Hello List, I am trying to find out about an Irish ancestor who lived in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland from approximately 1858 until her death in 1895 aged 75. (I am taking it to be 1858 as her daughter Eliza was born in Duns that year). My gr gr grandmother's name was Mary CHRISTIE (born Ireland in 1820) she married Hugh DILLON (birth unknown). Don't know where in Ireland, sorry!! Is there a way of finding out when and where abouts in Ireland they moved from. CHRISTIE and DILLON seem such common names and I can't seem to pinpoint anything pre Duns. On Mary's death certificate it stated that Hugh DILLON (deceased) was a soldier. Any help, information or a point in the right direction would be fantastic. Regards Yvonne

Dear Yvonne, Sorry for the delay in replying to you, but I am away from home and today is the first time I've had access to a good connection. The question that you have asked is not one that this list is really geared up to answer, and I don't know if there is a list that is. Scotch-Irish is a concept of looking at a group of people who went to America, mainly, but not exclusively in the eighteenth century. At some stage their ancestors had moved to Ireland from Britain, traditionally Scotland, but also from England. I happen to be from a part of the Tribe, who didn't make the leap to America. I believe that my ancestors is Scottish - why? Because I am a Presbyterian. It is not infallible, but it is a good guide. A lot of the work in this group is of little interest to me as they are very, very good at that additional layer of research about where they went in early America. Now Ulster (a shortcut name for the part of Ireland where most of the Scots Irish operated which is why the stay in Ireland people like me are often called the Ulster Scots) genealogy is different to that of the rest of Ireland because the land holding was done differently, and the Church records (Presbyterian and sometimes Covenanting) are different. While it is a general ambition of the S-I to trace their ancestors back to Scotland they are generally looking for people a long time ago, for whom they have to use special techniques - about which they generally know a lot. The actual work in Scotland is however a different technique as generally all you can do is to get them back to an area in Scotland. What this list is not geared up to do is to do very much for what you could call the Irish Scots. People from Ireland who have moved to Scotland. Just about everyone in Scotland has Irish ancestors, (the Irish granny is a cliche). Most of the ancestors moved from Ireland in the 19th Century, mainly between 1840 and 1880. They were generally economic refugees from the distress which there was associated with the Irish famine of 1845 - 1850, and the subsequent effects. They were also substantially Roman Catholic in belief and culture. However many of these people are also represented by the people who pre-famine, as well as post famine came over to work as agricultural labourers often in places like the Lothians and Berwickshire (actually up and down the East Coast generally) However as an added complication there were Protestant Ulster Scots who went to work in Scotland and who for obvious reasons pretty well disappeared in a generation, reabsorbed into what they saw as "their culture". Many of them were skilled Engineers from the Shipyards in Belfast or other engineering concerns. I don't know if there is a roots-web list which addresses people from Ireland in Scotland. If there isn't, there really should be one. I am in the interesting position of being an Ulster Scot, who now lives in Scotland, actually in Haddington which is just over the Lammermuir Hills from Duns. I hope that I've helped you about what is a complicated and misleading topic for those who are looking for help. Edward Andrews Hello List, I am trying to find out about an Irish ancestor who lived in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland from approximately 1858 until her death in 1895 aged 75. (I am taking it to be 1858 as her daughter Eliza was born in Duns that year). My gr gr grandmother's name was Mary CHRISTIE (born Ireland in 1820) she married Hugh DILLON (birth unknown). Don't know where in Ireland, sorry!! Is there a way of finding out when and where abouts in Ireland they moved from. CHRISTIE and DILLON seem such common names and I can't seem to pinpoint anything pre Duns. On Mary's death certificate it stated that Hugh DILLON (deceased) was a soldier. Any help, information or a point in the right direction would be fantastic. Regards Yvonne

The only comment that I can add to this excellent essay from Edward is the suggestion that as an army wife, your gr gr grandmother may (perhaps) have accompanied her husband from the area where he was recruited in Ireland (the British army peaked in the 1850s, I believe, at about 55% Irish, if I recall correctly from Foster's Modern Ireland, which I probably don't) to an area where his regiment was serving. Was there a British army regiment with recruitment in Ireland stationed near Duns in 1858? Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: "EDWARD ANDREWS" <edward.andrews@btinternet.com> To: <Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 12:04 AM Subject: Re: [Sc-Ir] New to list > Dear Yvonne, > Sorry for the delay in replying to you, but I am away from home and today > is the first time I've had access to a good connection. > The question that you have asked is not one that this list is really > geared up to answer, and I don't know if there is a list that is. > Scotch-Irish is a concept of looking at a group of people who went to > America, mainly, but not exclusively in the eighteenth century. At some > stage their ancestors had moved to Ireland from Britain, traditionally > Scotland, but also from England. I happen to be from a part of the Tribe, > who didn't make the leap to America. I believe that my ancestors is > Scottish - why? Because I am a Presbyterian. It is not infallible, but it > is a good guide. A lot of the work in this group is of little interest to > me as they are very, very good at that additional layer of research about > where they went in early America. > Now Ulster (a shortcut name for the part of Ireland where most of the > Scots Irish operated which is why the stay in Ireland people like me are > often called the Ulster Scots) genealogy is different to that of the rest > of Ireland because the land holding was done differently, and the Church > records (Presbyterian and sometimes Covenanting) are different. > While it is a general ambition of the S-I to trace their ancestors back to > Scotland they are generally looking for people a long time ago, for whom > they have to use special techniques - about which they generally know a > lot. The actual work in Scotland is however a different technique as > generally all you can do is to get them back to an area in Scotland. > What this list is not geared up to do is to do very much for what you > could call the Irish Scots. People from Ireland who have moved to > Scotland. > Just about everyone in Scotland has Irish ancestors, (the Irish granny is > a cliche). Most of the ancestors moved from Ireland in the 19th Century, > mainly between 1840 and 1880. They were generally economic refugees from > the distress which there was associated with the Irish famine of 1845 - > 1850, and the subsequent effects. They were also substantially Roman > Catholic in belief and culture. > However many of these people are also represented by the people who > pre-famine, as well as post famine came over to work as agricultural > labourers often in places like the Lothians and Berwickshire (actually up > and down the East Coast generally) > However as an added complication there were Protestant Ulster Scots who > went to work in Scotland and who for obvious reasons pretty well > disappeared in a generation, reabsorbed into what they saw as "their > culture". Many of them were skilled Engineers from the Shipyards in > Belfast or other engineering concerns. > I don't know if there is a roots-web list which addresses people from > Ireland in Scotland. If there isn't, there really should be one. > I am in the interesting position of being an Ulster Scot, who now lives in > Scotland, actually in Haddington which is just over the Lammermuir Hills > from Duns. > I hope that I've helped you about what is a complicated and misleading > topic for those who are looking for help. > Edward Andrews > Hello List, > > I am trying to find out about an Irish ancestor who lived in Duns, > Berwickshire, Scotland from approximately 1858 until her death in 1895 > aged 75. (I am taking it to be 1858 as her daughter Eliza was born in Duns > that year). My gr gr grandmother's name was Mary CHRISTIE (born Ireland in > 1820) she married Hugh DILLON (birth unknown). Don't know where in > Ireland, sorry!! > > Is there a way of finding out when and where abouts in Ireland they moved > from. CHRISTIE and DILLON seem such common names and I can't seem to > pinpoint anything pre Duns. On Mary's death certificate it stated that > Hugh DILLON (deceased) was a soldier. > > Any help, information or a point in the right direction would be > fantastic. > > Regards > Yvonne > >