Some time back, ten years ago, I had the Ulster Historical Foundation do a search - and I also maintained a membership. It went away with the retirement of Brian Trainor, and some mix-ups that I would rather not go into. I see that their data base material is for members only, and wonder just what it contains. I am attaching a short version of part of my family history, especially dealing with what they did the research on. In your spare time, and I really mean that, could you do some quick searches to see if the data that they collected was then transcribed into their data bases. In particular, the marriage of my great grandfather would be a good one to do as his given name was different that the actual name he was baptised with: Owen and Eugene. This is not to embarrass anyone, but rather to see just what they have and how they have maintained it. My great grandfather, Owen (or Eugene) McCARROLL (c. 1840 � 1895), came from the townland of Corkill, (or Corkhill as many of the recorded records improperly indicate) in the parish of Clogher, County Tyrone. Of the Roman Catholic faith, he was baptised and buried in Eskragh R.C. graveyard. He was married in Fintona�s R.C. church which is in the civil parish of Donacavey. Owen went by that name and not Eugene - probably because that was his father�s name. Owen was the son of Eugene McCARROLL and Catherine (unknown), who were farmers, and was born about 1840 in Donacavey. When he married my great grandmother he was registered as EUGENE, but he signed the register as OWEN and that is the reason the record may not be located initially. Catherine McCUSKER (may be McCOSKER or McKUSKER) was my great grandmother and she came from the townland of Augharonan, also in Donacavey. They were wed on 25 June 1867 in my great grandmother�s church in Donacavey. Catherine's father was Patrick McCUSKER and her mother's surname name was not found in the records, but it appears she was Catherine also. She was born circa 1846 � 1851; and, she married Owen at "full age." But, as is the case with most old Irish records, there is a discrepancy for the 1911 census lists herself as a 60 yr old widow while the 1901 census listed Catherine as a 45 year old widow. That may be the result of the old age pensions that went into place in 1908. She had a possible sibling: John McCUSKER of Legmaghery, but little is known of him except he was a single farmer. My grandfather Michael Joseph McCARROLL (or CARROLL) was born in the area of Omagh and Fintona, County Tyrone. Mickey, as he was known, had migrated to California, U.S.A. in 1887, aboard the Etruria, to join his brothers in San Francisco: Thomas and Patrick, who had become USA citizens. In 1904 he also gained US citizenship. After sometime in the Bay Area he then returned to Fintona to get married. There is some speculation that he was ill in California and returned to Ireland because of that reason; but he had recovered. Agnes Bridget GAFFIGAN was born in San Francisco in 15 Sept. 1888 to John Amos GAFFIGAN (b. 1859, Paisley, Scotland of Irish parents, Mary AMOS and Patrick GAFFIGAN) and Margaret "Maggie" CRENNAN (b. California of Irish parents). She left for Ireland when she reached majority. We do not know if she accompanied Mickey on that journey, where she left from, where in Ireland they landed, or where they stayed before they left for County Tyrone. Instead of being married in the Fintona area, they were wed on 25 June 1912, at St. Patrick�s Cathedral in Dundalk, County Louth. They resided in Omagh, at least until 1914, when Mickey became a publican/auctioneer/seller of shoes and coffins on Main Street in Fintona (the pub owned by the late Mr. Francis McAtee). He had that pub until 1924 when he passed away in Omagh, County Tyrone. Michael and Agnes had a number of children, including my father: Michael Joseph McCARROLL (CARROLL), b. 25 March 1914 in Omagh; Patrick Eugene, b. 1915 who passed away after three days; Mary Catherine (who became Maura when she emigrated to the USA), 1917 and passed away in 2004; Thomas Leo, b. 1918; Bernadette Anthony, b. 1919; and, Kevin Barry, b. 1921. Thanks, Jim Carroll > [Original Message] > From: Ulster3 <ulster3@gmail.com> > To: <IRL-ULSTER@rootsweb.com> > I just purchased a Guild membership to the Ulster Historical Foundation. > Sadly the databases do not help me much after all. > > If anyone is looking for a relative from Northern Ireland I would be glad to > do a quick search. Their databases can be viewed at www.ancestryireland.com > > regards, > > Eireann >