This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: cpanetta59 Surnames: McGinn Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.arm.general/9327.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My McGinn family (Catholic) emigrated from County Armagh to the Guelph area of Ontario, Canada around 1829. Unfortunately none of my research has uncovered the specific parish they were from in Armagh. Their origins of Armagh are confirmed on their headstones, obituaries & death registrations in Canada. My research has focused around the family of my GGG grandfather Felix (Phelix?)McGinn b. 1811) who came to the Guelph area of Ontario, Canada from County Armagh. McGinn, John (b. 1790s Ireland d. 05-06-1842 in Ontario) *father's name likely John or Felix (Phelix?) Spouse(s): #1 unknown, unknown (b. Unknown d. Unknown) *believe died in Ireland #2 unknown, Phoebe (aka Mary?) (b. about 1794 Ireland d. 04-24-1867 in Ontario) *there is evidence of two wives from old family letters indicated by Felix being said to have 1/2 sister(s). Phoebe (aka Mary) is John's wife at time of his death so she is assumed to be 2nd wife. If there were indeed two wives nothing is known of his 1st wife and it would be presumed she may have died in Ireland between 1816 - 1826. Children: McGinn, John (b. believe 1807 - 1810 d. Unknown) *brief oral history speaks of his existence though he remains unconfirmed. McGinn, Felix / Phelix (b. about 1811 d. 09-18-1885) *my great great great grandfather Duggan, Margaret (McGinn) (b. about 1816 d. 03-29-1873) Heffernan, Mary (McGinn) (b. about 1820 d. 08-14-1893) *believe daughter of 1st wife (not 100% sure though) Murphy, Catherine (McGinn) (b. about 1826 d. about 1862) *Noted 1/2 sister - daughter of 2nd wife *Children Felix, Margaret & Mary all confirmed born county Armagh (headstones, death records, obits). All children married and died in Ontario. John McGinn and his two wives are presumed to be born / married county Armagh based on known / confirmed birth location of their children (Felix/Phelix, Margaret & Mary) but possible he and his wives were born / married outside Armagh in neighboring Tyrone or Momogham counties. Concentrations of McGinns seem to reside in county Tyrone and I suspect in the early 1800s though County Armagh would be primary emphasis of initial research. The best information I have to go on at this time is to try and locate the family of a John McGinn in the county of Armagh between 1800-1828 (prior to their arrival in canada)who had three children Felix (Phelix?) born about 1811, Margaret born about 1816 & Mary born about 1820 that were all born in county of Armagh. First wife's name unknown with a second wife named Phoebe (aka Mary?). With possible existence of an eldest son John and the existence of a youngest daughter Catherine (born Armagh or Ontario?). Who all came to Ontario, Canada between the years of 1828-1830. Their port of origin and destination port are unknown....they may have come directly to Ontario or arrived first in United States. As a remote possibility we might consider actual birth location of children Felix, Margaret & Mary to be in a nearby county of Armagh. From research I know concentrations of McGinns existed in early 1800s in counties of Armagh, Monogham and especially Tyrone. Again though all their headstones, death certificates, obits state they are natives of County Armagh. It is possible the early family migrated from a nearby county to Armagh and that their county of origin stated on headstones, obits & death records is not necessarily their county of birth. It is interesting to note I have located a Phelix McGinn in 1796 Flax Growers List (record ID# 52469) in County Tyrone (perhaps related to this family given the name Phelix). Just a side note regarding possible existence of an eldest son named John (b. 1807-1810)...I have located a good possible candidate in US born 1810 whose county of origin is noted as Monogham (neighboring county of Armagh). It is interesting that this John McGinn names his 1st born son John (after his father?) and second born son Phelix/Felix (after his brother?) which suggests a strong possible connection to this line given naming conventions of the time period. If this is the possible eldest son John then his noted birth county of Monogham in 1860 US census might suggest the family is located near the borders of Armagh / Monogham. Just a possible hint to consider. I've exhausted what there is to learn here in Canada & the States and is now time to look back across the ocean in Ireland with the information I have in hopes of locating the family in Armagh. I'm rambling here a bit but thought I would throw out in hopes some light might be shed by other researchers or some random act of kindness might provide me with additional clues. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.