Have been searching my TOSH line in the states for some time now and have hit a brick wall. I need some help and am not sure of how to proceed. . . if at all. So if SKS could review the facts below and offer suggestions I'd be most grateful. 1. William TOSH married Bridget JONES at St. Anne Shandon Parish in Cork City April 1850. 2. Our family has always "heard" our Tosh's came from Donegal to the US. 3. I found a William TOSH in Donegal, Lower Moville, Townland of Carrowbeg in Griffith's Valuation Jan 1858 (he emigrated to the US Oct 1858). 4. William Tosh had a son "born in Ireland" and listed in a US census born Feb 21 either 1851 or 1856 (Census records conflict on the year). As I look at the distribution of the name Tosh it is clearly most concentrated in Derry area not Cork or Donegal, so he must have moved around a bit (he was listed as a miner, not a soldier on his marrige certificate). I am working with the presumption his main family was in Derry. Interestingly, when he did move to the US to become a coal miner in NE Pennsylvania, the tiny town he moved to was adjacent to an equally tiny town called Coleraine, Pennsylvania! Hence, as thin as it might be. . . . .I'm wondering if his family was from Coleraine or Derry more generally. Now you see my brick wall so to speak. How do I find William Sr or Jr in Ireland and, if I did find them, how to go back from there? Can anyone offer suggested ways forward? Most appreciative, Frank

Hey Frank, Good news first: From 1831 census for Coleraine Tosh, Robert Tosh, William Bad news is that that is the only type of data - the heads of house - remaining from that census. The census returns no longer exist. There are no TOSH listed for Coleraine in Griffith's valuation of the 1860s. Here's another reference for you: From Coleraine Chronicle death notices Issue of 4 March 1865 TOSH, William "At his residence in Porter Twp, Clarion County, PA, America, on the 19th December, Mr. William Tosh, sen, in the 73rd year of his age. Mr Tosh was born in the Parish of Dunboe, Coleraine, County Londonderry, and emigrated to America May 12th, 1846." My MANN lot are from Portrush, my RAFFERTY lot from Coleraine. I have no Tosh connections. I am not aware of any mines or mining activities in the Coleraine area. Good luck with your searches. Norman (Ruth's husband)

My grandmother was a Tosh and her family lived in Ballybogey. Could there be a connection here? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Castys" <castys@verizon.net> To: <NIR-DERRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2006 4:02 PM Subject: [Derry] Tosh: USA, Possibly Coleraine > Have been searching my TOSH line in the states for some time now and have > hit a brick wall. I need some help and am not sure of how to proceed. . . > if at all. So if SKS could review the facts below and offer suggestions > I'd be most grateful. > > 1. William TOSH married Bridget JONES at St. Anne Shandon Parish in Cork > City April 1850. > 2. Our family has always "heard" our Tosh's came from Donegal to the US. > 3. I found a William TOSH in Donegal, Lower Moville, Townland of > Carrowbeg in Griffith's Valuation Jan 1858 (he emigrated to the US Oct > 1858). > > 4. William Tosh had a son "born in Ireland" and listed in a US census > born Feb 21 either 1851 or 1856 (Census records conflict on the year). > > As I look at the distribution of the name Tosh it is clearly most > concentrated in Derry area not Cork or Donegal, so he must have moved > around a bit (he was listed as a miner, not a soldier on his marrige > certificate). I am working with the presumption his main family was in > Derry. > > Interestingly, when he did move to the US to become a coal miner in NE > Pennsylvania, the tiny town he moved to was adjacent to an equally tiny > town called Coleraine, Pennsylvania! > > Hence, as thin as it might be. . . . .I'm wondering if his family was from > Coleraine or Derry more generally. Now you see my brick wall so to speak. > How do I find William Sr or Jr in Ireland and, if I did find them, how to > go back from there? > > Can anyone offer suggested ways forward? Most appreciative, > > Frank > > > ============================== > New! Family Tree Maker 2005. Build your tree and search for your ancestors > at the same time. Share your tree with family and friends. Learn more: > http://landing.ancestry.com/familytreemaker/2005/tour.aspx?sourceid=14599&targetid=5429