Hello: I have just joined this list because sks suggested the name I am researching might be that of an Irish Palatine family. Bridget HANSBURGH (or HANSBORO[UGH]--as the name was written on her record of marriage intent--was born in Ireland around 1830. We know neither the town nor the county. At some time before August, 1846, she emigrated to the US. There she married Nicholas FORD, who also born in Ireland (town? county?) around 1830. They married in Greenfield, Franklin County, MA in August, 1846. I know much about the Fords after that year--they settled first in Kinderhook, NY, then in Pittsfield, MA where they raised their ten children. But I cannot find out anything about their origins in Ireland, except that Nicholas' father's name was James. About Bridget, nothing. I cannot locate any siblings in the US, and the name is pretty well non-existent in Ireland. One researcher suggested that her first name might not even have been Bridget! Yet "Bridget Hansburgh" is the name the family has on the family tombstone. I don't know quite what to make of the name on the marriage record: HANSBORO[UGH]. I tried to imagine her saying the name to a clerk in a strong Irish accent and the clerk writing what s/he thought she was hearing. Any thoughts on whether this might be a Palatine name? It isn't listed in the Jones book. I know that many Palatines emigrated to the US from Ireland way before 1830--when Bridget was born-- so if they were a Palatine family, they would have to have remained in Ireland at least long enough for her to be born there. Thanks in advance. Judy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris_LeGear" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 11:39 AM Subject: Re: [IP] Palatine History Great Info > Rob > > Thank you very much for the information of the site at global2000. I > checked it straight away and found it to be absolutely excellent. > If I had known about it a couple of weeks ago I could have saved some money. > A copy of Ruttle's book that I ordered from Amazon a week ago arrived > today!! > Thanks again > > Chris Le Gear > > > > > ==== IRL-PALATINE Mailing List ==== > Great minds talk about ideas. Average minds talk about > events. Small minds talk about people. >

Hi, Judy - Welcome to the Irish Palatine list! (Often shortened to "IP"...) Your Hansburgh/Hansborough puzzle is an interesting one. And you're right - imagine a young girl pronouncing her name with a strong Irish accent. There may have been a number of twists and turns in the evolution of her surname. The surname of HOFFMAN is an IP surname. According to Eula Lapp in "To Their Heirs Forever", the name was originally Swedish (HOPPMAN), but with various immigrations, it evolved to HOFFMAN and the family moved to England in 1709 with the great Palatine migration. Hoffman, I know, is quite a departure from Hansburgh, but hey, it's a possibility! <g> Another possibility is the Huguenot connection. There were many French Huguenots who left France because of religious persecution and immigrated to Ireland early on... So, there are a fair number of "Irish" names that have a distinctly French flavor. Might Hansburgh be one of those? At any rate, we're pleased that you joined the IP gang, Judy. We're all working to break down the so-called brick walls in our family histories. Good luck with yours! All the best, Susan At 10:05 PM 3/16/01 -0600, you wrote: >Hello: >I have just joined this list because sks suggested the name I am >researching might be that of an Irish Palatine family. Bridget >HANSBURGH (or HANSBORO[UGH]--as the name was written on her record of >marriage intent--was born in Ireland around 1830. We know neither the >town nor the county. At some time before August, 1846, she emigrated >to the US. There she married Nicholas FORD, who also born in Ireland >(town? county?) around 1830. They married in Greenfield, Franklin >County, MA in August, 1846. I know much about the Fords after that >year--they settled first in Kinderhook, NY, then in Pittsfield, MA >where they raised their ten children. But I cannot find out anything >about their origins in Ireland, except that Nicholas' father's name >was James. About Bridget, nothing. I cannot locate any siblings in the >US, and the name is pretty well non-existent in Ireland. SL Willig [email protected] List Admin. for Sullivan Co., NH, Addison Co., VT, IRL-Palatine, Empey-l, Garfield-l