Hi Ernene, Thank you for the reply. I truly appreciate your time in checking for my surnames. One of these days I will connect with a fellow FITZPATTRICK-McNAMARA researcher. Though we don't seem to connect perhaps I could take this opportunity to question you.   Please bear with me.  I present all that I know in order to give you a picture of my search.         I have the approximate birthday of Eliza Fitzpatrick my Great Grandmother in Co. Clare from her obituary.         (Abt. Oct. 29 1829-could be as early as 1824-US records differ)        I have her parents names: Patrick Fitzpatrick & Mary McNamara                 (From St. Louis, MO marriage records)        I have narrowed locations for Patrick Fitzpatrick to 14 places in Co. Clare                (Using Griffith's Valuation of 1855)        I have matched McNamaras to 7 of these & they are exact matches.        I have searched LDS Parochial records for Quin, Kilrush, Kilmurry-Ibricken, and Inch & Kilmaley but so far have not found a Fitzpatrick-McNamara record.  I choose these four Church records because they went back far enough to include Eliza's birth.        I now have the Quin & Kilrush records on hand here in Las Cruces, NM since I have ordered them three times.  I am not finished with them but have not found the time to get there lately. I have made some searches through the tithe list, which I helped to transcribe, & found a Patrick in both Kilconnell, Kilmacrechy and "Lahensy, Kilmanahine" (Lehinch, Kilmacrechy).        Now my question.  Do you think I have eough to ask for a search?  Have you done so?  Whom would you suggest I use?  I personally feel that it is still too wide and that I would have to have more information before they would be able to help. Thanks for your time and the research suggestions.  Jo Banks       

Hi Jo Well the McNamara caught my eye - only because I too am searching for a Mary McNamara - also from County Clare - but where I do not know. The surname that she is connected with is HAYES - Mary MCNAMARA married a John HAYES - the only saving grace is that they gave birth to a MORTIMER HAYES in 1842 in Ireland. They departed Ireland in 1846 for South Australia. At the time of departure, two of Mary's siblings, Patrick and John MCNAMARA joined them on the journey - on the Hooghly. We do not know the age for sure for any of them - family tragedy took Mary (death not registered), and John HAYES disappeared in search of gold in 1850's leaving the two boys orphaned. One was raised by RODGERS family (of Westmeath) who married an Ellen McNamara (of Clare - no established relation - but I'm thinking connected) and the other son was raised by Patrick MCNamara. WE know very little of John MCNAMARA - but have some of Patrick's family all summed up. I wish that I could locate a Parish to start searching in - but alas I fear to many MCNAMARA's in Clare - can you confirm this? Cheers Shane from Oz

Hi Jo and Shane, See one question below < I wish that I could locate a Parish to start searching in - but alas I fear too many MCNAMARA's in Clare - can you confirm this? > Yes, many Macs in Clare, in the 1901 census there were some 28,000 + families. So unless you have a spouse's name, and one that is a bit unique, you could be in for the long haul. regards, Jim McNamara ----- Original Message ----- From: "ashenique" <ashenique@hotmail.com> To: <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 12:49 AM Subject: McNamara name > Hi Jo > Well the McNamara caught my eye - only because I too am searching for a > Mary > McNamara - also from County Clare - but where I do not know. The surname > that she is connected with is HAYES - Mary MCNAMARA married a John HAYES - > the only saving grace is that they gave birth to a MORTIMER HAYES in 1842 > in > Ireland. They departed Ireland in 1846 for South Australia. > At the time of departure, two of Mary's siblings, Patrick and John > MCNAMARA > joined them on the journey - on the Hooghly. We do not know the age for > sure > for any of them - family tragedy took Mary (death not registered), and > John > HAYES disappeared in search of gold in 1850's leaving the two boys > orphaned. > One was raised by RODGERS family (of Westmeath) who married an Ellen > McNamara (of Clare - no established relation - but I'm thinking connected) > and the other son was raised by Patrick MCNamara. > > WE know very little of John MCNAMARA - but have some of Patrick's family > all > summed up. > > I wish that I could locate a Parish to start searching in - but alas I > fear > to many MCNAMARA's in Clare - can you confirm this? > > Cheers > Shane from Oz > > ______________________________

Well blow me down - A McNamara answered the cry - just 27,999 to go. Thanks Jim for the quick reply - what do you reckon my chances are of the others? Cheers Shane (from downunder) -----Original Message----- Hi Jo and Shane, See one question below < I wish that I could locate a Parish to start searching in - but alas I fear too many MCNAMARA's in Clare - can you confirm this? > Yes, many Macs in Clare, in the 1901 census there were some 28,000 + families. So unless you have a spouse's name, and one that is a bit unique, you could be in for the long haul. Jim McNamara

Hi Shane, Hopefully you have seen this Australian Mack site: http://www.angelfire.com/oz/mcnamara/ and check out my reworked page: www.rootsweb.com/~bifhsusa/irishlinks.html Best wishes, Jim McNamara BIFHS-USA Newsletter Editor http://www.rootsweb.com/~bifhsusa ----- Original Message ----- From: "ashenique" <ashenique@hotmail.com> To: <jpmcnamara@sbcglobal.net>; <IRL-CLARE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, August 28, 2006 11:55 PM Subject: RE: McNamara name Well blow me down - A McNamara answered the cry - just 27,999 to go. Thanks Jim for the quick reply - what do you reckon my chances are of the others? Cheers Shane (from downunder) -----Original Message----- Hi Jo and Shane, See one question below < I wish that I could locate a Parish to start searching in - but alas I fear too many MCNAMARA's in Clare - can you confirm this? > Yes, many Macs in Clare, in the 1901 census there were some 28,000 + families. So unless you have a spouse's name, and one that is a bit unique, you could be in for the long haul. Jim McNamara