot to mention your old friend Hart Kerr were drowned bathing at the far land of Burt about 3 months ago in the presence of this little daughter and siste in lae, got entangled ina fishing net." Can anyone help. TIA -- Cheers Marg http://users.on.net/~hopemarg

Jean R, I enjoy your missives on vatious topics! I send them forward to Nancy Brister, who is a gifted writer on her own..She is coordinator for RootsWeb for Pearl River County, and once each week she sends out goof stuff/ Ed McKee cc Nancy. pat creel, Sierra . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jean R." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 3:44 PM Subject: Re: [IGW] Surname Gormly - Co. Derry C of I records - Ideas forResearch > Hi, William -- > > Generally speaking, the farther back you are trying to identify "your" > line, > and especially with common names, the harder it becomes. Researchers may > have to settle for knowing that their people lived in Ireland, or in > Northern Ireland, or in a particular county .... > > Well-educated families usually had middle names. An unusual given name > (first or middle) in a son may hold a clue - may be a "surname in > disguise," > such as mother's maiden name or another surname of particular importance > to > the family. > > The Genealogical Publishing Company (LDS/Mormon) have published old city > directories for major cities in the USA, many helping to fill in the gaps > left by the loss of the 1890 USA Census. > > Check out www.cyndislist.com/ > Cyndi's List of Genealogical Websites > > Gormley Total births:44 > Matheson survey of births in Ireland (1890) > Principally located during that time period in counties:Antrim and Tyrone. > Ulster = 25 > Total Leinster = 5 > Total Connaught = 13 > Total Munster = 1 > > There is a book by V. R. and T. M. SPEAR published in 1982 in California > called "Descendants of Bernard Gormley in Brunswick," which may/may not be > of help in your case. There is a copy in the National Library of Dublin, > shelf number 9292 g 25. > > Per John Grenham's excellent "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" book, there > are > C of I parish records in the following repositories in Dublin: Templemore > Parish (Derry Cathedral) births 1642-1703; marriages 1669-1800, burials > 1669-1800 in a PRS publication (Parish Register Society). Maybe you can > find something more about that publication. For Culmore Parish, there are > births 1867-1920; marriages 1865-1935; no burials, found in the RCBL > Representative Church Body Library (Dublin) on microfilm. Grenham's book > has reader-friendly explanation of records in general and a chapter on Co. > Derry in particular. Listed is information on available census returns > and > substitutes, local history books, local journals, trade directories dating > back to 1820, estate records, gravestone inscriptions, placenames, etc. > Check out the Irish Times website ancestor search for instances of your > surname in Ireland mid-1800s. > > Check out the all-Ireland townland search engine at the Leitrim-Roscommon > website. > > USA genealogy libraries have census books on their Census shelves dating > back as far as the Revolutionary war (1776), also reference books with > names > of those who fought in that war. Collect Gormly and Gormley data from the > Internet. Perhaps a kind lister in the USA will call their local > genealogy > library and ask for a Gormly/Gormley look-up on an early American or PA > census. Also, check out the RAOGK website for volunteer look-ups. > > Prominent early settlers in Pittsburg may have a corresponding biography > or > autobiography or be mentioned in a PA historical society publication or > old > county history book. (I found two pages on one of my families I was > researching in an IN county history book on a self in my library; they > were > mentioned because they were early settlers. > > Definitely contact the historical society in the USA county in which your > family lived for a length of time. They should have a website (or you > could > phone or write). Society volunteers may very well be able to come up with > documents and information pertaining to your particular family for a small > fee. They are, after all, the most knowledgeable and interested in > "their" > particular county. I have done this with great success. To get any > information, at all, on your particular family in the KNOWN places they > lived is priceless. > > Jean > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "William Gormly" <[email protected]> > To: <i[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:14 PM > Subject: [IGW] Surname Gormly > > >> I am seeking help in finding a man and his family with the surname >> GORMLY. > His son, William, was, I am almost certain, born in Western Pennsylvania > in, circa, 1750. William was one of the first settlers of Pittsburgh, a > major city right in the heart of the French & Indian War. He was a > blacksmith, by trade. He died in 1828, of that I am sure. >> >> I am stumped going back further than William. His father would likely > have had WILLIAM or JAMES as his first name. The Gormly home was in Derry > (I visited the Church of Ireland in Derry about 20 years ago and, > consulting > their very old records, easily traced the family tree back to William, > which > may well have been who I am looking for). >> >> The GORMLY name, according to a historian in the Guild Hall in Derry, is > an ancient Scot/Irish name going as far back, possibly, to the 400's). > The > family came to Derry from Scotland and were protestants. If William the > younger