McDonald Search

Hi John,

Thank you very much for your message. I hope that someone recognises the family and makes a connection with you.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find information without a more specific place of origin. Most Irish record sources- church records, land records, census records- are based on specific locations. Until you know a specific location within Ireland, preferably a parish or placename, it may be difficult to do anything more with these records.

Do you have any documentation pertaining to the family that mentions any place names at all? This can include wills, marriage/death records,census records, letters, diary entries etc.

There are some places where you can search online, however it may be difficult to discern whether the results are relevant to your family or not without more information:

www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.

www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.

Have you tried looking into the his emigration? Sometimes more infomation can be found at the port of arrival rather than that of departure. You may be lucky and find a place name here. For information on US immigration records check http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/

McDonald was not a very common name in Fermanagh in the mid-19th century-there was only one McDonald household recorded:

http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm?fuseaction=Go.&UserID=

This household was recorded in Griffith?s Valuation (land records in Ireland 1848-64). The name given was Rose McDonald:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=doNameSearch&Submit.x=51&Submit.y=16&Submit=Submit&familyname=McDonald&firstname=First+Name&baronyname=&countyname=FERMANAGH&unionname=&parishname=

Although it is difficult to know if this is relevant to your family or not it may act as a starting point if there are no other leads.

Some more general websites that you may find useful are:

The National Archives of Ireland http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/

The National Library of Ireland http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

The National Archives UK ? genealogy search: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/

The Public Records Office of Northern Ireland http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/family_history.htm

Irish Genealogy Toolkit: www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com

Fermanagh Gold: http://www.fermanagh-gold.com/

Genealogy Links: http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/ireland/fermanagh/index.html

Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Kind regards,

Genealogy Support

Seasons greetings,

~~In USA census records my name has been spelled McDonough, then MacDonnell, Mcdonnel, McDonald, and McDaniel so I am not sure what was correct due to incorrect spellings over the years. 

Since I last posted last I have had DNA testing completed. I joined the Aighialla Mag UIdhir project at FTDNA and am one of 62 people who match the A2 pattern associated with Donn Carrach Maguire. This is out to the 111 marker. Maybe others who match him might have a simular name and we could compare DNA markers. I am hoping this would help. I am still researching where my ancestor arrived in America but the burning of the south during the civil war makes it difficult. God bless. 

Sincerely

John T. McDonald

PS: I attached a picture of my Great Grandfather William Henry McDonald just in case someone might see it and see a family resemblence.

Seasons greetings,

~~In USA census records my name has been spelled McDonough, then MacDonnell, Mcdonnel, McDonald, and McDaniel so I am not sure what was correct due to incorrect spellings over the years. 

Since I last posted last I have had DNA testing completed. I joined the Aighialla Mag UIdhir project at FTDNA and am one of 62 people who match the A2 pattern associated with Donn Carrach Maguire. This is out to the 111 marker. Maybe others who match him might have a simular name and we could compare DNA markers. I am hoping this would help. I am still researching where my ancestor arrived in America but the burning of the south during the civil war makes it difficult. God bless. 

Sincerely

John T. McDonald

PS: I attached a picture of my Great Grandfather William Henry McDonald just in case someone might see it and see a family resemblence.