My great great grandfather gave his birth place as County Monaghan. He was born in 1833. He was classically educated, became a school teacher, emigrated to Australia in 1860 and established a school in Ballarat, Victoria. He came to a tragic end and I've been attempting to learn more of his beginnings. His father was Alexander McCoy, a banker, and his mother was Mary Oliver. They seemed to have been Presbyterian (at least Robert was in Australia). I haven't been able to discover anything else about this family. Because I am very ignorant of researching practices in Ireland, I am stuck and haven't a clue as to how to progress. I thought of attempting to find directories, but don't know if they exist. I know nothing of the Presbyterian church in Ireland. Were there very many? Is it difficult to find parish lists? If Alexander is listed as being a banker....wouldn't that indicate that he might have had land? One might think he wuld have left a will....but how do I check for a will? So....I have a ton of questions...no answers....and great confusion. If any one has any suggestions for me, I would be grateful. Regards, Georgia Whitson Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hi, We have Olivers that married into my Hunter family, so I have been doing some checking on them. The 1864-1874 Vital Records Index shows Olivers in Raferagh Parish, Co. Monaghan. This parish now appears to be called Magheross. The estate that covers the area is the Shirley Estate. According to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs the locals sometimes referred to it as Carrickmacross (which is the largest town nearby). We also have Nelsons in the family from Corvally Townland which is also in Magheross parish. IGI also shows Olivers in Clones, Dawsongrove & Donagh parishes. Hope this helps give you some direction. Best wishes, Joan Hunter, Essex, Ontario. ----- Original Message ----- From: <GLS1943@aol.com> To: <IRL-MONAGHAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2001 4:54 AM Subject: McCoy-Oliver > My great great grandfather gave his birth place as County Monaghan. He was > born in 1833. He was classically educated, became a school teacher, > emigrated to Australia in 1860 and established a school in Ballarat, > Victoria. He came to a tragic end and I've been attempting to learn more of > his beginnings. > > His father was Alexander McCoy, a banker, and his mother was Mary Oliver. > They seemed to have been Presbyterian (at least Robert was in Australia). I > haven't been able to discover anything else about this family. > > Because I am very ignorant of researching practices in Ireland, I am stuck > and haven't a clue as to how to progress. I thought of attempting to find > directories, but don't know if they exist. I know nothing of the > Presbyterian church in Ireland. Were there very many? Is it difficult to > find parish lists? If Alexander is listed as being a banker....wouldn't that > indicate that he might have had land? One might think he wuld have left a > will....but how do I check for a will? > > So....I have a ton of questions...no answers....and great confusion. If any > one has any suggestions for me, I would be grateful. > > Regards, > Georgia Whitson > Philadelphia, Pennsylvania > >