was born in the US then, obviously, his father would have died > there > and would have traveled by boat to the US prior to about 1750. There is a > slim chance the man I am looking for was also born in the US - in which > case > the search would still be the same, just 30 or so years earlier. >> >> Can you help me please? If you do find the elder Gormly and could >> provide > the names, etc. of his parents I would be grateful. >> >> Thank you very much. >> >> William M. Gormly > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi, William -- Generally speaking, the farther back you are trying to identify "your" line, and especially with common names, the harder it becomes. Researchers may have to settle for knowing that their people lived in Ireland, or in Northern Ireland, or in a particular county .... Well-educated families usually had middle names. An unusual given name (first or middle) in a son may hold a clue - may be a "surname in disguise," such as mother's maiden name or another surname of particular importance to the family. The Genealogical Publishing Company (LDS/Mormon) have published old city directories for major cities in the USA, many helping to fill in the gaps left by the loss of the 1890 USA Census. Check out www.cyndislist.com/ Cyndi's List of Genealogical Websites Gormley Total births:44 Matheson survey of births in Ireland (1890) Principally located during that time period in counties:Antrim and Tyrone. Ulster = 25 Total Leinster = 5 Total Connaught = 13 Total Munster = 1 There is a book by V. R. and T. M. SPEAR published in 1982 in California called "Descendants of Bernard Gormley in Brunswick," which may/may not be of help in your case. There is a copy in the National Library of Dublin, shelf number 9292 g 25. Per John Grenham's excellent "Tracing Your Irish Ancestors" book, there are C of I parish records in the following repositories in Dublin: Templemore Parish (Derry Cathedral) births 1642-1703; marriages 1669-1800, burials 1669-1800 in a PRS publication (Parish Register Society). Maybe you can find something more about that publication. For Culmore Parish, there are births 1867-1920; marriages 1865-1935; no burials, found in the RCBL Representative Church Body Library (Dublin) on microfilm. Grenham's book has reader-friendly explanation of records in general and a chapter on Co. Derry in particular. Listed is information on available census returns and substitutes, local history books, local journals, trade directories dating back to 1820, estate records, gravestone inscriptions, placenames, etc. Check out the Irish Times website ancestor search for instances of your surname in Ireland mid-1800s. Check out the all-Ireland townland search engine at the Leitrim-Roscommon website. USA genealogy libraries have census books on their Census shelves dating back as far as the Revolutionary war (1776), also reference books with names of those who fought in that war. Collect Gormly and Gormley data from the Internet. Perhaps a kind lister in the USA will call their local genealogy library and ask for a Gormly/Gormley look-up on an early American or PA census. Also, check out the RAOGK website for volunteer look-ups. Prominent early settlers in Pittsburg may have a corresponding biography or autobiography or be mentioned in a PA historical society publication or old county history book. (I found two pages on one of my families I was researching in an IN county history book on a self in my library; they were mentioned because they were early settlers. Definitely contact the historical society in the USA county in which your family lived for a length of time. They should have a website (or you could phone or write). Society volunteers may very well be able to come up with documents and information pertaining to your particular family for a small fee. They are, after all, the most knowledgeable and interested in "their" particular county. I have done this with great success. To get any information, at all, on your particular family in the KNOWN places they lived is priceless. Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Gormly" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 1:14 PM Subject: [IGW] Surname Gormly > I am seeking help in finding a man and his family with the surname GORMLY. His son, William, was, I am almost certain, born in Western Pennsylvania in, circa, 1750. William was one of the first settlers of Pittsburgh, a major city right in the heart of the French & Indian War. He was a blacksmith, by trade. He died in 1828, of that I am sure. > > I am stumped going back further than William. His father would likely have had WILLIAM or JAMES as his first name. The Gormly home was in Derry (I visited the Church of Ireland in Derry about 20 years ago and, consulting their very old records, easily traced the family tree back to William, which may well have been who I am looking for). > > The GORMLY name, according to a historian in the Guild Hall in Derry, is an ancient Scot/Irish name going as far back, possibly, to the 400's). The family came to Derry from Scotland and were protestants. If William the younger was born in the US then, obviously, his father would have died there and would have traveled by boat to the US prior to about 1750. There is a slim chance the man I am looking for was also born in the US - in which case the search would still be the same, just 30 or so years earlier. > > Can you help me please? If you do find the elder Gormly and could provide the names, etc. of his parents I would be grateful. > > Thank you very much. > > William M. Gormly