-------------- Original message from Mary Richardson <mrichson@ix.netcom.com>: -------------- > There was a wave of migration from Ulster to Augusta Co., Virginia -- > often via Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland -- in the early to > mid-1700s. > > Mary Richardson Mary -- This paragraph from your message intrigued me. My 4th great grandfather, Francis FERGUS, was born 8 Sep 1752 in Co. Tyrone (a date which technically did not exist -- obviously, his folks were among the many who ignored the official adoption of the Gregorian calendar). Sometime in the early 1770s, he came to the colonies with his father and several brothers. All but Francis and one brother, James, eventually returned to Ulster. James settled in Delaware, and his line died out after two generations. Francis settled originally in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, and served in the Revolutionary War. He removed to Cumberland Co. around 1779, and by 1787 he was in Augusta Co., Virginia. He purchased 140 acres in Rockbridge Co. in 1790, and he remained there until 1802, when he moved to Montgomery Co. He certainly fits the migration pattern you described in your message, though he arrived a bit later. He has some 15,000 descendants! FERGUS researchers have long sought without success to locate the family in Co. Tyrone, though two FERGUYS (Francis & Jane) stones in the Cappagh churchyard outside Omagh are now thought to be those of Francis's parents. Family lore says that the family originally came to Ulster from Scotland, and although FERGUS is certainly a Galloway surname, I have not been able to find a trace of them in the D&G area. Guy I. Colby IV Irving, TX

Mary: You have a problem similar to mine. I studied the Cearnacháin Clan. It is proven they were from Donegal. I found info on them in the Annals of the Four Masters up to 1200 and they disappeared. in 1400 they began surfacing in Scotland. Some returned to Ireland as Planters or renters of Planters. Most left both Scotland and Ireland behind and went abroad. Most came to America. Others went everywhere. Then there is the spelling: According to one of my reference books, the Irish spelling was O'Fearguis, Feargus, then shortened to Fergus. Descendants of Brian Oirbison, who was descended from Art Aonfhir. Without a serious study, it appears that the clan was part of the tribal groups of North Ireland. And Tyrone would qualify. Donegal is the hardest place in Ireland and I think Tyrone is possible the second hardest! Researching Clan Cearnacháin (Carnahan, Kernohan,etc.) I not only hit the brick wall, it was fortified with a moat! Hubby's ancestor left Scotland around 1750-60 and landed eventually in western PA, with most of the other Irish. They I decided to research the Clan. What a project and what a gem to discover. Although the clan spent at least 300 years in Scotland, don't ever call one a Scot. They are Irish to the bone. I am afraid you are pretty much in the same boat. Good Luck Bess Carnahan, researching Clan Cearnacháin, Carnahan, Kernohan, etc.) ----- Original Message ----- From: <guycolbyiv@att.net> To: "Mary Richardson" <mrichson@ix.netcom.com>; "Mail list: WIG" <SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 9:28 PM Subject: Re: [WIG LIST] Galloway - Tyrone, Ireland (FERGUS) > -------------- Original message from Mary Richardson > <mrichson@ix.netcom.com>: -------------- > > >> There was a wave of migration from Ulster to Augusta Co., Virginia -- >> often via Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland -- in the early to >> mid-1700s. >> >> Mary Richardson > > Mary -- > > This paragraph from your message intrigued me. My 4th great grandfather, > Francis FERGUS, was born 8 Sep 1752 in Co. Tyrone (a date which > technically did not exist -- obviously, his folks were among the many who > ignored the official adoption of the Gregorian calendar). Sometime in the > early 1770s, he came to the colonies with his father and several brothers. > All but Francis and one brother, James, eventually returned to Ulster. > > James settled in Delaware, and his line died out after two generations. > Francis settled originally in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, and served in the > Revolutionary War. He removed to Cumberland Co. around 1779, and by 1787 > he was in Augusta Co., Virginia. He purchased 140 acres in Rockbridge Co. > in 1790, and he remained there until 1802, when he moved to Montgomery Co. > He certainly fits the migration pattern you described in your message, > though he arrived a bit later. He has some 15,000 descendants! > > FERGUS researchers have long sought without success to locate the family > in Co. Tyrone, though two FERGUYS (Francis & Jane) stones in the Cappagh > churchyard outside Omagh are now thought to be those of Francis's parents. > Family lore says that the family originally came to Ulster from Scotland, > and although FERGUS is certainly a Galloway surname, I have not been able > to find a trace of them in the D&G area. > > Guy I. Colby IV > Irving, TX > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SCT-WIGTOWNSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message