Share This:

I've traced my Grier ancestors back to the time they arrived in the United States from Ireland, about 1847 or 1848. I don't know where they originated in Ireland, but the family members who arrived together were:

Timothy Grier (sometimes spelled "Greer") b. 1806 in Ireland

(wife) Florinda (maiden name possibly Rush) b. 1827 in Ireland

(daughter) Agnes Nancy Grier b. 1841 b. Ireland

(son) John Agar Grier b. 1847 either in Ireland or Philadelphia

I have not been able to identify exactly when Timothy and family left Ireland, which ship they travelled on or whether he landed first in Canada before coming to Philadelphia.

Timothy appears only on the 1850 Federal Census in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

I found a church record of Timothy and Florinda Grier in the Lock Haven Presbyterian Church, dated around 1856, so I'm assuming that Timothy died between 1856 and 1860.

The 1860 Census shows two new family members have joined the household:

Johnathan Grier b. 1828 in Ireland

Jane Grier b. 1841 in Ireland

I'm working under the assumption that Johnathan is Timothy's younger brother who followed Timothy to the U.S. I lost Johnathan's trail after the 1860 Census and haven't found any record of him gaining U.S. citizenship or serving in the Civil War in the early 1860s. 

Any assistance in helping pinpoint my family's county or parish or origin would be greatly appreciated.

srink1001

Sunday 16th Jun 2013, 10:07PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Susan,

    This was a challenging one but I think I have some news.

    Mary Ness family tree on ancestry has Timothy Grier's birth in Creevagh Ireland in 1808.

    Creevagh is in county Monaghan. However there is no source given so it's hard to verify.

    I searched on rootsireland.ie but the only Grier / Greer birth around 1808 in Monaghan was John Grier in 1810.

    I think Florinda's year of birth must have been 1817 rather than 1827 as she would have been only 14 when Agnes was born. I couldn't find her either though.

    I couldn't find any of the children's births on rootsireland - there were some but as soon as Timothy or Florinda were put in as parents names there were no results!

    The ALJUMI family tree has Timothy's birth as 1800 parents Archie Greer and Nancy Moffitt; I couldn't find them either!

    Robbins jnr family tree has Timothy's death in 1855 age 50 in Lock Haven Clinton Co PA.

    Sorry I couldn't find them!

    Col Cafferky

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 18th Jun 2013, 05:46AM

  • Thank you, Col! Confusing and conflicting info, but more than I had two days ago and I thank you for all the additional data. I'm going to add this to my research and follow all the new leads to see where they go.

    I sincerely appreciate your help. Best regards,

    Susan Rink

    srink1001

    Tuesday 18th Jun 2013, 12:27PM

  • Hi Susan,

    I forgot to mention that Griffiths Valuation is freely searchable on askaboutireland.ie.

    Put in Grier / Grier and county Monaghan and it will show you where they lived in 1858-60.

    The Irish Censuses of 1901 and 1911 are also free to search census@nationalarchives.ie.

    Happy hunting!

    Col

    ColCaff, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 19th Jun 2013, 05:39AM

Post Reply

Login